The grand finale to Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Endgame, introduced a rogue version of Loki (Tom Hiddleston), who was able to time-travel away from the events that would lead to his character’s previously-explored fate thanks to some clumsy timeline interference from the well-meaning Avengers. That resulted in the most fascinating and absolutely compelling television series produced by the franchise: season one of Loki. The series returns for an equally invigorating, mind-bending, and excellent second season that will surely leave fans wanting much more after just six short episodes.
Fresh from his enlightening and terrifying conversation with He Who Remains (Jonathan Majors), Loki finds himself unable to remain fixed in a specific point in time. That state makes it extremely difficult for him to communicate the vital message that the being he met at the end of time presents an extraordinary threat. As the TVA goes through turmoil with various elements pursuing conflicting interests, Loki teams up with Mobius (Owen Wilson), Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku), Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino), and a few new allies to try to save the timeline and stop the unstoppable danger they know is coming.
Trying to dissect and understand the science behind time variants and the sacred timeline isn’t a productive use of time, and this show doesn’t get lost in all of that. There’s plenty of intrigue and many major developments that feel dire, but things move so quickly that the details aren’t important for audiences to fully grasp. There’s also a tremendous amount of humor infused into all of it, particularly in the interactions between Mobius and Loki, which remain a high point of the series. Even without the surrounding storyline, their banter and conversations would be more than enough to sustain interest.
Season two brings back familiar faces but also adds new characters, much to its benefit. The best among them is recently-minted Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan from Everything Everywhere All at Once, who joins the cast as Ouroboros, nicknamed O.B., who works alone in the Repairs and Advancement department. The excitement he expresses at seeing Mobius and Loki, his first visitors in four hundred years since Mobius last accidentally wandered onto his floor, is palpable, and he’s a perfect fit for this show’s signature tone, melding enjoyable comedy with high-stakes drama. Rafael Casal, one of the creative forces and stars of Starz’s Blindspotting, is another worthwhile addition as a hunter with a penchant for pushing other people’s buttons.
There will also certainly be Marvel fans who seek this season out after Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, since another version of He Who Remains, Kang the Conqueror, played a major role in that film and was featured in a Loki scene in its end credits. Season two smartly starts out with only memories and rumors of him, choosing instead to focus on the core elements of this show before shifting over to reveal what’s behind the curtain. It’s a superb strategy that wisely features what’s always been best about this show and made it something that feels distinctly separate from the rest of the MCU in its particular focus.
Where Loki begins to approach a new level that’s both inviting and slightly unsettling is with Hiddleston’s depiction of the title character. His acknowledgment of his roots as a villain hints that he’s suppressing something dark, even if his active mission is to save the world from someone he knows is far more nefarious than he ever was. It’s a terrific portrayal that only Hiddleston could deliver, and he continues to reveal new layers of the character. Complemented by dazzling production design and visuals and Natalie Holt’s thunderous score, season two of Loki is an astonishing delight.
Grade: A-
Check out more of Abe Friedtanzer’s articles.
Season two of Loki premieres Thursday, October 5th on Disney+, with new episodes dropping weekly.