ODIN IS ... COMPLICATED . I wouldn’t say he’s a particularly terrible father to Thor , in the sense of having done anything to warrant that perception . but it’s more about what he didn’t do . he’s the typical “ absent father ” archetype , especially where Thor is concerned -------------- the one who treats his son like another subject , the one who sees Thor as a prince and future king first , and offspring second . so most of Thor’s interactions , most of Thor’s memories of Odin aren’t full of father - son moments or paternal love , as much as they feel like a mentor guiding his mentee , someone who he can disregard as soon as the upskill session is over .
in the larger scale of things , Thor believes that saying his father’s always been “ too busy ” or “ otherwise preoccupied ” doesn’t really hold its own when Odin is the Allfather , king of the Nine Realms . like ... of course he’s busy , of course he may be preoccupied . it never struck Thor as a negative dynamic , until everything with Loki surfaced , and Thor realised they both were affected by Odin’s ruling in very , very different ways . and given the discovery of Loki’s parentage , Thor realises that he’s honestly not the one who’s suffered over all these years , that there’s always been an assumption on him , to take over Ásgarðr , in a way that disregards the other sibling entirely .
and I think further still , the absent father prompts Thor to try his absolute utmost to gain approval ------------------ to the point where , yes , he’s made stupid decisions he hasn’t necessarily agreed with , to please Odin . and he’s gone to extreme lengths to try and hear his father say “ well done ” or “ i’m proud of you ” and Thor’s even figured that the personality traits that differentiate him from his father are a weakness on Thor’s part ( where , much the opposite , the traits that define Thor as his own individual , very different to Odin , are his biggest strengths and the reason he prospers as a king )
Odin only told Thor once , that he was proud ; and that was moments before he passed , shortly before Ragnarök . I think it’s clear from talking to Thor , in any point in his life , that the uncertainty and frustration in that relationship has been a constant . from :
the way Thor asks anyone who’s ever spoken to Odin , whether Odin said anything about him
the way Thor gets quieter and quieter the more the conversation moves to Odin and his ruling , as if it’s in any way emphasising Thor’s failures
the way Thor occasionally gets angry at problems he can’t immediately resolve --- and in his head , he can imagine Odin reprimanding him
the constant comparisons he makes
the way he tries to emulate Odin , in his younger years especially
