Loki Season 2 Premiere Review: A promising continuation for Marvel’s god of mischief

The Loki Season 2 premiere soars on the fantastic chemistry between Tom Hiddleston and Owen Wilson.

Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead’s use of handheld camera shots to create the feeling of disorientation lends itself to Loki’s conundrum. The fantastic production design of TVA from season 1 continues to shine. The TVA is an otherworldly place, but the retro feel seems timeless where every layer is teeming with secrets. Add in the introduction Ke Huy Quan as Ouroboros and you have one of the more promising starts for a Marvel series.

Even though it’s been over two years since the finale of season 1, the season 2 premiere of Loki wastes little time. In the finale, Loki appears in the TVA to a Mobius who has no memory of him. In the premiere, the timeline branches off.

Mobius and Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku, terrific) are trying to make sense of the chaos. Meanwhile, Loki slips between the past and present in a horrifying fashion. When Loki does get a moment to stay in the present, he reveals Kang’s control over the sacred timeline and wants to move forward. Mobius urges Loki to take a step back. If they can’t figure out why Mobius is time-skipping, then what’s the point?

The pacing is incredible. From the shaky cam to strong performances, you’re always on the edge of your seat. Even when the show slows down, the character dialogue has a purpose. There’s a sense of urgency in every scene. Every character is trying to find immediate solutions to the timelines falling apart. This sense of urgency highlights the major issues with the other 2023 MCU series Secret Invasion.

My only issue is a brief, creepy interaction between Hunter X-5 (Rafael Casal) and General Dox (Katie Dickle). I can handle whispering covertly into someone’s ear. However, petting his head is a little much and in obvious view of Hunter B-15.

Overall, Loki season 2 is off to a great start.

Loki Season 2 Premiere Review Score: 9

Outstanding

With the overview out of the way, let’s dive deeper into the three standout elements in the Loki season 2 premiere. There will be some spoilers. Loki is streaming on Disney Plus.

Time Slipping in Loki Season 2

Hiddleston and Wilson’s unbeatable chemistry doesn’t miss a beat. Their interplay does give off a buddy cop meets married couple vibe.

Meanwhile, there is one change in Loki’s demeanor in the premiere. Regardless of the timeline, Loki consistently tries to get to the bottom of Kang’s changes to the timeline. Furthermore, he’s able to prove Kang’s control of the time to the TVA judges.

While Loki continues slipping between past and present, Mobius wants to help his friend Loki. Mobius’s reaction to Loki every time the Asgardian reappears feels grounded. Likewise, Hiddleston and the visual effect shine in making Loki’s reappearance look painful.

Unfortunately, for Loki, time slipping isn’t supposed to be possible. With nowhere to turn, Mobies takes Loki to the one being who could solve the problem

Ouroboros

Quan is perfect as the TVA agent in the repair and advancement department. Ouroboros designs and repairs every piece of technology at the TVA. Therefore, Mobius believes Ouroboros must possess some tech that can permanently return Loki to the present timeline.

Unfortunately, Ouroboros doesn’t have a solution to a phenomenon that’s impossible. However, at that very moment, Loki slips into the past. While Loki talks to Ouroboros in the past, Mobius talks to OB in the present. It’s a wild sequence that makes great use of the timelines.

OB can come up with a tool to help, but there are some risks. Loki must purge himself from all timelines, which should theoretically return him to the present. Meanwhile, Mobius will need to use OB’s device to bring Loki back. Mobius is in danger of having his skin ripped off, which leads to another delightful exchange between Loki and Mobius. After all, what kind of quality of life can you have without skin?

No more purging

In addition to time slipping, there’s also a question over the future of TVA. Specifically, what’s the TVA’s purpose moving forward?

The ending of season 1 revealed that every TVA agent was ripped from a timeline. The TVA judges summon Mobius and Hunter B-15. Mosaku shines as Hunter B-15. She reveals the truth to the judges and urges them to cease purging people moving forward. General Dox wants the TVA to maintain the status quo. However, Hunter B-15’s passionate plea convinces Judge Gamble (Liz Carr) to end the practice of purging.

Loki adds to the stress of the scene by suddenly reappearing in the chamber. Using a purging stick he reveals the statues of Kang behind the walls. This gives B-15’s argument more weight, although Gamble was pretty convinced before Loki’s arrival. After the session is adjourned, General Dox orders Hunter X-5 to hunt Sylvie down.

General Dox petting Hunter X-5’s head is unnecessary. However, it’s a terrific scene that allows great actors to exchange opposing thoughts and ideas.

Loki Season 2 Premiere final thoughts

Overall, season 2 of Loki is off to a great start. The performances, Eric Martin‘s script and the production design add up to a terrific start to the new season.