Just like many other people, my Netflix watchlist is long. Like, very long. So when I recently finished the two series I was watching, it took me a while to decide what show would be next. I ended up settling for Ragnarok, a TV series by Netflix. It caught my eye because it’s about Norse mythology, which is something that’s a major interest of mine.
Ragnarok takes place in the Norse town Edda, where the protagonist, Magne (blonde guy on the right in the header), just moved with his mother and his younger brother Laurits. Magne is a tall guy with severe dyslexia and a typical case of social awkwardness. However, Magne befriends a classmate and he quickly learns that something is wrong in Edda. Magne also shares classes with Fjor and Saxa Jutul, who are some of the richest kids in the country. Their wealth comes from the factories that the Jutul family possess, which are also a major source of pollution. While Magne is trying to prove that the Jutuls are polluting the environment around Edda, he also discovers strange things about himself. He’s suddenly super strong, he doesn’t need glasses anymore, and he keeps breaking world records. While he tries to figure out what is happening to him, he also realizes that the Jutul family is hiding more than just pollution.
Now, little spoiler (but not really, it’s revealed in the trailer): Magne is Thor. Or, well, he has Thor’s powers, at least. It’s fitting that his powers were triggered when he came to Edda, as the Norse myths are written in the Prose Edda and Poetic Edda.
But all that aside, I think it’s now time for me to give my opinion on this show. In one word? Amazing. In more words? Ragnarok is a creative take on the Norse myths and their relevance in modern day society. For those unaware, Ragnarok is the end of the world in the Norse mythology. It’s the final battle between the Gods and the Giants. So in this show, the hero (Thor) really did return after having been gone for ages. And the Giants, well … they never left (this is also in the trailer, by the way).
What I found especially interesting was that Magne was basically trying to solve two problems at once, but it all fit perfectly together. The problem of pollution is very accurate considering the times, and it’s a good reminder to handle our environment with care. If you are in any way familiar with the Norse myths, you’ll also definitely enjoy the Easter eggs in this series. If you’re not familiar with them, you will be after watching Ragnarok.
What I also liked about Ragnarok is the amount of empathy I had for Magne. He really gets the worst of it, and you feel like you’re rooting for the underdog hero. Underdog characters might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I have a soft spot for them. Magne is a unique and well-written character whom I quickly started to care for (I know, he’s fictional). The casting is also perfect, because the actor, with his height and build, really reminds me of Thor. Magne has the second best character development (I’m not spoiling who has the best character development), and I’m eager to see what happens in Season 2 (because that has been confirmed, yay!).
So are there things I didn’t like about Ragnarok? Well, I disliked how short it was. The first season is only six episodes, and, because of that, I was left hanging with a lot of excitement and nowhere to put it. Also the finale felt … unfinished somehow. I get that it’s a cliffhanger, but it somehow seemed a bit of a quick situation. I don’t want to say too much about it, but you’ll probably know what I mean when you watch it (which you should). Other than that, I don’t have anything I disliked about it. I might be biased, though, because of my love for Norse mythology. But that doesn’t mean I’m not being honest about my experience.
While watching, I was trying to see if any other deities would appear. While no others have been confirmed, I did think I spotted one, maybe two possible deities. If the one of them is who I think it is, then I’ll be ecstatic, but I guess I’ll have to wait until Season 2 to find out.
So my final opinion? Despite it only having six episodes, Ragnarok is definitely worth a watch. Whether or not you’re familiar with Norse mythology, most people know who Thor is. If you do, then you’ll love the subtle way he’s portrayed here.
Ragnarok can be streamed on Netflix.
Ragnarok
Credits
- Starring: David Stakston, Jonas Strand Gravli, Herman Tømmeraas, Theresa Frostad Eggesbø, Emma Bones, Henriette Steenstrup, Gísli Örn Garðarsson, Synnøve Macody Lund, Ylva Bjørkaas Thedin
- Writer: Simen Alsvik, Adam Price
- Director: Mogens Hagedorn, Jannik Johansen
- Executive Producers: Adam Price, Meta Louise, Simen Alsvik
- Network: Netflix
