Every Main Character In Thor: Love And Thunder Ranked Worst To Best

Easily one of the funniest aspects of "Thor: Love and Thunder" is the inclusion of Thor's magical flying goats, known as Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder. Originating in both mythology and in the comics, this quirky pair — originally Tanngnjóstr and Tanngrisnir within Norse lore — are given to Thor by the Indigarrians after he saves their people from owl-like invaders. However, despite the initial kindness of the Indigarrians, the goats, while majestic in their own odd way, seem to be more of a punishment for Thor wrecking their sacred temple than a genuine act of kindness. Why? Because the goats are far from easy to handle, and, most importantly, they scream bloody murder while doing any action; a sound that leads to some of the movie's greatest consistent laughs. 

To put it simply, Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder are adorable additions to the "Thor" franchise, but they don't serve much of a purpose other than being a delightful joke – one that's heavily inspired by a certain Taylor Swift-related meme. They're perfect for fandom appreciation, merchandise, and everything in-between. But aside from helping the team try to escape Omnipotence City and being a source of transportation, let's just say they aren't the most narratively enriching characters in the cast. This isn't a problem, but in the grand scheme of character ranking, needs to be documented properly. Sorry, Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder!

Touted as "one of the fiercest warriors the nine realms has ever known," Jaimie Alexander's Sif has always been the bridesmaid and never the bride regarding her existence in the "Thor" movies. Scene after scene, appearance after appearance, the character is constantly shown to be a reliable fighter on the battlefield. Regardless of how many of her friends speak of her power and abilities, though, she's a character that never gets the proper amount of screen time or affection she deserves. Unfortunately, Sif's appearance in "Thor: Love and Thunder" doesn't fix this problem, but certainly inches the heroine closer to something more interesting.

In the movie, Thor finds Sif lying on the ground, defeated after an intense battle with Gorr. Upon coming to her side, the God of Thunder realizes that Sif is missing an arm, a point made into a clever joke regarding Valhalla. But despite Sif looking incredible in her newly designed armor and her sense of humor still being intact, Sif (much like the Guardians) feels like she's here just to be a joke and nothing more. Why couldn't she have been reworked as a possible love interest for Valkyrie? Or what if she had been able to be part of the final battle? In truth, Sif's involvement is mostly wasted potential. With her now living in New Asgard, perhaps she'll finally get to do something interesting in the next adventure.

One of the most excellent jokes in "Thor: Ragnarok" involves an Asgardian theatrical group (made up of Matt Damon, Luke Hemsworth, and Sam Neill) taking on the task of retelling Thor's prior adventures. Including everything from ridiculous props to over-the-top melodrama, it's obvious why this scene remains a fan favorite and why Taika Waititi would bring back the team yet again for "Thor: Love and Thunder." But how can such a hilarious group — which now includes Melissa McCarthy taking on Hela in their latest performance — be part of this main character list? To put it simply, it's because they're essential to the Asgardian community.

After Gorr attacks New Asgard, the actors who portray Loki (Damon) and Thor (Hemsworth) rush to the King of Asgard, Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), to ask how they can adequately represent the terrifying events on stage, a moment that Tessa Thompson also felt was quite an important scene. Sure, some might think of both moments as silly throw-away bits, but there's something so delightful about seeing the commitment the actors of New Asgard have to honoring the stories of their culture, regardless of how ridiculous they look doing it. That earnest nature, mixed with Damon and the rest of the group's delivery, is what makes these characters a silly cinematic treat to behold.

From her rocking a "The Phantom of the Opera" Broadway sweatshirt to her endless collection of incredible one-liners, Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie proves yet again why she's one of the most underappreciated characters in the MCU. She has the smarts, the power, the sass, and the charisma to have even more cinematic adventures. Yet despite all of the fantastic elements of her character, it seems that much of King Valkyrie's story in "Thor: Love and Thunder" was left on the cutting room floor, especially when looking back at the plot elements that were hinted at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019. A fact that becomes hard to ignore, particularly when the movie goes out of its way to reference Valkyrie's tragic, romantic past. 

Regardless, what "Love and Thunder" provides in terms of Valkyrie content is one of the highlights of the movie. Her interactions with Korg, Jane, and, of course, Thor, all balance the dynamic of the team perfectly. When looking at the rest of the bunch, it becomes clear that Valkyrie is the brains of the operation. She's the one that gets everyone into the meeting room with Zeus, rescues Korg from being further smashed to bits, and wields Zeus' weapon like a pro. But by the end of the movie, it feels like Valkyrie's full arc is missing somewhere out in the cinematic galaxy, leaving fans to wonder when we'll get to see the King of Asgard truly get the cinematic quest (and happy ending) she deserves.

Like Sif, Natalie Portman's Jane Foster has always gotten the short end of the MCU stick. Starting with her first appearance in the original "Thor," she's a character that suffered from being the stereotypical love interest rather than an utterly fleshed-out character. Thanks to writer Jason Aaron, comic readers were able to see Jane in a whole new light, something that clearly inspired Taika Waititi and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson when reworking Foster into the current MCU. Did Jane's emotional comic book arc translate well to the big screen, though? Many believe that to be a question that's a bit too complicated to answer in one sentence. 

From her first frame on-screen to her last, Portman has much better control over Jane in the hands of Watiti than she ever did with her previous directors. She gets to be vulnerable and strong without looking weak in the process, an aspect not all MCU heroines were allowed to showcase as easily. What makes Jane's arc noteworthy is that her final moments weren't purely fueled by her love for Thor, but rather to end her life on her own terms. Those terms, of course, being that she gets to be the hero of her own story. While Jane's existence in the MCU is still quite the mixed bag, it's lovely to see her get a story that respects her significance within the "Thor" franchise rather than continue to downplay her, yet again. 

Ever since his introduction into the MCU, it has been an absolute pleasure watching Chris Hemsworth's Thor change throughout his various stories. Starting as an arrogant Disney prince and evolving into the himbo surfer dude he is today, Thor is a character who often changes his narrative stripes but never seems to lose his authenticity. Of course, some wish he had remained in his metal album cover warrior era rather than stay as Taika Waititi's take on the hero. Still, for fans who love to see a character evolve over time, the Thor in "Thor: Love and Thunder" is a cinematic treat to behold.

From the moment he emerges onto the screen to his final leap in the air with his newly adopted daughter, both Waititi and Hemsworth make Thor the perfect blend of earnest yet tragic. Sure, the character goes through even more painful experiences in his latest adventure. But despite being disappointed by Zeus, having his weapon taken away from him, and losing his girlfriend to cancer, Thor never loses hope nor optimism. That kind of emotional growth since "Avengers: Endgame" makes the character a stand-out in "Love and Thunder," along with the comic book movie landscape as a whole.