Zack Snyder’s Norse mythology-inspired animated Netflix show,Twilight of the Gods, featured several Norse gods and goddesses who also appear inthe Marvel Cinematic Universe(MCU). Notevery god who was inTwilight of the Godshas been in the MCU, in part becauseTwilight of the Godstended to be more accurate when it came to the natures of Norse gods and goddesses. In fact,Twilight of the Godsgot several things rightabout Norse mythology.
By comparison, the MCU has taken many more liberties with the stories of the Norse gods, particularly the ones the franchise is best known for, including Loki and Thor. This doesn’t make either one better than the other, as each is good fun in its own way, but it is interesting to see how each dealt with the complex stories of Norse mythology.These 6 gods and goddesses reflect all the overlapping Norse god characters betweenTwilight of the Godsand the MCU, and the distinctions between the two are quite clear.
6Heimdall
Heimdall, the watchman of the gods in Norse mythology, appeared in bothTwilight of the Godsand the MCU, particularly the movies focused on Thor, although he makes brief appearances in a fewAvengersmovies. His role is seriously diminished inTwilight of the Gods, though. In the show, Heimdall doesn’t appear until the very end, when the final battle begins.
During that grueling battle, Heimdall remains silent and plays a minimal role. The most substantial moment for the character comes when Sigrid, the show’s protagonist, aims her spear at Thor but instead strikes Baldr, who steps in the way to save Thor’s life. Even Sigrid is devastated by this turn of events because Baldr has been one of the better gods throughout the show. Realizing Baldr is about to die, Heimdall rushes to his side. This is the extent of Heimdall’s role inTwilight of the Gods, for the most part.
Heimdall has a much more significant role in the MCU. InThor,Thor: The Dark World, andThor: Ragnarok, Heimdall plays a critical part in helping Thor and others navigate to and from Asgard via the Bifrost Bridge, which Heimdall oversees. He is also clearly a very close friend of Thor. Thor’s love for Heimdall was most clear when Thanos stabbed Heimdall, and amid all the destruction Thanos had caused, it was this moment in which Thor said,“You’ll die for that.“This same affinity was not shown inTwilight of the Gods.
Twilight Of The Gods Voice Cast & Character Guide
Twilight of the Gods is the newest venture between Zack Snyder and Netflix, an animated series versed in Norse mythology with a talented voice cast.
5Sif
In Twilight Of The Gods, Sif Was Thor’s Wife
Sif appears in bothTwilight of the Godsand the MCU, butSif is not a goddess in the MCU. This is one of many examples of Sif being more accurately portrayed inTwilight of the Gods—although there are still a number of differences between Sif in Norse mythology and Sif inTwilight of the Gods. In the MCU, Sif is a close friend of Thor and one of the most important warriors of Asgard.
Sif is specifically part of the group referred to as Lady Sif and the Warriors Three, which includes Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg. These three characters, like Sif’s role as a warrior of Asgard rather than a goddess, were created specifically for Marvel. This change doesn’t mean Sif was unimportant. She was in fact a key character throughout theThormovies, and she remains a fan favorite following her most recent appearance inThor: Love and Thunder.
InTwilight of the Gods, Sif’s role is quite different. She is portrayed as Thor’s beautiful but sad and spurned wife who knows he is having affairs but can do nothing about them. Thor’s treatment of Sif is also absolutely brutal, and he consistently speaks to her in a shockingly demeaning way. This portrayal of Sif is also inaccurate, although she is a goddess. In Norse mythology, Sif is Thor’s wife, but she is beloved by Thor, and the two have a much better relationship.
4Hel
Hela Played A Very Different Role In Thor
Hel (also called Hela, both in the MCU and in Norse mythology) is an incredibly complex character in every story in which she appears. In Norse mythology, Hel is the daughter of Loki and the giantess Angrboða. This means she is not exactly a goddess; at most, she is a demigod. Even so, she is consistently referred to as the goddess of death, presumably because her role overseeing the underworld, also called Hel, gives her a role in keeping with gods and goddesses.
In mythology, Hel is not seen as entirely good or entirely evil, which is true of many gods.
In mythology, Hel is not seen as entirely good or entirely evil, which is true of many gods. The rules of morals and ethics applied to humans are not so clearly defined among the gods. The same cannot be said of Hela in the MCU, who is an out-and-out villain. In the MCU, Hela is introduced inThor: Ragnarokas the vicious sister of Thor and Loki whom they had no idea existed. Not only is this a major change to Odin’s family tree, as Hel was not his daughter in Norse mythology, but it also seriously changes Hel’s nature.
