Loki’s Twisted Fate: Dissecting Season 2 Ep. 1
Loki Season 2 is here, and right on time. Let’s dive into how the God of Mischief is suffering from his own domain in the premiere episode.
More than a couple of years have breezed by since we last caught a glimpse of Loki’s escapades. The first season wrapped up during the summer of 2021. But let’s face it, clocks tick differently in the TVA, right?
If you didn’t watch season 1 of Loki, now’s a good time to catch up quickly. And, if you’ve not yet watched the season 2 premiere, here’s your warning: spoilers ahead!
While we’ve been waiting, Owen Wilson’s Mobius, Wunmi Mosaku’s Hunter B-15, and the ever-enigmatic God of Mischief, portrayed by Tom Hiddleston, feel like mere moments have whisked by since the first season’s jaw-dropping conclusion.
Remember that riveting moment? Loki, caught in the crosshairs of confusion, peers at a statue of He Who Remains while Mobius and B-15 grapple with the mystery of his identity. And now, we catch Loki trying to shake off his pursuers as Season 2 unfolds.
Recapping How the God of Mischief Fell Prey to His Own Domain
Here’s a quick refresher of what’s happened in the streaming series: Sylvie (the ever-impressive Sophia Di Martino) threw our beloved anti-hero through a Time Door just after her decisive showdown with He Who Remains.
Photo by Gareth Gatrell. © 2023 MARVEL.
As a result, the TVA is facing an existential crisis. Timelines are spiraling and unraveling, going haywire beyond the so-called “Sacred Timeline.” It’s a mess, to put it mildly. Adding to the potpourri of chaos is B-15’s newfound determination to cease pruning these timelines, given the bombshell that the TVA’s origins were, well, less than truthful.
Topping it off? Loki finds himself in unfamiliar terrain — a timeline seemingly untouched by these revelations.
The Mischief Continues Unabated in Season 2
Behind the cameras, Disney+ has shuffled the power dynamics. Eric Martin now helms the series as the head writer, replacing Michael Waldron, while directorial duties have shifted to Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. Still, as we dive into Season 2, the transition feels almost invisible. It’s as if the essence of the Loki spectacle remains untouched.
The new season’s introductory episode brilliantly channels the frenzied spirit of its predecessor, ratcheting up the suspense. With Loki being yanked across epochs — past, present, and future — against his wishes, there’s hardly a dull moment.
In “Ouroboros,” we see the concept of “time-slipping” take center stage. It serves as a nifty plot device, shedding light on TVA’s cryptic operations, introducing fresh faces and facets of its universe we were yet privy to. These temporal detours offer a sneak peek into intriguing puzzles that future episodes promise to unravel.
The narrative brilliantly encapsulates the pandemonium within TVA, shines a spotlight on B-15’s transformative journey, and poignantly portrays the emotional whirlwind Loki endures, especially in the wake of his confrontational dance with He Who Remains.
Plenty of Time for Answers
While some enigmas from Season 1 dangle unsolved, the Season 2 curtain-raiser encourages viewers to dive back into the labyrinthine world of timekeeping deities. The heartwarming camaraderie between Loki and Mobius enjoys some time in the spotlight, peppered with fresh allies and emerging adversaries.
Photo by Gareth Gatrell. © 2023 MARVEL.
Devastated by Sylvie’s betrayal, Loki begins the new season, undergoing a gruesome cycle of disintegration and reformation. His repeated episodes horrify onlookers, including Casey, Mobius, and others. After reconnecting with present-day Mobius, Loki discloses their encounter with He Who Remains, emphasizing an imminent threat.
Loki’s sporadic presence alerts the TVA to an impending menace. However, Loki’s unstable state prompts Mobius to seek out Ouroboros, otherwise known as O.B. This character is the TVA’s tech guru, who Mobius hopes can help lock Loki down to one timeline.
O.B., who hasn’t had a conversation in centuries, proves pivotal. After a complex exchange across time, they devise a plan to counter Loki’s time inconsistencies using a Temporal Aura Extractor, assisted by the Temporal Loom.
Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 MARVEL.
O.B. pinpoints the Loom’s malfunction as the root of their troubles, warning of its impending overload due to numerous new timelines. This revelation comes with its own comedic moments. O.B. fails to remember such a device but then remembers it. Of course, he only remembers after Loki time-slips yet again and provokes its invention.
It all fits in nicely with precisely what the Ouroboros reflected in Greek and Egyptian mythology: the perpetual change of all things, material and spiritual, in an endless cycle of destruction and re-creation. O.B. just needs a logo of a serpent eating its own tail.
O.B.’s Plan (Yeah, Custer Had a Plan, Too)
Their intricate plan to stabilize Loki’s timeline requires impeccable timing. A misstep will leave Loki lost in time or Mobius facing horrific consequences. Like the Time Loom peeling his skin off.
