Valkyrie is one of the most popular characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). As an Asgardian warrior and a member of the Revengers alongside Thor, Hulk, and Loki, she has gained a huge following. Fans are always curious to know more about her personal life, especially her romantic relationships. So does Valkyrie end up with a romantic partner in the MCU? Let’s explore.
Valkyrie’s Backstory
In the comics, Valkyrie’s real name is Brunnhilde. She was selected by Odin to lead the Valkyries – a group of elite female warriors. However, she fell in battle defending Asgard from Hela, the Goddess of Death. Brunnhilde was then imprisoned and enslaved by Hela before eventually escaping. In the MCU, Valkyrie is the last surviving Valkyrie after Hela massacred the rest of them.
Valkyrie’s Personality and Relationships
Valkyrie is depicted as a tough, hard-drinking warrior who has shut herself off from others. She is haunted by the trauma and guilt of being the sole survivor of the Valkyries. At the start of Thor: Ragnarok, she is working as a bounty hunter on the planet Sakaar and looking out only for herself. However, through her adventures with Thor and the Revengers, Valkyrie starts to open up and become part of a team. She even resumes her Valkyrie title and duties.
Despite her prickly exterior, Valkyrie does care about her comrades. She shares an unspoken bond with Thor, built on mutual respect and their shared Asgardian heritage. There are hints that she may have feelings for Thor that go beyond friendship. With Bruce Banner/Hulk, she relates to his trauma and guilt over past failures. Valkyrie helps encourage Bruce to merge his two sides back together into Professor Hulk by the time of Avengers: Endgame.
Does Valkyrie Have a Romantic Relationship?
Thor
Many fans have speculated on and hoped for a romance between Thor and Valkyrie. They have great chemistry on screen, complement each other well in battle, and help each other heal from past trauma. In Avengers: Endgame, Thor even declares Valkyrie as the new Queen of Asgard, showing his utmost trust and respect for her. However, the films have not shown anything overtly romantic occurring between the two characters.
While Thor seems to find Valkyrie attractive upon first seeing her, she never indicates any reciprocal attraction. Their relationship appears to be built on a strong platonic bond rather than romantic love. Valkyrie assumes more of a big sisterly role toward Thor, teasing him and keeping him in line. She also turns down the chance to rule by Thor’s side at the end of Endgame, suggesting she does not envision them as partners or co-rulers.
Bruce Banner/Hulk
Valkyrie and Bruce/Hulk have great friendly chemistry too, with her helping him reconcile his two halves. Some brief flirtation occurs between Valkyrie and Bruce early on in Thor: Ragnarok. However, nothing more develops along those lines.
Valkyrie appears to view the Hulk as more of a comrade and kindred spirit rather than a romantic interest. Given her traumatic past, she may not be ready for romance. While a relationship between her and Bruce could be interesting to explore, there are no clear signs in the films that they have mutual attraction.
Other Asgardians
Since Valkyrie is living among the surviving Asgardians on their new settlement on Earth by the end of Endgame, she could potentially find love with one of her people. However, none of the other minor Asgardian characters have been set up as possible love interests for her.
The only prominent unmarried Asgardian male left is Heimdall, who has never shown signs of attraction to Valkyrie either. Their relationship appears respectful and professional rather than romantic. So the chances seem low of Valkyrie ending up with a partner from among the refugee Asgardians.
Another MCU Character
Valkyrie’s duties toward the Asgardian people and her warrior nature tend to isolate her from the rest of the MCU characters. She has so far only interacted briefly with the original Avengers team. While she respects them, she does not have any close relationships or chemistry with any of the Avengers who are single – like Falcon, Bucky or War Machine.
Since Valkyrie is positioned on Earth now, it’s possible she could meet someone new in future films as the MCU expands. But her romantic partner would need to understand her culture and background as an Asgardian Valkyrie. The pool of eligible partners who meet that criteria is currently quite small.
Conclusion
Based on Valkyrie’s portrayals in the MCU films so far, she does not appear to have a clear love interest or girlfriend. While Thor and Bruce are possibilities fans support, neither relationship has been developed romantically on screen. Valkyrie’s nature as a guarded, traumatized warrior makes it difficult for her to open up emotionally. She may not be ready for a romance yet.
Valkyrie’s Future
Still, under her tough exterior, Valkyrie seeks the same connections and understanding that most people want. Now that she has found renewed purpose as a leader and protector of Asgard, she may be more open to love. Her role could expand in future MCU films, giving more opportunities to explore relationships. Fans hope she will finally get the chance to find happiness and fulfillment – whether on her own terms or with a surprise love interest.
Theories
Some theories that could lead to Valkyrie finding love include:
- Valkyrie slowly letting her guard down and admitting her feelings for Thor
- Valkyrie bonding with an Asgardian who shares her warrior background
- Valkyrie finding a new love interest from upcoming MCU franchises like the Fantastic Four or X-Men
- Valkyrie developing a same-sex relationship, since her bisexuality is hinted at in the comics
Regardless of who Valkyrie ends up with romantically, if anyone, fans hope she continues to grow into her power and fulfill her destiny as a leader and protector.
The Actress’s Perspective
Tessa Thompson, who plays Valkyrie, has expressed interest in exploring her character more, including potential relationships. In an interview with /Film, Thompson stated:
“I think there’s space for that. We don’t know a ton about Valkyrie. We know she’s an Asgardian. We know she’s a warrior. We know she was a part of the Valkyries, which is sort of an elite warrior group of women who have some familiarity with Valhalla. And she’s the last remaining one. So I don’t know, there’s space for a lot of exciting things to happen.”
This indicates Thompson is open to ideas of introducing a romantic storyline for Valkyrie in the future. The creative forces behind the MCU also seem intent on increasing LGBTQ representation, making a girlfriend for Valkyrie plausible.
In Summary
While Valkyrie does not currently have a girlfriend or clear love interest in the MCU films, there remains strong potential to develop her character in that direction. Her sexuality has not been definitively established one way or the other. Valkyrie possesses many admirable qualities for a romantic partner. As one of the few remaining Asgardians, fans are invested in her finding belonging, fulfillment and love. Whether that love comes from Thor, Bruce or someone new, viewers eagerly anticipate the next chapters in Valkyrie’s story.
| Potential Love Interest | Chemistry Level | Likelihood |
|---|---|---|
| Thor | High | Low |
| Bruce/Hulk | Moderate | Low |
| Heimdall | Low | Very Low |
| Another Asgardian | Unknown | Low |
| New MCU Character | Unknown | Moderate |
