It’s been a while since a Marvel Studios property left me giddy about what’s next. The first two episodes of the first season of LOKI had us (your GGRioters) captured. At the end of season 1, episode 2, we were gassed up for more “timey wimey” goodness—something akin to What If: Doctor Who but Marvel. The chemistry between the characters was so good we started anticipating our first buddy-cop three-way. One featuring Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Mobius (Owen Wilson), and B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku). We imagined those three surfing various timelines in search of unknown antagonists with hijinks and fiery dialogue. You like? We did. Instead, Season 1 veered left into a masturbatory romance with a Lady Loki we didn’t ask for. Not that Sophia Di Martino isn’t on her game, but 90% of our Rioters wanted to opt out of Sylvie. The actress we like, the character we say nay.
So when we received episodes 1–4 of LOKI Season 2, we lowered our expectations. Who knew going low could get you high? So far, S2 is everything we originally hoped for. It picks up after Sylvie kicked Loki through a time door. You know, just before she killed He Who Who Remains (Jonathan Majors) for making hard choices and telling her the truth about it. I mean, yes, Candy Kang—basically Kang the Conqueror and Willy Wonka after going through a broken Transporter and getting blended—isn’t a hero but…wait, what were we talking about? Oh yeah, He Who Remains lived in a mansion at the end of time where he oversaw the perpetual pruning of the timeline and prevented branches (a multiverse) from happening. Thus also preventing variants of himself (because they only dominate and destroy). But Sylvie had a vendetta and she didn’t care if she destroyed everything as long as she got her revenge. Wait, is Sylvie a Kang?
Anyway, Loki drops into the TVA (Time Variance Authority) but he has no idea which timeline he’s on. Making it worse, he keeps getting launched into uncontrollable time jumps. And it looks like it hurts. Imagine you’re made of rubber and you explode but you’re too elastic to break. Something like that. Once Loki can stick around long enough (ooh an unexpected pun), Mobius takes him to meet Ouroboros (Ke Huy Quan) down in the belly of the TVA. The place where things get fixed. Yes, but can I pause here to say those names are both symbols of infinity? I can? Thank you, I like nerd stuff. Back to Ouroboros. if Doctor Who had a Q like James Bond does, it would be Ouroboros aka O.B. Quan is quirky-inventor perfection in the role. Of course, B-15 and Casey (Eugene Cordero) are there too because every good Loki needs a squad.
Now they just need to fix Loki, right? Nah. Season 2 could easily be subtitled: More Time, More Problems because the complications don’t stop. There’s an actual ticking clock over their heads. Actually, there are two ticking clocks because where in time is Miss Minutes (Tara Strong)? What is Ravonna Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) up to? And also, is one He Who Remains/Victor Timely just as good as another? You’ll get the answers to these questions and more in the pulse-pounding season two of Loki the Time Lord.
Mixing Loki with the time-hopping charm of Doctor Who, the gadgetry of a campy Bond, and the ruthlessness of a crime-thriller gets you wound up. It’s an excitement we haven’t experienced in these MCU streets for a minute. What makes it more appealing is the additional depth of character within the ensemble. We get to know who the members of the TVA and their opponents are. Each character has quirks and principles. B-15 believes in the sanctity of life. Mobius soothes himself with pie. Our newest and most mercurial hunter, B-5 aka Brad (Rafael Casal), wants to live his best life—no matter what. Victor Timely has been traumatized and the idea of team-ups triggers him. The former boss, Ravonna is feeling the strains of being a woman in the corporatized universe. Our new “best boy,” Ouroborous believes in the rules and in his idol. Meanwhile, Loki is redefining himself as a trickster—stepping outside the cloak of villainy. And Sylvie? She’s still mad. But at least everybody gets McDonald’s—the original one, when they deep-fried the pies until they erupted in cherry-flavored lava like a volcano of deliciousness (or so I’ve heard).
And that’s why you should watch LOKI Season 2. You can do that this week, Thursday, Oct 5 on Disney+.
WATCH IT!
