“Fuck the gods” is a sentiment that seems to be everywhere right now, from the most literal interpretation of the Netflix series Chaos to the variety of “eat the rich” narratives that tap into simmering anger at today’s growing inequality. Ragnarök, the mythological end of many of the gods in a fit of brutal battle and revenge, is exactly the sort of thing that can speak to how unjust and near-end-times modern life can feel right now. Particularly if, as in Twilight of the Gods' interpretation, there is a mortal who is suffering a grave offense at the hands of the deities.
You don't have to have been a bride to understand that if Thor showed up in the middle of the ceremony and killed your entire family, it would be disturbing. Twilight of the Gods'But Sigrid (Sylvia Hoeks) doesn't have to imagine it. After traveling home to marry her true love, Leif (Stuart Martin), the Norse god of thunder slaughters her loved ones right in front of her. And now he's sworn revenge, no matter what.
That revenge saga is the beating, bloody heart of Twilight of the Godscreated by Zack Snyder, Eric Carrasco, and Jay Oliva. It's the kind of story that looks wonderfully animated; as Sigrid assembles a team to invade Valhalla and kill the hammer-wielding god once and for all, she and her cohort can encounter a sorceress in the woods or cross a magical bridge into the land of the giants without the show stopping. Plus, the character design showcases the series' varied influences and colors our perception of the characters to add a bit of fun. Sigrid looks like she could be riding straight out of The Secret of Kellsflatter and reminiscent of old-world art, while some of her group members feel closer to 90s DreamWorks, with all their hopeful humanity. It reflects how she is a little out of step with those around her, changed by everything she's been through.
As with Rebel Moon either Zack Snyder's Justice League either The man of steel (either 300 either Sucker Punch), those who agree or disagree with Snyder's sensibility as a storyteller will likely find their instincts confirmed here. This is a guy who paints with bold colors, big emotions, and bombastic sex and violence. Still, it can sometimes feel like the chosen medium prevents some elements of the palette from having much of an impact. As the journey progresses and the battles become more hectic, the cartoonish nature of the animated violence never fails to hold the story back.
In this way, Twilight of the Gods It can often feel less like the mythical climaxes of Ragnarök and more like Prime Video. The boys. As Twilight of the Gods, The boys is deeply concerned with what divine beings owe us, and how their indestructibility can desensitize them to cruelty of the highest order. Both shows begin with gruesome tragedy that gives way to harsh retribution. And both shows eventually move past the sex scenes and gruesome violence to find a more thoughtful exploration of grief, rage, connection, and malice. It’s fun that Snyder’s take on the superheroes of the moment has a bit more epic weight to it. Battles of gods and men have long been his domain, and seeing them literalized here (with a few giants and other Norse mythology thrown in) only strengthens the themes he’s so often interested in exploring around power and control.
Twilight of the Gods“The ultimate success seems best reflected in the fact that no one sets out to kill a god for the same reason. It allows what could be an animated take on a myth to become something more involved, convoluted, and brutal as we see just how cruel the saga can be. Though not all of its beats are covered by the animated world, the show is far from mere fodder for Netflix's animation queue, filled with rich and varied takes on gods, realms, and yes, sex scenes. This is a series that could go far, as evidenced by the cruelty on display in its final episodes. It's worth your time, gods be damned.
Twilight of the Gods Now streaming on Netflix.