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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
The second episode of Michael Waldron’s Loki sets up something incredible for the show going forward. The Marvel Studios and Disney Plus series will only be great from this point on. This episode is titled, “The Variant”. Elissa Karasik serves as the writer, while Kate Herron continues her work as the director.
In this review, I will talk about Loki Episode 102. There will be no spoilers, as the title of this article suggests.
Plot Summary
Loki (Tom Hiddleston) helps the Time Variance Authority track down a Loki Variant by working for them. He and Mobius M. Mobius (Owen Wilson) soon discover a clue about how to locate the culprit. The antagonist has been attacking Hunters of the TVA, but Loki and others catch up.
Wunmi Mosaku plays Hunter B-15, while Sasha Lane portrays Hunter C-20.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays Ravonna Renslayer, a judge of the TVA overseeing the investigation focusing on Loki’s crimes. Eugene Cordero plays Casey, a TVA desk receptionist, while Tara Strong voices Miss Minutes, an animated anthropomorphic clock mascot of the organization.
Sophia Di Martino is introduced as a new character to the series.
Discussion
“The Variant” takes a major leap from the series pilot and allows the title character to develop. Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s cinematography is magnificent, while Natalie Holt’s musical composition is just as great if not better. Additionally, the episode takes a normal pace, dividing its narrative into two (maybe three) parts.
Karasik’s writing is outstanding. I had reason to believe someone within the TVA was the Loki Variant in disguise. However, this is not the case at all, for those who have seen the episode. Although, I do have concerns for the plot as it transitions into its third episode.
I have to commend Dan Deleeuw, Brad Parker, and Allison Paul for the visual effects. Meanwhile, Christine Wada has done the utmost brilliance on the costumes of the episode. Not only that, but Kasra Farahani has given fans the loveliest set-pieces so far.
Performances and Development
As usual, Hiddleston delivers a terrific performance as the eponymous character. However, I do feel like he is acting as a post-Avengers: Infinity War death Loki rather than the Loki who just escaped the Avengers Tower in The Avengers (technically Avengers: Endgame). Perhaps, it’s just the fact that he’s caught up on learning about his alternative fate in the pilot that permits him to behave this way. Nonetheless, I have no issues with his acting.
I like Hiddleston’s dynamic with Wilson, which is as organic as it can get for now. They do have an acceptable and meaningful amount of dialogue, nothing that would be too much for the viewer. I very much like their conversations about jet skis and salads.
Loki develops so well in this episode, and I cannot wait to see what he does in the next four episodes. Aside from him, Mosaku and Wilson are the second-best in terms of performances. I would really like for the audience to learn more about the secondary/ supporting characters — e.g. Renslayer and Miss Minutes — if necessary. I want to know what they truly bring to the table and the overall narrative of the show.
Final Thoughts
“The Variant” really kicks the story into motion and offers a good amount of information to the viewer. It does reveal the identity of the Loki Variant this soon into the story, which I don’t mind. It took longer to happen in WandaVision, which isn’t a bad thing either.
Overall, this is an episode worth watching. It provides a small discourse of the existence of being, which I seemed to like. Maybe skipping the pilot and into this second episode is the way to go, but that’s just my initial response.
Michael Waldron’s Loki is now out on Disney+!
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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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