Thor: Love and Thunder solidified just how many gods exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. To put it mildly, there’s a lot. But no matter how many there are, each of them turns to one almighty ruler, Zeus. The original God of Thunder has spent most of his life basking in the fame and recognition of his image among his followers and the other gods. But even still, he’s far from a hero. In fact, one could say he’s more self-serving if anything.
When audiences were introduced to him in Love and Thunder, it was a version of Zeus that had spent more time relaxing than being an actual god of anything. As a result, the fame likely went to his head as he disregarded the larger issues of the universe. This was made evident when Thor came to him for aid, and he refused. However, Zeus also told Thor that a god’s only mission should be to protect the people that worship them — that’s it. With that in mind, it could be argued that Zeus isn’t a bad god after all — but would that be correct?
What Makes a Good God in the MCU?
According to Zeus, the definition of a good god would be to protect and care for the followers that worship them. However, this belief could be argued for or against, thanks to the gods introduced so far. A great example of this being true would be with Gorr’s god, Rapu, who let his followers die when he could’ve created an oasis for them. This eventually led to Gorr claiming the Necrosword and using it to kill him in Love and Thunder’s opening scene. Had Rapu cared for his followers and been a benevolent god, this likely would never have happened in the first place.
That said, there’s plenty of evidence that more can be done to be a good god. For example, the people of Wakanda have worshipped the goddess Bastet for centuries and have been met with nothing but benevolence. There’s also the Ennead, who have watched their followers from afar, opting to maintain balance, whereas Khonshu would use his avatar more directly to protect innocents. But the best example of a truly good god would have to be Thor and the other gods of Asgard, who defend the Nine Realms from all dangers even if the people they are defending don’t worship them as gods.
Does Zeus Fulfill His Godly Duties in the MCU?
Not much is known of Zeus when he is introduced in Love and Thunder. However, it was clear that the life he led was largely unproblematic. It could also be assumed that he followed his own creed of taking care of those that worshipped him. In today’s world, that may not be many, but in a galaxy as large as the MCU’s, it could be more than enough to keep him content. Plus, with his stories still being told on Earth, there’s no worry of his image being forgotten any time soon. That said, it could be argued that, yes, he does fulfill his duties at the very least.
But his life of contentment may have created a source of resentment, as he used to have so many more individuals that worshipped him. Then, when Thor usurped his command and nearly killed him, Zeus quickly realized that to protect his people, he had to remind them why they needed his protection. To do this, he vowed that the gods would have to fight back and deliver on a promise that their followers would learn to fear them rather than treat them as heroes. In the end, while Zeus may have fulfilled his duties now, he will likely bend the rules in the future.
To see the MCU’s gods gather, Thor: Love and Thunder is now streaming on Disney+.