Jen Bradlee

A-Z Blog Challenge Day 13

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Slide16

“Manipulative people do not understand the concept of boundaries. They are relentless in their pursuit of what they want and they have no regard for who gets hurt along the way.” ~ Unknown (found on Pinterest)

**Warning: possible spoilers ahead for Thor 2**

Loki is called the trickster god in Norse mythology.  By definition, wouldn’t manipulative fall under the list of a trickster’s characteristics?  I think so.  Manipulating objects, ideas, reality, emotions, etc…a trickster is a master manipulator.

We see this over and over with Loki in two distinct ways.  Physical and Emotional.

One of Loki’s strengths is his power to manipulate reality using the tricks Frigga taught him.  He distorts his surroundings, as he does in his cell in Thor 2.  He also duplicates himself in both Thor and the Avengers to gain the upper hand in a confrontation. In Thor 2, he also uses this ability to trick the Dark Elf, Malekith, into thinking he’d betrayed his brother. The magical powers he possesses are used to manipulate the physical world surrounding him and even himself.

All these things lead directly into his ability to manipulate people emotionally.  While he uses his magic to manipulate the physical environment, he uses his silver tongue to manipulate those around him at an emotional level.  He manipulates Black Widow (or believes he does, I’m still torn on exactly who had the upper hand on the infamous “mewling quim” conversation). He continually sends mixed messages to his brother, Thor. Does he want help, or is he using Thor?  It’s difficult to ever tell, especially in the Avengers. There were some points where I was convinced Loki desired his brother’s help but ended up coming off as a trick. Way to screw with his emotions, Loki. (I could write an entire book on the dynamics between those brothers.  Odin can take some blame as well…he is a master emotional manipulator himself.  But that’s for another discussion. Family therapy all around!)

It’s not difficult to see Loki’s actions cause a lot of emotional and physical turmoil.  He loves the chaos caused from them.  Manipulator…in multiple senses of the word.

One this is certain, Thor always sees his brother with hope and compassion, even in his anger and grief. He is the only one, besides Frigga, who sees Loki for what he truly is.

I tried to keep it simple, but there’s so many places I could have gone with this post.  🙂  I’d love to hear your thoughts…comments always welcome.

A-Z Blog Challenge Day 12

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Slide14

“There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart’s desire. The other is to gain it.” ~ George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman

“Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

When I think of this trait in regards to Loki, I can relate to Tyrion Lannister from the book Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, mass murderer of feels. Tyrion makes the comment at one point he has a “tender spot for bastards, cripples, and broken things.”

Is that not Loki?  A cast off: unwanted, broken, crippled with insecurity and doubt?

He covers it well, with his confidence and ego shielding his heart, burying the pain deep inside himself.  But the truth is, Loki is a lost little boy inside.

The power play, the defensive posture, the snarky, sarcastic comments, the hatred he bears toward everyone…all of these are walls he’s constructed to protect the lost boy he’s buried so deep, no one can touch him. Frigga tries, but he pushes even her away.

How can your heart not break knowing this? *sigh*

I’m reminded of another character who blurred the lines between villain and anti hero:

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Loki: A lost soul who knows deep in his heart nothing will ever fill the void.

A-Z Blog Challenge Day 11

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Slide23

“No, I don’t think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly.  That’s what’s wrong with you. You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how.” ~ Rhett Butler, Gone with the Wind

Alright, ladies, I know you can agree with me on this one. If you’re still reading my posts, then I know you feel the same way about Loki as I do.

I want to grab him by the leather and kiss that damnable smirk right off his lips.  Oh yes, brooding anti hero or villain, it doesn’t matter.  He’s kissable…from his rage filled tantrums down to his pouting puppy-dog pleas. But there’s another reason why this trait resonates with how I feel about Loki.

I chose the quote from Rhett Butler because in some ways, Loki reminds me of Scarlett.  Vain, selfish, entitled, egotistical, and ambitious…to name a few.  Loki needs a woman who balances him like Rhett balances Scarlett.  They’re two of a kind, but yet different enough to counterbalance each other. They are unafraid to call each other on their bullshit and compliment the other in ways which only enhance them as individuals.

So read the quote again…as a woman to Loki.  See what I mean. It’s a challenge as well as an invitation. While a mere kiss from a hundred different women wouldn’t satisfy Loki, a single comment such as Rhett’s to Scarlett would ignite a desire inside of him. Attain the unattainable. 

A man loves a confident woman. Give him what he wants without protest or hard work on his part, and he’ll not think twice about you.  Be a mystery, give him a riddle to solve, and he will see what a treasure you truly are.

Oh yeah, make him work for that kiss…it will make the claiming that much sweeter.

Don’t you agree?

