The Depiction of Odin in God of War: Ragnarok

[@TheHonoredMadman]

Jesus christ I would've put way more effort into making this video more coherent if I knew it was gonna blow up haha. This was just like a shitpost of my thoughts on the portrayal. I appreciate all the feedback

[@Aboriginal_American_Hebrew]

You can always do a remake you did great tho

[@ariezon]

hahahaha I can see that, the first part of the video feels like you just woke up from a sleep. pretty good video though.

[@obliviouscrab3125]

1 feedback would be to speak up more and try to sound less sleepy

[@Azaleus19]

Every other version of Odin would kick this one's ass. Hell they might even pay to have the satisfaction of killing him. Either that or it'll devolve into a lottery for which of one of them will have the honor.

[@Syberz2]

Okay, at least you're aware. I'm at 6 minutes screaming WHY ISN'T THAT THIS VIDEO YOU ASS and came to the comments to say as much.

[@elegantcat1496]

Honestly he's exactly how I imagined him as described in the previous game. A depraved manipulator obsessed with knowledge and his own death, trying as hard as he can to project confidence and control in a cult of personality that worships him as the all knowing all father. An autocratic control freak. Love him.

[@TheHonoredMadman]

Elegantly put

[@thegladve]

@@TheHonoredMadman personally I'm not upset about the dialogue being Americanized because it's an American adaptation of Norse mythology, plus the original God of War games while certainly being more poetic in a sense, did use a more simplified version of English.

[@elegantcat1496]

@@thegladve See, that's very intersting for me because I'm not a native english speaker so I just perceived him as very charismatic in a "down to earth" sort of way. I mean, he's supposed to come across as benevolent, smart and in control after all. But I guess if it's english we're talking about I don't know how much should I be part of this conversation.

[@thegladve]

@@elegantcat1496 that's the thing you don't have to be a native English speaker to enjoy or complain about the game being dumbed down, I understood what the developers were going for and I fully support their decision, I'm just pointing out that the developers are American and that it's foolish to expect them to act as though they were Norwegian or Scandinavian adapting their own culture and myth. p.s I'm not a native English speaker myself also.

[@elegantcat1496]

@@thegladve Well, GoW gods have always been satirical parodies of themselves. True, in previous games they at least looked like themselves (on a surface level anyway) but that's because of the power fantasy of it all. In GoW 3 you WANT to beat the shit out of Zeus, not a Zeus stand in. You want to have a fight with the ripped old man with the long beard on top of Olympus, it's a hack and slash! But even then, characters like Hercules and Icarus do not really look like you would imagine, they are deranged, mean spirited charicatures of themselves. I think in the old games they kept at least the gods recognisable because the devs didn't want to rob the players of the fantasy of fighting the classical Zeus and Poseidon. The new games have different priorities. The power fantasy is significantly toned down in favour of a more complex and rich story. Yeah, fighting Thor is hype as shit but overall less intersting than understanding who Thor is, how would he act as a person and how would he look as a consequence of that. Same goes for Odin I think...his appearence is the logical next step given his writing so far. It's not so much a decision of "How do we design Odin", more of a "That's how Odin would look and act given our writing of him"

[@Aurelian_-vu3yz]

The way that Thor looks away from Odin when he’s being verbally abused is heartbreaking. You notice it when Odin kills him too, Thor turns his head and can’t look Odin in the eye.

[@tylerR512]

Didn’t peep that genuinely made me a little upset nice eye tho

[@iamfourmana]

Same with Thrud

[@idiosyncrasy7703]

It's fear. He's so afraid of his father that even at death's door, as he has a spear through his heart, he dare not slight his father in fear of further abuse. And to make thor, probably the most physically strong and imposing of the norse gods, to fear you like that. They made Odin different sure, but they made him right imo. Marvel's odin doesn't even feel like he's strong or that he deserves the throne.

[@Nerf_Jeez]

That's a genuinely incredible detail 😢

[@eddsworldlover]

@@idiosyncrasy7703 MCU Odin? Sure to a certain extent. But the version of Odin in the comics is a lot more fleshed out and is v much powerful and worthy of the throne.

[@Bobbyhiddn]

I adored the portrayal of Odin and his motivations. I sympathized with his search for knowledge. He saw the border beyond himself. He is the top of the mountain, and though he knows his subject matter, he is still Socrates. He knows that in the end, he can learn all there is to learn, yet the closer he gets to Truth, the further the gap expands. He is the deified agnostic. He is the fearful omniscience. He is terrifying and terrified.

[@TheHonoredMadman]

He deserves a whole deep dive video dedicated to him once I've got enough footage

[@Batt-man]

Exactly!! I couldn’t have put it better myself, or even nearly as good.

[@Bobbyhiddn]

@@Batt-man Thank you Chickenmanman.

[@NitroNinja324]

@@joshsmith2629 .....It's really not, dude. Don't be a prick.

[@Sharmanixs]

Damn, that last line gave me chills

[@MacinteuchPlus]

Odin's portrayal in Ragnarok really was a breath of fresh air, just an old dude, charming, casual in his ways, yet you know everything is calculated and he can and will ruin your life should you be in his way, terrifying presence hiding behind a friendly facade

[@Mukation]

Him being so riddicolously friendly to Atreus etc, right up until the end, when he no longer has any use for him, gives creedence to exactly what he did to Freya and to Mimir. Mimir says Odin really laid on the charm to woo Freya, but once he realised she wouldn't cast the same spell on her as on Baldur, he threw her out and banished her to Midgard. Freya probably did end up falling for Odin. The same as when Mimir realised Odin had known all along that he had been tricked. It's essentially never shown "on screen" only ever mentioned behind the scenes. The same as how Thor is only ever mentioned at all in the previous game, we see none of them, yet we hear of them. When Mimir, still stuck to the tree, tells Kratos that Odin tortures him every day, you almost get the feeling that you "need to leave" quickly after cutting off Mimirs head, less you end up facing Odin. And as you say, a breath of fresh air

[@georgekostaras]

I know people keep comparing Odin to a mob boss but he reminds me a lot of a manager I worked for at Best Buy. The guy was super friendly and dad like, and he’d stab you in the back and act like it was your fault. He used people and threw them away, a lot like Odin

[@franingegnieri1831]

Mob bosses do the same

[@georgekostaras]

@@franingegnieri1831 Yeah but you're much more likely to have your life ruined by Dave from best buy than from Don Corleone.

