As a middle child of three, I can see how the “Middle Child” stereotypes can often be rooted in the truth. Middle Child Syndrome is defined by Urban Dictionary as;

When a middle child — typically of a family of three kids who are close in age — feels left out or neglected. Because the bigger sibling is the first born and typically an over-achiever, they are the most important and get the most privileges. A younger sibling is the ‘baby’ of a family and gets away with more as well as being the most looked-after.

Middle Child Syndrome (MCS) affects millions of people, but would you believe me if I told you that Odinson himself is the middle child of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)?

Let’s go back to 2008 when Iron Man crashed onto the scene to begin the MCU’s reign over the Box Office. Big brother Iron Man paved the way for 2011 when both Thor and Captain America made their cinematic debuts to the world. Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America are arguably the most popular of the MCU Avengers. Iron Man can do no wrong. With his appearance in seven of the MCU films (three of which were his own), big brother is always around to show the rest how it’s done and is a constant over-achiever. He even got his sequel before Thor and Captain America appeared in their first movies.

Captain America, though he was the last of the three to appear, has quickly become a fan favorite and has two of the most important movies within the MCU (I could argue three because it was in Captain America: The First Avenger where we were introduced to Hydra BUT I DIGRESS); Winter Soldier, where we saw the disbandment of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Civil War, where the Avengers broke up seemingly for good.

After all this, we are left with Thor, the funny middle child who Marvel seems to shoo away with a “Thor? Yeah, do whatever, just make sure he takes his shirt off.” His first movie, Thor, which came out to little fanfare in May of 2011, was a rushed, forgettable tale about a boastful god who learns humility and falls in love with a mousey scientist. We don’t even see him again until May of 2012—an exact year later—in Avengers where, honestly, if the villain wasn’t his younger brother (the irony that the bigger role going to baby bro) he wouldn’t have had all the brilliant screen time he did have.

Then there is the often forgotten film, Thor: The Dark World, a tale about Jane Foster and Thor’s long distance relationship and his absence from her life. They reconnect when Jane encounters the Aether (also known as the Reality Stone) and it takes over her body. Honestly, this film’s only calling card is the Reality Stone and its relation to the rest of the Marvel films; the upcoming Infinity War film to be specific. The rest of it is a tale that is easily lost in the cacophony of all the other Marvel films.

Like a middle child who is starved for attention, Thor sought it elsewhere by using humor. He has an odd character arc, being the only MCU character to have comedy sketches outside of the films. In the amazing Darryl and Thor videos on YouTube, Thor and his roommate Darryl show how hard it is for an Asgardian Prince to adjust to life on earth. Trying to pay rent with Asgardian coins, leaving his hammer around where Darryl is trying to clean, refusing to get a job, and loads of other hilarious scenarios. I’m sure these skits are what led us to Thor: Ragnarok.

Directed by Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, What We Do In The Shadows) Ragnarok is the third film in the Thor trilogy. Like any middle child knows, sharing is inevitable, and Thor is no different, sharing this cinematic vehicle with his younger brother and Hulk. Thor: Ragnarok is Planet Hulk meets the Asgardian apocalypse (Ragnarok). Marvel seemed unsure of what to do with these two characters in the lead up to Infinity War, so they took a chance with a little-known Indie director and an odd premise. Much like a middle child in a familial situation, Marvel gambled and tried something new with Thor in this film, making it a complete comedy with all the levity and silliness needed to make it work.

And boy did that film work. From experience, the perks of being a middle child are the freedoms you get to enjoy when your parents are focused on your other two siblings. With Marvel’s eyes on the epic Avengers: Infinity War films starring Thanos and his two brothers, Iron Man and Cap, at center stage, Thor was able to sneak by with mischievous friend Taika and make a film that not only makes fun of its predecessors (the play within the movie), but also changed the tone and growth trajectory of Thor as a franchise. It was a risky move that only a neglected middle child could get away with.

Thor has turned his Middle Child syndrome on its head with Ragnarok. Discovering (*SPOILERS*) that he is an actual middle child, with Hella being the big sis and Loki his little bro, he owns that title and discovers who he is and his true strength. Through the freedom of being the neglected Marvel son, Thor has risen to be not only a fan favorite but to have one of the more interesting character arcs within the MCU. From boastful god to lovesick puppy to the goofy, lovable god of thunder he is now, Thor is a character that keeps us guessing, and honestly, I can’t wait to see what he does next.