LOKI SEASON 2 EPISODE 1, “OUROBOROS” REVIEW!

[Kal-El]

Loki’s return to the Marvel Universe in its second season on Disney+ is nothing short of a triumphant comeback. As the only live-action MCU series to receive a second season thus far, the premiere episode makes it abundantly clear why. Tom Hiddleston, Owen Wilson, and the rest of the Loki cast continue to weave a compelling narrative, even in the face of the show’s intricate time travel plot.

It has been over two years since we last saw the God of Mischief, and during that time, he has undergone significant character development, forming a genuine friendship with TVA analyst Mobius M. Mobius. Loki inadvertently contributed to the creation of the Marvel multiverse when he ventured to the end of time with his fellow variant, Sylvie (played by Sophia Di Martino). There, they encountered He Who Remains, a somewhat unhinged figure who believed in consolidating the multiverse into a single timeline to prevent the chaos caused by his variants. Sylvie, however, had no interest in his plans and decisively ended his life.

Surprisingly, the burgeoning multiverse hasn’t had a profound impact on the MCU, at least not yet. We’ve witnessed some entertaining and self-contained stories in “What If…?” and a spell gone awry in “No Way Home.” Doctor Strange also dealt with a less chaotic multiverse in his sequel, and Scott Lang crossed paths with a variant of He Who Remains in the Quantum Realm earlier this year. Nevertheless, these events haven’t disrupted the narrative to the extent that new viewers can’t easily jump into Loki’s quest to manage the repercussions of Sylvie’s actions within the bureaucratic TVA. This is undoubtedly good news for those who haven’t kept up with the flood of MCU content.

The second season picks up right where it left off, with Loki encountering versions of Mobius and Hunter B-15 who have no memory of him. It becomes evident that Loki has been transported to the past when He Who Remains was a prominent figure at the TVA, and all its employees dutifully followed his commands, including Loki’s friends. Eventually, Loki “time slips” back to a familiar present within the TVA, where Mobius introduces him to Ouroboros (Ke Huy Quan), the TVA’s brilliant and seemingly sole engineer. “OB” recognizes Loki’s time slipping and attempts to rectify it, albeit not without a hitch. In the world of Loki, very few things go according to plan!

Ke Huy Quan is a brilliant addition to the Loki cast as OB. His interactions with Loki and Mobius may be perplexing at times, but his charming demeanor keeps audiences engaged even during heavy exposition scenes. OB’s character is reminiscent of an adult version of Data from “The Goonies,” a man whose peculiar inventions regularly save the day with no fanfare. The moment he repeatedly responds with a meta “wow” to Mobius, played by Wilson, nearly threatened to break the scene’s tension, but the episode manages to maintain its course as it navigates through various MacGuffins and time-related elements.

Much of the episode’s success can be attributed to Wilson’s banter with the rest of the cast. Whether it’s the discussion about jet skis, the awkward stumbling as he tries to remember OB, or the moment he writes “SKIN?” in the dust of the temporal loom control room, Wilson’s easygoing demeanor grounds the series, even as Natalie Holt’s remarkable score adds to its surreal atmosphere.

In this season premiere, it’s evident that Marvel is committed to ensuring the continued success of Loki. Bringing in beloved indie sci-fi filmmakers Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson to oversee these episodes was a wise decision following the departure of season one director Kate Herron. The camera work remains focused on the characters, immersing viewers in their anxiety and frustration as the TVA begins to unravel and Loki’s time slipping escalates. The time slipping itself is a visually impressive effect, one of the best in the MCU to date, which is reassuring after some subpar CGI from Marvel Studios in recent releases.

The premiere doesn’t merely tie up loose ends from the previous season’s finale, although it does so quite comprehensively. Loki’s journey to a nightmarish future version of the TVA hints that his team’s efforts to fix the temporal loom may ultimately prove futile. A cheerful Sylvie also appears in the future, leaving Loki emotionally overwhelmed until he is unexpectedly pruned by an unseen figure. These developments are intriguing enough to make viewers eagerly anticipate what will happen next week.

The episode also offers an MCU first: a post-credits scene in the very first episode. Sylvie arrives after killing He Who Remains in Broxton, Oklahoma, via a branched timeline in 1982, and proceeds to order a variety of items from the McDonald’s menu, a relatable moment for many. While the significance of Broxton in the MCU remains unknown, it holds significance in the comics, serving as the site where Thor recreated the City of Asgard and where Asgardians once clashed with Galactus. It’s also associated with Agent Carter’s Whitney Frost, though it’s unlikely that Marvel will incorporate that character into the show’s canon. Given that this version of Broxton is in a branched timeline, we can only hope it remains safe from General Dox, played by Kate Dickie, who appears to be on a dubious mission to fix the TVA.

Overall, Loki’s second season premiere promises an exciting and engaging continuation of the series, with intriguing developments, strong character interactions, and impressive visuals. Marvel’s commitment to the show’s quality shines through, making it a must-watch for fans of the MCU.