[@franingegnieri1831]

@@georgekostaras Don Corleone is a totally different thing from a totally different time

[@victorconway444]

@@franingegnieri1831 You're missing the point. He's just saying that a shitty manager is a more relatable situation to most people than organized crime.

[@ALLmasked]

maybe because i can spot a dave from a mile away that i didn't like schiff's take. i wanted to see a very charismatic odin, good enough to mask his intentions. you know, like our real world politicians/religious leaders. anyway if you watched enough 2000s media you'd definitely can tell the trope they were trying to do.

[@crimmycat117]

I think people who dont like the fact he's a straight up very in your face evil villain don't truly understand how fucking damaging gaslighting is. Odin is a mental, emotional and verbal abuser and it's SCARY how friendly he is and the way he gaslights thor especially, it did make me feel bad for him especially at the end. In addition, his subtle manipulation as Tyr is just....YIKESS

[@nickv1212]

Yeah. He's a true psychopath and they explored this completely. Way scarier than the flagrant murderers so many other villains are. People like this exist and it's terrifying cause you'd very rarely ever find out you were just talking to one. They might not be magic shapeshifters but we're only all the better for it.

[@mustardsauce5201]

dude thor gets the full brunt of odins abuse its so fucked up. “ i liked you better when you drank.” “ what are you up to? DISMISSED!!” “ are you broken?” it’s awful.

[@wibblesmcscribbles3018]

cringe bruh imagine actually using Fart light unironically

[@1ULTRAKNIGHT]

@@mustardsauce5201 "it's your husband's fault he started drinking again"

[@Hugo_Tate]

Gas lighting 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@RaptorJesus]

This version of Odin is one of the few that bothers to remember that in the Myths he's also a Trickster God, so much of a Trickster God in fact that he & Loki got along so well that they became Blood-Brothers( *the* closest, most sacred bond one can enter into with another person in Norse culture). I also love the way the game seems to reference this when Atreus first goes to Asgard and has his encounter with Heimdal. Heimdal: He means to betray you. Odin: *gasp* Is that true Loki, are you a little trickster? Atreus: uhh.. Odin: I'm just messin' around. Of course he means to betray me, Heimdal. Why else would he come? I've given him no reason to trust me, not yet. While yes, some part of it is undoubtedly the fact Atreus is of use to him, I think it's also that Odin clearly enjoys Atreus's company. Probably sees a lot of himself in the boy, that innate curiosity that drives both of them to varying degrees. They also explore some of Odin's qualities that get overlooked. Unlike Zeus, Odin in the myths isn't the King of Asgard because of his innate power. He's in charge because he's the most crafty, devious being in existence. So crafty & devious that he found a way out of death. Rather than the "muscly old barbarian" you so often see Odin depicted as. He's a God of War because of the subtleties of his mind, not because of sheer force. This Odin actually feels like the Mad One*, the Wand-Bearer, the Deciever, Glad-of-War. *The literal translation of the word "Odin" and like in English "mad" has both the crazy & angry connoctations in Old Norse.

[@Writh811]

Contrary to what some folks may think. This depiction of Odin was actually not that far off of what is expected out of him in Myth. Odin isn't god who is great at fighting. Aside from losing to Fenrir, we only know of one other fight he directly took part in, the slaying of Ymir (he jumped Ymir with his two brothers). Some may say what about the Aesir/Vanir war but the information we have regarding that tale only really covers the end and doesn't mention Odin fighting. Most of Odin's stories involve him being clever or pursuing wisdom and ultimately all in the service of stopping Ragnarok. It's this nature to him and the nature of the Aesir that make them interesting to me. The idea that they don't even make all their best stuff they tend to get other races to make things for them. Weapons and jewelry > Dwarves, Wall to protect your city > giants, servants in Asgard > Elves (most folks don't know that one for some reason but the non-gods in Asgard are light elves.)

[@vilek_7235]

Isn't there also a different norse god that represents chaos, which is theorized to be also Odin? Even the name was similar: "Óðr"

[@RaptorJesus]

@@vilek_7235 Yes, Óðr is likely a disguise or epithet of Óðinn.

[@bannedmann4469]

But the Mob doesn't trick you... this point ain't helping.

[@KissMy2Moons]

@@bannedmann4469 Mobs won’t betray you? Y’know, criminal organizations? You must be REALLY gullible to trust a Mob to not screw you over once you outlived your usefulness to them.

[@colorgreen8728]

The story of ragnarok is one of fathers and father figures. Odin being the father of thor and Odin being the all father and father figure of Atreus, mimir the father figure of Atreus and kratos the father of Atreus and thor father of his three children is very interesting

[@tonysnyder2216]

...say father again.🤣

[@uvie_egua]

What are you even saying

[@Fukei_Mono]

God of War had always been quite a bit about fathers and children.

[@Stayfocused99]

@@uvie_egua Father

[@purplefidelity5162]

What the fuck are you talking about?

[@blackbeardtx371]

I agree it was refreshing that Odin wasn't this powerhouse unit, he has Thor for that, and more of the manipulator. The mover behind the scenes. Also instead of being a like a high level warrior he's more fitted to being a high level mage, something Kratos hasn't dealt with. Spell casters aren't going to go toe to toe with you, they'll do exactly what Odin does. EDIT: Yes, of course Kratos has dealt with magic users before, but not IMO at Odin's level, this is god KING, the depths of his power run deeper than avg, and like someone pointed out, Zeus had magic but was more physical than anything.

[@whistleblower1717]

I mean he’s still pretty strong. He picked up mjolnir and launched thruud miles away while kratos struggled to hold it.

[@Cookie_Joe]

@@whistleblower1717 mjolnir was on the ground and static, that's why Thrud and Odin managed to pick it up and use it, Kratos struggled because it's moving. it's like trying to pick up a "bullet" vs actively stopping a "bullet".

[@mastervader4444]

@@whistleblower1717 kratos held it with momentum bro wtf you talking about?

[@SecureInMyHead]

They could at least make the Norse gods… gods… not ancient superheroes

[@rasenganmaster101]

uuuh he's fought zues? he's fought magic wielders that dwarf odin BADLY in power, odin just has a bag of tricks

[@RG-zt4ox]

What I loved is that he doesn’t live in a gold castle he lives in a great hall made of wood where his family and soldier live, eat and drink but he holds a secret underneath it his insanity is hidden underneath a facade of humbleness

[@n00bswillruleall]

It was honestly the most incredible acting in the game. Whenever Odin shows up, he absolutely steals the scene. He was a man obsessed with knowledge and used his son to do all the strong-arming most of the time.

