The MCU is in need of a savior, and they may have just found one in the form of Tom Hiddleston’s Loki. As the first Disney+ Marvel series to receive a second season, Loki had a lot to live up to. The first season — along with WandaVision — are often considered to be the best of the MCU television shows. That’s a title and an honor that doesn’t hold much weight these days as audiences have come to expect very little from the outings. Secret Invasion — which had been highly anticipated as a starring vehicle for Samuel L. Jackson and an adaptation of a fan favorite comic arc — proved to be predictable and dull. I was lucky enough to receive the first four episodes of Loki (S2), and for the first time in a long while, I’m excited about Marvel again.
Loki (S2) Plot
Picking-up where the previous season left off, Loki (Hiddleston) must work with Mobius (Owen Wilson) and other members of the Time Variance Authority in order to save the multiverse from an unraveling destruction. Sylvie’s decision to kill He Who Remains has thrust the multiverse into disarray and in order to save the lives of everybody in existence, they’ll have to work as a team and face-off against a powerful foe.
The Critique
Keep in mind, I was only provided with the first four episodes and those episodes are the only ones this review pertains to. Loki’s journey from Avengers villain to beloved hero has been a long one, spanning over a decade and numerous films. Tom Hiddleston’s effortless charisma, sarcastic delivery and conventional good looks have helped to cement him as one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most watchable characters. Successfully shifting any character from antagonist to protagonist within a franchise is difficult; however, it’s not impossible.
In Loki Season 2 we see that transitional arc completed. Although there are moments in place meant to remind audiences of his villainous origins, he has unquestionably made the leap to the other side. While the previous season attempted to fast-track the character’s evolution, this season allows Loki to embrace his heroism in a manner that feels natural and true.
There are so many things that Loki Season 2 does beautifully. There’s a clear level of respect for not only the audience, but the characters themselves. It sheds the over-reliance on exposition that dragged the previous season down. It doesn’t feel the need to pause throughout each episode and layout the chain-of-events that led us to this point in the MCU. Instead, audiences are treated to a rapid paced adventure that keeps the perfect stride with each episode feeling perfectly connected.
The recent controversies surrounding Jonathan Majors will likely have many viewers scratching their heads and wondering how the series plans to handle the delicate issue. Fans know that Majors will be in the series, as a post-credit sequence from Antman and the Wasp: Quantumania revealed Mobius and Loki watching a variant of the villain in an early 1900’s setting. While, I won’t detail how prevalent of a role he plays, I will say that — controversies aside — Major’s performance is a bit puzzling. He’s undoubtedly an actor skilled at his craft, yet here his performance feels forced and confused, a stark contrast from the rest of the cast who steal the show in every shared scene.
Ke Huy Quan — fresh off his Oscar winning performance in Everything Everywhere All At Once — slides into the role of Ouroboros (or O.B. for short) with the same infectious joy and innocence that he’s become known for. His inclusion in the main cast is a pivotal element of this season’s success as he acts as the bridge between viewers and the non-sensical nature of the TVA. Much of O.B.’s dialogue is dedicated to informing characters — and audiences — about what exactly is going wrong and what needs to be done to correct it. It is a bit of exposition, sure. But as I mentioned above, that exposition is not a primary aspect of the plot or episode structure and is stitched perfectly into the narrative
In Conclusion
As a large chunk of movie goers are suffering from superhero fatigue, Loki (S2) acts as a reminder that their are still quality stories to be told. It’s a series so well crafted, perfectly paced and filled with heart-pounding entertainment that it just might sway a few nay-sayers back to the MCU’s good side. The Marvel Cinematic Universe — much like the multiverse — is in need of a savior, and I’d put my money on Loki.
9/10
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