In Defense of Jane Foster

Natalie Portman as Jane Foster in Thor (2011)

     After the new Thor trailer came out, I couldn't help but see several hate posts come out on Tumblr (where I found the trailer) regarding Jane Foster. I don't understand the hate for her. Or maybe it just comes down to general jealousy because she's in the position that girls and women all over the world want to be in. Well if that isn't immaturity toward a fictional character I don't know what is.

Natalie Portman as Jane Foster in Thor (2011)

     When I saw Thor for the first time, my favorite character was definitely Jane. She wasn't the typical romantic leading lady. As a matter of fact, Jane wasn't romantic at all. She's a brainy scientist, who has no time for relationships and is strictly devoted to her work. Then this stranger (literally) crash lands into her life and she's somewhat awestruck. 

     What I liked about Jane is that it wasn't immediate "love at first sight" which is what people tend to see it as. Actually, Jane couldn't have cared less about Thor when she hit him with the car and then tossed him into the hospital so she could get back to her scientific study. Jane only went back to Thor when she thought he could help her with her research and instead he ended up helping her get into trouble.

      Over the course of less than 24 hours Jane begins to understand that Thor is no ordinary person. He's different, he's mysterious, there's a whole other way about him, so of course she's going to be curious about him, but still her work comes first. When Thor is arrested by S.H.I.E.L.D. Jane realizes her detrimental mistake of going to the site and begs Erik to get Thor out.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Jane Foster (Natalie Portman)
 in Thor (2011)

       Jane is still confused by Thor, not understanding who or what he is, but is overwhelmed by his courage and fortitude to help her. When she felt like giving up on her research after S.H.I.E.L.D. took her material, Thor encouraged her to keep going, making her realize that at least one other person (besides Erik) believed in her. After that is when Jane realized she was in love with Thor. 

     People have often accused Jane of being to sappy or obsessively in love with Thor, but I didn't see that at all. Jane only fell in love with Thor in the last 25 min. of the movie. Before that he was just some crazy guy she hit twice with her car and that she thought could help her with her work. People wrote her off as annoying, but I thought it was great to see the romantic interest share the role as the comic relief.

     It we want to talk about sappy or obsessive love, why don't we talk about Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers from Captain America. Don't get me wrong, I love Peggy and I thought she was awesome, but she was definitely a women who was very madly in love too...and love and war don't go well together.

      Peggy thought Steve was a nice guy, but after his transformation she became a little obsessed; to the point where she shot at Steve just because she saw him kiss another girl! Which was a great scene, but still...let the man live his life! At the same time, like Jane, Peggy was strong, independent and work always come first, but when love unexpectedly walks in, you may never know what might happen.

Natalie Portman as Jane Foster and Chris Hemsworth as Thor

     I think what I enjoy most about Jane is that she's just the ordinary girl next door. She was all work and no play and then the handsome stranger comes and her life changes completely. Jane fell in love with Thor because he helped with her work and risked getting arrested again just to get her journal. Jane fell in love with Thor, because even though he was mysterious and from a whole different world, he was still courageous and honorable. Thor fell in love with Jane because she saw the best in him and helped him understand that there was another person he could be.

     So stop the Jane hate. She's beautiful, she's intelligent and she's the girl that Thor is fighting for. Jane might be ditzy and a little reckless, but aren't most people when they're trying to accomplish their work? Jane was funny and by no means shallow or dull. Like I said, I believe it just all goes down to petty jealousy because of Jane's position as Thor's love interest. Get over yourselves, get a life and stop hating on a fictional, but well written, 3 dimensional character.

Thor: The Dark World trailer clip