Monday, November 13, 2023

TV Review: Loki Season Two - Time of Glory

 


After 12 years, I think it's safe to say people love Tom Hiddleston as Loki. He's stolen the show in every movie he played a major part in, his Disney+ series is widely considered to be the best to come from Marvel, and he's the only character so far to officially get a second season. And that second season retains the glory of the first and takes it to higher levels.

As we saw at the end of last season, the multiverse was born within the MCU. While we've already seen the effects of this with "No Way Home" and "Multiverse of Madness", season two of Loki picks up directly after that as the TVA contemplates how to handle the branches in the timeline. With the revelation that everyone within the TVA is a variant, this makes some want to protect those timelines now knowing the ramifications of their actions while some would prefer to continue the work to defend the sacred timeline, creating a civil war within the organization. There's even an aspect of some TVA employees wanting to return to the lives they lost; it's kind of like a reverse of The Matrix in realizing their life was a lie, only the real world they want to return to is the world like ours.

All the acting is stellar this season from those returning and the new additions.
Tom Hiddleston continues to kill it as the god of mischief. While the Loki we see has officially crossed the line from villain to hero, there are moments he shines when that villainous side pops out, showing he still has that edge to him. There was a moment during the final episode where it got me thinking Hiddleston may have the potential to play the Doctor someday. It could work if you think about it; maybe after Ncuti Gatwa's run. And his chemistry with Owen Wilson's Mobius is still one of the best parts of the series. The two are pretty much partners now, giving the show a sense of a crime procedural with a time travel twist.
New cast member Ke Huy Quan is a real MVP as Ouroboros, or "OB". Quan retains the same energy that put him in the spotlight with "Everything Everywhere All At Once" and brings a lot of fun to the series with his quirky science and interactions with other characters.
Jonathan Majors returns to the series as Victor Timely, giving quite a different performance from what we've seen him do before as He Who Remains and Kang. While his future within the MCU is still up in the air with his legal troubles, it's pretty clear why he was cast as Kang and his variants in the first place; the dude has range. On a related note, there's kind of a weird competition between Renslayer and Miss Minutes for Timely's attention, giving me vibes of Wendy and Tinkerbell fighting over Peter Pan. And if you thought Miss Minutes was creepy at the end of last season, that's just the tip of the iceberg with how crazy this cartoon clock gets here; props to Tara Strong's voice performance.

The final episode gives a solid ending to the narrative of one of Marvel's best series. As for Loki himself, let's just say this version gets a fine conclusion to his arc like other MCU characters who have retired from their roles with an ending in the vein of All-Star Superman (if I could make a DC comparison). I still think we'll see Tom return for "Kang Dynasty" and "Secret Wars" and reunite with Chris Hemsworth's Thor. Until then, there's a bittersweet satisfaction to seeing Loki fulfill his glorious purpose.

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