[@Warlord-dc5un]

Odin was such an enjoyable villain, he isn't some big intimidating character like zeus but a slimy snake that doesn't seem that terrifying physically but mentally is a force unlike no other. He doesn't demand respect but instead tricks you to letting your guard down with his soft sophisticated speaking with you needing to pay attention to what he's actually saying along with the way he holds himself to realise he's a snake. We see Odin sweet talking Kratos and at first you think he isn't that bad but once you think about it you'll realise this guy just came unannounced making himself at home then goes onto take the drink that was offered to you for himself. He also undermines his own child in the process. He's constantly trying to appeal to Kratos and always making himself out to be this loving grandfather. He gaslights Thor on multiple occasions and uses the fact they're family to command his children like pawns. Thor wishes to see the best in Odin and Odin takes advantage just as he does with atreus and the people outside the walls of asgard.

[@TheSSBBfan666]

dude sent Magni and Modi to their deaths and Baldur to see more of Kratos and fetch the last giant, granted he wasn't expecting to lose Baldur due to his invulnerability curse. But in the end his grandsons were useless and Baldur was valuable as a tracker. His entire family are just tools, he didn;t even feel bad when Heimdall, his most loyal, kicked the bucket.

[@idiosyncrasy7703]

@@TheSSBBfan666 he even called killing brok "a bargain" for heimdall's death. Mans treat other people and gods like goods it's actually fcked up. Lol

[@piscessoedroen]

Fr the entire time atreus is in asgard or with the aesir i can't shake the feeling that he would get jumped at anytime

[@TheSSBBfan666]

@@idiosyncrasy7703 yeah, and not to mention what he had done with the souls of the children sacrificed to him by mortals.

[@coltonwilliams4153]

@@TheSSBBfan666 I swear, I nearly threw up when I figured that out. The only thing I wanted to do right then was burn that accursed place to the bedrock and salt the earth.

[@ericschuller908]

I loved how Odin was depicted. His voice came across to me as a narcissistic Hollywood parent who breeds their children to be tools for their own vicarious successes. Thor's despondent and alcoholic demeanor and his struggle with sobriety and committing to it with Sif for the sake of their daughter is classic. He reminds me of a burned out child actor who turns to substance abuse to cope with having been used and turned into their parents' money maker and by adulthood is just a shell of a person. Tyr is the classic rebel child who turns against their abusive parent and becomes spiritually or religiously inclined and tries to learn about other ways of life and swears off of what their narcissistic parent groomed them for. He kind of reminds me of hipsters when I was in college - not the fedora-wearing assholes who act like they're better than everyone - but the kind who try to expand their horizons in a successful bid to overcorrect themselves and make amends for their past indulgences or transgressions. And Baldur is the vengeful little psycho whose parents couldn't let him go and became the collateral in a messy divorce between his power couple parents and took after the unstable one who got custody. Odin in this case. And don't even get me started on what a little shit Odin's parenting turned Heimdall into. Taking him down in the game was practically orgasmic due to being the embodiment of the untouchable trust fund brat bully that we've all come into contact with at some point in our lives. It's just a shitshow. And Odin is the director of the whole damn thing.

[@honkhonk8009]

Litterally Greta Thunbergs parents. We all saw how with FTX, the media only reports on what its paid to report on. Im not even surprised if all this bullshit was cus of Greta Thunbergs actor parents getting money hungry.

[@Khabibsbathtub]

Greta (((Thunberg))) is also related to Georges Soros, so no surprise she became so influencial

[@bannedmann4469]

I think that's the problem... what's Godly about any of that? That's so ordinary...

[@terrencenoran3233]

Gods in Norse myth are rarely gods, they're just superpowered beings that are put on a higher pedestal by regular people.

[@ericschuller908]

@@bannedmann4469, it's a way to humanize them. Also, it was only during the time of the three Abrahamic religions in the west - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - that gods were made into these wrathful omnipotent beings without limits or relatable behaviors beyond malevolence. Most gods in folktales and religions were often flawed and very human in their behavior, being prone to jealousy, lust, greed, generosity, empathy and any number of human vices and virtues.

[@lucashampton6269]

I remember thinking that the confrontation with Odin was going to be a Zeus level affair. Instead, Odin shows up at your doorstep. I didn't know what to think at first sight. He's some old man who comes across as diplomatic but also demanding. When we visit him in Asgard, I was almost convinced I had him pegged all wrong. If I did not have first hand knowledge of the awful things he'd done, it would have been so easy to take his side. Masterfully crafted villain in that aspect. After the revelation of his appearance and such, my expectations became wildly different. Instead of a Zeus level fight, I was expecting to fight a crazed tyrant that had become desperate since the end of the world was coming. His death was also fitting. Kratos and Atreus both showed how much they had decided to change. Atreus took the path similar to Avatar Aang. Instead of killing the bad guy, you take away their ability to continue harming people. Of course, Sandri got his vengeance and a well earned one. All in all, this Odin is one of the best put together villains ever.

[@ovencake523]

after rewatching the first encounter we have with him, the way he abuses thor like a tool and talks about his thors sons and baldir show what a psycho he really is. he's not mad his family is dead, he's mad they're no longer useful to him

[@ilvanasgobero8096]

The people who complain about this Odin not being charismatic and super strong don't get that in a situation like his, where everyone thinks you're a Monster, The best way to manipulate them is to Just seem like Nice dude, other people quickly lose credibilty

[@kyriss12]

One thing that impressed me about that intro was that Thor makes his appearance first in a manner that was a direct mirror of zues. Lightning flashes, the earths quacking, and then a larger than life absolute unit forces his way through and proceeds to assert dominance. Then when Odin comes in looking all weak and frail, playing up the whole godfather act, thor who up until that point had all the trade marks of the last big bad gets all quiet and submissive.

[@maddogbasil]

Odin: massacres his son Also odin: *"Look how they massacred my boy"*

[@ThommyofThenn]

Can you massacre one dude? Doesn't a massacre have to be like mass slaughter or something

[@ThommyofThenn]

Like Gideon in Albinauric village lol...awww too soon??