Photo by Gareth Gatrell. © 2023 MARVEL.
Despite unexpected hitches, including a surprise appearance by Sylvie, they manage to fix Loki’s issue momentarily. O.B.’s insights also shed light on a deeper problem within the TVA, highlighting the Temporal Loom’s distress.
Unstable Stability, the Phrase of the Day
Historically, the TVA maintained multiverse stability. Yet, we learned that the Time-Keepers are mere facades, and the other TVA members manipulated variants.
B-15 emerges as a reformer, pushing for change. During a crucial meeting, divisions become evident. While some, like Judge Gamble, advocate for a change in policy, others, like General Dox, remain steadfast in their traditionalist views.
Complex Relationships and the Multiversal Strife
An overheard conversation hints at a closer relationship between Ravonna and He Who Remains, suggesting their collaborative role in a Multiversal War. The episode showcases the TVA’s internal rifts. B-15 and Judge Gamble push for a more inclusive multiverse, whereas Dox and X-5 insist on pruning variant timelines. As Dox mobilizes troops, B-15 ponders their motive.
The TVA’s existential crisis is further exacerbated by the malfunctioning Temporal Loom. While the previous system, although flawed, was efficient, the new revelations demand a revamped approach.
As Loki time-travels, he perceives the repetitive cycle involving He Who Remains and the TVA. With the TVA’s foundational beliefs shattered, the organization faces a pressing cosmic dilemma.
A Worthy Successor to the First Season
“Ouroboros” is a testament to Loki‘s spellbinding charm from its maiden voyage and underscores why Marvel Studios should emulate such character-centric tales, especially given the rocky terrain of Marvel’s Multiverse Saga.
Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 MARVEL.
In the inaugural episode of the season, Loki wastes no time in delivering an enticing teaser. Amid the chaos at the TVA, as they desperately search for a familiar variant, the post-credits sequence unveils Sylvie’s mysterious journey.
She emerges from a Time Door in Broxton, Oklahoma, circa 1982. An intriguing detail, the on-screen indicator reveals that this Broxton is nestled within a “branched timeline.”
McDonald’s: An Emblem of Simple Freedom
Stepping out of the Citadel at the End of Time, Sylvie, having vanquished He Who Remains and initiated the era of multiversal free will, finds herself in a reality that, according to the TVA’s old doctrines, should have been pruned long ago for straying from the Sacred Timeline. Yet, Sylvie’s actions have granted this branched timeline its autonomy, for better or worse.
Breathing in the Oklahoma air, Sylvie makes an unexpected pit stop at none other than a McDonald’s. With dried blood still marring her face, she approaches the counter to place an order. However, as she tunes out the cashier’s menu descriptions, her gaze drifts to the patrons, reveling in laughter and camaraderie.
Of course, Sylvie initially asks the cashier for “something that’s already dead.” She goes on to request “nothing with a face.” Clearly, she’s endured a tumultuous existence. Through it all, apparently, McDonad’s is a sign of Sylvie’s newfound freedom, it would seem.
At the same time, there’s a poignant undertone in how this fast-food establishment, with its simple pleasures, embodies the life Sylvie was deprived of after the TVA abducted her as a child.
As Sylvie watches the McDonad’s customers enjoying their presumably simple, free lives, the episode draws to its end. Much to the cashier’s surprise, Sylvie says, “I want to try everything.”
Broxton’s Place in the Marvel Universe is Far From Accidental
Beyond its symbolic significance in Sylvie’s newfound liberty, Broxton bears a connection to her unique comic book origins. The TV variant of Sylvie is a fusion of Loki and The Enchantress, another comic character.
In the comics, the original Enchantress, an Asgardian named Amora, is joined by a second Enchantress, Sylvie Lushton, who hails from Broxton.
In the comic lore, Asgard’s destruction led Thor to establish a new capital just outside Broxton, Oklahoma. Sylvie Lushton, once an ordinary resident, was manipulated by the mischievous Loki into believing she possessed Asgardian powers. Thus began her transformation into the new Enchantress.
It’s all an interesting twist. Loki‘s visit to Broxton pays homage to Sylvie’s comic book roots while inverting the narrative of her origins. Di Martino’s Sylvie arrives in Broxton, trading her role as the God of Mischief for a more modest existence, that of Sylvie from Broxton.
Teasers from prior trailers have hinted at Sylvie’s stint at this very McDonald’s. Whether it’s her employment or a way to settle an extravagant bill for ordering every item on the menu remains to be seen.
However, as General Dox embarks on a heavily armed pursuit, Sylvie’s dreams of a fresh start in Broxton might not last long. Farewell, free will.
Our Continued Adventures with the God(s?) of Mischief
Want to carry on this conversation? Head on over to our forums. Each week, I’d love to chat with you all about what happens with Loki, Sylvie, Mobius, and the Time Variance Authority.
Loki streams Thursdays on Disney+.
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