Loki Season 2 Science/Fiction Review: Loki fights sands of time in excellent penultimate episode

Science/Fiction is a terrific penultimate episode that effectively builds off episode four’s crazy ending. After destroying the TVA, Loki, the god of chaos, is thrust into being the source of normalcy and bringing the members of TVA back together.

Science/Fiction is a Loki-centric episode. Loki, the man whose destiny is to be alone, finds himself by his lonesome in the haunted halls of the TVA. He then begins time slipping into different periods on the sacred timelines. Mobius, O.B., Hunter B-15 and Casey all live without the TVA knowledge. Mobius is a salesman. O.B. is a science fiction writer. Hunter B-15 is a doctor. Casey is a criminal trying to escape Alcatraz. To save the TVA, Loki needs to get the former TVA members back together.

Meanwhile, since she is a variant of Loki, Sylvie retains her memories. She has no desire to bring the group together. The scene between Loki and Sylvie in the bar reveals the root cause behind Loki’s desire to fix the TVA. Furthermore, it’s another opportunity for Loki as a series to tackle the serious issue of free will.

Tom Hiddleston continues to shine in showing the different shades of Loki. From impeccable comedic timing to sheer pathos, few actors embody a single character to the degree Hiddleston does as Loki. The character growth from the character’s first appearance in Thor to the 2nd season of Loki is incredible. He’s not perfect. A selfish desire is buried deep into Loki’s efforts to reform the TVA. However, when Sylvie confronts him with this realization, he doesn’t double down. Loki discusses and thinks about what’s best for the other people.

Directors Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead, and head writer Eric Martin are firing on all cylinders heading into the season finale.

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

The new reality of the TVA in Science/Fiction

After Vitor Timely’s (Jonathan Majors) untimely unraveling at the end of episode four, Loki begins time slipping at hyperspeed. Meanwhile, Sylvie, Mobius, O.B., Hunter B-15 and Casey are thrust back into their timelines before joining the TVA. Loki appears in each of their timelines. However, except Sylvie, none of them remember Loki or the TVA.

Loki appears in Mobius’s timeline before meeting up with O.B. Overall, Mobius’s life is miserable. Mobius is still charming, thanks to Owen Wilson’s portrayal. In this reality, Mobius is a single father and a seemingly unsuccessful salesman for various recreational vehicles, including jet skis. His children are awful. Before Loki can make much headway, he’s yanked into O.B.’s orbit.

The only person receptive to Loki’s goal to reunite his friends is O.B. This new version of O.B. is introduced by trying to buy his book from a bookstore. He’s still a genius with a science background, but his true love is writing science fiction. Loki’s appearance begins with trying to find a scientific solution. However, in reality, it’s the fictional explanation that works the best.

This alternative look at the lives of the TVA agents is fascinating. In many ways, their functions are the antithesis of who they are in the TVA. Whether trying to convince Mobius of his alternative life or building up O.B.’s self-esteem, Hiddleston’s comedic timing is terrific.

Freedom of choice

After successfully getting Mobius and the other members of the TVA in one location, Loki finds Sylvie working at McDonald’s. Loki doesn’t expect Sylvie to remember him. However, Sylvie is a variant of Loki and remembers everything. She offers to take Loki for a drink.

Sylvie believes the TVA’s demise is a good thing. All agents are living the lives they are supposed to live before the TVA ripped that choice for them. Loki wants to give them an actual choice to save the TVA. He also believes Sylvie is being selfish by staying in her timeline.

Sylvie agrees with Loki’s insinuation but points out Loki’s reasons for getting the band back together are also selfish. After some prodding, Loki reveals he wants his friends around and is afraid of being alone.

It’s a powerful revelation and another sign of tremendous, earned growth by Loki. In the past, when Loki’s mistakes have been laid out before him, he often doubles down or worsens the situation. In Science/Fiction, he returns to O.B.’s warehouse and calls off the plan. He’s willing to sacrifice once again the thing he wants for the greater good.

God of Chaos, Mischief, and Time?

Loki believes his time-slipping problem is a scientific puzzle. Something is randomly pulling into different points on the timeline. O.B. suggests a more fictional reason. The locations Loki appears in due to time slipping aren’t random. They’re a result of the people in these locations. O.B. also believes Loki can control the time slips.

After Loki announces to the group that they won’t be reforming the TVA, Sylvie suddenly shows up in the warehouse. Her world just unraveled around. Before the group can find a solution, each member of the TVA begins to disintegrate.

Just as Loki is about to vaporize, he suddenly starts grabbing the various strains of the time branches. He manually brings everyone back to end the episode.

Science/Fiction final thoughts

After watching Science/Fiction, it’s clear to me that Loki is the one who started the TVA in the first place to combat He Who Remains. However, he doesn’t remember it because his memory was erased.

Even if that doesn’t happen, Loki season 2 is easily one of the best MCU Disney Plus shows. Here’s hoping the series can stick the landing in the season finale.

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