What You Need to Know Before Watching Thor Ragnarok

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has grown and changed a great deal since its launch dorsum in 2008, and the story of Thor inside that is no exception. The series is i of the originals within the larger franchise, and we accept seen the god-like hero and his core supporting characters become through a hell of a lot not only over the grade of two solo movies, simply in Avengers titles as well. As a result, there'southward quite a bit to take hold of up on before the arrival of the latest large screen adventure, director Taika Waititi's Thor: Ragnarok, merely it's inside that realm that we are here to help.

Just in case you don't accept time to lookout hours of Marvel movies earlier going to run across Thor: Ragnarok in theaters this weekend, we've thrown together this handy SPOILER-Gratis guide to provide all of the information you lot will need. Where have Thor and Blob been the final few years? What'southward Loki'southward deal? Who is that guy doing all those weird magic tricks? We have the answers to all those questions and more below and on the next few pages, so read on!

Thor

Nearly of the Avengers came together to square off in Helm America: Civil State of war, but Chris Hemsworth'south Thor was a notable exception. Instead, nosotros haven't seen the God of Thunder since the final sequence of The Avengers: Historic period of Ultron, where he institute himself discussing the magic of Mjolnir with Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) at the brand new Avengers facility. He departed the scene with his hammer lifted loftier in the air, telling his comrades that he would exist leaving to search the galaxy for more than information about the fabled Infinity Stones. Ultimately this doesn't accept a huge impact on the events of Thor: Ragnarok, for reasons best discovered while actually watching the movie, but what is key to know/remember is the base history of the titular hero and where he comes from.

While he'south rarely identified with the title, Thor is actually a prince in his home world, Asgard. As the oldest son of the king, Anthony Hopkins' Odin (more on him in a flake), he grew up as the heir credible to the throne -- but establish trouble just as he was first about to be anointed. A petulant and foolish man, he almost bankrupt a peace treaty and started a state of war, leading Odin to punish him. Thor was deemed unworthy of Mjolnir -- which gives him the ability to harness lightning and fly -- and he was banished to World until he could become humble. It wound up being an opportunity for great growth, and he returned to Asgard as a meliorate hero.

Afterward, afterward saving Earth during The Avengers and the whole of the universe during Thor: The Dark World, Thor was once once more given the opportunity to rule Asgard equally rex -- only it was an offer that was turned down. What the God of Thunder didn't realize at the fourth dimension, however, was that it wasn't really Odin who was giving him the offering...

Loki

Portrayed by Tom Hiddleston, Loki has been a thorn in Thor'due south side for as long as we've known him in the Marvel Cinematic Universe -- setting a whole new standard for insane sibling rivalry in the procedure. He tricked his brother into trying to get-go a war; attempted to usurp his father'southward throne later on discovering that he was adopted; invaded Midgard a.k.a. Earth because information technology'due south the home of Thor's love; and so faked his ain death just so that he could take the Asgardian crown without observe. The starting time three of those didn't wind upwards working out so well for him, only the concluding one went quite well.

During a boxing with Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) and Kurse (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) on the Dark Elf planet Svartalfheim, Loki tricked Thor and Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) into thinking he was dead -- leading them to leave his body as they searched for a way back to Earth. When Asgardian soldiers subsequently came to retrieve Loki he hid, and while information technology wasn't shown, he presumably killed them and stole their send to render dwelling house. He disguised himself as one of the soldiers to deliver the news to Odin, just so mysterious got rid of his father so that he could finally take the throne for himself backside a glamour.

Appearing as Odin, Loki has been ruling Asgard since we last left him in Thor: The Dark Earth, and Thor: Ragnarok will address what has happened to him and the realm in the time since.

Odin

It took centuries of piece of work, but every bit the leader of Asgard, Odin was able to bring peace to the nine worlds that are united past the cosmic tree Yggdrasil. During that time, he raised a family with his wife, Frigga (Rene Russo), and brought upwardly Thor and Loki as brothers. In the long view, though there accept been some pretty massive incidents, he has been viewed as one of the greatest kings to ever rule Asgard... though, as noted, he hasn't been ruling as the king of Asgard for the concluding few years.

Marvel fans haven't seen the real Odin since Loki visited him in disguise towards the cease of Thor: The Dark World, and 1 of the primal questions that has lingered for years has been in regard to exactly what the God of Mischief did to his male parent. Did he get locked up in the same dungeons where Loki was kept for a adept long spell? Was he banished to another globe, or perhaps a realm between worlds? At long terminal, Thor: Ragnarok brings the answer to the query.

Blob

Like Thor, Mark Ruffalo'southward Bruce Imprint a.k.a. Hulk hasn't been on the large screen since The Avengers: Age of Ultron, but his state of affairs is a scrap different. While we knew that the God of Thunder was off to search the universe looking for Infinity Stones, the Blob didn't exactly make his destination entirely clear when nosotros last saw him.

