Overall Thoughts: Trippy MCU sidestory is perfectly suited to its central character (warts and all)...
NOTE: Being a TV show, I'm breaking this series down into short reviews of each episode, followed by a few paragraphs of overview. Please keep in mind that there will be mild spoilers throughout, but I will be doing my best to avoid some of the major spoilers.
Episode 1: Glorious Purpose
In the premiere, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) finds himself arrested by the Time Variance Authority for escaping the Avengers' capture with the Tesseract in hand. This leads to the so-called "god of mischief" to investigate as to what is the whole point to the operation. Meanwhile, a TVA worker named Mobius (Owen Wilson) is looking for a so-called "variant" to help him solve some mysterious cases involving missing TVA agents.
The first episode does a nice job establishing things and connecting the dots between it and Avengers: Endgame. Hiddleston is as game as ever, and Wilson works as a terrific foil. However, the episode's strongest point is its' unique, retro and memorable production design. Part 90's-style workplace, part theme park attraction and part Men in Black, the TVA is cinematic in approach but is also its' own thing. The ending is also surprisingly strong. And as Miss Minutes, voice actress legend Tara Strong is instantly memorable with a Southern charm.
On the downside, there are a few conversations drawn out a little too long that slow down the overall pace. A lack of action scenes don't help either. And, Gugu-Mbatha Raw isn't given enough to do here as Judge Renslayer. However, as a set-up, this first episode is a solid start.
Grade: B+
Episode 2: The Variant
Following his arrest, Loki is starting to get into his role as a variant-tracker at the TVA. He works with Mobius and Hunter B-15 (a winning Wunmi Musaku) on tracking down a mysterious one who's responsible for several missing agents. This eventually leads the group to a hurricane event in the distant future where Loki comes face to face with someone very strange and familiar.
The pace nicely picks up here in the second episode, with some very interesting ideas established. The highly-anticipated Marvel multiverse storyline begins to churn here in subtly effective fashion. And, it leads to an ending that really keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you anticipate what happens next. Wilson's character is also given enough development to generate emotional investment in his and Loki's complicated relationship.
A couple of odd and out-of-place moments aside (and little to do again for Raw and not enough Miss Minutes!), this episode is a step up from Episode 1 in almost every way.
Grade: A-
Episode 3: Lamentis
In this twisty third episode, Loki runs off with a mysterious female variant named Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino), aiming to understand her purpose and plans for the TVA. They both end up on a distant planet about to face its' imminent destruction, and look to find a way to escape.
As Sylvie, Martino is fine. But, unlike Florence Pugh in Black Widow, she doesn't elevate things to a new level with her character here. However, the chemistry she and Hiddleston develop is fairly solid (despite a lot of bickering). In the meantime, with the exception of a pretty good ending, the overall pacing and mood of the series gets a little bit disrupted here. There's a few weird moments that seem out-of-place and off-kilter in comparison to the first two episodes. Also, Mobius is completely absent.
That being said, there's still a few solid action scenes in the mix, and the overall visual effects work on this episode is very strong. Altogether, Episode 3 might be the weakest overall episode in the series in terms of tone, pace and feel.
Grade: B-
Episode 4: The Nexus Event
Finding themselves still trapped on Lamentis, Loki and Sylvie eventually cause a break in the timeline and garner the TVA's attention to rescue them. Both variants are arrested and interrogated, while some other characters begin to genuinely grow suspicious of the TVA and its' true intentions.
Finding themselves still trapped on Lamentis, Loki and Sylvie eventually cause a break in the timeline and garner the TVA's attention to rescue them. Both variants are arrested and interrogated, while some other characters begin to genuinely grow suspicious of the TVA and its' true intentions.
Returning in setting to the TVA helps the show get back on its' feet. This episode introduces some very interesting surprises that really succeed in their execution. And finally, Raw is given more to do here in fairly compelling fashion. There's also a couple of solid fight scenes, and the interrogations between Loki and Mobius and Sylvie and Hunter B-15 stand out as some of the strongest in the show so far. This episode also contains a strong mid-credits scene. Finally, a handful of moments really help continue to grow and develop Loki's character in strong directions.
