Detailed Analysis - Side Narrative’s
The Nature of love - Mimir and Sigrun
Mimir is arguably one of the most memorable characters to be introduced to the gaming landscape. Perhaps what makes him so great is his values as a storyteller and his ability to temper Kratos. Sigrún is one of the greatest warriors from the God of War series. Even Kratos admitted in his journal that she was one of the most lethal adversaries he had ever fought. If you can believe it there was a time that Mimir and Sigrun were together, in a sense. While they may have never Consummated their relationship, they confided in each other in ways that put other relationships to shame.
As they are making their way through Valhalla, Kratos and Mimir have a heart-to-heart so to speak as they discuss each other’s personal dilemmas. Kratos is worried about becoming the God of War again and Mimir is concerned about him and Sigrún. As time has passed, Mimir and Sigrún have been spending more and more time with each other, rekindling their friendship and perhaps seeing it blossom into something more but naturally Mimir has to put his foot into things, or rather lack Thereof.
Being a resurrected talking head doesn’t give people many prospects for a fulfilling relationship and he Recognizes this. At one point this angers Sigrún and even Kratos expresses his anger at his best friend for suggesting that he isn’t worthwhile in a partner. This might seem a Contradiction but there are many ways a relationship can be fulfilled. Even one that is Purely based on mutual respect and stimulating conversation is Meaningful and Mimir and Sigrún will never stop caring for each other.
This is proven when Sigrún saves Kratos and Mimir from falling into the depths of Valhalla at her own personal risk. She damages her connection to Valhalla and contemplates re-taking her oath to serve. In her younger days, she would not have hesitated but after Experiencing life outside of Odin’s service and her time with Mimir, she wonders what else might be out there for her, beyond Valhalla, Mimir and even the Nine realms.
By the end of Valhalla’s journey and careful contemplation, Sigrún embarks to find a purpose beyond being a Shield-Maiden and even Mimir. Despite that Mimir and Sigrún share a goodbye until she finds a purpose or chooses to return someday. The performances of Alistair Duncan and Misty Lee are excellent and they bring to life these fascinating and layered characters. Wherever Sigrún’s path leads, I’m confident she’ll find what she Deserves at the end, whether it’s a future with Mimir or a life beyond the Realms. Mimir will be waiting for her regardless and will be happy for her no matter what as he acts as the angel on Kratos’ shoulder as he protects the Realms.
Mimir and Sigrún’s story is one built on respect, compassion and understanding and at the end of the day, that’s mainly what any of us want. While the pair may have some closure at the end of Valhalla’s story, I believe they are not done yet. Regardless their story is excellently written and while it may have been Fulfilled with exposition and narration much of the time, there were moments where we got to see the 2 interact and still be satisfied with the result.
Scars of the Past - History of the Shield Maiden's
The Shield Maidens, known originally as Valkyrie’s are some of the most powerful beings in all of God of War and that’s saying something, considering the God’s and Monsters that Kratos has faced in his years. When we met them in 2018, they proved to be impressive endgame bosses as they pushed Kratos and Atreus to their limits. When we fought them we could take their helmets to the Council of the Valkyrie’s and Mimir would fill our heads with some storytelling about them and while this gave them personality, it didn’t add depth to them.
When Ragnarök loomed, Freya needed allies so she resurrected the Valkyrie’s and made them shield Maidens. We didn’t see them much during the war against Asgard save for 1 that got ripped apart by a new Valkyrie queen. After Ragnarök, it seemed only 3 managed to survive, what was a pretty intense fight. Since then they have been helping Freya maintain order and improve relations across the realms. What makes Valhalla’s story more engrossing is that after some time training Kratos can gain Favor with the Shield Maidens and earn pieces of their personal stories.
Eir, described as the most caring of all the Valkyries spoke about a time in her life when she was learning medicine from her father. A medicine man who liked natural remedies, Eir began experimenting with different forms of healing which involved magic but received pushback from her father. When he finally took ill, he refused all magical treatment and of course, he passed before the next spring leaving his daughter devastated and shunning her father’s ways. She grew rigid in this way as she shunned natural medicine in favour of magical healing. This would change when her Teacher, a kind and wise woman took ill and required a remedy of both Herbal and magic but as Eir had forgotten all her father’s teachings, her teacher also passed.