[@spideyfanatic93]

Some of the major themes of the game are generational trauma and breaking cycles of violence and abuse, so I’d say Odin being a gaslighter fit perfectly. He immediately puts Kratos and Atreus on the back foot, and even though it’s not explicitly stated, there’s a part of Atreus that wants to trust Odin even though he knows the All-Father is a manipulator. It’s not until the late-game twist that Odin lifts the ruse of being a conscientious, doting relative. He even lovebombs Atreus by giving him the mask and Ingrid. The truth is we either all know someone like Odin or we’re related to them. That’s what makes him scary.

[@anselmopat4985]

The love bombing I didn’t even think about it! But many victims of abuse mention this Love bombing and then stripping them of the love abruptly when the abused doesn’t do what they want ( remember him taking back Ingrid and the mask?!)

[@TheSinisterSquid13]

Richard Schiff's Odin was terrific, because even though I had played through GoW 2018 and had seen actual proof of some of the horrible things that Odin and the Aesir had done, I found myself at a point playing Ragnarok thinking that perhaps Mimir HAD been painting him in a bad light, or at least a worse light than he had deserved, simply because of how friendly and cooperative Odin seemed to be. Then, of course, he turned out to be just as bad as the stories; takes a pretty decent actor to manipulate an audience like that.

[@thmistrapillay1811]

Exactly, I expected him to manipulate the characters, not to manipulate me😂

[@germanwojtek3576]

I really liked how he’s portrayed here because he’s literally nearing the end of his life . He may have been more of a conqueror/stoic type ages ago … but I’m guessing he would have changed drastically after imprisoning Mimir and Freya . He drops his physical archetype and trades it for a more subtle , knowledge driven archetype complete with total corruption of the heart and mind due to access to all the knowledge without getting answers .

[@taylor22222222]

I loved the depiction of Odin! He was terrifying because you knew he was pulling strings, but which strings remained a mystery for much of the game as well as for the previous title. I was taken aback by him in the first scene but by the time I saw him after that I kind of understood the story they were telling, but just enough.. it's hard to describe it exactly. He wasn't at all what I expected--virtually everything about him took me by surprise and I'm so glad that they did, and that they wrote his character as a master of deception and a master manipulator rather than a mastermind; same with his relentless obsession with knowing everything. How the story unfolded was nothing shy of a masterpiece. I've completed the game and I'm eager for New Game+ already!!

[@topcat59]

Odin is basically a self-centered man who feared death and tried everything in his power to seek Forbidden knowledge. Honestly he’s kind of the complete opposite of Zeus and I think that’s pretty cool.😺

[@MrBlack_-_]

I don´t think he was afraid of death. He was afraid about what wold come next. He wanted to know what awaits him after death

[@slyreject8370]

@@MrBlack_-_ His death was a fate worse than death. Everyone is aware that when they die their soul will travel to the lake of souls and will lend them to the after life ,Valhalla or Helheim. But they trapped his soul in a marble and Sindri destroyed it. He's more than dead. He is erased

[@fraserduffy4576]

@@slyreject8370 but since all the soul parts went into the marble wouldn’t that mean that it’s destruction leads to a complete death

[@Mr.2Dirty]

@@fraserduffy4576 I think the idea is that because it never went to any of the afterlife’s in the first place, the destruction of the marble 🟰 total erasure

[@nickv1212]

@@Mr.2Dirty I mean. I can think of fates worse than complete nothingness.

[@rudolphbloom]

There is something about his introduction in the game that I find fascinating: his entrance. He doesn't say his own name, he doesn't try to look badass, he doesn't want Kratos nor Loki to think that he is a threat, but there are very small details that show how scary he is. And my favorite is how comfortable he seems when he just walks in and grabs a bench. And he goes directly to it. He doesn't wait for anyone to grab it for him, because why would he? He doesn't want to look pompous, but more importantly, he knows the place. He has his ravens. He probably monitored the house for months. He just knows where to go and how to act.

[@filipmajewski8382]

I also love how the story of ragnarok is based on a huge theme of classic greek tragedies, which is the irony. The more the characters try to avoid their fate and prophecy, the more they ironically bring themselves closer to it. I think it’s great that they mixed in that little bit of greek flavour to the norse saga

[@ruben4257]

That was always a big theme in norse myths as well. Ragnarok itself ends up happening mostly because of the Gods attempts to prevent it in fact

[@windghost2]

@joe evans Him and Loki too since they kill each other.

[@coltonwilliams4153]

@@ruben4257 I truly believe that the reason Loki had Baldr killed was because of what happened with his and Angrboda’s children. It was just so out of character for the mostly harmless trickster to suddenly pull off a prank that was guaranteed to get someone killed.

[@billg7781]

This Odin and Thor are fantastic depictions. Richard Schiff and Ryan Hurst do an incredible job.

[@Cha05typhoon]

There's actually a dialog that can happen between Atreus and Mimir when traveling in the open world about why Thor's statue doesn't look like the real Thor. Mimir says that at first of did, then Thor saw it. The second sculptor was more complimentary. I have to imagine that this explanation can apply to any statutes of Asguardians. Great video too, looking forward to the spoiler dive into his character

[@TheHonoredMadman]

Oh shit I haven't gotten that one yet but thats great that it's addressed in game, I love the little details in this game and all the stories from kratos about Greece. For some reason I was thinking there was also a statue of Odin in god of war 2018 but going back I seem to have been mistaken

[@valeriocapanni]

And a lot people don't remember or don't know at all when that the Thor we see in the endgame cutscene of GoW 2018 is just a Kratos's recolor with another armor, that we barely see in the cutscene itself so I don't think it's a big deal the design change here, since there wasn't a true one yet at the time.

[@hurricane7727]

I assume That and Thor in 2018 was Thor in His Prime Appearance ( Not how he looks now but when he was Young like Younger Kratos).

[@05w47d]

I think one of the scariest things about Odin is how likable he can be. Shows just how easy it is to manipulate and gaslight someone. Much like how Atreus was manipulated by Odin even as the player I began to second guess all that Mimir and Freya was telling me. Really goes to show the phenomenal writing in the game

[@Alex_FRD]

I've had people wondering why Odin has a wooden lodge while Zeus had a giant mountain palace. I have to remind them that the Greeks were leagues ahead of the Scandinavians at the time.

[@thewerdna]

Yeah, as the devs have said this is set in a Pre-Roman Empire time. So midgard here is representative of very old norse culture.

