REVIEW: Loki, Season 1 Episode Three 'Lamentis'

 REVIEW: Loki, Season 1 Episode Three 'Lamentis'

The previous episode of Loki suggested the show's new arrival, Lady Loki (Sophie Di Martino) had potentially set into motion universe-changing ramifications for the MCU. We had seen her set off a dozen of the TVA's reset capsules, which had caused various branches to appear across the timelines, verging close to the red line where they can no longer be reset. It was an ending that may have given us our first glimpse at what causes the multiverse to clash with the lives of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange in their upcoming films and so all eyes were on the third episode of Loki, 'Lamentis', to see if we would learn any more. 

Sadly we don't really get a follow-up on Lady Loki's actions here, but that doesn't make this episode in any way disappointing. In fact, what we do get here is actually very impressive. The fight sequence between Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his female variant at the beginning is absolutely epic, and sure to silence those who complained that Loki didn't put up much of a fight at the end of the previous episode. They feel pretty evenly matched, and it delivers some strong action before they ultimately decide to work together.

When they do team up, it creates a very fun dynamic. This episode doesn't feature Owen Wilson as Agent Mobius M Mobius, but the entertaining dynamic between both Lokis more than makes up for it. Loki's larger than life personality combined with Lady Loki's more serious and sarcastic approach makes for a hilarious contrast, giving us plenty of scenes where they bounce back and forth with some of that typically funny MCU humour. They make for a genuinely riveting double act, and it will be fun to see what happens when they are hopefully joined by Agent Mobius at some point in the show's future, because it will surely make for some extremely memorable exchanges.

Loki is essentially very Doctor-like in this episode, which is probably the closest we'll ever get to Tom Hiddleston playing the legendary Time Lord. Here he's giving confusing metaphors (something which was very typical of Sylvester McCoy's Doctor) and larking around with the others onboard the space train, singing and making daft jokes. It means there's never a dull moment, which is what you need when the screenplay requires so much of the plot to revolve around both Lokis trying to relax on a train. If you have dry characters these kind of scenes can easily become a chore to watch, but here because of the charisma of our Lokis and the infectious personality of our lead, you don't notice how most of the script involves the characters just talking. 

There are some more dramatic moments too, where Loki isn't acting the buffoon. He has a very moving scene here where he opens up about his mother's death, and it's nice to see these little moments of vulnerability from the God of Mischief, because it shows that underneath all the bravado he's still a being with feelings. He's someone who hasn't had an easy life, having experienced loss and heartbreak, and it gives him a sympathetic edge that allows you to root for him despite how often he tends to fulfil the role of a villain.

Something which particularly amazed me in this episode was the special effects. The CGI of the titular moon  Lamentis is absolutely beautiful. It's like the Colin Baker era of Doctor Who, but realised on a much bigger budget, with these gorgeous purple skylines and some very convincing effects regarding pieces of the planet striking the moon's surface as its about to crash into its atmosphere. This has to be one of the most awe-inducing pieces of CGI on television, which is no surprise given that Disney have the money to pump into a show like this, in order to give it special effects that are this good. 

The episode also gives us a reveal that changes everything we thought we knew about the TVA. For it turns out that everybody who works for the organisation is, in fact, a variant, and that they can't remember their lives on Earth before they were made to join the Time Variance Authority. It creates this somewhat tragic aspect to the TVA as a whole, as none of the agents are aware of this previous life that they led. They all believe they were created by the Time Keepers, so imagine what it would do to them if they discovered at least one aspect that they believed in was a lie. It's horrendous to think about, especially when you consider that it means Agent Mobius may have already fulfilled his desire to ride a jet ski, and he just wouldn't know about it. They could have taken a hobby he had on Earth away from him, simply because he didn't take their predetermined path in life that they chose for him. 

Overall, 'Lamentis' is Loki's best episode yet. It gives us perhaps the closest Marvel Studios will ever come to producing their own take on Doctor Who, drawing clear inspiration in particular from the Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy eras of the show, whilst also giving us a fun central dynamic between Loki and Lady Loki. It also offers a truly shocking revelation regarding the agents at the TVA that makes us question everything we know about the organisation. It really raises the question of just what else the TVA is hiding. Are the Time Keepers even real, or are they a mere fantasy created by a  greater force to prevent the agents from discovering the truth?    

What are your thoughts on Loki's third episode? Let me know in the comments.