That Ship Has Sailed - On Seeing Romance Where There Isn’t


Ensign Lestat's Film Log, 08/11/2017

Thor: Ragnarok has taken most cinema fans by storm and it is easy to see why. Director Taika Waititi and the film’s writers have created a bold three-quel that is at once unique and the kind of light-hearted escapism comic books were originally created for.


Without giving much away, I find it interesting that the filmmakers steered the story clear away from any overt romantic entanglements. Some mild and brief flirtation aside, the story keeps the characters too busy to delve into any relationships, but still explores the platonic side of things. It is a brave decision given the propensity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its proprietor Disney to shoe-horn even the most unbelievable of pairing because… reasons.

Thor and Jane Foster may have been a match made in comic book heaven, yet Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman’s talent could not muster up the requisite chemistry needed to make them anyone’s OTP on screen. With no Jane in the picture (a regrettable decision, honestly) and the only singular hint of a romance languishing on the cutting room floor (more on that in a moment), the lack of any amore allows the story to flourish on its own.

For all of Ragnarok’s success, they went down a familiar route of queerbaiting fan with Valkyrie actor Tessa Thompson declaring on Twitter that she played her character as bisexual, just like in the comics - only for the sole moment of revelation to be cut from the final film. Ragnarok had queer options but did not explore any of them. This gimmick will get old soon enough.

What studios need to be wary of is the need to dangle an unattainable carrot in front of minority viewers in the hopes of maximising sales. I am hoping this faux pas by the Ragnarok creators did not ruin what should have been a fantastic cinematic experience. The absence of romance leaves room for more action and proper character development.

Watching Ragnarok made me reminisce about another recent Disney property that went down the platonic route. Head over to Vocal, to read more about my thoughts on  Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

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