Even before my Marvel fatigue had set in, Loki was the only series I was interested in after Luke Cage. Loki is one of the few characters in the MCU that had a genuine arc made all the more impactful by Tom Hiddleston’s lovable yet punchable performance. Furthermore, the show’s whole vibe and aesthetic looked way more interesting than any of the others that would follow it and I genuinely loved the idea of Loki as a chaotic time-traveling detective.
The first season of Loki was the only one of the Disney+ Marvel shows I made an actual effort to watch. I loved how every episode kept me engaged and on edge, and I loved how its ending actually set up ideas that would play out in the bigger picture of the Kang Dynasty arc of movies—rather than set up plot details for individual movies. The Loki Season 2 continues to build on the solid foundation of the first, and despite only getting to view four episodes for this review, I can already tell this is going to be a wild ride.
I can’t say much about the plot of the first four episodes of Loki Season 2, mostly because Disney doesn’t want me to, but I think mystery lies at the heart of the show and to say anything—even pretty basic plot details—might tread too close into spoiler territory. The way Disney tells it is, “”Loki” Season 2 picks up in the aftermath of the shocking season finale when Loki finds himself in a battle for the soul of the Time Variance Authority…Loki navigates an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous multiverse in search of Sylvie, Judge Renslayer, Miss Minutes and the truth of what it means to possess free will and glorious purpose.”
Loki Season 2 definitely feels a bit more focused this time around, relying less on the episode-to-episode mysteries of the TVA, Sylvie and Loki’s own moral journey and possible agenda, and more a race against the clock to save the future of the TVA. While all the intrigue and mystery is still there—informing much of the character and villain motivations—it’s used more as plot enhancement than plot detailing. If I could put it simply, I wanted to watch each episode more because I wanted to, and less because I felt I had to.
Much like the first season, the strength of Loki Season 2 lies mainly in its characters. Hiddleston and Wilson still play great together, providing a lot of playful wit and banter that could only come from two actors who have both dramatic and comedic chops. Furthermore, it’s great to see Loki developed more as a full chaotic hero, rather than a “will-he-won’t-he” villain type. Even in Thor: Ragnarok, Loki’s turn to the good side has always been one of my favourite moments, and when he’s allowed to drop the facade and be real, his pain and tragic history informs a really solid character.
“Loki Season 2 definitely feels a bit more focused this time around, relying less on the episode-to-episode mysteries of the TVA, Sylvie and Loki’s own moral journey and possible agenda, and more a race against the clock to save the future of the TVA.”
There’s a bit more of a subtle spotlight placed on Wilson’s Mobius, who despite learning of the TVA’s true function, continuously refuses the urge to learn the truth of his place on the True Timeline. Outside the plot, I feel like much of Loki’s second-season character mystery lies within Mobius and whether his curiosity will get the better of him, and inform his place within the TVA. It allows for several great quiet moments from Wilson where a look or a gesture can make you question what his next moves might be—as if he’s playing 4D chess.
I think a special mention is definitely deserved by Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan, who plays the glibly energetic Orobourous—or O.B. for short. Quan definitely takes on the brunt of the show’s exposition, as O.B. works in the Repairs and Advancement department and acts as the TVA’s “quirky repairman.” Quan’s natural energy and playful charisma play perfectly alongside Hiddleston and Wilson’s dryer comedic banter, making him not only an excellent foil but also a perfect addition to this cast of quirky characters.
Visually, Loki Season 2 maintains the excellent 70s retro bureaucratic aesthetic while being a bit more playful and experimental. It’s definitely trying a lot of new things between the various time periods Loki finds himself in. I appreciated a lot of the little details the show put into its multiple time-based locations, and a lot of the TVA’s newly revealed tech really evokes the esoteric, almost psychedelic style of the 70s. My hope is these first four episodes have only scratched the surface of what’s possible, and I can’t wait to see more.
“Visually, Loki Season 2 maintains the excellent 70s retro bureaucratic aesthetic while being a bit more playful and experimental.”
I really wish I could say more, but there’s a lot I don’t want to give away—and am contractually obligated not to. Like I said at the beginning of this review, my time with Loki Season 2 may have seemed brief, but I’m already more engaged with it than I have been with any of the other Disney+ Marvel shows. However, having watched four episodes of this six-episode season, I cannot wait to see where this season goes and how it’s possibly going to rectify some of the insane plots it has structured.