A-Z Blog Challenge Day 10

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Slide19

“No trait is more justified than revenge in the right time and place.” ~ Meir Kahane

Lied to and left to deal with the fallout alone. Betrayed and dropped into the void.  Enslaved and controlled by the tesseract.  Imprisoned and left to rot beneath Asgard.

Do these things justify Loki’s actions? No. However, Loki feels justified enough by his beliefs (caused by those actions I mentioned) to take action in regaining control of his life.

Is he innocent of guilt in taking the lives of hundreds, possibly even thousands of people? No.  He believes them to be justified deaths in his quest.

His quest isn’t just to return to Asgard or regain the throne.  Loki had his identity stripped from him, several times. The inner drive for survival is too strong inside for him to accept the fate Odin laid before him. He took all the pain, hurt, anger, and betrayal and used it to foster a drive to create his own destiny.  It was within his power to take control of his life, and he did.

While his actions may not be justified in the eyes of the Avengers or Shield or even Thor, the only person Loki has any allegiance to is himself. In his mind, he is at peace with his actions, knowing they will ultimately lead him to his destiny.

This is a trait shared by Anti Heroes and Villains.  Even Heroes have this pull inside of them to feel the sweet, soothing caress of Lady Justice abating their fears. We all want to know our actions serve a purpose and are justified.

I won’t ask if you think Loki was justified in his actions…but I am curious to know your thoughts on today’s post.  Thanks for stopping by.

A-Z Blog Challenge Day 9

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Slide7

“Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.” ~ Ernest Hemmingway

“Brainy is the new sexy.” ~ Irene Adler from Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia

Can I get a huge “Duh!” here?  Yes, well I might have just given away my age with that reference to ’90s pop culture, but nevermind that.

In every movie, Loki shows his intelligence. It’s part of how we identify him. He’s not strong and brawny like Thor.  He’s introverted and intelligent.  Mind over muscle.  As I referenced in the quote above, “brainy is the new sexy.”

A few days ago I compared Loki to a chess player, able to see several moves ahead in anticipation of his opponent’s strategy. This is where the intelligence comes in. He’s not ignorant of the risks, or the rewards of his actions. I believe he sometimes misses the unintended consequences.  But not even the smartest man can anticipate every eventuality.

*SPOILERS AHEAD if you haven’t seen THOR: The Dark World*

When Loki is in the dungeon and the “Cursed” Elf faces off with him through the glass, they were measuring each other.  Loki’s mind was working, you could see it. When he directs the Elf to take the left stairs, he’s positioning his pieces on the board.  He was using the events before him strategically.  However, he could not have known the consequences of that action would lead directly to Frigga’s death. While it’s never revealed if he knew the correlation, I’m sure he must have sensed it and pieced the information together.

His intelligence is both a blessing and a curse. He is underestimated by it and overconfident because of it.  Some of the best villains are cast as intelligent, as are some of the most fascinating anti heroes.  Moriarty and Sherlock, respectively, are perfect examples of this.

This level of intelligence makes him a better candidate for King, in my opinion, than Thor. Mix it with his ability to dissociate and distance himself from emotion while making a decision.  Yeah, it makes him a better ruler…but it also makes him more dangerous.

Thoughts?  I can’t wait to hear them.

A-Z Blog Challenge Day 8

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Slide6

“And you, sir, are very attractive. Therefore I will stare at you.” ~ Unknown

I’m not sure if I have an argument for this one…or even need one. But let’s get into it and see if something worthwhile comes out.  🙂

Tom Hiddleston is handsome, ergo Loki is handsome.

But I’m not going to stop there, oh hell no.  Loki is sinfully sexy. He is the diametric opposite of his brother, Thor, in almost all ways, especially in looks.  This is a good thing, though.

The Hero is supposed to be fair and muscular, dashing and attractive.  While the Villain is dark and of a more slender build, predatory and cunning.  Sound like a pair we know?

They’re archetypes, instilled in us since childhood. We’re taught to identify the villain based on his appearance.  Seriously, just watch any children’s film.  It’ll make total sense then. But we all know that isn’t how it works in the real world.  No one is completely good or evil.  We all have varying shades of darkness inside of us.  It’s how we choose to act on these dark impulses that define us. I think this applies to Loki as well.

We all grow up and see things without the cut and dry, black and white influence of childhood. It’s important to not judge a book by it’s cover. Loki is no different. I found a post from Tumblr that made a very good point while making me laugh.  Here it is:

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Just a side note, while Loki fits the physical description of an archetypal villain, he also fits the anti hero mold in this category as well.  Tall, dark, and handsome…*ponders the possibilities*

Is Loki handsome?

Hell yeah. You wouldn’t be reading this if you didn’t feel the same way. Admit it…*winks*

A-Z Blog Challenge Day 7

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Slide11

“He who is greedy is always in want.” ~ Horace

I’m torn about this one still. Is Loki greedy?  We’ve already established that he’s ambitious, which can be mistaken for greed if it extends too far.

