REVIEW: Loki, Season 1 Episode Two 'The Variant'

 REVIEW: Loki, Season 1 Episode Two 'The Variant'

Much has been made about how this show looks set to change the face of the MCU. Mostly because the first episode, 'Glorious Purpose', gave some considerable background information on the multiverse, and how it operates within the confines of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We know that the multiverse is set to play a big part in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, so its very presence in this Disney Plus series seems to suggest that Loki will play a key role. 

Especially as the main plot surrounds the Time Variance Authority trying to catch a Loki variant who's causing mischief. First they travel to 1985 - but the Loki variant is one step ahead, and proceeds to turn the TVA agents against each other through mind control. This opening sequence gave me some serious Guardians Of The Galaxy vibes, as the entire scene is scored to Bonnie Tyler's 'Holding Out For A Hero'. It gives it an edge as the agents are taken down one by one, as they are left utterly helpless and without any method of salvation. It feels kind of brutal when our lead Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Mobius (Owen Wilson) turn up and reset the timeline, effectively leaving these agents to disappear like collateral damage.

The next timeline hop is to the eruption of Pompeii, where Loki wants to test out his theory that the Loki variant is hiding out in apocalyptic events. Loki's idea is to create a disturbance in order to see if it causes any branches to the sacred timeline, as he believes nothing can change as the end of everything automatically wipes any potential changes out. This is a really funny scene that highlights the differences between Loki and Mobius. Mobius wants to start with small actions such as whistling, because he's more afraid of the potential ramifications if Loki's theory is wrong. Loki, on the other hand, has no such fears as he revels in the sight of chaos anyway; he has no time for baby steps, and would rather start with the option more likely to attract attention, such as hanging off the back of a wagon and declaring the end is nigh. It's a great way of demonstrating Loki and Mobius's dynamic, as it's ultimately Loki's proactive approach that allows the TVA to determine how the Loki variant is escaping their clutches.

The last timeline we visit is 2050 Alabama, on the day that it's wiped out by a hurricane of astronomical proportions. Once again, the Loki variant is one step ahead, taking control of the TVA soldiers one by one and teasing the lead Loki as he asks questions concerning the Loki variant's ultimate goal. There's something really disconcerting about the way they just drop to the ground after being possessed, especially as one of the agents seems to have something of a nervous breakdown after their own possession. You get a sense that this Loki variant is a serious threat, that they possess a more volatile nature than 'our' Loki, and that the TVA truly have their work cut out in trying to capture them. Even our Loki is taken down fairly easily by this variant, being flung around the shop in 2050 as though he's just a paper aeroplane.

When the reveal comes that it's Lady Loki (Sophia Di Martino) who the TVA have been tracking, it's immensely satisfying. Finally, we meet a female version of the God of Mischief, and it's truly about time. She's a shadowy presence throughout much of the episode, which adds further weight to the moment where we discover her identity, as the fact that she can even hide from 'our' Loki adds real credibility to her as the season threat. And what a threat she is, having appeared to have unsettled the sacred timeline and caused multitudes of branches to appear. Could this be what kicks off the multiverse opening up?

Among all the reveals, there are some quieter moments too. One of the best is when Loki learns of Asgard's destruction in Thor: Ragnarok. Through Tom Hiddleston's excellently understated performance, you really feel the emotional weight of someone discovering that their own planet was destroyed, and that by default they have become essentially one of the last survivors of this dreadful act. It's very similar to the start of Doctor Who's revival in 2005, when the Doctor was made the 'Last of the Time Lords' by the then-off-screen destruction of his home planet of Gallifrey. Like the Doctor, Loki goes through this pain and realisation that his people burned, and there's nothing he can do but remember those who have fallen.

A happier moment is when Loki loses his patience with Miss Minutes (Tara Strong). It's truly hilarious seeing him become increasingly annoyed at the mascot's over-bearing personality, trying to flick it with a curled up newspaper and ranting that you can't just hide in a computer screen. As someone who has moaned about the television whenever the Go Compare Man has appeared, I can totally relate at getting fed up of seeing one of those irritating company mascots. I think we've all wished we could grab hold of them through the TV screen and make them shut up. 

Overall, 'The Variant' is a big step up from Loki's first episode. Now that the set up is out of the way, the show digs deeper into the main crux of the season, offering us some truly spectacular time travel sequences, mixed with a powerful scene where Loki finds out about the destruction of his own home planet. The Variant is an episode that begins by showing you the full potential of the series at hand, and ends by shaking things up with an event that seems set to change the course of the entire MCU as we know it.

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