Continued from "This Hostage Earth"
Hawkeye regains consciousness in Alfheim where the light elves are fighting a desperate battle against Loki's forces, composed mainly of monstrous wolves. Loki himself keeps Thor imprisoned so that he can gloat about his master plan, which he set in motion all the way at the beginning of the series. It turns out, he was manipulating events all the way from Thor's initial confrontation with Odin, and even was behind The Breakout and The Masters of Evil. The whole point of all that scheming was so that he could gain control of the Odinforce, the source of Odin's power, and prevent the Allfather from waking up. With this power he was able to take over Asgard and has sent his armies to conquer the other realms, making Midgard irrelevant.
As for the other avengers, they're not exactly in good spots. Ant Man and Wasp are transported to Jotunheim where they have to deal with frost giants (well, Ant Man at least. Jan was knocked out during transportation) In Niflheim, Captain America is confronted by the spirits of his dead comrades from the war, who urge him to give up and go to his hero's rest. Hulk gets to go to Vanaheim where the Vanir have been enslaved by trolls. Black Panther ends up in Svartalfheim, the old world of the dark elves, and gets chased by their restless spirits. Iron Man meanwhile wakes up in Nidavellir where he meets the king of the Dwarves, but they have problems of their own.
Each of the Avengers has to fight to overcome unique challenges throughout the realms, but they slowly but surely work their way forward.
Hank protects Jan from the frost giants (who are utilizing the previously stolen casket of ancient winters), but gets thrown off a cliff before being rescued by Sif and the Valkyries.
Black Panther uses vibranium to protect himself from the dark elves, and escapes through a magic well into another realm.
Hulk gradually smashes his way through the trolls, rescuing the warriors 3 who resolve to retake Asgard with his help.
Cap at first seems ready to give up, but after wondering where Bucky is, thinks himself still alive, and resolves to keep fighting. He then demands that Hela let him out of Niflheim.
Hawkeye is helped out by the light elf Faraday, a fellow archer. Running out of Arrows, they prepare to fight to the death, but are rescued by Black Panther. Faraday tells them that Alfeim is essentially lost, but they can still use a ship to get to safety.
Iron Man meanwhile fights a giant named Ulick with only one repulsor arm (the rest of the armor was lost in transit), and after hitting him with a blast from his arc reactor, escapes with the dwarf king to the forges of Nidavellir, where he asks, "Ever make a suit of armor?"
Thor meanwhile is still in Loki's clutches, and Loki promises that along with Baldur, he will face execution soon enough.
The story continues in "A Day Unlike Any Other"
Tropes:
- Anguished Declaration of Love: Hank tells an unconscious Jan he loves her when it looks like the Frost Giants are about to kill them.
- Badass Boast: "Hulk is strongest there IS!"
- Batman Gambit: Loki reveals that many major events in the show are thanks to his cunning.
- He expected the Frost Giant invasion in Asgard to fail, hoping that Odin will banish him. Beforehand, he disguised as a guard and informed Odin of Thor's adventures on Earth, leading to an argument thag ends with Thor storming out shortly before the Odinsleep. Loki then triggered the breakout of the four prisons on Earth, to ensure that Thor wouldn't return to Asgard. Forming the Masters of Evil furthered that end. With Thor distracted, Loki was able to go about his plans for conquest unimpeded. The only downside is that only Earth has not yet fallen thanks to Thor and the Avengers but, with them scattered across the Nine Realms, he is free to conquer that as well once he's done with Thor.
- Berserk Button: NEVER say that Hulk isn't strong enough.
- Big Damn Heroes: Faradei saving Hawkeye from the wolves. Later, Black Panther for both of them.Hawkeye: (to Black Panther) Where the heck have you been?
- Callback: Volstagg mistakes Hulk for an ogre, which Thor did back in "Breakout, Part 2".
- Curb-Stomp Battle: After getting dog piled by a bunch of ogres, Hulk breaks free and proceeds to wipe the floor with all of them.
- Death by Adaptation: Dum Dum Duggan is among the spectres Steve sees in Niflheim, suggesting he's dead unlike his comic book counterpart.
- Foreshadowing:
- When Loki lists the realms he rules over, Muspelheim remains conspicuously unlisted among them. The second season reveals why.
- "If this is the land of the dead, then where's Bucky?"
- It Has Been an Honor:Faradei: You've fought well, archer. I am proud to meet my end beside you. I am Faradei.
Hawkeye: Clint. But all things being equal, Faradei, I prefer to skip the "meet my end" part. - Motive Rant: Loki to Thor.
- The Reveal: Loki has been the Greater-Scope Villain of the season, triggering the Breakout and ordering Amora to form the Masters of Evil to keep Thor busy.