[@angellara7040]

@@thewerdna a lot of people don't realize just how old ancient Greece is. Like kratos fought in the Persian war

[@Vangaurd_tiger]

Agreed Nordic architecture was just lodges and huts that why Asgard look like it. Greeks 2500 years ago were advanced AF in their architecture

[@GreaterGrievobeast55]

Wait, but why would aseir not be more advanced than Scandinavians? I think Heimdal explanation works fine. Odin could’ve commissioned the dwarves (or heck even the jotunn before the war) to construct some monolithic palace, but all father did want anything of the sort. Something cozy, and unsuspecting to better hide what was going on.

[@alifhafizbinjasni5644]

well.. the architecture of the travel buildings say otherwise

[@adrastos50]

Didn’t realize a whole bunch of folks disliked his portrayal. I greatly enjoyed it. Like the whole time you knew he would betray us and was up front about it. It was more so figuring out how he planned to go about it while also getting what he wanted.

[@SomasAcademy]

I really like how they depicted Odin. In the mythology he's about as much of a trickster god as Loki, regularly manipulating people, using one of his powers to render himself unrecognizable to others so that he can mess with them, etc., and paired with how his main motivation for doing anything is ultimately quite selfish, the depiction of him as a weaselly little mobster type felt really right to me.

[@VSM101]

You mean the sources that were Christians who hated the Norse Gods?

[@coltonwilliams4153]

@@VSM101 Snorri probably painted Odin in a better light than he was originally depicted as. He wanted Loki to be a Satan allegory, remember? For Loki to be the root of all evil, he had to paint the Aesir as noble and just heroes.

[@grayve2122]

This is actually the first place that I'm made aware that some people weren't fond of this depction of Odin. I feel like this game was such a master piece, loved the dialogues, the story, the characters and all

[@averysmiley987]

Honestly the portrayal of Odin in this game drives home the idea that Gods’ greatest flaws are how similar they are to humans, an idea which is most popular in Greek mythology and is prevalent in the original God of War games. In those games, Zeus starts war with Kratos out of fear that Kratos will usurp him and that he will lose his throne, a very human fear of being replaced. Odin earns the hatred of the entire nine realms all because of a desperate desire he had to learn the secrets of the universe and what awaited him after death, which is arguably the trait that humans are most known for. What I find incredibly interest about the Norse world of God of War is that unlike the Odin and the gods, who do not know what awaits them after death, mortals know that they will end up in one place or another after they die, meaning that the gods in this game are almost more relatable to us than the humans are.

[@H4ndS0up]

As I said before Odin reminds me of a cult leader. Despite being extremely dangerous he comes off as disarming, frail, and harmless through his words. He makes people drop their guard by appealing to their egos and softening up to his views. As soon as you go a direction he doesn't like and won't listen to him he's violent And Angry

[@hansalanson3497]

Someone said this already, but this is why Kratos is the perfect foil against Odin: 1. He doesn't let his guard down 2. He doesn't bargain with the enemy, and is extremely skeptical towards any offer regarding what's important for him. 3. When it comes down to violence, few can contend against him; fewer even could survive.

[@coltonwilliams4153]

@@hansalanson3497 Exactly. Plus, Kratos has gone up against gods like Odin before. He knows that if someone like Odin comes up to you playing manipulative games, then the only correct answer is to flip the game board, because playing along in any way is guaranteed to end in defeat.

[@TheHonoredMadman]

His quest for knowledge should have been expanded on but I'm gonna do a whole video on him at some point

[@SpoonNFriends]

The actor is great, he does a great job with what they gave him, but he isn't a powerful God in this. He's a petty old man.

[@AsuraQin]

He’s talked about searching for knowledge in the last game to a certain extent.

[@moono443d]

@@SpoonNFriends the most accurate depiction of odin

[@AbiManyu-kq7jj]

videos like this helps people appreciate the game more. props to you, deserve more subs

[@scarecrowscene443]

Not every villain needs to be big and bad and scary like Thor. For those of you who play Destiny 2, Odin reminds me of Savathun. They're both very careful with their words, and they're extremely good at manipulating and acting like their your friend. It's a really special kind of villain. You hear all these stories about how awful and merciless and mean they are, and then you meet them, and they seem so calm and laid back.

[@colinakersakers44]

I loved all the interpretations of the different norse gods personally. I think the line “If he tells you snow’s white, he’s lying” is a really good quick summary of his character. In every scene he’s in you can see the way he casually lies and manipulates people to get them on the path he wants.

[@addygil5000]

I haven't played the game, but I saw the Kratos VS Thor fight + cutscene, and I thought it was such a good and interesting portrayal of Odin. It kinda reminded me of his portrayal in 'American Gods' by Neil Gaiman, where he is a sleezy conman who just so happens to be the man with the plan.

[@TheHonoredMadman]

American gods is dope but I haven't watched the TV series though

[@coltonwilliams4153]

Wait, Neil Gaiman wrote American Gods? The same guy who wrote the modernized stories of the Norse gods? That explains a lot.

[@CptDawner]

Odins portrayal was perfect. Perfect, down to last minute details.

[@PeachDragon_]

I've always said that Odin is my spirit in a way because of his connection to ravens and wolves and because of his insatiable thirst for knowledge, i always joke that I'd happily give my eye for knowledge, this depiction of him, while initially disappointing, ended up growing on me and showing me what can happen when knowledge is your only objective, he's an amazing character and he stands as a reminder to put morality above curiosity for people like me.

[@craytherlaygaming2852]

Mimir being Celtic was pretty fun to me... Wonder if anyone's asked him about the Selkies

[@Lewis-jn8ry]

Odin is the perfect depiction of a psychopathic narcissist. What really strikes home is people like him exist in real life and are very destructive to those around him.

[@bannedmann4469]

Is that what we want? Realistic Gods?

[@MarkelScott100]

@@bannedmann4469 yes cause thats manly what norse gods were personality wise

[@Lewis-jn8ry]

Well, I would argue if Gods were real. They would have a similar personality to that of Odin. We say that people who behave like Odin in the game have a God complex for a reason.

[@b_k_williams_]

@@bannedmann4469 I mean, that exactly what the Greek and Norse gods were, hyper exaggerated aspects ( good and bad) of humanity.

[@B0NES48]

I can honestly say I didn’t like the sleazy uncle betrayal, that we were given at the start of the game, but as I finished my Playthru, I really did appreciate how unique he was

[@its_A_me_Njobe]

Odin wasn't at all like I imagined him to be in the game and I LOVE IT

[@danieldevito6380]

Of the countless comments I've read about the depiction of Odin in Ragnarok, every single one of them said That it was amazing. I haven't read a single negative comment about the depiction of Odin or Thor... Just absolute praise

[@TheHonoredMadman]

Yeah it's pretty overwhelmingly positive but I don't think it's above criticism though, many people have pointed out very valid critiques to the portrayal I just really liked it

[@fluffybear916]

I absolutely loved how they portrayed Odin in Ragnarok. Ngl, it took me off-guard at first. But the further I got in the game, the more I really liked it. It gave him a personality yet still hung onto his nature from the myths.

[@Edski10]

The thing with Atreus and Brok isn't that they don't have accents, it's that as if their dialogue was plucked out of the actual year 2022 and put into a Norse myth setting, not that they don't have accents

[@pathfind_]

I didn't even realize people hated the depiction of Odin. I personally adore it. It's so good. Not only is this character trope great, but it actually fits near perfectly with what we know about Odin in actual Mythology. It's amazing imo

[@brixcer]

Majority like it

[@JordanR]

@@brixcer Majority of people in your bubble maybe, but that's hardly a citable source. I don't mind the personality, but I do mind the character design and how much of a dud the boss fight was.

[@brixcer]

@@JordanR my bubble meaning the entire internet

[@JordanR]

@@brixcer You exist simultaneously all over the entire internet? Oh, OK.

[@pathfind_]

@@brixcer yeah... that's why I said near perfectly, not perfectly

[@jackmcfarlane7173]

I honestly think this is my favorite incarnation of Odin in any media. He's like Vladimir Harkonnen from Dune (the book, not the movie). Harkonnen is not *physically* intimidating, he's kind of a schlub. But he can talk circles around people, and he's always scheming and planning, and making plans for when his plans fail. He's psychologically intimidating, because he's the richest man in the universe with the most resources money could buy, and he has no honor or morals to stop him from taking whatever he wants. People fear him because they know these things about him. Even his own nephews are more or less tools to get what he wants in his eyes. That's Odin. He's the all-father. The most powerful god, with all the weapons of the dwarves, and all the souls from Valhalla to serve as his army. His children are destroyers of entire races, more or less tools to be used to secure his place in the pantheon, and he's always got a plan for how to keep it that way. Yet, he's a skinny old man, bald on top, missing an eye. He's soft-spoken and cordial, and he'll say whatever he thinks you wanna hear. He's a fucking menace.

[@Sigurdr78]

I never thought of Odin as a mob boss style of character, but your explanation of his character is something I totally agree with

[@averongodoffire8098]

0:03 “I’m here to make an offer you cannot refuse”

[@glurganergc4856]

Anyone who has ever had the deeply unfortunate experience of being around people in real life who act the way he does will appreciate how extremely realistically written he is

[@everettenjeze6276]

Ik it all to well. Left me incredibly broken for some time.

[@reddhood619]

Although I was hoping that Odin was depicted as this big intimidating old guy, I love how they depicted him here. He doesn't really need to be this powerhouse of a guy, he just talks his way through his troubles, and if anything, he has Thor. I love how the Aesir are depicted in general. They're like, regular assholes, we got the fancy assholes in Greece already.

[@topdeckhelix8450]

Odin is a Vagabond god. They nailed it with his “palace” in Asgard being minimal, Odin by nature does not settledown so in this story you find out he still hasn’t relaxed, he’s moving prices constantly still. A being of knowledge and mystery. He’s a trickster archetype but in the role of the king father. Depiction in game was spot on.

[@jakejager]

I love all the characters in GoW Ragnarok, they're all perfect for a video game adaptation of Odin who was basically a mob boss in the original myths

[@matteikamp7474]

10:25.... Mimir exists in Norse mythology, too, though. I'm not sure about the Celtic stuff but I think it was just a creative decision by the writers of God of War to make Mimir a Celtic in this story. Luckily this decision gave us the best voice acting in the entire pantheon.

[@artistna]

I really liked how Odin is in this game. He seems like a guy you shouldn’t trust, he smiles and tries to get you to trust him. He seems like a slimy silver tongue manipulator. He screws over and manipulates anyone that tries to makes deals with him, it’s an interesting take on Odin.

[@divad7137]

Odin looks like an old Michael De Santa

[@Faurded]

Odin is my favorite by far, he has so much personality. The voice and the manner of speaking just feel right to me, and I can’t get enough of the performance in general. Here everything feels natural, genuine. What most people expected was probably the AC Valhalla portrayal of these gods, but I feel they tried too hard to be all epic and larger than life there

[@ThatGuySquippy]

This video is basically just "You guys are just nitpicking and biased. I win. Bye-bye." and I love it lol

[@absurdreference1864]

It was a breath of fresh air to see this depiction of Odin. It would have been so easy for them to just make him another all powerful Zeus-like tyrant for Kratos to punch to death, but this depiction really showcased how manipulation and strategy can make a character powerful too. Also the splendid voice acting helped.

[@BallyBoy95]

Dude... not only did this video blow up, but this video appeared on my feed 4 days in a row, likely since the day you shared it to the public, which I don't think has ever happened to me. Whatever you did, the YT algorithm LOVED it.

[@starryskyhighway9628]

i imagined odin probably felt bad about hurting his loved one and become desperate to make up for it to the point that he become ruthless in search for way and willing to sacrifice thinking the outcome will be good, so when he found mask he felt like he can fix it after knowing the supposedly knowledge from green crack...this explained why he seems lose of hope when the green cracks gone because then there's no way for him to make up for his mistake.

[@desroth]

Honestly this is exactly how I expect him to be even in the real world myths. Odin is a freaking magical super nerd with a god complex that courts a cult of personality around himself. He has no issue with using who he wants when he wants to serve his own needs and to gain more knowledge and power.

[@KjcKiesh]

I got big sleazy salesman vibes from Odin in GoW:R; reminded me partly of how James Woods described his thoughts on finding the character/voice for Hades in Hercules A fantastic portrayal, I was excited to see where it went next

[@strangething7379]

As soon as I saw, he immediately reminded me of Saul Goodman from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul in that he was a smug, narcissistic master-manipulator. He's so smarmy and I love that he mostly uses dastardly schemes to keep people in line rather than relying on brute force

[@Panjax]

I don't mind how they protrayed him I just wanted more. I wanted more tricks more manipulation and a colder revelation of his true methods and aims. After the Tyr reveal that was it, basically, and even the Tyr reveal didn't feel...that nuts. I think they needed to make him seem more evil, through some actions of his that really show his ends justify the means style.