InTwilight of the Gods, as in Norse mythology, Hel is a morally ambiguous character, although she seems more ‘good’ than evil. Her main role is accurately overseeing the underworld, but she does assist Sigrid in ways that suggest she is kind, underneath her scary visage.This is one example ofTwilight of the Godsclearly being more accurate than the MCU when it comes to Norse gods, although Hela is so much fun inThor: Ragnarokthat it’s worth the change.
3Odin
Odin plays a key role in both the MCU andTwilight of the Gods, and both depictions share similarities with Norse mythology. As in both stories, in mythology, Odin is the All-Father, which varies in meaning from the leader or king of all gods to the literal father of many Aesir gods. He was also seen as a war god, which at times meant ruthless or violent behavior.
Twilight of the Godsmaintains this more vicious representation of Odin, particularly towards the end of the show when he brutally guts Seid-Kona and leaves her for dead. In the MCU, Odin comes across as a kinder father figure, particularly as theThormovies progress. It’s worth noting, though, that the MCU suggests anything more jovial in his nature is a very recent development; it was Odin who fought alongside Hela and ultimately locked her away, after all. Odin’s dark past in the MCU, however minimally explored, therefore seems quite a bit closer to Odin in Norse mythology.
2Loki
Both The MCU And Twilight Of The Gods Reveal Loki To Be A Trickster
Loki is easily one of the most beloved characters in the MCU, which was made clear when he starred in his own spin-off show,Loki, that ran for two seasons. In the MCU, Loki is an incredibly complex character, which is no doubt part of his popularity. He begins as Thor’s antagonistic younger brother who discovers he was adopted, which causes him to spiral (to say the least).
This revelation leads into Loki’s appearance inThe Avengers, in which he is the main villain. Despite Loki causing considerable damage and multiple casualties during this plot line, he eventually becomes a hero in the MCU, first by dying while trying to stab Thanos inAvengers: Infinity War, and then by becoming the God of Stories intheLokiseason 2 ending. Throughout this complicated story arc, Loki represents the trickster god he was in Norse mythology.
The role Loki plays as the God of Mischief is fairly consistent throughout Norse mythology, the MCU, andTwilight of the Gods. InTwilight of the Gods, Loki proves to be a similarly complex character. Although he is the cause of many of the issues in the show, including kicking off Ragnarök, it is revealed over the course of the show that this is because he is trying to protect his children. His bitterness over being a ‘scapegoat god’ inTwilight of the Godssimilarly complicates him, suggestingnuance is a key part of Loki’s character in all stories.
1Thor
Thor’s Character Was Entirely Different In Twilight Of The Gods And The MCU
Thor’s characterization inTwilight of the Godsand the MCU is easily the most significant departure between the two in terms of representation of Norse gods. In the MCU, Thor is a lovable member of the Avengers team, and he grows increasingly silly as the franchise goes on. Most recently, inThor: Love and Thunder, Thor becomes a dad to a little girl he adopts, which ends with a scene revealing she has drawn a face on his iconic hammer, Mjölnir.
This is a major difference from Thor in Norse mythology and especially inTwilight of the Gods. In Norse mythology, Thor was the protector of humans, which is true in many ways in the MCU as well, but he was also known for having a short temper and violent outbursts.InTwilight of the Gods, Thor is a terrifying, bloodthirsty villain, and he is unrecognizable when compared to the MCU’s character. It is Thor’s massacre of Sigrid’s entire family, children included, that kicks off the events of the show.
These depictions of Thor really couldn’t be more different, although neither is entirely accurate. Like many gods in Norse mythology, Thor is seen as neither good nor evil. By comparison, in the MCU, Thor is undeniably a hero, and inTwilight of the Gods, Thor is a cruel villain. While bothTwilight of the Godsand the MCU clearly take liberties with Norse mythology, the stories of these 6 Norse gods are nevertheless entertaining in both.
Twilight of the Gods
Cast
Twilight of the Gods is an animated series inspired by Norse mythology. It follows characters such as Thor, Loki, and Odin in a rich narrative that delves into their legendary conflicts and alliances. Directed by Jay Oliva, the series features voice talents including John Bradley, Jamie Chung, and Patton Oswalt, bringing the epic mythological tales to life.
