Ragnarok
For those of you who enjoy mythology, Ragnarok would be the show for you. I found this show recently with my fiancé, and we binge-watched it within a few days. Both seasons.
At first, I was a little put off by the fact that it was a Norwegian show, knowing we would either have to watch it with English dub or in Norwegian with English subtitles. Despite this, the show ended up being extremely enjoyable, with both of us wishing for a third season.
All my life, I’ve been a fan of Greek and Roman mythology. The Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan drew me into the world of the Greek gods, as well as their Roman counterparts. With a surprising amount of research going into those books, they provided quite a reference for me and my random mythology trivia. I was able to recognize names when talking about mythology in school, or even in other novels or games. I was also made aware of several myths that I had never heard of. Through these books, I got lost in the world of mythology.
Now, Ragnarok focuses on Norse mythology. Thor, Loki, and Odin are some of the most common names that people would recognize from Norse myths, but this show introduced me to so many others. In the beginning of each episode, there is a small tidbit of lore that introduces a new character or object from the mythology. For example, the Midgard Serpent was mentioned in the intro to one of the episodes.
Ragnarok takes an interesting take on the typical Norse mythology. It centers around a teenager named Magne, who soon discovers that he has new abilities and powers that he did not have before. As he learns what he is becoming, the Giants (comparable to the Greek titans) are also polluting the town that they reside in. The entire show becomes a battle between the gods and the giants- law & order versus chaos.
Although obviously a work of fiction, Ragnarok had my fiancé and I wondering what it would be like to suddenly have the powers that Magne discovered. Would we be able to handle the responsibility that came with it?
As Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson stated in a speech in 1879:
“But great power carries with it great responsibility, and great responsibility entails a large amount of anxiety.“
Sir Hercules G. R. Robinson
My fiancé, Austin, said that he would thoroughly enjoy having increased strength and the power to control lightning as Thor does. However, I’m not sure that I would be able to handle the responsibility that comes along with ensuring that the Giants do not wreak havoc in the world I live in.
Would you be able to handle god-level powers?
