The MCU Just Repeated Phase 2’s Jane Foster Insult

Warning: SPOILERS for Marvel's What If...? Episode 7 - "What If... Thor Were An Only Child?"

Marvel's What If...? episode 7 sees shield insult Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), a pattern first started in the MCU Phase 2. In "What If... Thor Were An Only Child?," Jane and her intern, Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings), sounds the alarm that the Earth is about to be invaded by aliens, although it turns out to be a still-worthy Thor (Chris Hemsworth) inviting the Marvel Cinematic Universe's menagerie of cosmic beings to party on the third rock from the sun. Jane ends up looking foolish in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s eyes as she becomes smitten with Thor, and What If...? marginalizes Dr. Foster once more in this alternate universe.

Introduced in Thor, Dr. Jane Foster is one of the world's leading astrophysicists, but her professional work usually takes a backseat to her status as the God of Thunder's girlfriend in MCU Phases 1 and 2. Jane and Thor are separated after the first film and she spends years pining for him while he helps form the Avengers and stops Loki's (Tom Hiddleston) Chitauri invasion. Jane and Thor are reunited when she is infected by the Aether in Thor: The Dark World and the Odinson brings Jane to Asgard to meet his parents. But Natalie Portman spent several years on the outs with Marvel Studios, which meant for all of MCU Phase 3, Jane was written out and Dr. Foster has no role in the Infinity Saga. Thor only fleetingly mentions his breakup with Jane in Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Endgame. But Natalie Portman agreed to make her MCU return and Jane will become the Goddess of Thunder in Thor: Love and Thunder. Portman and Marvel Studios being sympatico again also allowed the Academy Award-winner to voice Jane in What If...? episode 7.

Jane and Darcy play comic relief roles in What If...? episode 7, which is itself a humorous romp inspired by Looney Tunes cartoons as Party Thor seeks to throw an epic rager on Midgard. Although S.H.I.E.L.D. does heed Dr. Foster's alarm about aliens storming Earth, once again, Jane's expertise as an astrophysicist is sidelined in What If...?, especially after Acting Director Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) finds out Jane has been partying with Thor and even got matching tattoos with the Asgardian hunk. Jane does try to assert herself in a professional manner, but Hill and S.H.I.E.L.D. continue to disregard her point of view, putting their faith instead in Captain Marvel (Alexandra Daniels) and even a potential nuclear strike to put a stop to Thor and his world-breaking bash.

Granted, Natalie Portman's comedy chops are underrated, and her rom-com chemistry with Chris Hemsworth was a major reason why the first Thor movie worked, but the pattern of Jane's scientific acumen being disregarded by S.H.I.E.L.D. is disconcerting. In Thor, S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) treat Dr. Foster with incredible disrespect by stealing her equipment and attempting to silence her. Thor: The Dark World is even worse, with Jane basically being a mere plot device to move Thor's story forward. In What If...? Jane is again made to look silly and unprofessional, although Darcy's endless quips (though funny and endearing) don't help Dr. Foster's cause.

So far, Marvel Studios hasn't been able (or hasn't attempted) to find a proper balance for Jane to be both Thor's love interest and a serious and respected scientist in her own right. Jane should have played a major role as an expert the Avengers turned to during their time travel escapade in Endgame had Portman and Marvel not been divided. Hopefully, Thor: Love and Thunder will be Dr. Jane Foster's MCU redemption in ways Marvel's What If...? wasn't. Along with turning Jane into Thor, the Goddess of Thunder, perhaps writer-director Taika Waititi will finally treat Jane as more than Thor's smitten love interest and properly present Jane Foster as one of the Marvel movies' top scientists as well.

Next: Every MCU Easter Egg In What If? Episode 7

Marvel's What If...? streams Wednesdays on Disney+.