It’s Loki’s timeline now.
Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in Marvel Studios’ LOKI exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2020. All Rights Reserved.
LOKI Review
“Loki” is Burdened with Glorious Purpose in the new Disney Plus series…and fans are here for it!
If people who didn’t understand Wanda Maximoff and Vision were confused as to what to expect from “WandaVision,” those unfamiliar with Loki and the role he plays in 6 of the MCU movies may be a bit confused as to what to expect from Disney Plus’ “Loki” series that premieres June 9. After all, the TVA and multiverse are a bit more complex than chaos magic, in my opinion.
However, after screening the first two episodes, I can tell you that Loki fans will be wanting more, and those who aren’t as familiar with the character are going to be in for a ride.
The show brings humor, heart, adventure, and thrills. I thought I couldn’t have a new favorite Marvel TV series but I was oh so wrong.
Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in Marvel Studios’ LOKI, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
About the “Loki” Series
With a runtime of 51 and 54 minutes, respectively, the first two episodes of “Loki” are the beginning of their own glorious origin story. Slated for a total of 6 episodes, the new “Loki” series on Disney Plus will essentially be the equivalent of 2.5 to 3 feature-length films, assuming the subsequent four episodes are similar run times to the first two.
Tom Hiddleston returns as the titular character, and “Loki” features the God of Mischief as he steps out of his brother’s shadow (Thor) in this new live-action series that takes place after the events of Avengers: Endgame.
Photo Marvel Studios
“Wait, I thought Loki died in Avengers: Infinity War?”
Ish? It’s what I like to call Marvel Dead—no one really ever dies.
Okay, technically Loki actually died one time.
When Loki dropped from the Bifrost in Thor, he didn’t die, he entered the wormhole that led him to the Sanctuary, where he met Thanos. If you recall, Thanos is the one who gave Loki the scepter (with the mind stone) and sent him to conquer earth in The Avengers.
Photo Marvel Studios
Loki “died” again in Thor: The Dark World when he sacrificed himself along with Thor during the fight against the Dark Elves while trying to kill Algrim. Loki “died” in Thor’s arms, Thor promised to tell of his redemption. However, as we learn at the end of the movie, Loki wasn’t dead but merely doing what the God of Mischief does best and we see Loki impersonating Odin on the throne. At the beginning of Thor: Ragnarok we find Loki in Asgard re-enact this “sacrifice” in plays as Thor figures out was has happened and outs him.
However, Loki does die at the beginning of Avengers: Infinity War. We find Thor planning to bring Loki back to earth for the first time since The Avengers at the end of Thor: Ragnarok. Their ship gets ransacked by Thanos—Loki had taken the Tesseract for himself and Thanos knows it. Loki reveals that he has the Tesseract, and pretends to swear allegiance to Thanos, but Thanos freezes Loki in place and chokes him to death as Thor watches on. Loki died trying to save Thor.
Photo Marvel Studios
Fast forward to the time-traveling sequences of Avengers: Endgame. The “Loki” series starts at the moment in Avengers: Endgame when 2012 Loki takes the Tesseract, and through a series of events, Loki lands in the hands of the Time Variance Authority (TVA)—which is outside of the timeline and concurrent to the current day MCU. In a nutshell, Loki’s death and sacrifice for Thor are not invalidated, this just explores his path in an alternate timeline.
(L-R): Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Mobius (Owen Wilson) in Marvel Studios’ LOKI, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Crimes, and timelines, and variants—oh, my!
It sounds complicated, but it’s not. The first two episodes really set up what is happening, so if you get confused, hang tight because, by the end of episode 2, you’ll be begging for episode 3.
The series is best described as a crime-thriller meets epic-adventure meets mindblowing multiverse-travels.
The TVA, as you can imagine, is a bureaucracy like any other. Reporting, numbers, and like any government agency, they make the rules. You can imagine how that sits with Loki, the God of Mischief, manipulator extraordinaire. Challenging is one word for it, as Loki tried to navigate this cross-timeline journey under the thumb of the TVA.
As the series progresses we learn more about the different sides of Loki than you’ve ever seen as he worked with TVA Agent Mobius to solve a major crime and fix the timeline.
Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in Marvel Studios’ LOKI exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Naked Loki
I may mean this figuratively and literally, but mostly figuratively. Within the TVA, Loki is stripped of his ability to manipulate the way he normally would. The God of Mischief is more the God of “I-don’t-know-how-to-function-without-my-magic” and it’s brilliant fun for us to watch.
Loki without magic but an intact ego is an interesting mix and allows us to see the more vulnerable side of Loki. Loki faces consequences and experiences pain he never realized possible.
The series explores a new reality for Loki, and a journey of acceptance of himself.
Loki Series Details
Streaming Exclusively on Disney+ June 9
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sophia Di Martino, Wunmi Mosaku, Richard E. Grant
Directed by: Kate Herron
Head Writer: Michael Waldron
Executive Producers: Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard, Kate Herron, Michael Waldron, Tom Hiddleston
Check out the rest of our Loki coverage here.
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