Loki

Marvel’s long-awaited Loki series is finally here, and with it comes the proper introduction of the multiverse – something that fans have been eagerly anticipating since the prospect was teased in Doctor Strange. 

The first episode kicks off where viewers last saw the eponymous God of Mischief: during the time heist in Endgame where he was able to make his grand escape with the Tesseract. Moments after landing in the desert he’s apprehended by the Time Variance Authority (or TVA for short). They’re a secretive bureaucratic agency whose sole job is to amend any deviations from the main timeline (think the Temps Commission from Umbrella Academy with a Marvel twist). However, instead of being prosecuted, the Asgardian is recruited by Agent Mobius (a delightful Owen Wilson) to aid the TVA in catching a major threat who could cause the complete destruction of the timeline.

From here the show jumps into a cat-and-mouse investigation in the second episode, as the pair work together to sniff out their target. Watching the mystery start to unravel is enthralling, but the real fun comes from the chemistry between Hiddleston and Wilson. Their playfully mistrustful relationship, established in the opening episodes, is arguably one of the strongest pairings featured in the MCU to date. It’s a glowing testament to the consistently stellar writing the franchise is known for, as it creates a strong foundation for what’s to come next.

However, Loki is the main attraction here, and Hiddleston’s smirking performance is a solid reminder of why this character has been a long-standing fan favourite. It’s important to remember, though, that this Loki is the power-hungry villain of Avengers: Assemble, who’s yet to undergo the character growth from later instalments. Loki has always been a fascinating character, due to his conflicting morality, and it’s this duality that his show seems to be honing on in. The early hours have already approached this subject in some clever and creative ways that set up even more space to explore the character further.

Loki is low-key shaping up to be the best Marvel series yet. With potentially unlimited timelines to play with, there’s no telling where future episodes will go next. But wherever this time-travelling adventure will lead, viewers are sure to follow with excitement. 

Andrew Murray

Loki is released on Disney+ on 9^th June 2021.

Watch the trailer for Loki here: