Movie Moments: A brand new Thor arrives in Wakanda (Avengers: Infinity War)

                                            (Image courtesy of Comicbook.com)

Avengers: Infinity War has arguably two great moments. One of these moments is very positive while the other is very negative. The positive one has to do with Thor’s arrival right in the middle of the battle in Wakanda and the second great negative moment has to do with the finger snap by Thanos which erases half the known life in the universe. I will be discussing the great positive moment of the film where a brand new Thor arrives in Wakanda to even the odds against the army of Thanos, led by his minions, the “black order”, who are after the mind stone planted in Vision’s forehead.

Thor is the most heroic character in Infinity War and his arc is also the most epic one. Thor’s arc in the film is one big epic moment and he almost delivers the killing blow to Thanos ( he just didn’t aim for the head). The moment when Thor enters Wakanda is certainly one of the most uplifting moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It rivals the scene where Tony Stark, in Iron Man (2008), blazes across the sky (sonic boom style) on his way to save the oppressed citizens of Gulmira. There is also the moment when Tchalla, in Black Panther (2018), is greeted by his fellow Wakandans at the waterfall before he engages in ritual combat. When the Avengers finally demonstrate how they can  work together in the battle for Manhattan then that too was a sight to behold.   These are some of the few moments in the MCU where I have genuinely become excited. So when Thor arrived in Wakanda I immediately added to my list of exciting MCU moments. These are the heroic moments that make these superheroes worth watching on the big screen although they are quite few.

When it comes to the Avengers fight with Thanos Thor begins and ends it. Other heroes have their fill with Thanos during the film but are brushed aside (the idiotic Captain America/Steve Rogers is brushed aside twice). The Guardians, along with Iron man, Doctor strange and Spiderman do come close to removing the infinity gauntlet from Thanos but for Star lord’s impetuousness.  Thor is initially brushed aside by Thanos and his “black order” in the opening scene along with the other strong avenger, the Hulk. When the Hulk is brushed aside, fairly easily, it must have been clear to Thor that more was needed to stop the mad Titan. More like the forging of a Thanos killing type of weapon. When Thanos brushes aside Thor, the Hulk, Heimdall and Loki he also brushes aside a significant number of Thor’s fellow exiled  asgardians who were on the ship. Thanos eventually destroys the ship and it’s not so clear what happened to the so called other half of the asgardian refugees who were on their way to earth before Thanos intercepted the ship. They probably escaped.  So when the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive at the scene of the devastation, in response to the distress signal, Thor is the only survivor although a beaten Hulk was earlier sent by Heimdall to earth to warn of what’s coming. So technically there were 2 survivors (both Avengers) but Thor was the only one to survive after Thanos destroyed the entire ship using the power stone.

Thor is discovered conveniently by the Guardians among the many scattered dead bodies floating around after the ship was destroyed. The perplexed Guardians marvel at Thor’s physical make-up. He is referred to as a “pirate-angel” or “god-man” and makes Peter Quill/Starlord jealous of his godly attributes. At this point Thor is a physically wounded and emotionally broken “god-man” having been brushed aside by Thanos but the events which unfold suggests that Thor will make amends by confronting Thanos once more.  Thor is the most heroic because he doesn’t give in. So whereas the other heroes are brushed aside by Thanos Thor is the one hero who decides to get back up and reengage Thanos. Even the incredible Hulk no longer shows up following the walloping he received from Thanos. With the Hulk out of the picture Thor is the only seriously strong Avenger left. Iron Man is much more capable, physically, in this film as a result of his nanotech armour but all he manages to draw from Thanos is a drop of blood. The only avenger in the film capable of drawing serious blood is Thor and he makes it clear to the Guardians when he attempts to take their pod to go to Nidavellir (dwarf planet or realm)so that Eitri, the dwarf king, can make him the weapon he needs to kill Thanos. Thor makes it clear that only he has the strength to wield such a weapon and goes back to him being one of the 2 strong Avengers, the hulk being the other. It is eventually decided that Rocket and Groot will accompany Thor on his quest to Nidavellir to forge the Thanos killing weapon.

