TV Editor Josie Scott-Taylor is full of praise for the latest Disney+ series, the show which finally gives Loki the attention he deserves
Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is back, finally taking centre-stage after years of being overshadowed by the likes of the virtuous Captain America (Chris Evans) and sarcastic Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr). Seeing Loki in the titular role in his own television show after so long is both refreshing and fun, as it allows the God of Mischief to really flaunt his powers and poetic metaphors and show off what he can do. Despite his murderous tendencies, Loki has been a fan favourite since his introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, stealing the show with his tragic backstory and scheming ways.
The Disney+ series follows Loki after he steals the Tesseract in Avengers: Endgame and meddles with the flow of time, a disruption which is promptly picked up by the Time Variance Authority, an organisation that attempts to keep things in order by monitoring the timeline. The show adopts a buddy-cop, Doctor Who-esque feel, partnering up Loki and Agent Mobius (Owen Wilson), a member of the TVA who places perhaps too much trust in a character we all know from experience to be less-than-trustworthy. After watching him betray Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in pretty much every instalment of the MCU, seeing someone put their faith in the backstabbing Loki seems almost comical.
Agent Mobius and the TVA are on a mission that only Loki can help them with, meaning he is given a choice: either be erased from the face of the earth, or lend a hand for the greater good and fix the timeline. Doing things in the interest of others is unlike Loki, as we have discovered in the last decade of the MCU, but the thought of not existing anymore does not seem to appeal to him, so he decides to cooperate – in his own way, of course.
Loki allows viewers to see him at his most vulnerable, coming to terms with his many flaws that have made him who he is
Loki allows viewers to see him at his most vulnerable, coming to terms with his many flaws that have made him who he is: lonely, tired, and shadowed by guilt. He has spent his entire life replacing the absence of connection with tricks and games, but running away from reality is exhausting and he seems to have had enough.
With stunning visuals and an outstanding soundtrack, Loki is jam-packed with Easter eggs that are enough to drive any Marvel fan insane. There are plenty of references to the comics and other recent MCU instalments, but not so many that watching the staggering number of films and TV shows is a necessary part of understanding the plot. Although having a substantial amount of knowledge about this universe of superheroes certainly makes the show more enjoyable, Loki is dynamic and lively enough to be entertaining whether you are a casual or diehard fan. The show, alongside WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, has reignited the love many fans have for Marvel after the franchise as we know it came to a close with Avengers: Endgame in 2019, creating even more of a buzz surrounding the upcoming phases of the MCU.
Filled with surprisingly heartfelt moments and a wealth of Loki’s trademark witticisms
Filled with surprisingly heartfelt moments and a wealth of Loki’s trademark witticisms, expect to be completely swept up in this antihero’s journey and fall in love with Marvel all over again.
Rating: 5/5
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