“The Variant” and their implications for the MCU — a look at “Loki” Episode 2
Note: This recap and analysis do contain spoilers.
Loki, Episode 2: The Variant
Looking at the second episode of Loki, we learn that “Variants” are exactly that — variants of a person. They are variants who get intercepted and don’t live out their own “storylines.” Implying, the Loki that we see in Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Infinity War is or was never introduced to the TVA. Looking back at the Loki premiere, Mobius declares that this was never Loki’s story. At the time, this seems to allude to Loki as an antagonist in the MCU, rather than a heroic lead. Now, this observation takes on a double meaning. This was never the variant’s story, but the story of the Loki that we’ve been watching all along. (This is aside from the scene when he intercepts the tesseract)
In Avengers: Endgame, Tony and Dr. Banner explain that, within the context of the MCU, time-travelling becomes your future, rather than undoes your past. This fits into the concept of variants and the TVA interestingly because it seems that the Variants are not a part of this. They cease to exist after being intercepted.
The implications for time, universes, and multiverses in the Loki series are intriguing, and it seems like we’ll learn more and unravel more about the “rules” around all the concepts in the MCU. This may make for a setup for upcoming films, such as Spiderman: No Way Home, which many fans have theorized will explore the multiverse more.
Beyond the implications for the MCU at large, there is a lot to unpack in The Variant. The characterization of Loki and his motives take center stage. Tom Hiddleston, as usual, gives a fantastic comedic performance — showcasing Loki’s eccentric personality and style of humor. (This is highlighted wonderfully in the salad scene and during the destruction of Pompeii.)
Beyond that, we see Loki grapple with the different parts of his nature — the desire to be a part of something bigger than himself while maintaining his inability to step away from his role as an outsider and away from being self-serving. It’s easy to psychoanalyze this character as being this way, because of his status within his family in Asgard, as a Laufeyson rather than an Odinson. However, it was clear that this characterization of him long proceeded his self-awareness of his lineage. The Variant starts to dive further into this duality that Loki possesses. On one hand, Loki seems to connect with Mobius and finds intrigue in the idea of being a TVA agent. He decrees his agent status sarcastically, but we see moments of his genuine curiosity around being a unit. (This has also been shown throughout his role in prior MCU films, in his relationship with Thor.) We also see his clear connection to Asgard, despite his constant attempt to rule over and mock his people. The emotive expressions and grief he experiences as he finds the TVA file on Ragnarok best express this side to him.
Contrasting this, Loki’s fixation on the scale of the Time Keeper’s power and his transparent desire to meet them and infiltrate the TVA is also shown. Yet, his outwardness with these plans sometimes feels disingenuous. It is like Loki is falling into default habits that he cannot help. Going back to the Loki series exploration of free will, as a concept, this could be indicative that he cannot help this. This duality comes to a climax at the end of the episode when he must choose to stay with Mobius and the TVA agents or follow the rogue Loki variant, Lady Loki, as she carries on with her agenda.
Loki, Episode 2: The Variant
In regard to curiosities for future episodes, it will be interesting to see this internal conflict with Loki manifest further. It is also exciting to learn more about Lady Loki’s intentions. She makes it clear that control and power through the TVA are not her intentions. Rather, it seems she may be set on destroying the TVA and the Sacred Timeline. If Lady Loki truly is a variant of Loki, maybe this shows another side to Loki that we have yet to see the variant of Loki that we’ve been following and the Sacred Timeline’s approved version of Loki. Perhaps she is truly Loki without falling back into a power struggle or drive to self-interest. Maybe, Lady Loki knows something of the Time Keeper’s that Mobius and the protagonist variant of Loki don’t. (On a personal level, I have a theory that there is something more sinister, under the surface, in regard to the Time Keepers. Maybe it’s just distrust of that much power from previous films in the MCU. Maybe it is how strange it is that those employees of the TVA are portrayed as having their entire life centered around their work for the Time Keepers, and mindlessly at that.) Only time will tell, but following Glorious Purpose, The Variant leaves us eager to find out.