On the way to Nidavellir we get a good glimpse into Thor’s emotional state as he begins to form a close bond with Groot and Rocket. Groot and Rocket are not along just for the ride and play a crucial in building the new Thor. Rocket gives him a new eye and consoles him and Groot  creates the handle for his new weapon STORMBREAKER.  Rocket consoling Thor is an important turning point and provides some insight into the extent of the burdens he carries as the leader of Asgard in exile. He makes reference to his  dead family and best friend, his long life and the enemies he’s killed. Thor makes the crucial point that Thanos is one in a long line of foes and, after Rocket corrects him, that Thanos  hasn’t fought  him twice. A tearful Thor also makes it clear to Rocket that he has nothing else to lose even though he might lose to Thanos a second time. Thor aims to turn all the negatives into ‘tremendous motivators’.  It is admirable considering the extent of loss he has suffered. Not many people would have the strength to recover from such loss. This is the case when we meet Eitri, the dwarf king, who has been rocked by the loss of his companions (killed by Thanos) on the planet or the realm where the star has gone out. The planet  was supposed to be protected by Asgard.  Eitri is  a lone survivor( like Thor to some extent)  and his hands were  maimed by Thanos after making the gauntlet.  Thanos is clearly very thorough when obliterating his foes which is why few can find the strength to rise again. Thor is one of the few with the strength to rise up after a startling defeat to Thanos.  He rouses Eitri with stirring words and convinces him that he still has his weapon making abilities in his head and that ‘together we can kill Thanos.’ Obviously Thor, Rocket and Groot have to do a lot of the physical work to make the weapon particularly restarting the forge and awakening the heart of a dying star in order to heat the metal to be placed within the mould.

The weapon is called STORMBREAKER, part hammer-part axe,  and is meant to be a kings weapon, the mightiest of them all, with the capability to summon the bifrost or interstellar travel among the realms. This means that Thor couldn’ t ask for a more powerful weapon with which to face Thanos for a second time. Thor never played a role in the making of Mjolnir; it was handed to him by his father, Odin, because he was considered worthy of wielding it. In the case of STORMBREAKER he plays an active role in the making of the weapon along with Rocket and Groot. Rocket helps him to restart the forge with the help of the pod’s engines. ‘That’s Nidavellir,’ says Thor to Rocket as the heart of the dying star is awakened.  Rocket’s usual pessimism is dimmed for a bit and he becomes a believer. Rocket always had a negative streak which comes from a narrow minded realism whereas Thor has more exposure to fantastic places and beings of a higher order. Thor again demonstrates his great strength after it’s revealed that the mechanism which allows for the transfer of the star’s energy  to heat the weapon is broken. Thor decides that he will manually open the portal  in order for the energy of the star to pass through and melt the metal so that it can be forged after being placed on the mould. Although Thor clearly has the strength to keep the portal open he is tested because he must face the full force of the star’s energy. Thor has nothing to lose at this point. He manages to keep the portal open long enough to melt the metal so that the weapon can be forged after being placed in the mould. It is done at great risk to his life and he’s on the verge of death.  Only by bonding with the new weapon can he recover and this is when Groot steps in and  makes a handle for the axe using the material from his own body. Thor calls his new hammer and  he again assumes the mantle of the mighty Thor. The mighty Thor, along with his two unlikely companions and the dwarf king, have  forged the mightiest of weapons  with which to challenge Thanos. This weapon belongs wholly to Thor. He is now his own god-man removed from Odin’s sphere of influence.

