Normally to discuss a major twist of the movie so close to its national release would be uncouth, but with how impactful the twist is for the integrity of Thor 2, I feel it is important to merit discussion. Summarily, the reveal at the end of the movie, while easy to predict for anyone familiar with certain movie tropes, is a slap to the face for the two hours that come before it. Here come the spoilers, back out now or never.

Thor and Loki have a vitriolic relationship. Loki and Odin, his adoptive father, have no relationship. Odin hates Loki. While Thor, in the past, has believed there is some good in his adopted brother Loki, this has all but vanished with Loki's megalomaniacal acts in previous movie The Avengers. Thor is by now well aware that Loki will betray him and Asgard any chance he gets. Now imprisoned on Asgard, Thor coldly lets Loki stagnate in his cell until halfway through the movie, Thor must get off Asgard and the only way left is Loki's secret passage known only to him.

In sheer desperation, Thor releases Loki with the stern warning, "If you betray me, I will kill you."

Thor and Loki escape Asgard, and they confront the movie's main antagonist. Thor releases Loki, and they fight together as a team. Loki is fighting the henchmen of the antagonist, Thor is fighting a giant bruiser as the main antagonist escapes. Thor gets pummeled into the dirt, Loki rushes over and kills the giant bruiser, but not before this brute runs Loki through with a sword.

Loki has heroically sacrificed himself for Thor, all because Thor put his trust in Loki. The scene ends with an emotionally anguished Thor ruefully proclaiming to everyone who would care, "Loki died with honor."

We fast forward almost an entire hour, Thor has beaten the main antagonist, Thor goes back to Asgard, and refuses the crown, because he's seen why Loki hates Odin so much: Odin is a tyrant king. Thor again tells his father that Loki died with honor, Loki is a good man, and then leaves the room.

Odin's shield falls, and it turns out that it was Loki sitting in that Odin's throne. At least for that scene. Or for the entire second half of the movie? Where's the original Odin? How did Loki get back to Asgard? How much of this had Loki planned in advance, and how could he have planned it in advance? How did Loki survive a giant sword being rammed through him?

A couple things I quickly want to address: I know in the comics that Loki is the eternal antagonist of his brother Thor, and killing him in the movie would go against all sorts of comic book canon. The thing is: comic books go on for series at a time. Movies have a much clearer beginning and an end. If Loki doesn't die, then he hasn't changed. He's somehow--implausibly--planned this grand deception so he can directly infiltrate Asgard. It cheapens the entire experience: there's no character development and our hero Thor has accomplished nothing except for beating up an (albeit impressively powerful and conniving) evil elf and saving the Nine Realms--FOR NOW.

It feels like a cheap cash grab and cheap fanservice to yank away everything that Loki seemed to do for Thor halfway through the movie. If Loki hasn't changed, who has? All this guarantees me is a sequel, and if it's the same tripe that is afraid to commit to tangibly effecting one of its main characters, I doubt I'd be interested.

Thor 2 was funny, its action scenes were top notch, but much of the emotional resonance it builds during the movie is dashed by this cheap end twist.

My advice? Leave the theatre before Thor leaves the final scene.