Norse mythology is full of powerful gods, epic battles, and stories of love, betrayal, and revenge. Zack Snyder’s animated series Twilight of the Gods on Netflix brings new life to these ancient tales by adding modern twists. Let’s explore what makes this series so captivating.
The show starts with Leif Volsung, a king and warrior, sharing how he met his future wife, Sigrid. He describes a fierce battle in the snow where he was struggling to survive. Then, suddenly, Sigrid, a powerful warrior, arrives and turns the fight in their favor with her amazing skills. Together, they win the battle, leaving the battlefield covered in the blood of their enemies.
At that moment, a valkyrie, a female figure from Norse mythology who leads fallen warriors to Valhalla comes down from the sky. However, something unusual occurs: the valkyrie bows to Sigrid.
This moment makes Leif realize that he is in love with her. This scene perfectly sets the mood for the series, combining romance, battle, and mythology in a dramatic way.
What happened at Sigrid's wedding that's different from Norse mythology?
In the first episode, Thor is introduced, but he is not the hero many might expect. Unlike the noble god in the Marvel movies, this Thor crashes a wedding and starts killing people.
His actions lead Sigrid to seek revenge after he murders her entire family. This sets her on a journey for justice, but she is not alone. She gathers a group of outcasts to help her.
Sigrid’s motivation is clear, she wants revenge on Thor for ruining her life. However, her journey isn’t just about vengeance. Along the way, she forms close bonds with a unique group of characters, each with their own reasons for joining her.
The crew Sigrid gathers is full of interesting personalities like Egill, Hervor, Andvar, The Seid-Kona and Ulfr. Together, they become an unlikely team, prepared to take on gods and monsters.
How is the relationship between Thor and Loki in Twilights of The Gods?
The relationship between Thor and Loki is one of the most interesting parts of the show. The relationship between the brothers is not the same as the Norse Mythology. The god of thunder who was the protector in the Marvel movies is now portrayed as a villain who declares:
"I am Thor, I want blood."
They started as allies but quickly became enemies, each driven by their own goals. Unlike in the Marvel movies, where Loki is a mischievous anti-hero, in Twilight of the Gods, Loki is more ruthless, showing the darker side of his trickster personality.
Odin has a vision of himself hanging from a tree like Jesus Christ
In Twilight of the Gods, there’s a scene where Odin has a vision of himself hanging from a tree, looking up to see Jesus nailed to the cross. This angle is completely different from the Norse Mythology. It’s like he’s staring into a distorted mirror.
This moment captures how history can blur, hinting that stories of Christ may have influenced how Odin was portrayed once his tales were written down.
Zack Snyder explains that the scene plays with the idea of Odin wondering,
"What happens to me now?"
It’s almost like his identity gets borrowed or taken by the Christian God or Christ. Snyder finds it fascinating to explore this connection between Odin on the World Tree and Christ on the cross, emphasizing that such imagery is ancient and transcends any single religion.
It carries a universal meaning, allowing people to interpret it for themselves. Snyder admits he’s not entirely sure why these themes keep popping up in his work, but they just seem to fit.
He also enjoys the idea of how, when Christianity arrived, the Norse people seemed to accept it somewhat casually, blending it with their existing beliefs. Snyder finds this merging of religious ideas both natural and interesting.
The Norse mythology vs everything in Zack Synder's Twilight of The Gods
One of the strengths of Twilight of the Gods is how it combines the old with the new. While many of the characters and plot points are taken directly from Norse mythology, Twilight of the Gods also adds its own spin on things.
For example, Thor’s brutal wedding scene is based on an ancient Norse myth, but it’s reimagined to fit the darker themes of the show. These modern updates keep the mythology fresh while still respecting the original stories.
Twilight of the Gods doesn’t shy away from showing that the gods are flawed and powerful beings. Thor is shown as a violent force, while his brother Loki is cunning and manipulative.
Odin, the All-father, spends most of the series alone, haunted by his knowledge of the future and the looming doom of Ragnarok, the end of the world in Norse mythology.
Odin’s character is fascinating. He is obsessed with the idea of Ragnarok and spends much of the season trying to avoid it. At one point, he has a vision of Jesus Christ on the cross, symbolizing a mix of Norse mythology and Christianity. This vision reflects the uncertainty of history, as many ancient myths have been changed or forgotten over time.
Zack Snyder’s Twilight of the Gods brings Norse mythology to life in a way that is both visually stunning and emotionally engaging. The series mixes brutal action with deep character development, creating a world that feels both ancient and modern at the same time.
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