quotes

A-Z Blog Challenge Day 16

/ Jen Bradlee / 11 Comments

Slide21

“Politics is not the art of the possible. It consists in choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable.” ~ John Kenneth Galbraith

******Spoilers Ahead!!!!! If you haven’t seen Thor 2: The Dark World, might want to stop reading.****

As you should realize by now, these posts are completely opinion based supported with my own observations and interpretations of the films.  That being said…Loki would make a better king than Thor.

Queue the collective gasp of Thor fans around the world.  Well, my apologies, but Thor doesn’t quite have what it takes to rule in my honest opinion.  One of the biggest reasons is: Loki is pragmatic.

When I think of someone who is pragmatic, they are logical and take a more realistic view of the world, the good and the bad.  They are able to remove their emotional investment and make decisions accordingly.  Loki can be emotional, don’t get me wrong.  He has made decisions while affected by his emotions.  BUT…Loki always seems to come out on top. Why?

Because he’s cold and calculating…and he’s learning (especially as the films progress) that any decisions from emotional impulse are often regretted later. He uses logic and reason to make decisions instead of leaning on ideas and theories. By honing this pragmatic approach he’s adopted and sculpted to suit his needs, he could be a wonderful, albeit dangerous, king.

Loki shows this best at the end of Thor 2 when he is disguised as Odin, Thor confesses he doesn’t want the throne. Do you really think Odin would have been so forgiving and understanding of Thor’s decision to reject the crown?  I don’t think so.  Loki knows this, but he also knows if he removes Thor from Asgard by letting him follow his heart, it opens up a world of possibilities for him. It seems as though he’s using emotion to make this decision, but in reality, he’s being pragmatic and taking the logical steps to ensure his brother cannot challenge him. I don’t know about you, but I’m extremely curious to know how Loki plans to pull off his charade as Odin and how long he intends to draw it out before revealing himself to the kingdoms.

What do you think?  Is Loki pragmatic?

**Image at the top was made from a screenshot found on Google images, no copyright infringement intended.**

A-Z Blog Challenge Day 15

/ Jen Bradlee / 2 Comments

Slide22

“I’m not opinionated; you’re just wrong.” ~ Darby Conley

My Dad once told me, “Opinions are like assholes, everybody’s got one.” While the visual that gave me was more than any person could handle without bursting into fits of snorting giggles, it’s one hundred percent accurate.  Everyone has an opinion…but it doesn’t make everyone’s opinion right. Someone has to be wrong.

How does this fit in with Loki?

Let’s see…there are a few scenes that come to mind, but the one shining like a bright neon sign is when Loki faces Odin in the beginning of Thor 2.  Even chained and led by guards, Loki is steadfast.  He defends himself very little, using snarky comments and finally telling Odin, “If I’m for the axe then for Mercy’s sake, just swing it.”

Is he calling Odin’s bluff?  Is he so certain of his opinion being the right one he is willing to die without regret? Will we ever know…probably not.

One thing I did notice with Loki and it’s consistent through all three films. While Loki has an opinion on everything, he doesn’t always voice it. He chooses his battles carefully as well as the moments in which he engages his opponents. With Loki, it’s always a battle of wits over muscle. He’s a strategist at heart.

It’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for…the silence is merely the storm brewing inside their minds. Beware the tempest.

If you haven’t noticed, a lot of my posts tie together somehow.  All the character traits I’ve chosen mesh together, overlapping at certain points, reinforcing the structure of Loki at his very core.  His opinionated personality is reinforced by his narcissism, justifying his actions, as well as his betrayal and feeling lost. The traits link together…so if you haven’t read the first 14 posts, you might find them interesting.  This is also why I’ve tried not to repeat information too much, don’t want to bore you all.

Thanks and as usual, feel free to comment…I love hearing from my readers.

A-Z Blog Challenge Day 14

/ Jen Bradlee / 4 Comments

Slide24

“Narcissist (n.): a more polite term for a self-serving, manipulative, evil asshole with no soul.” ~ Unknown (Google Images)

I’ll be totally honest, when I was first introduced to the Marvel universe, there was one character who stole my heart.  I loved his confidence and determination, the snarky wit and charisma. He didn’t give a shit what anyone thought of him. The world revolved around him, and he had the resources to do what he wanted, how he wanted to do it, when he wanted to do it. He was the center of the universe, a full tilt diva with monuments to the sky, his name plastered all over them…yup…Tony Stark.

“‘Mr. Stark displays textbook…narcissism.’ Agreed.” ~ Tony Stark, Iron Man 2

You thought I was talking about Loki there for a minute, didn’t you?

While Tony stole my heart, Loki wormed his way in there against my moral judgement. Tony and Loki are both textbook narcissists, which may be a reason why they butt heads so frequently.  One of my favorite parts in the Avengers is the banter scene between Tony and Loki in Stark tower. They’re both intelligent, dangerous, and self-centered, what’s the difference?

Loki has nothing to lose. He doesn’t care who he hurts or what the consequences are…he operates solely for his own gain. Banished and outcast, he has no allegiance to anyone but himself. Tony is the opposite, feeling a sense of duty and obligation to protect humanity.  One uses his vanity for good, the other for selfish gain.

Most people associate narcissism with an obsession with one’s own physical vanity, but I think it extends into their internal vanity as well…how they view themselves in all areas of life as the end-all-be-all of existence.

So…what do you think?  Comments are open. 🙂

A-Z Blog Challenge Day 13

/ Jen Bradlee / 4 Comments

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

/ Jen Bradlee / Leave a comment

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

/ Jen Bradlee / 4 Comments

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

/ Jen Bradlee / 4 Comments

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

/ Jen Bradlee / 2 Comments

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

/ Jen Bradlee / Leave a comment

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

/ Jen Bradlee / 11 Comments

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…