These assumptions came after TR tried to retcon everything about Thor franchise and characterizations. It came from the snake story which was improvise by CH just for jokes, and no one cared to remind him that Thor and Loki aren’t the same age, since Odin declared Thor his firstborn in Thor 1. These assumption came from TW who didn’t understand Loki at all despite enough material in other movies:
“someone who tries so hard to embody this idea of the tortured artist, this tortured, gothy orphan”
“…this little emo goth hanging out by himself. He was like the kid in Harry Potter [Malfoy].”
has been trying to kill Thor his entire life
None of these conclusions are true. Loki was pretty loyal to Thor his entire life. Even disrupting the coronation wasn’t a betrayal to Thor.
“You are my brother and my friend. Sometimes I’m envious, but never doubt I love you.”
“I love Thor more dearly than any of you, but you know what he is. He’s arrogant. He’s reckless. He’s dangerous. You saw how he was today. Is this what Asgard needs from its king?”
He knew Thor wasn’t ready and he also wanted a chance to prove to his father that he is worthy too, since that was the impression both Thor and Loki got from Odin, that the better son get to be the king.
We got to see Thor and Loki as children in Thor 1. Let’s see what can be understood from their scene as children.
The scene starts when Odin finishing his tale about the war with Jotunheim and shows his children the war prize he got from them, the Casket of Ancient Winters to stop them to cause further harm. His tale portrays Jotuns as villains who attacked Earth with no reason and Asgardians as heroes. He speaks of a long and bloody war with an enemy that is very strong. As all children, Thor and Loki see their father as a hero and invincible, but in their case even more so, because Odin calls himself the protector of the nine realms. But this enemy even took their father’s eye. They must be very strong and scary. They must be monsters. Notice that Odin calls Jotuns, “Frost Giants”, a word that can inflicts fear and has a negative effect. Odin finishes his tale with:
“But the day will come when one of you will have to defend that peace.”
And starts the idea of brother’s competition for the throne right there.
The camera zooms on Thor and Loki’s faces individually.
Loki:
“Do the Frost Giants still live?”
Loki’s face and question shows that he is analyzing this information. His expression and tone also shows caution and that he’s scared(of his own race). this can be an indication that he’s a sensitive kid. He has just heard a tale of war and death and it doesn’t interest him. Although he’s scared, he is still curious and wants to know more.
Before Odin has a chance to answer, Thor confidently declares:
Thor: “When I’m king, I’ll hunt the monsters down and slay them all!”
The camera cuts to Loki..
The way Loki looks at him after this, is very telling. There’s a bit exasperation and annoyance in his expression. As if he’s thinking “why are you
like this?” and “why do you think it’s you who’s going to be king”. There’s also embarrassment because Thor’s reaction made him look
weak, and envy because he thinks he isn’t as brave as his brother.
Thor continues,
full of excitement and admiration for his father, his hero: “Just as you did, Father”
This whole part shows that Thor is completely sure and confident that he is the one who is going to be the king. That it doesn’t matter to him if there are any monsters. He is going to kill them all. He is going to be like his father.
The next moment is very important in the movie. Both kids are looking to their father and waiting for his answer. Which one of them get his acknowledgment and approval? Does he think it’s better to know about the Frost Giants or just kill them all?
Loki’s face shows insecurity while Thor’s shows confidence. And both of them are longing to be validated by their father.
Odin knows this damn well. He looks at both of his sons and choose to answer them indirectly:
“A wise king never seeks out war but he must always be ready for it.”
Translation: It doesn’t matter to know about the Frost Giants more than it’s needed to defeat them. You must always be ready for war but don’t seek it.
He answers both of them with that. But in doing so he also confirms what Thor said, that Frost Giants are monsters. And the only information you need to know about them is how to beat them. There it is. Odin validating racism for his sons, knowing one of them is from the same race he just covertly confirmed to be monsters.
I was so shocked by this moment the very first time I watched this movie. I expected for Odin to tell Thor that they are not monsters. But instead Odin answered like that and it made me sure that this moment will come back to bite them(and us).
As Odin walks away from the children, Thor and Loki look at each other. There is love, excitement and innocence in their faces. And then they both run to reach to their father and grab his hands.
Thor states with confidence and determination while looking at Odin:
“I’m ready Father!”
Loki grabs Odin’s other hand and with desperation and insecurity tells Odin:
“So am I!”
Thor looks at Loki irritated. Loki looks at Odin, desperate to be acknowledged. Odin says:
“Only one of you can ascend to the throne. But both of you were born to be kings.”
Thor’s confidence returns and Loki’s face turns hopeful.
What Odin did here is pitting the two brothers against each other. His answer implies that only one of them, the better son can be king. This will make them compete against each other. This will make them seek Odin’s approval all the time which makes it easy for Odin to control them.
The way this scene plays out is very clever. The brothers look at each other with love but then run to Odin. Odin comes between them, literally and figuratively. The compete to gain his approval and as Loki’s insecurity here shows and later we find out, favoring Thor are the reasons that truly set the brothers apart.
So what can be concluded from this analysis? That neither Thor, nor Loki were malicious and definitely not towards each other. They got annoyed or irritated with each other but their reactions are as normal and childlike as any other child. Loki shows envy towards Thor, but the love in his eyes surpasses it far more(“sometimes I’m envious but never doubt I love you”). Besides his main concern is getting Odin’s approval. So a sensitive, curious, cautious child who is get upset and scared by the story of war and monsters, whose love for his brother is far more than his envy, isn’t capable of going around stabbing his brother. Also from a more logical point of view, he is intelligent, he knows stabbing his brother, the favorite son I might add, would never help him to gain his father’s approval which is his main goal. This also confirms what Loki later says to Thor:
“I never wanted the throne. I only ever wanted to be your equal!”
He wasn’t after the throne. Getting the throne was the proof that Odin saw him worthy. It was what Odin planted in their mind when they were children.
Kid Thor also isn’t malicious. He’s just a child who admires his father very much and wants to be like him. A child that his mistakes aren’t corrected but enabled and he is treated more favorably and better than his brother. So he learns that he’s better than Loki and learns to treat him the same way as he sees while they grow up. So the assumption that he was a sensitive kid(he was the one who got excited by stories of war and killing monsters) who was bullied by his broody evil brother can’t be correct.
Loki was never as evil and wrong as TR portrayed him. Neither Thor was like a saint and always right. Their relationship is far more complicated than good Thor vs. evil Loki. I don’t accept TR retconning their characteristics like this. Especially when there’s proof that TR’s interpretation of them is wrong.
Loki is the Philosopher King 