Thor has proved himself as one of the MCU’s most powerful heroes, but there are some points that even fans won’t admit about the God of Thunder.

Although Thor is one of the MCU’s most important and consistent figures, there are several aspects of the character that many fans neglect to acknowledge. As Thor was introduced early in the MCU’s movie timeline, his role as one of the franchise’s formative heroes is undeniable. The God of Thunder served as a founding Avenger, and has remained one of the most consistently popular heroes in the entire franchise.

Having featured in many movies in the MCU makes Thor one of the franchise’s most explored characters. However, examining him closely reveals a few less flattering qualities and aspects of his story that many fail to acknowledge. Though the MCU has addressed some of his character flaws through his tragic narrative arc, there are still many shortcomings that go largely unnoticed. With that in mind, here are 10 things that no MCU fan admits about Thor.

10. Thor’s Backstory Is Super Inconsistent

Thor’s MCU Past Is Irritatingly Vague

Out of all the heroes in the MCU, Thor has enjoyed more screen time than most. His story in the franchise began with 2011’s Thor, chronicling what was explained to be his first visit to Earth. From there, Thor came to become an Avenger, as well as one of Asgard’s most important leaders, with subsequent movies exploring his role as a prince, a son, a brother, and a god.

Despite all that character exploration, the MCU has done a poor job of establishing a solid backstory for Thor. The MCU has retconned his story multiple times, revealing that he’d visited Earth on several occasions before the events of Thor. Considering his role as one of the MCU’s most prominent heroes, Thor’s backstory is surprisingly inconsistent, although it’s not an issue that most MCU fans seem willing to acknowledge.

9. Thor’s Personality Shift Came At A Very Odd Time

Thor’s Comedic Shift Makes Him Seem Callous

Thor’s introduction into the MCU saw the God of Thunder characterized as a pretty serious figure. His role as a prince of Asgard and supposed heir to Odin’s throne fed into this, with levity drawn more from the difference in culture than the character himself. This continued across The Avengers and Thor: The Dark World, before Thor underwent a massive personality shift in Thor: Ragnarok.

When looking more closely at Thor’s story, the timing of the change seems ill-conceived. The Dark World sees Thor lose his mother, and believe that his brother Loki is also dead. Ragnarok starts with Thor uncovering Loki’s deception, and the pair then losing their father before being attacked by their evil long-lost sister. The tragedy in Thor’s story suddenly prompting him to become much sillier as a character is thus a little jarring, even if it was a shift for the better in terms of his role in the MCU.

8. Thor’s MCU Powers Need More Context

The MCU Has Unnecessarily Made The Source Of Thor’s Power A Mystery

Debates over who should be considered the strongest Avenger in the MCU will likely never end, but Thor is often named as a contender. The God of Thunder’s broad range of abilities and categorization as a literal god makes him one of the franchise’s most powerful heroes, and he has demonstrated his strength on many occasions. For all Thor’s impressive displays of power, the MCU hasn’t actually done a particularly good job of defining exactly what Thor’s powers are and how they work.

In Thor, Odin takes Thor’s abilities and banishes him to Earth, implying that most of his god-like abilities are tied either to Mjolnir or a gift imparted by Odin. Later, when Hela destroys Mjolnir, Thor’s other abilities all remain intact. The inconsistency highlights how frustrating it is that the MCU hasn’t offered any official context for Thor’s powers, making it harder to judge just how powerful he truly is.

7. Thor Didn’t Fully Appreciate The Warriors Three

Thor Didn’t Seem To Care Much About His Greatest Allies

From the beginning of Thor all the way to the ending of Thor: Ragnarok, Thor is supported by the Warriors Three. Fandral, Volstagg, and Hogun, as well as Lady Sif, are introduced as Thor’s best friends and closest allies, with the characters heading into battle together even against Odin’s commands. Their friendship was an important aspect of Thor’s story, and heavily featured in The Dark World.

Shortly after the Warriors Three are killed by Hela, Thor is forced to allow Surtur to destroy Asgard and his sister. Afterward, the God of Thunder watches Thanos kill Loki, and spends a time grieving for his lost brother and homeland. However, the MCU never really addresses Thor’s lost friends, or the grief he should likely feel after their deaths. This makes it seem as though Thor never really valued the Warriors Three, offering up an unfortunate subtext to his general character.

6. Thor’s Silliness Undermines His Power Levels

The MCU’s Treatment Of Thor Hides His True Power

It’s no secret that Thor is one of the MCU’s most changed heroes since his introduction. Considering how much Thor has lost and how much personal growth he’s undergone, this is more than understandable. Though the shift in his personality to make him a sillier and more comedic figure may have helped his popularity, it actually undermines his character in an unfortunate way.