For what should be obvious reasons, Bruce Banner has always had a complicated relationship with his giant, green alter ego, as more often than not it gets him in serious trouble. While he has been able to demonstrate degrees of control in the past, such as when Loki and his Chitauri army were invading New York in The Avengers, Blob rages have as well resulted in a lot of deaths and destruction. Existence nether the influence of Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and seeing the wreckage he caused in South Africa during The Avengers: Age of Ultron proved to be likewise much for him, and while he had finally started a new human relationship with Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), a part of him understood that he couldn't stick around

At the end of the Joss Whedon moving picture, Black Widow tried to calm the Hulk downwardly and turn him back into Bruce Banner as he was flight effectually Sokovia in a Quinjet, just this didn't actually piece of work out. Blob shut downwards the communication between him and his girlfriend, and flew the vessel to parts unknown. Of grade, that textile is covered when we side by side see him in Thor: Ragnarok.

Medico Strange

In 2016, audiences were introduced to a very dissimilar side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the bulk of the franchise has been rooted in science-fiction, Doctor Strange introduced a more fantastical, magical side of the earth. Of course, the man at the head of it is the titular wizard, who fans got to see transform from an arrogant surgeon into a student of the mystical arts in Scott Derrickson's comic book movie.

Nosotros were introduced to Dr. Stephen Strange every bit a hotshot brain surgeon known for taking on risky and complex procedures, but his life was thrown into a tailspin when he was involved in a high-speed machine blow. His hands thrusting through the dashboard resulted in permanent nerve damage, though Strange refused to permit his old life mean solar day. Spending all of his money on experimental surgeries that didn't stop up working, he was forced to face his terminal resort in Nepal, hearing stories about a healer known as The Aboriginal One (Tilda Swinton).

What Strange had actually learned about was the Kamar-Taj, a schoolhouse where he would non fix his hands with medicine, simply instead learn the ways of magic and channeling interdimensional energy. He proves to exist a fast-learning student, and afterward helping save our globe from the terrifying Dormammu, he is tasked with overseeing the Sanctum Sanctorum in New York and helping protect the world from mystical threats. Loki tin can certainly be categorized in this manner, so when he returns to Earth in Thor: Ragnarok, Strange feels the need to get involved.

Heimdall

Introduced in the first Thor, Heimdall (Idris Elba) has one of the most important jobs in all of Asgard, as he is basically the man responsible for the prophylactic of the realm. He is the guardian of the Bifrost Span -- which is essentially the transport device that allows individuals to travel between the aforementioned Nine Realms connected by the cosmic tree Yggdrasil. Not only does Heimdall protect this span and the giant sword that activates it, but he also has the incredible ability of all-sight and all-hearing, allowing him to constantly sense any kind of distress going on at any time in whatever part of the known universe.

Naturally, some have a few issues with this ability, and one of them is Loki. Heimdall has long had an uneasy human relationship with the God of Mischief, who always seems to play around on the edges of his neat sight, and in that location isn't exactly a tremendous amount of trust betwixt them. As you can imagine then, when Loki winds up taking the throne of Asgard he finds himself none too interested in keeping Heimdall around, which winds upwards beingness important ground that is covered in Thor: Ragnarok.

Sif And The Warriors Three

Thor has long seen himself as a sworn protector of the Asgardian realm, but it's not a job that he has always performed lonely. Rather, he has always had the support of four of his all-time friends: Sif (Jaimie Alexander), and the trio of Volstagg (Ray Stevenson), Fandral (Zachary Levi), and Hogan (Tadanobu Asano), also known as The Warriors Three. They aren't all Asgardian natives, equally Hogan originally hails from the planet Vanaheim, but they have sworn allegiances to protect their domicile against any threat.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sif and the Warriors 3 have come to Thor'due south aid a couple of times. Following his banishment from Asgard, they traveled to World to help protect the God of Thunder from his vengeful blood brother and the deadly Destroyer; and then they actually had to commit treason against the crown so that they could assistance Thor and Loki stop the invasion of the Nighttime Elves. And while Sif won't exist around for the action in Thor: Ragnarok, the 3 others will take quite a lot to bargain with when Hela (Cate Blanchett) arrives in the majestic realm in the new movie.

Jane Foster

Thor has demonstrated a potent analogousness for Earth in the by, and it'due south not simply because the people have historically treated him like a god whenever he flashes some lightning beyond the sky. Rather, it's because the planet is the abode of his truthful love, astrophysicist Jane Foster, whom Thor first met when Odin banished him from Asgard and he was getting his legendary lesson in humility. While he opened her listen to the vastness of the universe, she taught him the values of humbleness and nobility, and they fell for each other every bit a event.

That said, their relationship has never really been on the most stable footing. Thor totally disappeared for months after first meeting and falling in love with Jane; and then when he did finally return, she was infected with the power of an Infinity Stone and thrust into the eye of a plot with universe-catastrophe implications. This kind of stress isn't good for whatever kind of romantic appointment, and that is very much represented in the status of the Thor/Jane bond when we catch upwardly with the eponymous hero in Thor: Ragnarok.

NJ native who calls LA home; lives in a Dreamatorium. A decade-plus CinemaBlend veteran; endlessly enthusiastic nearly the career he's dreamt of since 7th grade.

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Source: https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1720100/everything-you-need-to-know-before-seeing-thor-ragnarok