IR TV Review: ASSEMBLED - THE MAKING OF LOKI [Disney+]
"Assembled: The Making Of Loki" continues the standalone tradition of the one hour "Making Of" which honestly does work well in this context as the reveal of the making goes forward chronologically in terms of what the breathe of the series is examining. While everything in terms of self and identity makes a lot of sense, what truly sets this "Making Of" aside is the narrating voice of Tom Hiddleston himself. More than any other actor ingrained in the MCU, there is an ownership you feel from him in integrating the meaning of the journey of the series in his voice over (done specifically for this special). It doesn't seem like someone fully wrote it for him and yet these short montages throughout this "Assembled" really give a sense of his (and Loki's) self to this journey. Hiddleston is front and center of every interview, not in an ego sort of way but because he undeniably cares which is such an interesting diametric to the character he plays in "Loki". There is an interesting balance of sorts in that Owen Wilson in his small bits does try to play off his persona to Hiddleston.
There is some interesting banter but Hiddleston's quote about hitting specific keys, from sharps and flats to all in between with Loki rings very true. Sophie Di Martino is given her moment and you see the design and the origin for her as one does for He Who Remains with Jonathan Majors without giving too much away. The combination of Kate Herron (the director) and her female cinematographer really works as well. While Alligator Loki and Richard E. Grant do get their moments, two specific characters are left out in terms of behind the scenes and an almost DNA point which is Natalie Holt who composed a fantastic score which was every bit as dynamic as Ludwig Goransson's music for "The Mandalorian". The other was Tara Strong who voice acted Miss Minutes who is every bit a luminary cousin to Mr. DNA from "Jurassic Park". That said, "Assembled: The Making Of Loki" is fairly comprehensive while still indicatng that more story is yet to come. B
By Tim Wassberg