[@wintersoldier164]

I loved odin as a mob boss give him funny and yet threatening tone

[@SirAdrian87]

I for one really like Don Odin Aesirleone

[@Ok_Thanks]

Richard Schiff did an incredible job. Odin has been done so (so so) many times before, literally hundreds of different but similar interpretations-his was a perfect reimagining.

[@ozymandias8449]

Agreed it’s the only time I’ve seen Odin being portrayed as a trickster god rightly so

[@sebastianpobletecarvalho5081]

My one and only problem with ragnarok is that Asgard feels quind of empty sometimes, they could have thrown Vidarr, Idune or Njord, like you would espect Odin to have collected a larger variety of henchman (thou the valkyries quind of compensate for this)

[@Enskyed]

Vidarr wouldn't work, he's more of a joke character than anything, he literally kills a mythical beast with a shoe. Idune is pointless unless you want some Hera esque kill. Njord is the only one that i felt was missing.

[@curranlakhani]

People expected Odin to be more like Tywin Lannister, but I think the Tony Soprano interpretation somehow works better for Odin in this game.

[@Spec0psGrunt]

Gideon Offnir is kinda Odinesque

[@macandcheeseofficial]

He is called the all knowing, all hearing, and all seeing just like Odin. His pursuit of knowledge drives him. He is the father of a storm warrior. He wields a scepter like Odin. Finally the name “Ofnir” is Odin’s last name. He is very much like Odin

[@TheHonoredMadman]

They both have a crippling desire for knowledge and a penchant for manipulation so I totally agree

[@elegantcat1496]

Oh, yeah! He is! Good catch.

[@proctordoctor5756]

9:05 Mimir actually talks about that fact in Ragnarok, the first statue of Thor looked like him but it's implied Thor killed the sculptor because of that. The second artisan was (wisely) more generous with his features and that's the statue from gotw 2018

[@colorgreen8728]

I love how Odin is portrayed, it’s spot on imo, he reminds me of Jeff goldbloom lol

[@magicman3163]

Jeff Goldblum doesn’t look Nordic

[@colorgreen8728]

@@magicman3163 do you think I was going off looks? No. Mannerisms and sound of voice

[@kazekage2407]

i thought the exact same

[@boatymcboatface4120]

@@magicman3163 🤦‍♂️

[@CourtCjbLand]

Odin goes full on cartoon during his final boss fight , the screech he lets out after Atreus breaks the stone mask was insane and hilarious . I loved it though.

[@TheHonoredMadman]

I completely agree lol

[@JP-rf8rr]

I guess my issue would be that they had to change the mythology to make Odin more clearly evil. Mimir didn't loose his head because of Odin. Mimir lost his head because of Frya's people who broke a peace agreement and killed him, and Odin genuinely felt sad by this. A bunch of other small things too. I'm not saying the norse gods were not incredibly brutal, but it's not like how the Greek gods were who for the most part were clearly evil. I mean, you can easily depict them as antagonist, Odin had Loki' children (who were innocent) horribly mistreated because he saw in the future how they became monsters who would destroy the world not knowing his treatment of them is what turned them into those monsters. In this light Odin is an antagonist but an understandable antagonist who is sympathetic. He also wasn't totally self serving and only caring about protecting his life. He willingly chose to leave the walls and lead his army against loki to have an honorable battle. That's not something this Odin could do. I guess it seems that they have to take more liberties with the norse mythology.

[@TarsilyWasTaken]

they did very much change it, i don't mind it as a story retelling these events to serve it's own story, Kratos didn't kill Baldr in the mythology, Heimdall and Loki don't kill each other at the same time, the world serpent isn't killed by Thor before Thor succumbs to it's venom, etc. but they do in this game

[@samb123078]

I thought this Odin was perfect. Authoritative, manipulative, callous, and completely ruthless. He knew exactly what to do and what to say to get what he wants.

[@ValtaKash]

I love how he’s basically just a Jewish New Yorker lmao.

[@moodiworld8554]

they made odin look like a politician more then a god

[@dc7981]

That’s cause Norse gods aren’t often portrayed as having the same godlike appearance as Greek one’s … Greek gods look like they are above humanity while Norse gods are often just regular people with magic

[@thefrostbee4182]

he basically was

[@joshualyons4121]

I get what you are saying but I still think the various accents from the voice acting and some of the lines took me out of the story rather than immerse me. I found some of them quite jarring. If Odin had spoken with a more authentic accent but still behaved the same way I think I would feel different. The dwarves having an American southern accent was ridiculous but I guess it's all definitely subjective.

[@filipcz2560]

One thing I liked is that he was kinda scary, but in a very subtle way. It’s like you never knew what he was going to do and how much knowledge he had

[@Rbrowno97]

I was definitely surprised that Odin and Heimdall looked nothing like the concept art leaks from a while ago. I think the designs they went with don’t help people warm to the depictions of the Aesir that they ended up going with. I think the GOW4 Thor design would have been a better choice as well over what they ended up going with.

[@mauricesmith4004]

Is it only me or did Odin remind anyone of father from full metal alchemist brotherhood with knowledge and having his kids do his work

[@lynx4082]

I think the portrayal is perfect, thought different from what I expected, his silver tongue even had me gaslit irl

[@sadrequiem]

I liked his portrayal in the game. I had minor issues with his language however, just because he used some expressions that felt a bit too modern and so they took me out of the immersion.

[@cytrilicious9285]

One thing that always confuses me is how the community thought of Odin, this is lore accurate, and absolutely loved his character. I understand physically he’s not all that imposing, but he was still incredibly dangerous when he was in desperation.

[@Jesus-jq5zw]

This looks like the discount Odin you would find in a bargains store 😂

[@thefrostbee4182]

this is how odin is. a big strong buff tough odin is a bargain bin version

[@Jesus-jq5zw]

@@thefrostbee4182 is the patriach of the northern gods, but yeah, lets base his appereance on that guy from hill top in the walking dead 🤣🤣🤣, i like the tyrant ruler thing but he just looks like a grandpa buying in wallmarkt 🤣🤣🤣🤣 not intense at all , you have to wonder if Thor is adopted

[@thefrostbee4182]

@@Jesus-jq5zw No like, we have a bunch of evidence of how odin was viewed, what he did in the myths, how he acted, what he did. he WASNT a big stupid dumbass with vanity muscles. He isnt supposed to be intense, he isnt intense. if ur upset at that, ur not upset at god of war ragnarok, ur upset at norse mythology itself.

