The following article contains spoilers for episode 5 of Loki.

The God of Mischief constantly has a trick up his sleeve and the latest episode of Disney Plus’ Loki might just have revealed a huge one that dates all the way back to 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War. For those who may have forgotten, the original version of Loki in the MCU was seen dying in the beginning scene of the film. But, did he truly die, or was it another trick? 

After playing the anti-hero for a decade, Loki’s death completed his redemption arc as he sacrificed his own life to protect his brother Thor. It was one of the most emotional scenes in the decade-long history of the MCU, with Thor seen mourning over Loki’s lifeless body being a moment that is still fresh in fans’ minds. But, a reveal in episode 5 of Loki has fans questioning the authenticity of the entire sequence.

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At the end of episode 4, “The Nexus Event,” fans got to meet four new Loki Variants - Classic Loki, Kid Loki, Boastful Loki, and Alligator Loki. While the post-credits scene introduced the new Variants, it wasn’t until this week that fans got to understand how these Variants are different from the original Loki. Each one of them shared a little bit of their backstories and which action of theirs led to the Nexus Event that was reason enough for the Time Variance Authority to arrest them. 

It is revealed in episode 5, "Journey Into Mystery," that Kid Loki is the true leader of the Void, the end of time where the Variants are sent to once they are of no use to the TVA. Why? Well, it turns out that he managed to kill his own brother Thor. Of course, there is no way to confirm this fact, and Lokis are known to lie, but either way Kid Loki is in charge of things. Boastful Loki on the other hand claims to have been victorious in the Battle of New York, and having killed both Captain America and Iron Man. Once again, no way to corroborate the story. Considering his overbearing attitude, his Nexus Event was probably something extremely silly.

The only Variant who seems to have a legitimate story is Classic Loki, played brilliantly by Richard E. Grant. Of course this is keeping in mind that Alligator Loki cannot narrate his story, and was apparently brought to the Void after having eaten the wrong neighbor’s cat. Going back to Classic Loki, he reveals that he managed to survive his encounter with Thanos, which both fans and original Loki now know ends in the Asgardian’s death. In the first episode, original Loki sees a clip of himself being strangled to death by the supervillain, but could it have been an illusion?

Classic Loki then goes on to talk about his powers - he was able to create a projection of himself, which is so real that even the Mad Titan believed it. He then "hid as inanimate debris" in the same scene, only to later escape to a remote planet, where he lived for several years. Was escaping death considered a Nexus Event by the TVA? That seems unclear, but he was later discovered by the Minutemen and removed from the sacred timeline because he missed his brother Thor and took steps to reunite with him. So, perhaps escaping death was acceptable to the TVA, as long as he hadn’t revealed to anyone that he was actually alive all this time. 

If his story is to be believed, it becomes evident that Classic Loki is in fact the MCU’s original Loki, which fans have watched and come to love over the past decade. His death in Avengers: Infinity War might have felt final, but the beloved Asgardian once again survived - something Lokis do best. This comes as a shocking blow to many Marvel fans, as they have spent the past three years believing that one of their favorite characters had died. But, he was alive all along, hiding on a planet far, far away. 

More evidence of him being the MCU’s original Loki comes in the form of him helping Sylvie and the series’ Loki in the final moments of the episode as they try to enchant Alioth, the smoke monster that stops Variants from escaping (reminds one of the television series Lost). Using his powers, Classic Loki manages to catch Alioth’s attention and keep him distracted long enough for Loki and Sylvie to work their magic. 

In that moment, Classic Loki creates a life-like projection of Asgard, leaving fans in awe of the grand display. It turns out that the Loki Variants are capable of so much more than they have done so far. A lot of fans have complained over the years about how Loki rarely uses his powers, and instead relies on his daggers when fighting enemies. But, the latest episode in the series is Marvel’s way of finally offering to fans what they have asked for all these years.

After a few minutes of creating an absolutely fantastic projection, Classic Loki cannot handle the strain any longer. As he falls to his knees, the projection disappears and Alioth is now aware of his presence. In one final display of Loki’s true personality, he stands tall and yells “Glorious purpose!” If fans had any doubts about Loki truly redeeming himself in his decade-long journey in the MCU, this one moment clears it all. Classic Loki, or the MCU’s original Loki, truly becomes selfless and the hero that saves the world. His sacrifice not only allows Sylvie and Loki to enchant Alioth, but could potentially lead to them finding and ending whoever is truly behind the TVA. 

It is, however, sad to think that Classic Loki was unable to inform Thor of his existence. In the past, when he has cheated death, Thor hasn’t been too pleased. But, if he had managed to reunite with his brother this time, things might have gone differently. Having finally redeemed himself and working alongside his brother, fans expected the two to have many more moments of sibling love in the MCU. But, Loki’s death took all that away from them and the character himself. Despite everything, Classic Loki will always be remembered for his ultimate sacrifice. 

Loki is now streaming on Disney Plus.

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