Loki wants what he believe is owed him…the throne of Asgard. I wouldn’t call that greedy.  But his actions in the Avengers speak of greed in his desire for complete subjugation of humanity. Viewing this film as I did the first time I watched it, I can see how he can be considered greedy.  Since he was denied Asgard, he will take Earth. It was greed, pure and simple.

But I’ve already established that I don’t believe Loki was entirely himself during the Avengers. The tesseract had control over him. Through the film, we see the power of the tesseract affect everyone differently. I believe that while he was under it’s influence, it amplified a deeper desire hidden there. His greed…as well as his villainous nature. Do I think it was his ultimate purpose to conquer Earth? No…I think he wanted to be stopped and returned to Asgard. But that’s for another discussion and another post. It all goes back to his greed. He wasn’t willing to settle for half measures. Go big or go home. (Pardon the pun.)

The question that lingers in my mind is:  Since Loki now has what he desired from the beginning, will he want more?  I believe that will determine if it is truly greed that drives him or just  his drive to fulfill his destiny.

All questions and comments welcome…

A-Z Blog Challenge Day 6

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Slide12

“Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.” ~ Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

“Fearless minds climb soonest into crowns.” ~ William Shakespeare

When Loki falls from the bridge at the end of Thor, we see a sort of acceptance in his eyes as he falls.  He accepts his fate. So when we see him in the Avengers, after the betrayal and whatever happened to him between that moment of the fall and coming through the portal, Loki’s priorities have shifted.

He has experienced true fear: being shunned from everything he’s known, everyone who cared about him, being left to die, then tortured and forced into servitude (the power of the Tesseract). What does he have left to fear? Death does not scare him, because he’s faced fates worse than death.

Once Frigga is gone, Loki releases whatever fear remains.  He has become truly fearless, and that creates room for him to seize power as he’d always dreamed.

Loki understands fear like no one else, and as we all know, fear can be a powerful motivator if wielded properly.

Does this make him less of an anti hero and more of a villain?  Or does it just make him dangerous?

I’m dying for your thoughts on this…please comment.  Thanks.

*Images were found on Google images. No copyright infringement intended. Merely used as illustration points.

A-Z Blog Challenge Day 5

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Slide17

“One nice thing about egotists: they don’t talk about other people.” ~ George Carlin

This goes back to the whole confidence/cocky thing I mentioned a few days ago.  But the definition of an egotist is different.  An Egotist is a person who is excessively conceited or self-absorbed; a self-seeker.

Loki is worried about one person, himself. His mission in each film has revolved around his needs, his desires, and his self preservation.  The only person he even vaguely considers trying to please is his mother, Frigga. But even then, Loki is disinterested in doing anything for anyone except himself.

He demands respect and adoration from everyone, focusing on his own selfish needs. This is obvious in the Avengers. Loki answers to only one authority, himself. He doesn’t care about the consequences of his actions, only the outcome and what it will provide him when all is said and done. That is, in my mind, the epitome of egotistical.

Does this make him more a villain and less of an anti hero?  Well, we all have ego, but can we let it drive us, define us, rule us and still be a good person? That’s a tough question.

I’m interested in what you think. Comment below.  🙂

*Images were found on Google images. No copyright infringement intended. Merely used as illustration points.

A-Z Blog Challenge Day 4

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Slide13

“He looks strong and animal and dominant, a beast of sex.”

~ Portia Da Costa

When I think of the word Dominant, I immediately think, Alpha Male which is described as: a man tending to assume a dominant or domineering role in social or professional situations.  Being an Alpha and Dominant go hand in hand.

Loki is intelligent and commands presence wherever he goes. He is able to articulate his ideas and orders in a clear and concise manner. He is in control, even when it looks like he isn’t. This is the mark of someone who carries the Dominant trait.

One thing I noticed about him though the course of the three films is his ability to adapt and use whatever is in front of him to push his ultimate agenda.  A good chess player is able to anticipate all the possibilities and see the game ten moves ahead, always prepared for whatever comes his way. This is what Loki does.  He studies the world around him as a chess player does the game board.  Self preservation.  He is maintaining his control in every eventuality.

There is another reason I chose Dominant to describe Loki. While we haven’t seen any romantic interest for him in the films, there is an over abundance of it in the Marvel fandom. Fangirls can’t get enough of this sinful character.  Enter Loki’s Dirty Whispers, a submission-based tumblr page that focuses on the fantasies of those fans. Loki takes center stage as the Dom of their dreams.

How do you see this trait in Loki?  Alpha Male? A Dom?  Whatever you see when you look at him under this light, there’s no denying that he has a commanding presence that even six Avengers could not overshadow.

Share your thoughts…

*Images were found on Google images. No copyright infringement intended. Merely used as illustration points.