Eir’s journey is about acceptance and reckoning one’s past so that one can live a fulfilling life. Eir needed to accept that both natural and magic Medicine were needed in her life and for Kratos he must take Everything he has ever done in the Greek world and use it to better the Norse world with what he has now learned.
Gunnr, a Rowdy but wise Valkyrie, took pride in Divining the worthy of the dead to enter Valhalla. Gunnr recounts how she was not bread for greatness but born into poverty. She didn’t have much but she never turned down a fight and that gained her a reputation until a bully she took down decided to return and teach gunnr a lesson. The bully burned her home to the ground, with her father still in there. Being brave she rushed in and got him out but they were both scarred which only Emboldened Gunnr.
She entered the coward's lair and killed him and his crew, only to walk out with a job. Sigrun, not the queen back then but still a Valkyrie appeared, expecting to find a battlefield full of honoured dead, instead finding Gunnr. Enthralled by her Bravery, Sigrún took Gunnr under her wing but Gunnr didn’t know if she could do the job. Skilled in violence but not responsibility, Gunnr doubted her resolve to the job until Sigrún told her practice would make her better and sure enough it would. She mastered new skills, mastering them through discipline and focus. The one enemy she struggled to best was herself, where she came from and the position she was taking on herself.
She is much like Kratos in this way, who harnesses his rage and strength into a weapon that serves him well but is also Grappling with his past deeds with what the realms need now. A God of War who protects and serve the realms equally and with conviction. Her journey is impactful for Kratos as he can understand that where he comes from is not who he is and that he can be more than the sum of his deeds as he works to build a future for himself and the realms. Eir’s and Gunnr’s stories are perfect echoes for Kratos as their Experiences can help Kratos overcome obstacles in his way. They also help Kratos understand how best to handle a situation and to not be rigid but rather open and prepared for his old ways.
Another life - Mimir's Past
Sometimes it’s hard to forget that Mimir had a life before he found himself in the affairs of the Norse Lands. Ever since he came into Kratos and Atreus’ lives, he had become so pivotal to their lives that they literally could not progress without him. Without his help, Kratos and Atreus would never have been able to complete their journey to scatter Faye’s ashes. In Ragnarök, while Kratos and Atreus can find their way on their own, Mimir’s guidance and advice are almost vital.
In Ragnarök, we finally learned certain details about where Mimir comes from. During their travels, Mimir mentioned unique and well-known tales with Shakespearian and Arthurian Origins. He recounts tales about how a coven of witches sought to upend a Government by planting a prophecy in the head of a knight who then murdered his King in his sleep. He also recounts his friendship with a woman named who knew how to handle a sword, in the literal sense.
These stories indicated a clear link to England which isn’t too far a stretch, considering how linked Viking culture is to England which started their Golden Age. What really gave us an idea of who Mimir was, was when a visit was paid to the Norns, and they called Mimir Puck. For those who don’t know, Puck is the name of a fairy servant in the story “A Midsummer Night's Dream”. This is confirmed in Valhalla when Mimir described his tale of when his Fairy King ordered him to find him a love potion to trick his queen.
Mimir’s journey in Valhalla is far different from Kratos. While Kratos is on a path of mastery, Mimir finds himself on a path of discovery and this involves his past. When Kratos reaches a stage in Valhalla, Mimir is replaced with the head of Helios and this allows Mimir to revisit his own adventures and come to a realisation. In his youth, he was a man who wanted status or at least Recognition of high standing and he was willing to compromise certain morals to do that. Because Oberon the fairy King from “A Midsummer Night's Dream” was not appreciative he left his service but he wonders what would have happened if Oberon had done so. In the story, Mimir or Puck as he was known then forced the Fairy Queen Titania to fall in love with an actor and he was all too happy to do it. It’s Not too far of a stretch to believe that something Kratos or Mimir does might somehow be known to several playwrights and authors in the future.
He is far from that man now but it’s curious to think what he would have become had he decided to stay. He didn't truly start to change until he met Sigrun during Odin's service and meeting her made him want to be a man worthy of her. While this also aids Kratos’ story of mastering himself and Mimir’s acceptance of Sigrun’s future, much of this acts like world-building, as while we may be done with the Norse Saga, we may still see the seeds that are being planted for the future.