Loki Season 2 (2023)

Score: A- (9/10)

Despite including the ripple effects of the aimless movie-based approach given to almost every Disney+ production, Loki Season 2 brings Loki’s story to a well-suited conclusion alongside plenty of outstanding moments with the supporting cast riddled throughout his journey to get there.

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Loki’s first season was the first of few MCU limited series which delivered on every front and kept long-time audiences in line for what comes next in the Multiverse Saga. Unfortunately, 2023 is a different landscape compared to 2021. Since the first season, the MCU reached a point in pop culture where every successful production would have the exact opposite precede it. From Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania to Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, or Secret Invasion to Loki Season 2, it’s obvious there’s a lack of consistency with how Disney approves any given production–an issue made public when Disney threw everything they had for Daredevil: Born Again out the window for a more standardized production format for televised storytelling. Disney let people loose on whatever MCU production was on the chopping block because they expected it to make money. However, in 2023, the corporation found that not to be the case, and with new deals for the Writers’ and Screen Actors Guilds, Disney needed to change their output. Unfortunately, the issues won’t relieve themselves for a few years, leaving the MCU’s output down to the filmmakers.

Understanding the missteps Disney took to produce their subscription service exclusive productions is vital to noticing the aimlessness Loki Season 2 tends to have. The second season speeds through multiple plot points, resulting in many audiences missing out on important information because of how fast things move. The season progressively improves upon its issue, slowing down for character exchanges and arcs integral to the narrative. However, the improvements failed to hide the second season’s aimless nature.

Despite the second season’s systematic setbacks, the previously mentioned character exchanges and arcs are the clear highlights. Loki and Mobius’s dynamic remains constantly heartful and comedic, with both also understanding that there’s more to their lives than working at the TVA. The duo also continues their work with B-15 and Casey–two supporting characters offering a hand in saving the TVA alongside the delightfully bright OB. This “squad” is put in the limelight throughout the season, with Sylvie eventually brought in after Loki shows her the importance of the TVA despite their long history of pruning innocent people to maintain the “Sacred Timeline.” Kang returns as Victor Timely, a late 1800s variant of the all-powerful being. Seeing characters interact and collaborate to find a way to save the TVA and all the branching timelines is thrilling to watch and allows the audience to connect with the cast. However, the thrills and chills come alive thanks to Loki’s character arc.

The second season, and the series as a whole, gives Loki a much louder screen presence and a more fulfilling purpose beyond his meddling antics in previous appearances. Loki has always struggled with his “glorious purpose.” He failed to fit into the life laid out for him by Odin, then Thanos before he met his end in Avengers: Infinity War. The TVA gave Loki his first real opportunity to be who he wants to be instead of meeting other’s expectations. Mobius, B-15, Casey, and even OB all show Loki the good in the TVA and why they protect it from outside forces. By contrast, Sylvie acts as a reflection to allow Loki to look within himself and become the hero he always wanted to be. She also shows Loki that he must sacrifice something to save or destroy the TVA. Every newfound friend of Loki helps him realize what’s necessary to defend everyone in the TVA and on every timeline, leading to some of the most emotionally gripping and attention-grabbing sequences in the MCU.

Much like some of my favorite films and shows, Loki Season 2 features a beautifully imperfect narrative. It has faults and isn’t afraid to hide them from its audience. However, it reaches outstanding emotional highs for the characters in the story told on screen and the audiences there witnessing it. Loki has always been a fan-favorite in the MCU. Loki’s first season built upon that by giving Loki a chance to flex his muscles, and its second season brings his story to a more suitable conclusion than the ones found in Thor: The Dark World or Avengers: Infinity War. The second season also did precisely what the Multiverse Saga needed: give audiences hope for future productions and the saga’s conclusion. It makes audiences believe in the MCU again, and hopefully, the MCU will use the hope instilled by Loki Season 2 to have a more consistently positive output going forward.