'Loki' is Marvel at Its Most Entertaining

Image via Disney+

The premiere moves at a breakneck pace, introducing the TVA, fleshing out the rules of time travel, and reacquainting us where Loki is at this stage of his arc. Waldron and Herron flesh out the world of the TVA quite well, deciding to structure the organization as an interdimensional bureaucracy with 1950s flair; Loki walks through a DMV-like area that includes an animated tutorial video of sorts voiced by legendary actress Tara Strong (Rugrats, The Fairly OddParents) before moving into a courthouse and then even into dedicated cubicles and office spaces.

The result of these choices makes the TVA feel both familiar and alien, resulting in a Fallout-inspired production design that feels fresh against the typical shine of previous Marvel projects. It’s easy to get bogged down in the rules of time travel, so I admire how Loki decides to dress everything with a natural aesthetic; alternating timelines are known as branches, while repairing them is known as sprucing. At the very least, these clever concepts make the premiere’s exposition-heavy middle engaging as both the audience and Loki learn the new rules.

This is where Wilson’s Mobius serves as a breath of fresh air, charmingly walking Loki and us through these explanations while actively knowing he can’t trust Loki. The relationship between the two evokes feelings of Catch Me If You Can’s game of cat and mouse, as both Loki and Mobius jockey to stay a step ahead of one another. The result is dizzying in the best way, a real push and pull dynamic where you’re never quite sure who may have the advantage in a given moment. Rounding out the rest of the TVA staff are Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Wunmi Mosaku, the latter of whom was an absolute all-star standout as Ruby in HBO’s 2020 horror drama Lovecraft Country. While not as present in the premiere, both make quite an impression with their limited presence; Mosaku, in particular, is visibly loving every second of her scenery-chewing role as Hunter B-15, one of TVA’s most devoted Minutemen with little patience for Loki’s shenanigans. 

Pulling the post-Avengers version of Loki means the character is still in the middle of his arc, far from the hero of Asgard role he’d take on during Thor: Ragnarok. It’s a wise choice that allows for Hiddleston to play the character’s greatest hits before diving into a more nuanced approach. Loki has always lived in the gray—neither all good or all bad—and has become one of Marvel’s most fleshed-out villains as a result. Even in this first episode, I’m surprised at how Waldron, Herron, and Hiddleston manage to find new depth in such a well-known and beloved character. 

Loki, the series, looks to be a vast exploration into why Thor’s brother does what he does, which naturally leads to the question as to whether or not the other characters—and even the audience—can trust him at his word. This exploration, the relationship between the two leads, and the engaging dive into a new corner of the MCU gives a fascinating new lease on life for one of Marvel’s most beloved villains. At times, it seemed as if WandaVision and FATWS prioritized the destination over the journey; Loki is looking to correct this, focusing on being entertaining and fun. I just hope this momentum sustains itself through the remaining episodes—and that audiences aren’t in for one giant trick worthy of Loki himself when all is said and done.

Loki is streaming on Disney+.