IR TV Review: LOKI - EPISODE 1 [Marvel/Disney+-S2]

The concept of slippage and the notion of context ended the first season of "Loki" in a matter of dread which was a good thing. Balanced since then was the antics of "Ant Man & The Wasp: Quadramania" which perhaps muddled the progression a little. The pruning of all the timelines through Kang at the end of time was a very real threat but it had to do with all the variants trying to end it all. What the first episode of the season two does is interesting but almost too vague in its overall intent. Loki needs to know where and why he is and Sophie is really not there to help him solve it. It is hard to say more without giving too much away. That said we do get to see a different sense of the TVA through an idea different than the AI that was the balancer.

Ke Huay Quan's Opie is a great addition (if not a tack on). It is still an interesting concept wrapping him as a performer and reconciling it with the child performer we knew. He still has all the quirks but it is a matter of presence (even after the Oscar). The character is key but we don't see a breathe of his intent but it is cool seeing the three of them (Loki, Mobius and Opie) at the table quipping back and forth as they try to solve the issue of the first episode. The issue is not necessarily stabilization but understanding in some random way. The concept of playing again with multiple timelines within the Marvel Universe is becoming a little soft because there needs to be something to completely lose. We got that with Loki and Sophie last year, that incessant pull of the ID when literally you are in love with yourself. We will see where it manuevers itself. B

By Tim Wassberg