At the time Thor enters Wakanda the other heroes are desperate to protect Vision from the forces of Thanos. The three remaining members of the so called black order are leading an army of wild beasts to breach the perimeter barrier. In order to prevent the beasts from swarming the perimeter it’s agreed that they have to keep them in front and face them head on. Tchalla decides to open a section of the almost impenetrable energy field barrier.. There is then a full frontal assault on the wild beasts by the Wakandan forces led by Tchalla and the other superheroes. They eventually realize that the number of wild beasts is simply too much. The beasts begin to overwhelm all the heroes including the hulkbuster armour. It’s at this moment that a great energy blast known as the bifrost strikes right in the heart of the battle creating somewhat of a divide between the beasts and the forces of Wakanda.   From out of the bifrost energy field  STORMBREAKER emerges striking down the beasts with ease. The almost  circular trajectory that the mighty weapon takes  relieves the pressure on the overwhelmed heroes and then it returns to Thor’s hand as he is revealed in all his new glory. It is a magnificent and heroic entrance and Thor looks like a stately figure; one who is reborn. It is the first time in the film where we see Thor in the full light of day. His regal and imposing figure is a sight to behold for the other heroes. ‘You guys are so screwed now,’ says Bruce Banner. Even the two members of the black order, leading the charge, know that the tide of battle is about to change. They know that Thor is a major player.  Thor, along with Rocket and Groot,  charges at the beastly army saying ‘Bring me Thanos.’ As they head towards the army Thor’s lightning streaks  become more intense and he rises high into the air, lighting up the sky  before bringing the mighty weapon down upon the  swarming beasts. It’s clear that he took out a good chunk with one blow. Thor is now the most powerful Avenger (until Captain Marvel is introduced).

In order to get an idea of how much Thor’s power increased one can compare his mighty hammer slam delivered upon his entry to Wakanda with the hammer slam he delivered to some swarming beasts in the opening scene of Thor: Ragnarok when he was in Surtur’s lair. The hammer slam delivered in Ragnarok was mild compared to the one delivered by Thor  in Infinity War. It is a magnificent display of power by Thor and clearly shows that there has been a shift in the tide of the battle in favour of the Wakandan forces.  Thor is so powerful he takes out the retreating alien spaceships with ease while the advanced Wakandan aerial force is struggling.

Now the key point is why wasn’t the brand new Thor allowed to face Thanos before he acquired the final infinity stone from vision’s head. Thanos arrives in Wakanda during the battle on Titan and brushes aside the other heroes. Even though Vision is killed by scarlett witch, who was forced to destroy the mind stone  lodged in his forehead, Thanos reverses this and so Vision, along with the mind stone is remade. Thanos had all the time in the world so where was Thor or why not have Thor confront him before he was able to acquire the mind  stone? The answer seems to be pretty simple. If Thor was present while Thanos was brushing the other heroes aside then it’s likely that the mind stone would  not have been recovered. Thor would have defeated Thanos and then the day would have been saved. The power of STORMBREAKER was on full display again when Thor entered the fray right after Thanos acquired the mind stone. Thor hits Thanos with some lightning and then throws the weapon at Thanos to deliver the killing blow. STORMBREAKER is so powerful that it withstands a full blast from a fully formed infinity gauntlet with all the stones in place and strikes Thanos. Thanos is wounded and on his knees and Thor reminds him ‘I told you, you’d die for that,’ as he forces the blade of the weapon deeper into Thanos’ chest. It’s not enough as Thanos tells him he should have aimed for the head before snapping his fingers and wiping out half of the life in the universe. If it was scripted that Thor would fight Thanos before he  acquired  the mind stone from vision then it’s likely that the snap wouldn’t  happen.  Thor was as good as his word when he said that he would defeat Thanos if given the chance to face him a second time. If not for the Thanos finger snap, Thor defeating Thanos would have been a really triumphant moment. Thor is the first hero to make Thanos come face to face with his mortality (he is clearly seriously hurt in the final scene of the film. The next time they meet Thanos will be better prepared for  the mighty STORMBREAKER.

Tracing Thor’s arc in Infinity War is the most impressive bit of storytelling in the film. Of all the heroes he is given the chance at redemption after losing so much in the beginning and this is done by embarking on an epic quest where he had to endure great tests before acquiring the ultimate weapon. Let’s not forget Rocket and Groot in all this. Thor’s story is an example of the platitude that you mustn’t give up when all hope is lost or even after you’ve suffered tremendous loss; you must find the strength within so that you can continue to believe in yourself.  While it might be a platitude on paper it is not necessarily so in live action as Thor demonstrated by arriving, brand new, in the midst of the battle in Wakanda.