Gorr the God Butcher is MCU’s Greatest Villain…and a Missed Opportunity

by Josh Ramos · July 11, 2022

There was no denying the hype that surrounded the villain’s eventual debut in the lauded Marvel Cinematic Universe, and in Thor: Love and Thunder, it came and went in a flash, and created a Gorr the God Butcher who is the MCU’s greatest villain, and a missed opportunity.

With the film set to adapt the iconic 2013 Thor run orchestrated by comic book legend Jason Aaron, there were two characters that MCU fans couldn’t wait to see adapted to the big screen; Jane Foster’s The Mighty Thor, and Gorr the God Butcher.

Source: Marvel Studios

Gorr is one of the greatest Marvel villains of the modern era for the publication, and Aaron’s brilliant writing crafted an alien that is one of the most relatable villains that fans have seen in quite some time; with him quickly becoming a fan favorite.

The excitement around the character’s presence in Thor: Love and Thunder were only magnified when it was announced that none other than legendary performer Christian Bale was tabbed by Marvel Studios to bring the villainous character to life.

Source: Marvel Studios

The finished product that arrived to audiences last week featured a character that certainly lived up to the hype, with Taika Waititi and Christian Bale bringing to life a terrifying force that was the perfect foil to the comedically charged Thor that he faced off against.

Yet, when the credits started rolling, we couldn’t help but feel as though Gorr the God Butcheris the MCU’s greatest villain, and a massively missed opportunity.

Source: Marvel Studios

There is no denying the brilliance of Bale and his choices, as he was truly an unsettling and unpredictable being out for revenge, and driven to madness through his experience; he delivered someone relatable but also deeply troubling in his actions.

It was in the opening sequence of the film that perfectly speaks to the character’s best qualities; the horrific reality of Gorr’s circumstance, the anger of his incredible betrayal, and the true depths of his pain were all on display in what may be the best opening of any Marvel sequence ever.

Source: Marvel Studios

But that scene also displays why this character was such a missed opportunity, as the investment feels half-earned as a viewer, with it being so tremendously difficult to truly invest in the villain and his action with how fast the exposition is being delivered.

All in all, it feels as though Gorr, simply doing his lack of involvement in the film, won’t be able to surpass villains like Thanos, but it doesn’t change the fact that he certainly deserves to be; as Bale and Waititi crafted a villain that is truly spectacular.