In May 2011, I had just finished my freshman year of undergrad, which also means I had just finished Physics 201 – the one where you get into the good, weird stuff, like intro to relativity and just a hint of quantum mechanics. As a planned physics major, it was the first step towards even weirder, cooler science. May 2011, coincidentally, is the first time Jane Foster showed up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
I loved her immediately.
Jane Foster is unquestionably the smartest person in the room. The films recognize her as the world’s foremost astronomer, an undeniable expert in her field – she’s even in contention for a Nobel Prize. She’s also the most enthusiastic – she isn’t shy about her love of science, and she doesn’t dull her brilliance to make anyone more comfortable. She’s curious and determined to understand everything, and even deployed one of my all-time favorite quotes: “Magic is just science that we don’t understand yet.”
And she was right. I’m skipping ahead, but that moment in The Dark World, where she smugly points out that the Soul Forge was a quantum field generator? I cheered. When Thor is equally smug about how smart the human he’s still in love with is? I cheered harder.
It’s getting better in later phases, but in the original Phase 1 and 2 movies we didn’t see too many women. Black Widow flitted amongst the movies, but she felt like a heroine I’d seen before. There was Pepper Potts, who I appreciated, but who was essentially the glue keeping Tony Stark’s live together and not allowed to be her own character outside of quippy one-liners. Agent Carter was incredible, competent, and whip-smart, but she didn’t resonate with me anywhere near so personally as Jane. I mean, she slaps Loki for New York City! She argues with S.H.I.E.L.D. to protect her life’s work, including equipment that she built herself!
She is first and foremost a scientist, and her scientific expertise is lauded and used by the movies.
Don’t mistake my adoration for blinders – I do adore Jane Foster, but I am also aware that the first two movies squandered her and actress Natalie Portman. I was so thrilled to see an enthusiastic astrophysicist on screen that I forgave two arguably mediocre movies on the basis of her character’s potential alone. I clung to those shining moments where Jane could steal the show and hoped to one day get to see her truly shine.
After The Dark World, Natalie Portman left the MCU and took Jane with her. I couldn’t blame her: she was promised certain things and denied them, including a female director and a more substantial, action-heavy role. The MCU didn’t respect her, and she responded in kind by getting out. I had given up hope that I would get to see more of Jane, my favorite MCU character, my unexpected representation of science-minded, nerdy, enthusiastic badasses.
But then things changed. Taika Waititi breathed life back into Thor with Ragnarok, and the overall direction of the MCU shifted towards something more inclusive and more willing to take chances in the name of representation and good storytelling. Black Panther happened, with Shuri, who my physics student self would have shed actual tears over. Captain Marvel happened, with a female lead who is the strongest in the galaxy.
And now, Jane Foster is worthy. She is Thor. And I cannot wait to see her come into her own as a brilliant scientist, unabashed nerd, and a God of Thunder.
Comments are closed.