REVIEW: Loki, Season 1 Episode Four 'The Nexus Event'

 REVIEW: Loki, Season 1 Episode Four 'The Nexus Event'

If there was any Marvel show on Disney Plus that proved the massive scope and scale that these TV Series can have on the streaming service, it's Loki. Encompassing various space and time events, it's fair to say that the budget for this series must be huge. It's yet further proof that Disney can afford things that many companies can't; they are a billion dollar company for a reason.

How many media companies, for instance, would be able to open with a shot of Asgard? This is the scene that shows us when Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) was captured by the TVA, and God is it tragic. She was taken away when she was just a child, meaning that she effectively had no childhood; not only that but they reset the entire timeline, effectively killing her family and friends. It's the ultimate proof that the TVA are not the time-saving heroes we were led to believe, and it's in keeping with the show's general theme that the universe needs chaos in order to thrive.

Somebody I did miss in the previous episode was Owen Wilson as Mobius. He has such a natural chemistry with Tom Hiddleston's Loki, and it's great to see them reunited here, with their bickering on top form. Their arguments over who betrayed who, and Mobius's teasing over Loki's obvious feelings for Sylvie/Lady Loki are so entertaining to watch, and it's a pairing that I hope continues both in further seasons of Loki and in other MCU projects. Why not have both Loki and Mobius in a future Thor film, for instance?

We also get the welcome return of another familiar face - Lady Sif (Jaimie Alexander). I love the fact that Jamie Alexander always seems to be game for these TV appearances, having also showed up in Agents Of SHIELD, and she always delivers. She has brilliant comedic timing, which makes the time loop where she frequently slams Loki for cutting off her hair one of the most hilarious scenes in the entire MCU thus far. 

It's not all fun and games however, as this is also the episode where Mobius discovers he's a variant. Honestly, this is heartbreaking. You can see the denial in his face as he initially refuses to believe Loki, only to have it confirmed when he steals Ravonna's (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) Ten Pad, and sees footage of her killing Hunter C-20 (Sasha Lane) for discovering the truth that she is a variant. I can't even imagine how hard it would be, to one day discover that everything you believed in is a lie, and that not only were you helping the bad guys, but you could have had this whole other family who you know nothing about. It would destroy you, and the show plays into this so brilliantly.

Especially as it ends in such a sad manner, with Mobius pruned for learning the truth. I don't for one minute believe Mobius is dead, as we later see Loki get pruned and end up elsewhere, in a reality where Richard E Grant is just one Loki out of a few, but it doesn't lessen the impact whatsoever. It just seems so harsh, and it paints the TVA as these totalitarian people who want to control the truth, not dissimilar to something out of a George Orwell story. 

Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku) is another who with the help of Sylvie/Lady Loki realises she's a variant, and she proves to be badass in the end fight. She uses the knowledge to fight alongside the Lokis, and it's a great creative decision as it shows things are not so black and white. Just because somebody works for the TVA does not mean they are all okay with the fascist regime; there are good people among their ranks, and it's important to show that, in order to avoid a story becoming in any way two dimensional.

One thing I certainly did not expect was to see the Time Keepers this early. The bait and switch, that they are not the real people in charge, and that there's a greater force in control, was a pretty neat twist. I like that they are actually a bunch of androids, and I'm interested to see who the real person in charge is. If I was a betting man, I'd say this seems like they're setting up Kang The Conqueror to be the next big bad, as we already know he's making some form of appearance in the next Ant-Man film. Could this be the first tease of his threat lurking behind the scenes, with him being further teased in said Ant-Man movie? 

Overall, 'The Nexus Event' is without a doubt Loki's best episode yet. It gives us more of that excellent double act between Loki and Mobius, develops the narrative considerably, and reveals some hugely satisfying answers regarding the Time Keepers. It does what any good episode of a TV show should: it leaves me wanting more. Now I just want to speed up time and watch next week's already. 

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