This past winter and spring I actually went to see Wagner's Ring Cycle operas in HD from the Met. It was interesting going with my mother, who is a longtime opera buff and has seen a number of productions. She was coming at it from the viewpoint of a knowledgeable opera aficionado, whereas I was coming at it from the viewpoint of someone familiar with Northern myth. I enjoyed the cycle overall, but I definitely came out of it with the impression that compared to the original Norse gods, Wagner's Wotan is a wuss in that he just seems to give up rather than go down fighting.