Warning! This post contains spoilers for Twilight of the Gods.
Twilight of the GodsZack Snyder’s new animated Netflix show was loosely based on Norse mythology, and while many liberties were taken, the 10 aspects of the show are accurate. There were several Norse gods in it Twilight of the GodsAmong them some of the most famous, including Odin, Loki Laufeyson, and Thor Odinson. Each of the gods, though Thor in particular, was integral to the plot of the show.
In the short 8-episode run, Twilight of the Gods Focused on the story of Sigrid, an original character who is a half-giant woman returning to her home to be married to a mortal man, Leif. Tragically, her wedding day turns into an absolute bloodbath, during which Thor slaughters every last giant but Sigrid. From there, Sigrid goes on a quest to kill Thor, accompanied by a band of unlikely heroes and ‘helped’ by Loki. What follows is a hyper-violent exploration of the dynamics between the gods, giants, and humans in Norse mythology—and these 10 things are actually accurate.
10
Freya (or Freya) actually rode a chariot pulled by cats
The portrayal of Freya in Twilight of the Gods was quite accurate
Freya was one of the Norse gods to appear in Twilight of the GodsAnd her character seems to have stayed fairly true to Norse mythology. Freya, also spelled Freya in times, was the goddess of love, beauty and fertility, although she also represented war. in Twilight of the GodsFreya proved to be a complex character, helping Sigrid and her group in their quest to kill Thor, even though she was also technically on Thor’s ‘side’ of the battle.
One of the aspects of Norse mythology Twilight of the Gods Got right is that Freya rode in a cart pulled by two big cats. In Norse mythology, the cat – at times referred to as Bygul and Trjegul, although the names differ between sources – formed a magical bond with Freya. Some sources also indicate that the cats are a gift from Thor, adding to the complexity of their relationship.
9
Odin was the father of Thor
Thor ‘Odinson, along with several other gods, was Odin’s true son
As the surname ‘Odinson’ makes clear, Odin was the father of ThorBoth in Northern mythology and in Twilight of the Gods. Odin also had a number of other children, including Heimdall and Baldr, who also appeared in the show. in Twilight of the GodsThor and Odin do not have a particularly close relationship, which was evident when Thor was in a rage after learning that his father was trying to keep him away from Sigrid.
Thor, enraged that Odin evidently perceived Sigrid as a genuine threat to him, did not hesitate to undercut his father’s wishes, throwing himself into the line of fire several times by confronting Sigrid. The dynamic between Thor and Odin also seems to be quite accurate Twilight of the Gods. Unlike in other Odin and Thor stories, such as the MCU, father and son did not appear to have a particularly close relationship. Of course, there are many differences between Thor in the MCU and in mythology, and some are much more jarring than this.
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8
Sif and Thor got married
Sif was depicted as the sad, lonely wife of Thor in Twilight of the Gods
Sif is depicted as a golden-haired beautiful woman in Twilight of the GodsBut she spends most of the show looking pretty sad because her husband, Thor, is both cruel to her and constantly having affairs with other women. Sif even makes comments about hoping Sigrid succeeds in her mission to kill Thor to his face because, as she puts it, it would be better to be a widow than to continue living her life with Thor. again, Twilight of the Gods Based this story on several facts, viz Sif and Thor are married in Norse mythology.
In mythology, however, Sif and Thor are much happier with each other.
In mythology, however, Sif and Thor are much happier with each other. Rather than antagonistic and bitter, Thor is said to have great admiration and respect for Sif. Sif’s reaction to Thor’s infidelity in the show is also not entirely accurate, as both Thor and Sif have had extramarital affairs. This is partly because The idea of ​​monogamy as it is understood in the modern day does not really apply to the gods.
7
The giants and the gods really hated each other
As in Twilight of the Gods, the gods and the giants often battled
If Twilight of the Gods One thing they made very clear was that the gods and the giants absolutely hated each other. This was in many ways the reason for everything that happened in the show, as Thor’s brutal massacre at Sigrid’s wedding specifically targeted the giants. It is also clear that the feeling is mutual long before the attack, vi the phrase “I fear no gods” was repeated by giants throughout the show.
This tension in Twilight of the Gods There was a lot of truth to it. In Norse mythology, giants and gods are often adversaries, and Thor in particular was known for killing gods. Twilight of the Gods The dynamic changed quite a bit, though. in Twilight of the GodsThe giants (at least in Sigrid’s family) seem to just want peace and to be left alone. In mythology, giants are just as antagonistic as the gods, if not more so.
6
Only those who died in battle could go to Valhalla
Twilight of the Gods confirms that entering Valhalla is not easy
One of the main plot points in Twilight of the Gods involves the path to an afterlife in Valhalla. As in Norse mythology, Valhalla is the afterlife for warriors who have fallen in battleAnd only by dying on the battlefield can one go there. In the beginning, Hervor, one of the members of Sigrid’s team, is the one who longs to go to Valhalla, because her sons have all died and been taken there. She sees Valhalla as an opportunity to be with her sons again, and she does not fear death for that reason.
