Warning: This article contains spoilers for What If...? episode 7.

Thor turned into Party Thor in Marvel's What If...?, showing the studio doesn't truly understand the character's arc in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In What If...? episode 7, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) grows up as an only child on Asgard, and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) lives like a prince on Jotunheim. The story change lets Thor lean into his wild side. When his mother, Frigga (voiced by Josette Eales), goes on a trip after her husband falls into Odinsleep, Thor heads to Earth for a big MCU blowout. Unfortunately, his parties tend to have planet-ending repercussions, so SHIELD and Captain Marvel (voiced by Alexandra Daniels) disapprove. In the end, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) finally contacts Frigga, and the party concludes with no lasting harm done.

The episode brought back several MCU stars to reprise their roles. On Earth, Hemsworth's Thor parties with several notable MCU characters, including Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), Korg (Taika Waititi), Nebula (Karen Gillan), and Howard the Duck (Seth Green). Additionally, some of the returning stars aren't thrilled about Thor's affinity for world-ending parties. After the party leaves Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury somewhat incapacitated, Cobie Smulders' Maria Hill and Clark Gregg's Agent Coulson are left to deal with the God of Thunder.

Related: The MCU Just Retconned Thor's Silliest Phase One Mistake

Marvel doesn't seem to understand Thor's arc in What If...? episode 7. In the episode, Thor becomes bored without Loki in his life, which leads to his love of partying. Though Frigga warns him not to party while she's away from Asgard and Captain Marvel orders him to stop the party on Earth, Thor doesn't listen to anyone. He's arrogant, headstrong, and full of himself. Oddly, he's precisely the same in 2011's Thor. Despite Thor being an only child in What If...?, Thor's MCU journey remains similar.

What if episode 7 party thor afraid of Frigga

Thor always started like Party Thor in the MCU. Though he has slightly different priorities in Thor, thinking like a warrior instead of a frat-like reveler, the two versions of Thor are essentially the same. They are arrogant, they defy orders, and eventually, they learn the error of their ways. Though Loki doesn't grow up as Thor's brother in the episode, it has almost no effect. Thor always loved Loki in Thor, and he still loves Loki as a "brother from another mother" in What If...?.

What If...? episode 7's purpose is confusing. The series is supposed to drastically change the MCU, showing how the stories could be dramatically different. For instance, the show repeatedly kills Iron Man (voiced by Mick Wingert) in various ways. But episode 7 clearly doesn't understand Thor's MCU arc because it remains unchanged. Ultron showing up at the end is the only revelatory event from the episode, and it appears the events of episode 7 didn't even lead to it. Ultron is likely from a completely different timeline. Ultimately, Party Thor's MCU journey is irrelevant, basically giving Thor from Phase One of the MCU a fun side mission. Marvel could give the episode more purpose later, but the story beats aren't very worthy of the God of Thunder for now.

More: How Powerful Ice Giant Loki Would Be

Marvel's What If...? releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+

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