Phil Roberts 
The Marvel Cinematic Universe will never be the same again after Loki changes the landscape of the Multiverse and unleashes glorious mischief!
With WandaVision and The Falcon And The Winter Soldier already hitting the high notes with Marvel fans everywhere; the MCU’s small screen adventures are off to a flying start. But can Tom Hiddleston’s God Of Mischief surpass the brilliance of the new Captain America? Can Loki truly upstage the birth of the Scarlet Witch and usher in a bold new chapter of Marvel adventures?
To sum it up in a single sentence, I’d urge you to forget everything you think you know. Cast aside the quest for Infinity Stones and get ready for a totally new experience. Because the control of time literally hangs in the balance.
GOD OF MISCHIEF
Tom Hiddleston reprises his role as Loki, in what can only be described as a game-changing event for Marvel. One that will have far-reaching consequences for the entire MCU. In the aftermath of his escape from the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in Avengers Endgame; Loki finds his freedom cut short by Time Variance Authority. An entity appointed by the “Time Keepers” to protect the sacred timeline at all costs. And unfortunately for Loki, his escape has breached the rules of time.
CAPTURED
Clocking in at an impressive 51 minutes, the premiere episode spends the majority of its time introducing Loki (and us) to the TVA. But it is here that we learn more about the God Of Mischief than anything we have seen before. Loki is stripped to his core. Incarcerated. His bravado, insatiable overconfidence, and self-importance all but ripped from him. And with the facade gone, the true character of Loki is displayed for all to see. And it is a harrowing journey of forced self-exploration. We witness past exploits, share in his triumphs, and endure the emotional pain of his losses. It is a burden the God of Mischief is unprepared for.
SCALE
There is no denying that this series is very different in terms of scale and tone from WandaVision and Falcon And The Winter Soldier. And that is to the series’ advantage. With the second episode clocking in at an impressive 54 minutes, the show goes from strength to strength and takes us to a place where the gravitas of the Infinity Saga is meaningless and trivial. To a place where the control of time and space is the endgame. And it is here that we learn of an entity on a crusade to disrupt the flow of time.
VARIANTS
In a strange quirk of fate, we learn that a “Variant” (TIME FUGITIVE) is on the loose and wreaking havoc for the TVA. Suddenly, Loki becomes valuable again. And his insights are at the very core of the mystery. What follows is an adventure through time to stop this Variant from fulfilling their promise, and disrupting the flow of time. Which could, in theory, lead to “another” Multiverse war!
PERFORMANCES
The brilliance of this series hinges on the superb performances of its cast. And I am pleased to report that Tom Hiddleston is back on fine form. His performance is as fun, quirky, and extravagant as always. But there are poignant moments when Loki is at his lowest and it is here where Hiddleston’s prowess comes to the fore. The range and emotional gravitas on display here cannot be understated. And he gets to explore the essence of his character in far greater detail than anything we have seen before.
Owen Wilson’s Agent Mobius, on the other hand, is a different beast altogether. On the surface, the TVA analyst appears to be a run-of-the-mill white-collar worker, but his interactions with Loki add a fun element to an otherwise emotionally heavy few episodes and offer glimmers of hope in an otherwise dreary world between worlds. And that only bodes well for future episodes. Moreover, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Sophia Di Martino are fine additions to the MCU, and their respective characters will play a major part in how the plot of the series unfolds.
ACTION
As expected, the scale of the series is on par, if not bigger than both WandaVision and TFAWS. And Loki is another treat for the eyes. The scope of the series is vast, and the visuals on display in the premiere episode alone are polarizing. And the biggest compliment I can pay is that it feels like another tentpole theatrical outing and not a mini-series. The set production, wardrobe department, hair, and makeup teams bring their traditional authenticity to proceedings. And this coupled with an exploration of multiple time periods lends its splendor to the overall finish.
VERDICT
Given that Loki is traditionally joined at the hip with Thor, it is most refreshing to see the God of Mischief fending for himself and exploring his own story. And fans are going to adore this bold new chapter. One that we can take pleasure in fleshing out and adding some well-deserved character depth to the mischievous scamp. Head writer Michael Waldron and series director Kate Herron have set their stall out early to deliver a universe-changing entry into the MCU. And judging by the strength of the first two episodes they have easily exceeded those expectations.
Loki is an emotional rollercoaster ride, a quirky exploration of a character we know and love, and an absolute blast. One that fans will take delight in immersing themselves in. And the ramifications of the series will have monumental consequences for everyone moving forward. Marvel Multiverse here we come!
Loki will release exclusively on Disney Plus from tomorrow.
Our episodic reviews will be coming thick and fast. So be sure to check back regularly and never miss a single review.
Phil Roberts is the owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. He is a huge fan of Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies.
If he’s not in the cinema he’s probably streaming something equally awesome!