[@Jesus-jq5zw]

@@thefrostbee4182 i think the only one upset here is you bud, apparently i cant have an opinion about Odin comicly looking like a senior citizen instead of the god of all nordic gods 🤣

[@thefrostbee4182]

@@Jesus-jq5zw its because its culture, not a comic book. this whole thing about vanity muscles is more of a US thing. thinking that the biggest gorilla in the pack is the leader. but in most places, intelligence is what makes a leader. and thats what odin is. old man with brains, not stupid caveman with vanity muscles

[@ethangonzalez8904]

Something I noticed about the Norse world that differed from the OG God of War franchise was how different literally everyone in those worlds talked- every character in the Greek world talks in a sort of old-timey way, whereas the Norse world's pretty much ditched that concept entirely. But then I remembered that the Vikings and the ancient Greeks were like 1000+ years apart, so it kinda makes sense in a way.

[@blumiu2426]

If you've watched accurate depiction of how they talked, the Norse had their own way as well. They ditched it because modern concepts were being implemented in the game, and lines, and wouldn't have fit and stood out. It's very Marvel/Disney rather than aim for giving it a unique feel.

[@karmicbacklash]

I thought the performances themselves were great, but the dialogue absolutely veered into Marvel-esque territory at times, and the humorous intermissions were far more prevalent than 2018. I will admit that I didn't initially like the way they portrayed Odin but it grew on me a lot, especially after (SPOILERS) Atreus goes to the lodge. You really start to see that manipulative side of him as he starts trying to groom Atreus. I still prefer the story in 2018 overall but Ragnarok was a hell of a ride.

[@SandyCheeks1896]

Totally agree. It was frequent enough to be noticeable and it was certainly more humor than I would have liked to be in the game, but it wasn’t completely out of place as Kratos is softening and his son is a mischievous teenager. It also was usually not completely pointless humor for the sake of humor, it usually seemed like something the characters we’ve come to know would actually say.

[@andrewgreeb916]

To be fair plolytheistic pantheons were superheroes before superheroes were a thing.

[@seanob4563]

This is actually a pretty good depiction of Odin according to mythology, when the Romans first found the Germans worshiping Odin they assumed Odin was the trickster god Mercury/Hermes rather than Jupiter

[@doodelbopgames]

i love his outfit i love how he talks like a mob boss kinda guy and I love how he is super hungry for knowledge and power and talks about his family like pawns he uses it's just such a good villian

[@stefanskatteforhojning1134]

Odin in my mind has always been like a metal version of Gandalf mixed with Tywin Lannister And I must say The way Odin looks in this game is a pretty shit version of him

[@jovi4793]

I first saw him and didn't expect he would look like that but then he started becoming one of my favorite antagonists

[@zefellowbud5970]

i kind of thought of odin more like a shady corporate CEO, with all the "we are a family here" while calling everyone who follows him his employee. all that trying to make oneself look like a clean company, yet always screwing people over. but mob boss definitely works as well NGL made me think of EA or something

[@sealevel5961]

The only difference between a shady CEO and a mob boss is the side of the law they walk on.

[@justaplaguedoctorroamingthenet]

A bit off topic but you mentioned how Thor's statue was different from his actual appearance so here's my theory of that, the statue was made during Thor's younger years when he first started working for Odin, his "glory days" if you will, then he started drinking heavily and while keeping his godly strength, he slowly became the "fat mindless brute" he is seen in Ragnarok

[@Dougfunny37]

This portrayal was brilliant because they wanted to show Odin as an old scared version of himself. Someone who is a shadow of their former self and directly responsible for a lot of the chaos happening. Odins insecurity is the entire point of the character

[@schnek8927]

I know you (kind of) mentioned that what you're saying is subjective, but i still have to point out that most of this is indeed nothing but subjective and frankly quite ignorant takes. For example, the writing and dialogue truly is horrible. That's not subjective... Having the characters talk like they're in a low-budget soap-opera with modern slang, and swearing every few seconds, is NOT good writing/dialogue and it *certainly* is not *mature...* (just pointing that out since a lot of people say these games are mature now, which is nonsense) And if they truly wanted to make Odin different from Zeus, then why not make him good? Seriously, it's almost *comical* how the characters in this game *CONSTANTLY* tell you how evil Odin is, how much he lies and deceives, how nothing he says can be trusted even when he speaks the truth, etc... And the only ones we hear saying this... Are the supposed "good guys", who's biased gospel we are just supposed to believe and trust despite never being given any reason to until the very end... They could just as easily be lying, not be giving the full story, and only focusing on their own selfish desires. (freyja especially is a power-tripping mary-sue, who is comically vile, self-centered and toxic to the extreme. Odin was clearly justified in locking her up) Those are just a few quick thoughts to counter the circle-jerk going on in these comments, that's all. Also, this is the first time i've seen the early version of thor, and it looks *so much better* than the new version! Shame we didn't get that, but it's not like a different-looking thor would've fixed the awful writing anyway... Oh well.

[@wil.d_sage]

Odin reminded me of someone’s weird uncle from Jersey, and I loved it 😂

[@michalbotek]

It´s not Odin, it´s the whole game. Gods talk like modern humans. To me it feels like Santa Monica Studios were going for their own Marvel movie (like we don´t have enough of those already), I felt like everyone´s is waiting to crack a joke in a modern way. I´ve never felt boredom while playing the GoW3 game (that´s why I think it´s the best of the series). In Ragnarok, there are whole sections, that are boring. I´m not saying, that it´s bad game. Far from it. One of the best voice acting, acting, visuals and score in a game to date. I like the game. But a great GoW game? Not in my opinion. But since this video is about Odin....I like the AC Valhalla Odin better (and AC Valhalla is mediocre game at best). Gods should have a regal way of speaking (Zeus, Raiden for example). That been said. I ´m happy, that there are people that enjoyed this odin, this game. I truly am. It´s just not my thing.

[@tuukkamatikainen3389]

Finally, a respectful opinion. I don't think this means much, but actually thank you