This moment stands out to me for two reasons. One is my own realization, the other is someone else’s that strikes me. I’m sorry, I can’t remember who that person was.
1. How many times did we see Loki, Thor and Odin having a discussion? I think three times in the first movie, they were all three together. Loki stayed quiet, in the shadows, listening and processing, while Thor and Odin argued or discussed whatever. This is one of those conversations. Only this time, Loki couldn’t stay quiet. He had to come forth and defend Thor. What was he going to say? I like to imagine it was some sort of confession, though whatever it was would likely use his silver tongue. Odin gives him no chance. In an attempt to give credence to Odin, I tried to imagine he was so distraught over Loki going to Jotunheim that he couldn’t deal with it yet. He had to handle the less painful task of banishing his favorite son first. More likely, he was enraged that Loki was stepping out of his roll identified over a thousand years of practice. Odin and Loki had their private conversations, but Odin never asked Loki’s opinions when he was asking Thor’s. He never dragged him forth for analysis or interpretation of events. Even if he had something to say, Loki learned to bite his tongue and keep his mouth shut. Except for this one time. Right here, Loki couldn’t play his roll any more. He dared step forth, and Odin is so enraged, he can’t speak a single coherent word to him, only a guttural roar. It was so engrained in him that even at the end, in Ragnarok, when the three are brought back together, Odin and Thor do all the talking, while Loki falls back into his practiced silent roll.
2. Watch the light on Loki in this scene. “I remember a shadow…” Loki reminds us. Here is a visual representation of the shadow. When Loki dares to step out of the shadows and speak for himself, light falls on his face. However Odin chooses to react will impact Loki’s psyche for the rest of his life. Odin roars him back into silence, shadow, submission. And the light falls from Loki’s face. Who was responsible for that tiny detail? It is so subtle and so beautiful. It’s a visual representation of Loki’s whole life, demonstrated with just a bit of light on his face. When this was pointed out to me by that other user, it made this moment so much sadder, and so much more beautiful.
What are your opinions on this scene? Is there any hope that Odin raged at Loki because he was so concerned about him going to the realm of his birth? Was he angry that Loki stepped out of his identified roll? Was he angry that Loki was interrupting? What do you think about light/shadow play over Loki’s face? Feel free to gush over Tom’s acting, as well!
By boredbrooder
vaporwave
romaincrisis
2087
titsay
yousharknotpass
