Does Freya love Kratos? A complex relationship explored
At first glance, the goddess Freya unambiguously hates Kratos for killing her son Baldur in God of War (2018). But taking a deeper look across the sequel God of War Ragnarok, their relationship proves far more nuanced, with compelling evidence Freya develops some genuine affection for the gruff God of War.
Initial hatred born from pain
When players first meet Freya in God of War, she comes across as an ally, providing magical aid to Kratos and Atreus. But by the end, when Kratos snaps Baldur‘s neck to protect Freya from further violence, Freya vows revenge, her pain and hatred palpable.
"I will rain down every agony, every violation imaginable, upon you!" Freya screams at Kratos in God of War‘s closing scene.
According to Game Informer‘s Kimberley Wallace, this shocking moment sets up "a woman scorned" as a key antagonist moving into the sequel. And Freya certainly upholds that threat early in God of War Ragnarok, attacking Kratos and refusing to heal the ailing Atreus to punish his father.
Glimmers of kindness beneath the hatred
Yet despite her openly-stated desire for revenge, Freya shows glimpses of warmth toward Kratos in God of War Ragnarok.
Notable examples:
After an initial violent confrontation, Freya heals a wounded Kratos, claiming it‘s because "The boy deserves better than you." Some see this as early evidence her anger has nuance.
Freya refers to Kratos as "a fellow outcast" and compliments his capabilities in battle, suggesting an appreciation for common ground.
According to critic Scott Butterworth‘s review on GameSpot, these moments imply "her hatred toward Kratos hides a deeper bond."
Shared pain leads to understanding
As God of War Ragnarok explores both Kratos and Freya‘s pasts, it becomes clear the two have led strangely parallel lives marked by divine family tragedy.
Both have made drastic, destructive choices to protect their children at all costs:
Freya cast an immortality spell on Baldur because she foresaw his needless death, which ironically drove Baldur to despise her.
Kratos slaughtered his first wife and child while blinded by Ares‘ manipulations, a choice that still haunts him.
This context helps both start to understand the painful motivations behind the other‘s actions, according to Miranda Sanchez‘s analysis on IGN. They see their own grief and mistakes reflected, opening the door for empathy.
Fighting alongside as allies
By Ragnarok‘s climactic battle against Thor, Kratos and Freya are forced to fight side-by-side. This common cause against a shared threat brings their relationship full circle.
Gaming YouTuber Jon Ford, known for his God of War lore videos, points out how seamlessly the two work in tandem, demonstrating their begrudging respect for each other‘s prowess.
"You can see how Kratos and Freya already know each other‘s moves from all their battles," remarks Ford. "It‘s like they dance around each other on the battlefield."
According to Ford, this teamwork reveals the "deep warrior bond" forged by their violent pasts.
Forgiveness and moving forward
In Ragnarok‘s emotional finale, Freya decides to break the cycle of vengeance and spare Kratos‘ life. Cory Barlog, God of War‘s director, has stated this decision represents Freya "overcoming eons of horrific cycles" and finding an inner peace with what happened.
Freya‘s choice to forgive Kratos, clasping his arm with new understanding, makes it clear her feelings toward the Ghost of Sparta have grown into a complex love – one forged by pain, anger and loss, but maturing into acceptance.
This sets the stage for an evolving relationship between the two gods in future games. Perhaps they become uneasy allies against the plotting Odin. Or maybe real friendship could bloom from the ashes of their feud. Their potential bonds will be a fascinating storyline to follow when Kratos and Freya reunite in the next chapter of God of War.