Making Thor a sillier and more comedic figure has seen him go from an overly serious hero to the MCU’s go-to comic relief. This might work on a conceptual level, but it also undermines the true power levels of Thor. Writing the character as a well-meaning airhead might make for good levity, but it doesn’t do justice to just how powerful he really is. He’s seen by many as the funniest Avenger, making it easy to forget that he’s also one of the most powerful heroes in the franchise.

5. The MCU Bungled Thor’s Endgame Arc

Thor’s Most Powerful Story Was Turned Into An Unfunny Joke

One of the most significant moments in Thor’s MCU story came at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, when the God of Thunder found himself face to face with Thanos. Despite being able to wound Thanos, Thor was unable to kill him, giving the Mad Titan the opportunity to use the Infinity Gauntlet to wipe out half of all life in the universe. Heading into Avengers: Endgame, Thor is racked with guilt over his inability to stop Thanos in time.

This arc could have been one of the most powerful character moments in the MCU. Instead, Thor was depicted as having gained weight due to his guilt and inactivity, which was used largely for comic effect. Fumbling what had the potential to be a deep character moment simply to subtly body shame a hero felt cheap, and robbed fans of what could have Thor’s most triumphant moment.

4. Thor Failed To Defeat Most Of His Villains

Thor Struggles To Beat Any Villains Without Help (Or Huge Collateral Damage)

Thor has faced a number of truly powerful villains during his time in the MCU. His status as an Asgardian and a literal god means he often finds himself at odds with incredibly dangerous figures. However, one thing that many fans fail to acknowledge is that for all his power, Thor is practically unable to defeat any of his enemies without help.

In Thor, Loki chooses to fall rather than let Thor save him. In The Dark World, Loki enables Thor to beat Malekith. In Ragnarok, Thor needs Surtur to defeat Hela for him, and in Love and Thunder, Thor and Jane Foster are unable to stop Gorr from reaching Eternity. Then there’s the Avengers movies, in which Thor operates as part of a team. Put simply, it seems that Thor just can’t fight alone, as he’s never actively defeated a villain without help or support of some kind.

3. Thor Running Off With The Guardians Of The Galaxy Was Irresponsible

Thor Ran Away From His Most Important Responsibilities

Thor’s MCU story is undoubtedly a tragic one, and the hero has suffered more loss than practically any other figure in the franchise. After losing his entire family, his friends, and his home, it’s reasonable for Thor to have felt adrift. He responded by traveling for a time with the Guardians of the Galaxy, building a bond with the space-faring heroes after the events of Avengers: Endgame.

Thor’s travels actually paint him in a pretty negative light, though. Despite being the son of Odin and the logical choice to rule the remnants of Asgard’s society, Thor opts instead to leave that role to Valkyrie. Though she’s certainly a capable leader, Thor’s abandonment of his people in their hour of need is something that makes him seem indifferent to their own loss and grief. Thor’s decision to travel with the Guardians was an inherently selfish one, and it’s something that makes him much less admirable as a character.

2. Thor’s Role In Asgard’s Culture Is A Little Problematic

Being An Agent Of Asgard’s Empire Has Unpleasant Real-Life Parallels

When Thor was introduced into the MCU, he was a loyal son of Odin, Asgard’s favorite prince, and considered to be the best choice to succeed Odin as king. He was depicted as one of Asgard’s most capable warriors, and a figure willing to take the fight across the Nine Realms in his father’s name. All of these qualities are presented with a tentative positivity, and though Thor’s quickness to violence is acknowledged, his loyalty to Asgard is treated as a virtue.

Thor: Ragnarok exposes the truth about Odin’s past, and by extension, repaints Thor in a new light. Hela explains that Odin’s empire was won through battle and blood, and that Odin was a violent conqueror in his day. The fact that Thor spent his first two movies enforcing Odin’s will across the Nine Realms makes him something of a villain, albeit something of an unwitting one.

1. Thor Is Painfully Arrogant

Thor’s Self-Assuredness Must Be Abrasive To His Fellow Heroes

Perhaps Thor’s most apparent character trait is his overbearing confidence. Many find it endearing, and the MCU often uses the God of Thunder’s self-assuredness for comic effect, particularly where it pertains to seemingly impossible odds or situations. Thor’s willingness to throw himself headfirst into danger with the vague assertion that all will be well has become one of his most recognizable qualities, but it’s actually not as positive as it seems.

For the heroes around Thor, his unwavering self-confidence must be incredibly abrasive. In fact, Thor’s overconfidence often proves entirely unfounded, and at times endangers those around him. The MCU might do a good job of presenting this as a comedic quality, but in reality, it’s dangerous and likely frustrating for those around him. Despite being one of the funniest and most powerful heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor certainly isn’t without his issues.