In the finale of Twilight of the GodsThis happy ending is tragically taken away from Hervor because she is forbidden to go to Valhalla after using cursed weapons. Instead, Sigrid is the one who ends up in Valhalla after Loki shockingly stakes her to death, giving her one last chance to kill Thor. for the most part, Twilight of the Gods It seems that they kept the mythology of Valhalla and how to get there.
5
The Valkyrie chooses who is worthy of Valhalla
Valkyrie took heroes from the battlefield on Odin’s behalf
Along with the rules and features of Valhalla remaining largely true to Norse mythology, Twilight of the Gods Fairly accurately represents the Valkyries’ role in the process. In both mythology and Twilight of the GodsThe Valkyries are tasked with visiting the battlefield, removing the bodies of those who died honorably in battle, and bringing them to Valhalla. In mythology, the Valkyrie specifically served Odin, identifying who was truly worthy of Valhalla on his behalf.
in Twilight of the GodsThe Valkyries fulfill this role, but they are otherwise silent and primarily absent figures. Although it is disturbing when Sigrid cries for them to take Hervor to Valhalla, it makes sense because of the valkyrie part of the game. They are meant to be impartial judges, so while it is a bit eerie to see them silently observing the battlefield from the sky, it seems in line with Norse mythology.
4
Loki was the god of mischief
Loki created chaos over Twilight of the Gods
Loki is easily one of the most prominent gods to appear in Twilight of the GodsIn no small part due to the character’s prominence in the MCU franchise. As in the MCU and in Norse mythology, in Twilight of the GodsLoki is the god of mischief. In the show, this is presented with an impressive level of complexity. Loki is no doubt a troublemaker, however Twilight of the Gods also complicates Loki in a number of ways, including by referring to him as a “Geegoat God.”
The Twilight of the Gods Representation of Loki and his role as the god of mischief seems to be largely in keeping with Norse mythology. In mythology, Loki was a trickster, but he was not seen as ‘evil’ (nor was he seen as ‘good’). This binary way of thinking is in fact rarely applied to the gods, and although this is not necessarily true for every god in Twilight of the GodsIt was true of Loki.
Loki was a trickster, but he was not seen as ‘evil.’
3
Thor is easily angered and incredibly violent
Thor is not the jovial god he is shown to be in other shows and movies
Thor was the main antagonist in Twilight of the GodsAnd his behavior was truly shocking and disturbing throughout the show. Not only did Thor slaughter Sigrid’s entire family and seemed to enjoy doing it, but he also took pleasure in insulting everyone around him, including his own wife, to whom he spoke with a harsh tongue. While Zack Snyder’s Thor certainly took this to a different level, There was some truth to Thor’s more violent nature based on Norse mythology.
In mythology, Thor was known to have a short temper and bouts of violence. As mentioned, the tension between gods and giants led to Thor being known as a giant slayer. however, Twilight of the Gods Didn’t get it quite right. Thor’s violence is not as random and masochistic in Norse mythology as it was in the show. Thor is even thought of as a protector of humanity in mythology, which is absolutely not the case in Twilight of the Gods.
2
Hel, Fenrir and Jörmungandr were indeed Loki’s children
Loki’s children were key to the story in Twilight of the Gods
In addition to the many well-known gods who appear in Twilight of the GodsLoki’s children, Hel, Fenrir and Jarmungandr, also play a role. All three characters represent real figures in Norse mythology, and many of their features remain the same. In both mythology and Twilight of the GodsFenrir is the wolf son of Loki, and Jormungandr is his serpent child. Twilight of the Gods made a slight change here, as Jörmungandr was depicted as a young woman; In mythology, Jörmungandr is one of Loki’s sons.
None of Loki’s children is technically a god, as their mother was the giant Angrboda. Everyone is therefore a demigod at most. Even so, Hel is often referred to as the goddess of death, and because of her role overseeing the underworld, she is often treated more like a god than her siblings are, both in mythology and in Twilight of the Gods.
1
Ragnarök was the death of the gods
Ragnarök was Loki’s plan all along
Twilight of the Gods Finale reveals that the massive battle between the gods, the giants and the humans was the beginning of RagnarökThe death of the gods in Norse mythology. Loki has specifically orchestrated many of the show’s events to bring about Ragnarök, using Sigrid’s grief against her so that she goes along with Loki’s plan. While the battle saw the death of several gods, Thor’s favorite brother Baldr and the god Tyvaz (who was created for the show) among them, this battle was only the beginning.
Ragnarök is yet to be fulfilled, although this could be explored in a potential season 2 of Twilight of the Gods. No second season has been confirmed so far, but the show has proven to be quite popular, and there is certainly more story to tell if the show is renewed. For now, however, the existence of Ragnarök in Twilight of the Gods is consistent with the occurrence of the same name in Norse mythology, which reflects yet another aspect of mythology the show is right.