The Death of the Father

~There be spoilers ahead~

Ragnarok and Black Panther, the latest additions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), possess a disturbing element regarding the father figure. In both films, previously idealized father characters—one being Odin the All-Father, and the other a wise king, T’Chaka—are shown to have covered up their sins, their sons learning this after their respective parents’ passing. This is nothing new to the silver screen, or story telling in general: man always falls short of the ideals he embodies.

The question regards the response to this uncovered knowledge. In both films, the heir apparent discovers a new claim to the throne, one whom Thor succinctly explains can’t be king, telling her, “You’re just the worst.” Both of the would-be rulers act as mouthpieces, their dialogue assaulting the culture they would rule while describing the twisted new direction they wish to lead (mislead) their states.

The sin, and subsequent lies, of Odin and T’Chaka lend credence unto the usurpers, and that’s where the matter is left. No defense, at least on an intellectual level, is ever presented; the protagonists, halfheartedly acknowledging their opponent’s viewpoints, resort to merely punching their way to victory. Now, in all honesty, that is what we came to see: no one wants to listen to a treatise on culture when they could be watching Thor shoot the Hulk with lighting. However, without presenting a robust counter-position, this one sided argument falls to the level of preachiness, if not outright propaganda.

The fathers’ themselves, both appearing from beyond death to communicate with the heroes, are apologetic, playing the part of a guilty man full of regret. They offer no explanation, or justification. No foundation, no ideals, are proffered, or ever expressed, for the heroes’ to stand upon. Why are they fighting? For what ends, besides stopping the bad guys, do they struggle?

The two plots are stuck in The Empire Strikes Back, hung up on the reveal that Darth Vader is Anakin Skywalker, but without Return of the Jedi, without Luke’s self-sacrifice to redeem his father, these movies leave us desolate. Indeed, the flashy pomp, the vaguely meaningful looks, all seem attempts to mask the bathetic conclusions of these movies.

In the MCU’s Vol. 2 of Guardians of the Galaxy, the good and bad fathers are presented in the characters Ego and Yondu. By no means a perfect movie, Vol. 2’s ending—a literal fireworks display—hits home, the flawed, but ultimately good, Yondu, honored by his peers, is finally restored to an order that had ostracized him. The fathers in these latest two movies, however, are swept aside: There’s no saving the Asgard Odin built, for the only solution to the imperfect past is to burn the world with fire and start over. The Black Panther takes a more benign approach, but the titular character still elects to forgo the obscurity his father and ancestors worked to preserve.

Without a greater goal than resisting the villain, these movies become sound and fury signifying nothing, for when the heroes win, their victory is meaningless. Arriving nowhere, they never truly defeat the enemy as they never challenge the enemy’s attack upon the father and the culture he represents. Luke is able to become a Jedi, embracing his heritage instead of killing it along with its dark shadow. Yondu is able to redeem his past, reintegrating into respected[1] society.

The propagandistic nature of these latest movies is worrisome, and their unanswered aspersions against the audiences’ culture leaves this viewer frustrated and empty.

Check out a related post: The Father’s Redemption

[1]
Not exactly respected, they are basically pirates.