Magne: Why? Because it can kill you?
Sax: No. Because I finally found someone on my level.
Six more episodes to finish the series and for Magne and Laurits to finish high school.
The filming of the third season of Ragnarok was impacted by the Covid shutdowns. This helps explain why the actors appear so old at their high school graduation.
It took me a long time to review this season. That's not a good sign. Usually I only review material when I like it a lot and want to write about it (if you wonder why so many of my reviews have a higher set of stars than would make a normal distribution, it's because I rarely review the shows I don't like).
But I don't really dislike Ragnarok. Instead, I'm not sure how I feel about it. Sometimes the scenes were compelling. Also, the whole thing has been an interesting interpretation of Norse mythology, based in the mediocre and muddy village of Edda. This is so different from much of Hollywood's take on Norse mythology, where the gods live in places that literally glitter with gold (paint).
So, instead of my usual approach, I'm looking at the negatives and positives of the series, especially this last season:
Negatives:
Sometimes I was bored. Many of the characters are very one dimensional. Still, maybe that's appropriate for stories based on comic books and even the old myths?
The dubbing into English was not always great. As I don't know Norwegian I can't watch it in the original, so that may be unfair.
The show had little humor, and most of what I took was supposed to be funny fell flat.
Most of the time, there was little to like about these characters (at one point Laurits, when he gets a compliment from Jens, says that's the first time anyone has said anything like that to him).
The scenery is gloomy and muddy. Norway can be pretty, even beautiful, but we get little of that. In fact, it makes me wonder why the giants have decided to live in such an ugly town. On the other hand, the ugliness and the mediocrity may reflect the artistic point, that greatness can emerge from the ordinary.
Positives:
Liked the idea of recruiting regular mortals off the street and announcing they were gods. What are the qualifications to be a god, anyway?
In "Till Death Do Us Part," liked how Magne makes Fjor start paying for the food he gets from the Edda Grill.
Some of the actors, especially the giants, are very easy on the eyes, especially Fjor and Saxa.
Loved Turid's apology to Magne in the last episode.
The ending and the comic books make me wonder if any of it was true for the people in Edda, or if it was all in Magne's mind. I mean, was Fjor out there killing people?
Title musings, by episode:
Episode 1. War Is Over. There's a song by John Lennon and Yoko Ono titled "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" – part of their protest against the Vietnam War (known in Vietnam as the American War). It doesn't seem so relevant to the episode, although perhaps war may seem to be over as Magne has his hammer and is lording it over the Jutuls. However, it is relevant to the season, as it says that war is over if we choose it to be.
Episode 2. Till Death Do Us Part. This phrase is used in weddings, and as Erik and Turid are getting married, it's relevant. But there are other bits about death and mortality. The Jutuls, the giants are long-lived, but they can die if Thor wields his hammer. So Ran is struggling with the fear of death; Fjor wants to kill more humans, and Saxa warns Magne that watching humans get old and die is unpleasant. Good title for the episode.
Episode 3. Losing My Religion. This is a song by REM, a single released in 1991. Wikipedia on the song: "The title phrase is an expression from the Southern United States that means 'losing one's temper or civility' or 'feeling frustrated and desperate'. Stipe said the song was about romantic expression and unrequited love."
This episode has lots of making out and relationship stuff. Laurits' boyfriend's boss asks them to be less demonstrative at work. Yes, the guy does it in the most insensitive way possible, which makes him look homophobic (he probably is). Still, heterosexual couples would also be asked to tone it down in public places.
Episode 4. My Precious. This is taken from The Lord of the Rings, especially Gollum's obsession with the One Ring. This title is my favorite of the season; it's particularly apt as so much of Tolkien's work is based on Norse mythology. In this episode, Magne is totally obsessed by his hammer.
Episode 5. Farewell to Arms. This title is borrowed from Hemingway's novel. Arms can refer to the arms of one's lover or putting down the weapons.
Episode 6. Ragnarok. Well, they had to use the series title for an episode at some point! Note this episode disappointed many, many viewers. I'm mixed. I liked the reference to the comic books and how Magne is deciding to move on from them (although I don't think he needed to throw them out, just put them away, but maybe he doesn't have enough discipline to resist them if they're in the house).
Bits and pieces:
The episodes in season three bring back characters from earlier episodes. It makes sense to bring back the gods who went wandering, but they also bring back Isolde (although as a spirit/narrator).
I like where most of the characters end up at the finish. Although I do wonder about Fjor, given some of his earlier deeds.
I like how Ran takes up vaping, keeping up with current fads. Of course, I don't recommend it in general.
Some of the comic book like scenes in the last episode were visually stunning.
Giving high school graduates a long-stemmed rose at their commencement is a lovely idea.
Quotes:
Magne: My reality is so different from yours. Your family is filthy rich and has power. I have no power. My mother is working at a grocery store, because you fired her. Do you know what I'm wearing to the wedding? My dad's old suit. With holes in it.
Magne: How'd you get in here?
Wotan: I'm king of the gods. And, the door wasn't locked.
Laurits: Have a nice day! Who knows? It might be your last!
Saxa: Screw the mythology! I'll do it.
Turid: You shouldn't blame someone who's scared. You should help them become better.
Narrator (Isolde, although she's dead): What's to become of the god of thunder when the battle has been won and everyone else has found their way?
Overall rating:
I had a tough time with this. Two out of four hammers.
Victoria Grossack loves math, birds, Greek mythology, Jane Austen and great storytelling in many forms.
Victoria, thanks so much for finishing the series. It's too bad it didn't stick the landing. I do the same thing you just did when I'm having trouble with a review -- listing positives and negatives. :)
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