tv review: 'loki' season 2

By @nadreviews

Owen Wilson and Tom Hiddleston in season two of "Loki" (2023)

Since his first appearance as the villainous trickster Loki in Kenneth Branagh’s film “Thor,” Tom Hiddleston has become a major staple in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hiddleston’s breakthrough role has entertainingly popped up enough times to warrant a Disney+ series centered on the God of Mischief. From show runner and head writer Michael Waldron, “Loki” is set after the events of the Russo Brothers’ “Avengers: Endgame” and is part of phase four of the MCU. Season one follows Loki to the Time Variance Authority (TVA), where he is enlisted to help eliminate a reckless variant of himself that’s been wreaking havoc across time. Loki partners with one of the Time-Keepers, agent Mobius (Owen Wilson), and a high-profile Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku), to track down the variant: Sylvie Laufeydottir (Sophia Di Martino), determined to avenge the TVA’s erasure of her reality.
 
The plot spins through Variants and multiverses, and Loki eventually ends up in the wrong timeline. Season two continues where the first leaves off: Loki is in a version of the TVA where Mobius and Hunter B-15 have no idea who he is. Lost in time and space, Loki must navigate an expanding universe to find his alter ego Sylvie. In other words, season one is a narrative prerequisite for season two, a somewhat convoluted experience where action-packed sequences outweigh heart. While the story can get a little too confusing, plenty enough compelling material can be found across the board, from stunning production and costume design to committed performances.

The second season finds some improvement on the first with more ambition, and wastes no time jumping into the action. The tense premiere is a promising showcase of why returning to Loki is worthwhile: it’s an enjoyable play on time travel that still retains the complexities of his character. Though in shifting him and others around the multiverse, the season starts to lose key relationship time elsewhere, primarily when it comes to Loki and Sylvie. In season one, her character had become an interesting parallel figure who, as a variant of Loki, holds up a mirror to his internal conflict. The two have a compelling dynamic that can be romantic, platonic, and everything in between. Most significantly, having seen himself only as a villain, Sylvie’s presence has started influencing his self-identity. Loki’s feelings for her are a great source of emotional connectivity to the story, which season two lacks.

With Loki and Sylvie on different paths, the story shifts gears towards another duo: Loki and Mobius. Hiddleston and Wilson continue to shine with strong chemistry, and Hiddleston in particular adds yet another set of layers to a character he has perfected at this point. After a decade playing this role, Hiddleston finds new and surprising ways to keep Loki interesting to watch. His sophistication, charm, and commanding presence give “Loki” consistency. Keeping with consistent performers, Wunmi Mosaku and Owen Wilson return with solid work, and Di Martino continues to bring terrific empathy to Sylvie.

The show also infuses a welcome addition to the cast: the brilliant Ke Huy Quan as Ouroboros (also known as OB), the TVA’s head of the Repairs and Advancement Department. The character has a tinkering spirit and a passion for fixing things, which plays into one of the more universal themes of the show: repairing, not replacing, the broken. Quan brings delightful humor and charm to the screen. His performance is pure delight in human form.

With focus on the time travel elements, season two of “Loki” has a neat visual language with its period production design and evocative costumes. The TVA headquarters in particular have an impressive color palette and scale. The world building, visual effects, and overall production value have character. Practical sets go a long way, bringing a more tangible feeling to the narrative. The overall atmosphere of the show is effective and polished.  
 
While season two of “Loki” gets off to a jumbled start, the key ingredients are intact for a thoughtful and ambitious character study. The exploration of time as a means of self-reflection and personal evolvement sets the series apart. Thematically “Loki” strikes a memorable chord, only enhanced by Tom Hiddleston’s layered and resonant performance. The story might be incomprehensible at times, but Hiddleston brings emotional sense to the glorious purpose of it all.  
 
“Loki” season 2 premieres on Disney+ on October 5.