“Journey Into Mystery” — Characterization in “Loki” Episodes 3 through 5
Note: This recap and analysis do contain spoilers.
Loki, Episode 5: Journey into Mystery
Loki episodes 3–5 showcase a unique take on characterization and why the medium of television is expanding the MCU in a meaningful way that cannot be done through film.
The concept of an inner monologue manifests in a unique way in the Loki series, as the protagonist literally interacts with himself, in many versions. Many of the scenes between the main Loki variant that we’ve been following and Sylvie, followed by the entirety of episode five, use dialogue between the characters that could easily be dialogue use in internal self-reflection.
Starting off in Lamentis, Loki and Sylvie spar over what makes a Loki a Loki. We hear many superficial responses from Loki like “independence, authority, and style” and being a “hedonist”, but as the plot progresses the dialogue is like seeing Loki go deeper into himself.
In the scene with Loki and Sylvie on the bourgeois train, attempting to make an exit from Lamentis, the two engage in a discussion of love. Sylvie declares “love is hate.” and Loki cannot answer back in regards to how he sees love is. As we’ve seen in the films, Loki has often grappled with being an outsider and still feeling attached to the people around him, but not being able to connect to them in a way that he doesn’t stay an outsider.
Loki, Episode 3: Lamentis
At the end of Lamentis, we see that Loki and Sylvie create a nexus event, portraying Loki as developing feelings for the female variant of himself. Mobius later brands Loki as a narcissist for falling for himself, but in many ways, the dynamic between Loki and Sylvie is much more tragic and complicated than that. Loki feels like he can only be understood by himself, further branding himself as an outcast, yet the extent of his desire to help Sylvie and stay with her shows that he does crave something beyond that. (On a personal level, I need to point that scene of them getting intercepted by the TVA, because of their nexus event is so good and rings very Bonnie and Clyde to me.)
In the MCU films, Loki often wrestles with self-sabotage through his impulsive decision making and inability to not betray those around him. In the films, he flips between wanting to be a part of what is deemed as the “good” team, as seen in The Dark World, Ragnarok, and the beginning of Infinity War, but he is rarely able to achieve this, as part of his nature stops him. The relationship between Loki and Sylvie reads beyond that of a relationship and like a metaphor of self-love and self-acceptance. In the cliche “hurt people hurt people” way, this may be what Loki finally needs in order to allow himself to be a part of something outside of himself.
Even as Loki ascends beyond this outsider thinking, he is confronted with variants of himself in episode 5 that carry the same instinct. Such as showcased in the humorous scene where many of the Loki variants cannot help but turn on each other.
Loki, Episode 5: Journey into Mystery
The Elder, Classic Loki in particular has a jaded outlook on what Loki is as a character, declaring they are the “God of Outcasts” and “Lokis survive; that’s just what we do.” They are all also hesitant to go along with Loki’s plan and we do see many of the variants focusing on the power and marauding within the Void. Yet, Elder Loki’s eventual sacrifice shows that Loki, in another form, is able to go beyond themselves. It is reminiscent of Loki’s demise in Infinity War which shows he has always been more capable of dropping the self-branded outcast label he often limits himself within.
The moments we share with a character in the cinema are special, particularly with a character as complicated as Loki, but with the medium of television, we’re able to spend time with him to understand what makes him such a complex, morally ambiguous, interesting character.
Beyond Loki, this series has introduced many compelling supporting characters that I hope to see pop up further in the MCU. Mobius, who is the first person Loki can truly connect with that isn’t a variant of himself, and an over “good guy” has been impossible to not fall in love with. (Thanks to great writing and the way Owen Wilson brought him to life, by being so naturally likable.) Judge Renslayer is also compelling in a way that parallels Loki, earlier on in his appearance in the MCU. She evokes this feeling where you never quite know if she is on the side of the viewers or not, but you want to know more.
All in all, I look forward to finding out who the man behind the curtain is and what the MCU has in store for these new characters and these newer versions of already existing characters.
