The One Thing Thor: The Dark World Does Better Than The Rest

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Fandoms have an inescapable urge to rank every aspect of their favorite media property and often have a funny way of coalescing with a singular popular opinion. Decisively ranking something good or bad rarely interrogates the infinite complexities within a piece of art, possibly leaving quality material behind in the lists.

Thor: The Dark World is generally cited as the worst film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for a variety of reasons. It has the franchise's weakest villain, a confusing plot, and a complete lack of originality. Almost everything it does was done better in Thor or Thor: Ragnarok, with the exception of one crucial element.

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The plot of Thor: The Dark World takes place immediately after The Avengers, rejoining the God of Thunder after the successful arrest of his brother Loki. The God of Mischief's actions on Earth land him a life sentence in a tiny cell in his adoptive father's palace, where he stays with unnerving almost Hannibal Lecter-like patience. Most of the first and second act surrounds Thor's misguided battle against the forgettable villain Malekith, the Dark Elf. The monstrous figure seeks the Aether, a liquid source of energy that would later be revealed to be the Reality Stone. In his war against Asgard, Malekith invades the palace, steals the Aether, and kills Lady Frigga. Devastated by the death of his mother, Thor turns to the only person he thinks can help him.

At this point in the franchise, Loki had appeared in two other films. His role in Thor explored his tragic origin, leading to his violent betrayal. He's presumed dead by his family after the battle on the Rainbow Bridge, but he returns to surprise in The Avengers. That film is much less