I always thought that the fact that they showed Loki having Fandral while Thor was off fighting the Jotnar without caring about his friends’ safety was something the writters did on purpose. It enhanced the fact that, despite the way everything ended, at the beginning of the film Loki had good intentions, and probably much more of a conscience than Thor did. He was a hero in his own way, even thought most people (including his friends and family) didn’t realize.
It makes a lot of sense that Loki was the responsible one, following the rules, trying to do the right thing up to the point where he breaks. It just didn’t do him any favors. By the time he returns from the unknown to retrieve the tesseract he’s gone full “no more Mr. Nice Guy” because he’s learned that it doesn’t matter how much he tries; he’ll never be getting the recognition he deserves.
I really can’t blame him.
And that he told the guard where they were going, so that Odin would come. He didn’t anticipate it would take as long as it did.
As I understood the plan, they weren’t even supposed to make it to Jotunheim at all, so there had to be some level of guilt with Loki. He initiated all this, goaded Thor into making the decision and now everyone’s lives were in ACTUAL danger, whereas the danger was only supposed to be implied originally. It was partially Loki’s fault they were there at all, so it makes sense to me that he would feel some additional responsibility for their well-being (beyond that which he would feel for his friends and brother to start with). He knew what Thor was and says it later in the film: arrogant, reckless, dangerous. That was the whole point of what he was trying to illustrate to Odin by tricking Thor into defying him.
What I will probably never understand is why Odin couldn’t see that for himself. Blind spot, I guess.
Yet again, proof that Loki always cared about others
LOKI to the rescue is literally his fucking brand.
but LOKI didn’t trick thor into going to jotunnheim. it was thor’s idea from the start - he shouted it at odin in the vault before they went to the dining hall.
LOKI told thor that he thought thor was right about laufey, about the giants, about everything. then he insisted, there’s nothing you can do without defying father.
he was provoking something but it certainly wasn’t an unauthorised road trip to put both crown princes and all the mightiest young heroes of the realm of asgard in mortal danger.
and when thor leaps up and starts spouting how going to jotunnheim is the solution, you can see LOKI’s face. he’s got his head in his hands, like, NO thor that’s NOTHING like how you were supposed to react. all his friends have a go at discouraging him, but it’s too late. thor’s original idea has now solidified into a plan of action and all they can do is trail along with him and hope to hel that he doesn’t get them all killed.
that’s why LOKI tips off the guard. he expected they’d be stopped at the observatory… he also expected heimdall to refuse them entry. no one behaved how LOKI had full confidence to expect they would, and everything fell apart.
heimdall was sworn to asgard’s protection, so on what planet did LOKI have any reason to suspect the gatekeeper would help them all leave just to satisfy his own curiosity and soothe his wounded pride? imagine if they had never returned. all of that would be on heimdall’s head.
but it wasn’t LOKI’s idea. he just wanted thor to confront their father, and for odin to push back the succession a few centuries or so.
“it (thor’s coronation) will come, in time.” that’s what LOKI expected.
“i told him (the guard). though he should be flogged for taking so long.”
“i saved our lives! and thor’s. i had no idea father would banish him for what he did.” - this refers to having informed odin of their plans, it’s not an admission that the plans were in fact LOKI’s, because they weren’t.
(to laufey) “that was just a bit of fun, really. to ruin my brother’s big day, and to protect the realm from his idiotic rule for a while longer.”
(Thor: Heroes and Villains - Elizabeth Rudnick)
some tags:
some tweets by thor 2011 writer:
note - thor was the prodigal, LOKI was the good one.
