Most MCU TV exhibits exist in their very own little bubble, linked to the bigger universe however remoted on their very own. Secret Invasion sees a world-altering secret come to life, whereas She-Hulk and Ms. Marvel introduce two new super-powered superheroes, nevertheless it all feels disjointed, and plenty of instances we’re left questioning what function these exhibits serve. Are they meant to retcon previous storytelling choices in an effort to take the MCU on a extra expansive path? Are they merely soft-launching superheroes who we’ll then have to fulfill another time once they seem on the large display? Not like Star Wars or the DCU, the MCU usually proudly boasts its interconnectivity, however once I watch exhibits like Loki, I query the fact of that interconnectivity.
Greater than another collection up to now, Loki Season 2 feels deeply essential to the MCU as a complete, with true universe-changing potential. In any case, if you find yourself erasing full universes and placing Kang the Conqueror into your present, it’s far larger than simply one other Skrull masquerading-as-human reveal. However, on the similar time, the collection can be immensely remoted from the overall goings-on of the universe at giant given the character of the TVA and the way it exists outdoors of time.
We’re plunged proper again into the story following Season 1 after Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) killed He Who Stays (Jonathan Majors) — however whereas Season 1 centered on the difficulty of variants, particularly these of Loki, Season 2 revolves across the very cloth of space-time and the multiverse. Whereas the performances are high tier, and Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead‘s directorial model offers the collection a bit extra polish aesthetically, Loki Season 2 struggles with its pacing and balancing the sophisticated character dynamics that made Season 1 so good with the broader, extra expansive plot.
A lot of the energy of Loki hinges on the efficiency of the solid. Tom Hiddleston simply slides again into his persona as Loki — maybe a bit extra harried this season and a bit wiser, however nonetheless the trickster god. For many who anxious earlier than Season 1 that an Avengers-era Loki would possibly lose his complexity, it was clear that the present was in a position to give him again that depth, and Season 2 develops it much more. It’s arduous to think about that this Loki is similar one who as soon as dramatically mentioned he was burdened with wonderful function. In lesser palms, the character would possibly really feel like too sharp of a shift, however Hiddleston has at all times imparted a fragility to his character that has made him straightforward to like even when he’s doing notably horrible issues. A heroic Loki doesn’t really feel that far faraway from the villainous one — maybe only a bit much less deranged and a bit extra humble.
At his aspect is Owen Wilson as Mobius M. Mobius, at his finest when he’s leaning into the humor of the character. There are a number of moments when Wilson’s wry humor is the funniest factor on display. Letting him play off of Hiddleston, Ke Huy Quan‘s Ouroboros, or Rafael Casal‘s Hunter X-5 permits him to be extra than simply the strait-laced firm man. After 4 episodes offered for assessment, although, Mobius feels a bit much less developed when in comparison with the opposite characters. Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku) is especially good this season, with Mosaku lastly attending to dig into the meat of her character, who struggles between her TVA coaching and the belief that she is a variant herself. Equally, the brand new additions of Rafael Casal, Ke Huy Quan, Kate Dickie, and Liz Carr add weight to the TVA past simply Mobius, Loki, and B-15. Quan is especially pleasant as O.B. (brief for Ouroboros), the singular worker working within the Repairs and Developments sector of the TVA. Quan lends his signature cheerful humor to the function, which performs brilliantly off of the opposite extra severe characters. Dickie’s Normal Dox is appropriately menacing as effectively, with Casal enjoying the extra opportunistic Hunter X-5 at her aspect, and Carr’s Decide Gamble provides a extra compassionate view of the judges on the TVA.
Season 2 additionally brings again Sophia Di Martino as Sylvie, a standout efficiency from Season 1 and a fast fan favourite. After killing He Who Stays, we see her struggling again on Earth, initially working at a McDonald’s within the ’80s, nevertheless it doesn’t take lengthy for her to get roped again into the TVA. Like Loki, this Season 2 Sylvie is equally mature. A few of her vengeful willpower is gone, now that she has completed her activity by destroying He Who Stays, however the fallout from her argument with Loki appears to have left a mark on each of them. Di Martino and Hiddleston’s chemistry continues to be simply pretty much as good paired with the added rigidity from their separation, although it’s a particular sluggish burn.
The massive battle of Season 2 of Loki revolves across the branching timelines, nevertheless it doesn’t have the identical time-jumping shenanigans as Season 1 did. The story is extra centered, this time with the entire of the TVA at stake. The branching timelines, every containing thousands and thousands of lives on divergent paths, are inflicting imbalance, and with out He Who Stays on the helm, full chaos has erupted. Stated chaos bleeds into the writing and pacing of the season. Written primarily by Eric Martin, who wrote “The Nexus Occasion” episode of Season 1 and co-wrote the Season 1 finale “For All Time. All the time.” with present creator Michael Waldron, the present has to steadiness not solely the principle TVA battle, but in addition the Loki and Sylvie rift, Mobius and the opposite TVA workers slowly coming to grips with being variants, Ravonna’s (Gugu Mbatha-Uncooked) return, and a complete new Kang variant: Victor Well timed (Jonathan Majors).
Majors’ return as a Kang variant was at all times anticipated, particularly as Victor Well timed, one other distinctive iteration of the notorious Marvel villain who was teased on the post-credit scene of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Nevertheless, it’s unclear what Majors’ future with the MCU shall be given the actor’s assault and abuse allegations. It’s tough to totally embrace Majors’ efficiency as Victor, which is undeniably a robust exhibiting, when wanting on the real-world information surrounding him. The season itself struggles with declaring a real villain, with one solely rising towards the tip of Episode 4. Although it’s not essentially a significant downside (our heroes have sufficient points as it’s), it does give the sense that our favourite characters are merely operating round like chickens with their heads lower off, awaiting the inevitable catastrophe. Whereas Season 1 felt just like the present was barreling towards an ending with every passing week, the marginally meandering tempo of Season 2 lessens the affect of every episode.