This article contains spoilers for episode 2 of Loki.
On paper, Marvel’s latest series Loki might just be a show about a trickster breaking the sacred timeline and being punished for his crimes. Ever since the show was announced, fans have been excited to see where the Disney Plus series will take one of their favorite characters after he mischievously escaped his own ultimate fate. But, just a single scene in the second episode that premiered on Wednesday has set a more serious tone.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is an amalgamation of several unique characters with their own respective backgrounds. Despite their differences, the characters come together in the fight against evil and a constant attempt to save the planet. Trying to make sense of their backgrounds, however, is something that is best left for the writers. And Agent Mobius M Mobius' comments on character origins and how "ridiculous" they could sound in Loki's latest episode perfectly sums up the MCU as a whole.
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It seems like Marvel has taken a more serious approach when writing and producing its series for Disney Plus. All the MCU films have their emotional moments and massive character development, but at their core they are all superhero movies that end in the good guys defeating the villains. But, this could perhaps be due to the reason that the films have limited time frames to narrate a story. The shows, on the other hand, have the luxury of expanding on certain concepts, considering they each have six episodes to develop on them.
The first Marvel series on Disney Plus, WandaVision, drew in the audiences (even non-Marvel fans) with their sitcom-themed episodes. But, they were a lot more than that. Each episode of that series dived deep into more serious issues, including dealing with grief and coming to terms with the loss of a loved one. These are things that people have to deal with on a daily basis and made the show that much more relatable. Critics could say that in the end, it was all about Wanda defeating Agatha Harkness, but the series offered so much more in terms of mental health.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was essentially a show about Sam Wilson’s journey to becoming the next Captain America, but Marvel was brave enough to explore topics that are still considered sensitive in mainstream media. Many of the scenes and dialogues in the series revolved around systemic racism, forcible suppression of certain voices, and socio-political issues that define American society. These real-life issues were a running theme through the series, which is a commendable strategy that Marvel seems to have mastered.
When Loki was announced, fans wondered whether Marvel would be able to follow a similar strategy. How does one relate to the God of Mischief? But, with Loki, Marvel decided to jump into the deep end and tackle a much bigger concept. Episode 2 of Loki, “The Variant”, has made it clear that writer Elissa Karasik is not afraid of introducing a philosophical debate into the sacred timeline.
During a scene in the episode, the two main characters, Loki and Mobius, are seen in the cafeteria when they launch into a spiritual discussion that could perhaps be deemed sensitive by some viewers. What starts off as an innocent conversation about jet skis, and Mobius’s love for the 90s, quickly turns into a debate about things like the nature of existence, free will, and what the characters as individuals from two very separate backgrounds believe in.
“If you think too hard about where any of us came from and who we truly are, it sounds kind of ridiculous,” Mobius is heard saying when Loki comments on the TVA employee’s beliefs. Even though things may not make sense to him, Mobius is ready to try and live with his circumstances. “Everything is written – the past, present, and future. There’s no such thing as free will.” Sounds like an established religion right?
Mobius’ comments about how “ridiculous” everything sounds when one tries to make sense of their origins is a great meta-commentary on the MCU as a whole. Several fans have tried (and many have failed) at drawing a family tree of sorts for the multiple MCU characters. They’re all extremely powerful and come together to form the Avengers, but if their origins were to be traced, it is a mind-boggling experience. From super soldiers to literal gods, the MCU is filled with heroes that have over-the-top origin stories. But, fans never seem to question any of them and simply go along with what Marvel has provided thus far.
If one were to dive deeper into some of the backstories, it would all start to seem ridiculous. The Guardians of the Galaxy have a literal raccoon and tree as part of the team. Rocket is a genetically modified and very intelligent raccoon who has committed several crimes and traveled around the galaxy before meeting Star-Lord. Tony Stark has lived through some massive trauma in the MCU and has an electromagnet implanted in his chest that keeps shrapnel shards from reaching his heart and killing him. Doctor Strange was a talented neurosurgeon who, after an accident, meets Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme and learns the mystic arts. The list goes on, with each MCU hero carrying a secret from their past that is bound to raise a few eyebrows.
However, it all boils down to what Mobius states, “existence is chaos.” Despite having chaotic pasts, these characters exist. The conversation is also a great commentary on the series’ theme of, well, chaos. Mobius is clearly comfortable in his skin and in his role as one of the TVA’s trusted employees, working day and night to ensure that the sacred timeline is not disrupted. Loki on the other hand is the more chaotic one, but at the same time is also afraid of not being in control of his own life and destiny. Mobius rightfully refers to the God of Mischief as a “scared little boy shivering in the cold.” This is also confirmed when he gets teary-eyed after looking at the document of destruction in Asgard. He is not ready to let go and have “three space lizards” write his path for him.
This one scene also makes one wonder about all the greatness that Marvel could achieve if it included more dialogue-centric sequences into its projects. The typical MCU formula doesn’t allow for such lengthy conversations between two, or more, characters. And discussing the true meaning of life definitely doesn’t fit the bill. The films are more about the action and less about the talk and drama, which is understandable considering (once again) the time restraints. But, by allowing such segments into the Disney Plus series, Marvel could be more inclusive in a way and perhaps even reshape the MCU. While the action brings in a certain kind of audience, intelligent conversation is bound to attract a whole different segment of society that does not appreciate the constant fighting.
Loki is now streaming on Disney Plus.