On the downside, this episode does rely on the shock factor a little heavily. But, beyond that, Nexus Event carries on the "Episode 4 is the magic number" episode for Marvel Disney+ shows in delivering a terrific episode that fires on all cylinders.
Grade: A
Episode 5: Journey into Mystery
In this doozy of an episode, Loki finds himself trapped face to face with different versions...of himself! (*Gasp)* Together, the Loki variants team up to defeat a giant being threatening their existence.
This entertaining episode pulls off quite a few twists and turns, with a strong, memorable guest performance from Richard E. Grant. Meanwhile, this episode was also Di Martino's strongest acting-wise. The production design and visual effects choices here carry some intriguing elements. At the same time, it also carries a fairly generic design choice for its' villain. Some strong emotional payoffs carry over here as well. This episode also carried the best musical pieces from Natalie Holt (who did a fantastic job here as the composer).
As for negatives, there are a couple of minor plot holes here. But, otherwise, episode 5 keeps the intense energy from Episode 4 going while introducing some memorable new elements and characters.
Grade: A
Episode 6: For All Time. Always
In the season one finale, Loki and Sylvie have a date with destiny. They find out who is behind the TVA, and possibly cause some pretty significant events to happen in the process.
As a special guest character, Jonathan Majors is a terrific casting choice. He brings enthusiasm and a goofy, winsome persona to a presence that could play a major role in future Marvel movies and shows down the line. There are also a few solid moments and character developments that elevate the overall conflict. However, the whole episode is brought down by way too much exposition. Now, it is necessary to help explain things. But, it's chatty to the point where it gets a little bit boring. Thankfully, however, Majors' acting (and Wilson and Raw's characters popping in for good measure) keeps things more than afloat.
All in all, Season 1 ends on a little bit of a slow, but curiously and interestingly-confusing point that has major implications for the future of the MCU. And at the same time, it helps bring Loki's character development full circle that leaves you anticipating where he'll go next in Season 2.
Grade: B+
Overall Review
Loki is one of those characters Marvel fans just can't get enough of. After his supposed death in Infinity War, everyone was disappointed that we might had seen the last of him. But, of course, most characters never stay "dead" in Marvel universe. Sure enough (in Endgame), a new and more fully-fleshed out door opened for Thor's adopted brother. And unlike Marvel's other Disney+ shows, this door remains open as Season 2 was confirmed at the end of the last episode.
Loki is one of those characters Marvel fans just can't get enough of. After his supposed death in Infinity War, everyone was disappointed that we might had seen the last of him. But, of course, most characters never stay "dead" in Marvel universe. Sure enough (in Endgame), a new and more fully-fleshed out door opened for Thor's adopted brother. And unlike Marvel's other Disney+ shows, this door remains open as Season 2 was confirmed at the end of the last episode.
As I summarized earlier, this show is nearly-perfectly tailored to Loki as a character himself. Dramatic, a little antiquated and Shakespearean, very chatty, and full of symbolism and surprises. This is shown from the visual details to the dialogue choices. And of course, this kind of storyline allows Mr. Hiddleston to explore areas of his character he was unable to in the Thor films (no wonder he was an executive producer here). It's these ingredients that make Loki definitely one of the better Marvel efforts from recent memory. It hits a similar, mysterious vibe to that of Spider-Man: No Way Home, while adding a little bit of Into the Spider-Verse and even Disneyland for good measure.
This isn't to say Loki is a perfect show. It has one episode that feels too off-kilter in tone. And, it's chattier moments do create a fairly choppy pace at times. But, in almost all other aspects, it succeeds very well in creating its' own story while adhering to its' MCU roots (without relying too heavily on references, especially after Episode 1). Meanwhile, the story also mostly resists the temptation to go in unnecessary or edgy directions.
For me personally, Loki falls just a little bit short of the near-creative genius of WandaVision. But, it's still a well-directed and character-driven saga that isn't short on heart or surprises.
Overall Grade: B+
