With Hiddleston's assured performance at the center, Loki gets off to a promising start with a twisty mystery and fascinating world-building.
After the nostalgia-tinged trip through Scarlet Witch's grief in WandaVision and the global buddy adventure that was The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Marvel Studios is once again pivoting in a new direction with Loki, its latest Disney+ series. Arriving as the third project in the MCU's grand Phase Four, the twisty streaming show will break with tradition and arrive on Wednesdays, a move that perhaps fits the titular character quite well.
Tom Hiddleston once again plays Loki in what is certainly his biggest MCU showcase yet, and based on the first two episodes, he isn't holding back. Directed by Kate Herron and written by Michael Waldron, Loki is quite different from the MCU Disney+ shows that came before, and that is so far a good thing. With Hiddleston's assured performance at the center, Loki gets off to a promising start with a twisty mystery and fascinating world-building.
Loki kicks off with a quick trip back to Avengers: Endgame, when a mishap caused by the time-traveling heroes allows the God of Mischief to snag the Tesseract and escape. Loki's freedom is short-lived, though, as he is quickly apprehended by members of the Time Variance Authority. This omnipotent bureaucratic organization is tasked with maintaining what is known as the Sacred Timeline; as Loki's escape violates this, he's in a lot of trouble. However, TVA agent Mobius M. Mobius (Owen Wilson) sees an opportunity in Loki. Mobius has been hot on the trail of a dangerous variant and he could use Loki's help.
Tom Hiddleston in Loki
Though Loki, much like the other MCU shows, has ties to the greater Marvel universe, there are moments specifically in the second episode where the series feels less attached to the Avengers and their adventures as it builds out its world. Loki's new entanglement with the TVA, a fascinating organization cloaked in the monotony of a bureaucratic office, allows the show to go in a new storytelling direction while still remaining rooted in the MCU and Loki's history in it.
The various aspects of the TVA, from how it was created to the way their hunters approach timeline malfunctions, could prove tedious if introduced in another way. Luckily, Herron and Waldron have found clever ways to help the TVA make an impression right from the first moment Hunter-B15 (Wunmi Mosaku) arrives onscreen. Production designer Kasra Farahani contributes to this as well with the muted, but unique design of the organization's offices. On paper, the TVA could feel like the least compelling part of Loki, but its solid introduction and potential future impact on the MCU grounds the series.
Loki's premiere quickly establishes the mystery at the center of the show, but the episode soon drifts into more character-driven territory. For longtime admirers of Hiddleston's fan favorite character, this won't be viewed as a bad thing. Already, the series finds new depths for Loki, largely thanks to Mobius' psychological probing.
The second episode finally advances the mystery, culminating in a twist that is bound to make a few viewers startle in surprise. In terms of action, Loki has yet to live up to its Marvel predecessors. In fact, it could perhaps be the most cerebral MCU project yet as Mobius and Loki engage in a few deep conversations. It's a fascinating route, but one that could prove shaky if Loki can't deliver on the ambitious conflict it has set up. The second episode ends with a drastic cliffhanger, and one just hopes it will manage to stick the landing.
Owen Wilson and Tom Hiddleston in Loki
Loki already has a lot of things working in its favor, but if there is one major standout, it is Hiddleston himself. By this point, the actor has been playing Loki for 10 years, and he wears the part like a glove. Loki wouldn't still be around if it weren't for Hiddleston's effortless charm, and this series has already granted him multiple opportunities to bring new shades to a character who could've been one-note in someone else's hands.
As his frequent scene partner, Wilson is in top form. The MCU might've found its newest dream duo in Wilson and Hiddleston, as their banter and evolving work relationship gradually comes to be the heart of Loki. Additional supporting players like Mosaku and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Judge Renslayer have similarly slipped into their characters with ease, though they haven't yet been granted as much playing time as Hiddleston and Wilson have with their characters.
Judging a television series off of two episodes is a tricky task, particularly when it comes to one that is bound to take several dramatic turns. Loki's more cerebral approach might throw off some viewers, but its central mystery and exploration of the God of Mischief himself will surely entice even more. After years spent in Thor's shadow, Loki is finally moving into the spotlight, and it's one that is shaping up to be just as unpredictable as he is. Chaotic, fun, and deeply intriguing, Loki is a solid MCU entry. The next six weeks are going to be very interesting.
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