Review | Loki (Episode 3: Lamentis)

Loki‘s third episode focuses on its characters while also bringing some great action scenes. And it’s visually beautiful!

It’s Wednesday so it’s time for a new episode of Loki! This one is entitled ‘Lamentis.’ It’s a reference to the planet where the episode takes place.

THE STORY

This episode is different from what we previously got. Apart from the beginning, all the action takes place on the planet Lamentis-1. We get to spend the episode with Loki and Lady Loki or maybe should I say, Sylvie. That’s how this variant calls herself. It tends to confirm my theory from last week that this Loki is the MCU’s Enchantress. Indeed, that name is the name of the Enchantress in the comics. Plus, both characters share similar powers including mental manipulation.

This episode focuses on learning more about Sylvie. There are some cool action scenes throughout the episode but I love how it focuses on its characters. Sylvie is so similar to Loki and yet different too. Just like Mobius and Loki, Sylvie and Loki is a team that works. I love the dynamic between these characters. It’s so chaotic, they spend most of their time arguing but they also have some serious talk moments. These serious talk moments are important especially one. Indeed, Loki reveals he is bisexual. It’s actually the first time in the MCU, that a character has been canonically confirmed as part of the LGBT+ community.

Loki Episode 3 Lamentis — (L-R): Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Sophia Di Martino in Marvel Studios’ LOKI, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

So far Phase 4 has done an incredible job with representation. It’s essential for everyone in the audience to feel represented, to be able to identify with some characters. And that’s exactly what Marvel is trying to do with their recent work. So I have to applaud them for going in the right direction.

Scene from Marvel Studios’ LOKI, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

VISUALS

Lamentis-1 is a sci-fi vibe planet so it involves a lot of special effects. There are one or two scenes where you can tell it’s a green screen. Though, it’s done so well that it’s totally fine. This episode has the best cinematography of the show so far. With the planet, they went with purple lighting. And inside the train, it’s multicolored lighting (blue, purple, green). It’s beautiful – a visual spectacle!

(L-R): Sophia Di Martino and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in Marvel Studios’ LOKI, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

TVA THEORIES

Just like last week, we do have some little clues that seem to indicate the TVA isn’t as good as they pretend to be. In episode 2, there was a weird conversation between Mobius and the Judge about an Earth object. This time, it’s Sylvie revealing that the TVA workers are all variants but they don’t know that. As Loki says the TVA workers think they were created by the Time Guardians.

Episodes 1 and 2 presented the Variant Loki (Sylvia) as the villain. But, episode 3 doesn’t show her as a villain per se. We see a character who is more of an anti-hero like Loki. Sylvie paints the TVA as villains and that’s why she wants to destroy them. And now, I tend to believe her. There is something wrong with the TVA. It seems that they want to control people more than protecting them. I’m intrigued to see how it’s going to unravel in the second part of season 1!

VERDICT

Loki continues to impress and be the best MCU series! This episode focuses on its characters while also bringing some great action scenes. And it’s visually beautiful!