Marvel Studios’ original series lineup for Disney+ has been a mixed bag in these last two years. Some shows have faded away with hardly any lasting impact on both audiences and the Marvel Cinematic Universe at large, while others have earned acclaimed status in what is already a grandiose franchise. Loki was a project that was always destined for success with Tom Hiddleston reprising the titular, fan-favorite villain. The God of Mischief’s character arc has evolved arguably more than any other Marvel character over the years, from first being the MCU’s main villain to now attempting to be its very savior in Loki Season 2.
There have been some significant changes to the creative crew of Loki since the first season came to a close in 2021. Eric Martin, who was a staff writer on season one, has taken over head writer responsibilities from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness writer Michael Waldron. In the directing department, Kate Herron passes the baton to a slew of directors this time around, including Dan Deleeuw, Kasra Farahani, and directing duo Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. Aside from previously directing episodes of Moon Knight, Benson and Moorhead are best known for their indie filmmaking endeavors in the horror genre with beloved gems like Something in the Dirt, The Endless, and Synchronic under their belt.
Meanwhile, Loki Season 2 directors Dan Deleeuw and Kasra Farahani were previously heads of the Visual Effects and Production Design departments, respectively, on the first season. These two names are true Marvel alumni with Farahani working on titles as early as Thor and Deleeuw since Iron Man 3, but has recently served as a second unit director on Eternals and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. Impressively, the third episode of this season, one that is certain to garner attention for its sheer scale, is Farahani’s first directorial credit.
The sophomore season picks up right where we left off, following on from Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) pushing Loki through a time door and killing He Who Remains (Jonathan Majors). At first, Loki finds himself in a version of the Time Variance Authority (TVA) where no one recognizes him but is soon reunited with Mobius, who finds himself involuntarily time-slipping through the past, present, and future. In between being torn through the very fabric of time, Mobius takes Loki to Ouroboros (Ke Huy Quan), more affectionately referred to as O.B, the sole employee in the Repairs and Advancement department who is credited with writing the TVA handbook. Together they attempt to anchor Loki in the present so that they can deal with the impending threats to the TVA.
However, there’s more than simply the fate of the universe at stake in Loki Season 2. In the wake of discovering that every TVA agent is a variant who had a life on a different timeline, many hunters are struggling to come to grips with the lives they have been forced to live. Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku) passionately implores that the rapidly expanding new branches of the timeline are not pruned, while others yearn to go and try to live their past lives in peace. As they attempt to execute their plan to stabilize time itself, Loki and Mobius must also track down Sylvie, Ravona Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), and Miss Minutes (voiced by Tara Strong), who are scattered throughout the timeline, to ensure that they do not interfere.
The second season of Loki manages to surpass all expectations and is the finest cinematic television produced by Marvel Studios thus far. Loki’s continuing journey across the multiverse offers a complex tale of morality and ubiquitous chaos, with a gorgeously crafted fantasy exterior that always goes above and beyond what is imaginable. In a twisted and ironic way, Loki must “play God” and make decisions that will affect every living soul in existence. But even some things are out of the God of Mischief’s control.
Even when the stakes are elevated and the writing is exceptionally strong, creative integrity is never sacrificed in terms of the show’s production value. Loki Season 2 showcases magnificent practical sets and VFX that blend together in harmony to create a new high standard for Marvel television. Examples like the retro-esque offices of the TVA and a recreation of the 1893 World Fair in Chicago each boast eye-catching costume designs that make for a complete feast for the eyes. Compared to the plethora of comic-book adaptations around right now, Loki is visually in a league of its own.
Even though the show does center around its titular trickster, this latest season thrives because it avoids neglecting its dynamic ensemble cast. With a wide mix of new and returning characters, it wouldn’t be a surprise if a couple of names got pushed to the side or worse, totally forgotten about. However, every player in Loki Season 2 is given rich material to play around with. More importantly, everyone is granted their moment to play a pivotal role in this glorious jigsaw of a narrative.
Tom Hiddleston and Owen Wilson once again share such a playful chemistry that makes for an infatuating leading duo. A standout of the first season was the cartoonish A.I. turned TVA mascot Miss Minutes, who was seemingly harmless at first but became more eerie with each passing episode. Miss Minutes makes her return to the series a few episodes in and as a consequence of her creators being murdered, has her own subtly sinister plan to regain power. On the other hand, Ke Huy Quan is perfectly cast as the wacky genius that is Ouroboros. After making an Oscar-winning comeback in Everything Everywhere All at Once, Quan continues to surprise as a magnetic screen presence who finds no trouble in stealing the show.
Like some other MCU stories, the more technical and scientific plot points can be difficult to genuinely understand at times, but if anything this season is easier to follow. Loki Season 2 is gripping, streamlined, and above all else, confident, never over-indulging itself in the ways that recent Marvel projects have to their demise (ahem Secret Invasion). Each episode is capped off by a riveting closing moment that keeps you firmly on the edge of your seat. Many fans have had high hopes for this second installment for over two years, and with much relief, Loki Season 2 exceeds with flying colors. Although having only watched the first four out of six episodes, this easily has the potential to be the best season of television for an original Marvel series on Disney+ yet.
