The theme of dealing with the trauma of the past is at the forefront of both films. In “Ragnarok,” we have Valkyrie, who watched Hela slaughter all her fellow Valkyries. She’s used alcohol to cover up the pain and trauma she’s been dealing with and doesn’t want to think or talk about it until she’s forced to by Loki. In “Quantumania,” Janet has been using avoidance to keep from reliving the battles she had to fight with Kang during her time in the Quantum Realm. She’s forced to confront what she’s suffered when Cassie’s device sends the group back to where it happened. The information and experience they both have are crucial to the ongoing fight in the overall MCU story.
Both films also have a moment of reconnection. Thor finds (and fights) the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), who he thought was gone, while Scott and his family fight against Darren Criss, aka Yellowjacket, aka M.O.D.O.K. Both end up being allies later. Obviously, the Hulk was always a good guy, but there is still a transformation as he un-Hulks.
In the end, both of these stories launch our heroes into a new chapter. For Thor, it was finding a new home and who he is without Asgard as a home base to return to, as well as giving up the throne to now-King Valkyrie. For Scott, it’s realizing that he might have done something wrong after his heroic saving of the entire world. Both of them have to do some reexamination of their lives after these life-changing events.
Anyone up for a one-off Thor/Scott road trip special on Disney+?
“Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania” is in theaters now.