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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 crew running Marvel Studios and Disney Plus’s Loki series were not lying. The show really picks up after the third episode. This week’s episode of Michael Waldron’s series is titled “The Nexus Event”. Eric Martin is this episode’s writer, while Kate Herron serves as its director.
In this review, I will discuss this week’s episode. As always, there will be no spoilers here, as the title of the article suggests. Nonetheless, minor story development details lie ahead.
Plot Summary
Following last week’s episode, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) find a way out of Lamentis-1. Meanwhile, Mobius M. Mobius (Owen Wilson) and Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku) learn about the Time Variance Authority’s secret.
In a larger role this week, Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays Ravonna Renslayer. Sasha Lane makes a small appearance as Hunter C-20, while Cailey Fleming portrays a younger Sylvie. Jaimie Alexander reprises her Marvel Cinematic Universe role as the Asgardian, Sif.
In addition, Richard E. Grant, Jack Veal, and DeObia Oparei make special guest appearances in new roles.
Discussion
Holy shit, “The Nexus Event” really kicks the season’s arc up a notch! Maybe it is Eric Martin’s writing that does the trick for me, but if it weren’t for this review, I would be at a loss for words.
Loki makes clear to Mobius that he isn’t working for Sylvie, nor are she and he partners-in-crime. I liked one scene that Hiddleston and Wilson share, which is towards the end of the episode’s narrative. He persuades the god of mischief, “You Can be whoever, whatever you want to be. Even someone good.”
We also get to see the Time Keepers, at long last. Their appearance is surprisingly good and makes a good tease for Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror. I’m crossing my fingers that he is terrifying in the role. For now, I hope that the revelation and question regarding the Time Keepers will be answered in the final two episodes of the season.
Cinematic Elements
Christine Wada and Kasra Farahani have outdone themselves with their respective designs on costumes and production. I love who Sarah Halley Finn and Krista Husar cast in this episode. Of course, Natalie Holt’s musical composition is splendid. Brenda Lee’s “If You Love Me (Really Love Me)” plays at the narrative’s conclusion, which almost sent chills down my spine. What’s also splendid is the cinematography, credit to Autumn Durald Arkapaw as the director of photography. There were several frames that I loved seeing. They were appealing to me.
Dan Deleeuw and Brad Parker’s visual effects supervision is evident, and Allison Paul’s VFX production is indisputably magnificent. Emma McCleave is the third editor to work on this series thus far, making this episode her starting point. I had absolutely no issues with any of the show’s crew members here. To be clear, I must commend them all for an excellent job well done.
Performances and Character Development
Hiddleston and Wilson are outstanding, whether they share a scene or are with others. My favorite scene is one that Hiddleston shares with Jaimie Alexander. It is almost as if watching — as referenced in The Avengers (2012) — Shakespeare in the Park, albeit with an element of time travel involved. I could indeed watch that over and over again, and it would not get boring. Meanwhile, the scene in which Loki is interrogated is just almost stolen by Wilson’s deliverance of dialogue. Both scenes contain some great development in these characters. I have nothing else to say without giving away plot details.
Mosaku and Di Martino perform just as well, both given their form, kind, and degree of character development. I liked learning about the latter’s character, Sylvie, which was teased in the previous episode.
Mbatha-Raw has more screentime in this episode, allowing her character to exhibit development with the viewer watching the whole thing play out. Not only this, but it’s her rhetoric that makes her growth here just worth staying for the whole ride. (I would state the same thing for Wilson.)
I am curious about the lack of Eugene Cordero and Tara Strong as Casey and Miss Minutes, respectively. Sure, their roles may be smaller, but what roles exactly do they play in the bigger scope of the story?
Final Thoughts
Wilson’s character mentions the TVA bringing in “Kree, Titans, vampires,” but this should not be a shocker to the fans. The Kree have appeared in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. series, in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, and in Captain Marvel. We have seen Titans through Thanos along with the characters of Eternals later this year. Vampires have been teased to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for a while now, with Mahershala Ali as Blade to make his debut.
Loki has some good quotes that speak for the essence of the series and just what makes the world tick. The first is that “[w]e [Lokis] don’t die. We survive.” The second line is this, “Welcome to the real world. Down there, we’re awful to one another to get what we want.” I also hope that we get to see more of Mobius in future episodes of the series. Wilson makes a great addition to the larger world that is the MCU, and I don’t want that to go to waste.
Overall, this is a laudable episode of Loki, and I hate that we only have two more episodes left until the season is over because I crave for more of what the cast and crew have to offer. If all of this is what we have to look forward to for the future of this billion-dollar franchise, then I might have no choice but to ask for more of it!
Michael Waldron’s Loki Season 1 is now available on Disney+!
Have you seen the episode yet? If you have already, what are your thoughts on it? Let us know! For more action, adventure, comic book, drama, fantasy, science-fiction, and superhero-related news and reviews, follow The Cinema Spot on Twitter (@TheCinemaSpot) and Instagram (@thecinemaspot_). You can also catch us on Facebook (TheCinemaSpotFB)!
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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