Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

The interconnected web of Marvel Studios films is easily the most successful movie franchise of the 21st century. Naturally, it's impossible for something this massive to get along without drawing some detractors. 2017's Thor: Ragnarok is one of the earliest Marvel films to conscientiously reflect some of the common criticisms leveled against its predecessors (bland color grading, boring musical score, unremarkable villain, cookie-cutter direction, homogeneous tone, etc). Also, the film has an interesting dichotomy between its lighthearted approach and the heavy themes present in the story's subtext. Ryan is joined by his sister Sarah and his 9 year old nephew Toby; they discuss Thor: Ragnarok's use of humor, its departures from prior films in the series, its approach to anti-colonialism, its playful take on sibling dynamics, and its roots in the drama of classical antiquity. Toby also recites an essay he wrote about his favorite fictional character; Ryan and Sarah definitely intend to play this episode to Toby when he's a teenager in order to embarrass him in front of whoever he's dating. Ryan, Sarah, and Toby conclude by weighing in on the film's most important question: Who would really win in a fair fight between Thor and The Hulk?