With Avengers: Endgame. These characters are loved deeply by fans, and Valkyrie is no exception.
Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie is one of the most popular of the newer MCU characters. While she is very widely loved and appreciated, some fans on Reddit have some very unpopular opinions about her character and her role in the MCU.
Valkyrie Being King Makes No Sense
At the end of Avengers: Endgame, Thor es the mantle of King of Asgard to Valkyrie. Though this development was certainly unexpected, most fans loved this change, saying that Valkyrie is the perfect choice for a ruler, especially since Thor seems to prefer other things. In addition to that, Valkyrie going on a mission to find her queen and assuming a formerly exclusively masculine Asgardian role is extremely empowering, as she is redefining what a “king” can be, inspiring girls everywhere. Though most Marvel fans are excited to see Valkyrie as King, some claim that her assuming that title doesn’t make sense and that it is actually more misogynistic.
Jonospader writes, "I honestly don't understand why she is being referred to as a King...I feel like it's way more sexist to not give her the title of Queen because it's basically saying Queens can't be as powerful as Kings so therefore we can't/shouldn't call her a Queen because it would be a lesser title." Though this Redditor makes a good argument, most disagree with this point of view, instead choosing to be excited and praise Valkyrie’s kingship as progressive and empowering.
She Should Get Her Own Show
Valkyrie has been in the MCU since 2017, making her debut in Taika Waitit’s Thor: Ragnarok. Since then, she has appeared in Avengers: Endgame (briefly), and she is starring in Thor: Love and Thunder. She has skyrocketed quickly from a side character to a main character, and audiences everywhere are excited to see how her journey as King develops and compliments Jane Foster’s Thor.
Even though Valkyrie plays a major role in the Thor film, some fans argue that she should get her own show instead. Nashetania writes, "I would love a series focusing on Valkyrie as the King of Asgard and revisiting her past as a general and the trauma of losing her sisters."
She Shouldn't Be A Hero
Though she definitely starts off as an anti-hero, Valkyrie grows into her own as a superhero over time, teaming up with the Avengers in Avengers: Endgame. She has changed a lot since her slaving days on Sakaar, so much so that Thor appoints her King of Asgard. While most fans love Valkyrie, some argue that she shouldn’t be a hero due to her past.
Redditor jewelerista writes, "Why does everyone seem to forget that Valkyrie was a slaver? She kidnapped people for years, sold them to a dictator, watched them fight to the death, and did not show any remorse…but everyone is just kind of cool with her being King of Asgard?" While it’s true that Valkyrie’s dark past is glossed over, most fans agree that she deserves the hero mantle, even though she’s done bad things. Most superheroes have checkered and violent pasts, and Valkyrie is no exception.
She Should Prove Herself To Be Worthy
While they are certainly related, the roles of King of Asgard and Thor are quite different. Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, can only be picked up by those who are worthy. Even though she is now the King of Asgard, Valkyrie has never tried to pick up Mjolnir, and most people think that being worthy is not a requirement for ruling Asgard. Hwoever, some Redditors think that it should be.
Redditor williamfrantz says, "I'm pretty sure the king can't just the throne off to anybody...Thor's hammer was a key plot point in that movie, as well as Vision's arc in Age of Ultron, and of course Captain America's arc in Endgame. Make it part of Valkyrie's arc as well." Though this would be an interesting idea, most fans don't think that Valkyrie needs to be "worthy," as that's an arc that Thor had to go through, not her. They are different characters.
She Shouldn't Be A Leader
In the new phase of the MCU, the original superheroes and Avengers are slowly retiring, and new characters are taking over. Valkyrie, a character who was introduced in Thor: Ragnarok, will likely move into a new, bigger leadership role in the fourth Thor film. That being said, some fans think that Valkyrie will make and already is a terrible leader.
Tristianity7670 writes, "She never once seems moved by the idea of the Asgardian people in danger, and doesn't show any sign that she regrets all the people she took to their deaths on Sakaar...how can anyone think she is a leader?" While Valkyrie has certainly done some terrible things in the past, most fans agree that she could make an excellent leader and King of Asgard due to her tough and strong nature.
The Valkyrie x Carol Ship Is Horrible
Valkyrie is technically the first LGBTQ+ main character in the MCU; though there has been virtually no acknowledgment of her sexuality in the movies, yet she is canonically bisexual. This will likely be explored in Thor: Love and Thunder. Since her entry into the MCU, fans have shopped Valkyrie with Captain Marvel, aka Carol Danvers. Tessa Thompson and Bri Larson are good friends in real life, and they are actively aware of the ship and are huge fans of it themselves, speaking about it and showing their for it publicly many times (per Insider). Though a lot of fans want Valkyrie and Carol to get together, some argue that the ship makes no sense.
This Redditor writes, "I also just don't see anything compatible between them...I much prefer them to have love interests in their own stories. Maybe Valkyrie and Jane would be great because I think Valkyrie being muscles and Jane being the brains would be an interesting dynamic for a romance." While they may not have much in common, most people want to see the two characters in a relationship due to Thompson and Larson’s chemistry. They would certainly be a fun romantic couple on screen.
Tessa Thompson Is A Horrible Actor
Valkyrie has quickly become a popular character, especially for young girls. Strong, tough, and no-nonsense, she’s a lot of fun to watch on screen, especially as she provides representation for women, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community. Tessa Thompson, the actress who portrays Valkyrie, has also generated a large fan base, with fans praising her performance. That being said, there are fans who claim she is a terrible actress and not a good fit for the character.
Tosawi argues, "Tessa Thompson is a terrible actor. I don't know how Hollywood is still casting Tessa Thompson after seeing her horrible acting skill in Westworld and Thor Ragnarok." This is a wildly unpopular opinion, as Valkyrie has become a very popular character and Tessa Thompson has also risen to fame and popularity through this role.
