Tom Hiddleston entered the hearts and minds of every Marvel Studios fan when he first appeared as Loki in 2011’s Thor. He then became a worldwide phenomenon when he took on Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in 2012’s The Avengers. The Marvel superhero team-up film was the biggest blockbuster of that year, grossing a record-breaking $654.8 million worldwide during its opening weekend. Hiddleston’s villainous Loki was by far the highlight of the film and fans couldn’t wait to see what the studio would do with the character next. The God of Mischief would go on to appear in the next two Thor films and the last two Avengers flicks.
In Avengers: Infinity War, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki is murdered at the hands of the cosmic titan Thanos, but the character returns in Avengers: Endgame. Loki makes an appearance in a time travel scene in Endgame where the future version of Tony Stark gaffes a time heist after getting mauled by the past version of the Hulk. In that scene, Loki seizes the moment, grabs on to the Tesseract and disappears through time and space. By this point there had been rumors that Hiddleston had signed on to star in a solo Loki series that would premiere on Disney Plus. Avengers producer Kevin Feige confirmed those rumors by officially announcing the series during the Marvel Studios 2019 San Diego Comic-Con panel. With Loki finally making its debut on Disney Plus this Wednesday, I got the chance to watch its two episodes and I have to say that this is the best Marvel Studios series yet.
Tom Hiddleston’s Loki is the most out-of-the-box thing that Marvel Studios has produced so far. The series is being executive produced by Rick and Morty scribe Michael Waldron and it’s definitely as unorthodox as the animated series. Loki is definitely a part of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe but the way it presents itself makes it feel like its own thing. If you thought WandaVision was a ballsy entry into Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe then Loki will definitely make you rethink that. The series is wildly entertaining and doesn’t feel like the usual product that Marvel Studios delivers. As soon as the series gets into the main plot you won’t want to turn it off. From the time travel aspect to the emotion of the series, Loki is definitely the Marvel Studios series you won’t want to miss.
Loki begins after the events of Avengers: Endgame. The God of Mischief accidentally travels back in time, putting him in the crosshairs of the Time Variance Authority while also leading him on adventure to find out who he really is. The series is brilliant display of what the folks at Marvel Studios can do when they lean into the wonky-ness of their cosmic stories. That and the chemistry between Owen Wilson and Tom Hiddleston keeps you locked in and wanting to see more of the series. The first episode acts as background by getting the 2012 Loki up to speed on what happens to him in the future all the while setting up what the series is really about. Wilson’s Agent Mobius needs Loki’s help catching an alternate version of the titular villain. Loki is surrounded by intriguing plot, but the cast is what keeps you fully invested.
Tom Hiddleston is playing a much different version of the character we’ve grown with as its the 2012 version of Loki and not the one we saw perish at the hands of Thanos. The actor seems like he’s having a ton of fun stepping back into the role and even though he’s grown with the character he enters Loki’s 2012 mindset with ease. The emotional arc of the God of Mischief is so much fun to watch. The same can be said about watching Hiddleston performing the scenes he shares with Wilson’s Agent Mobius, making you want to see a lot more of the duo. Wilson makes his debut into the MCU as a Time Variance Authority agent named Mobius M. Mobius and he brought his A-game with him. Mobius is a weathered TVA agent that can’t seem to catch a variant that is traveling through time and causing chaos. Wilson plays the role well with charm, wittiness and a sense of weariness.
Loki also introduces Marvel Studios fans to an array of new characters, including an interesting new villain that helps round out the supporting cast. The series features a ton of great performances but some of my favorite moments come from Wunmi Mosaku’s Hunter B-15. Mosaku is a take-no-nonsense kind of character who doesn’t really think Loki can be trusted and rightfully so. Every time Mosaku and Hiddleston interacted, I immediately burst into laughter. The series also features the MCU debut of Judge Renslayer, who’s played by the magnificent Gugu Mbatha-Raw. During the first two episodes we rarely get to see her character but when she’s on-screen it kind of feels like there’s something more to her. We also have Sophia Di Martino, who enters the MCU as the villainous Lady Loki. We don’t physically see her for a bit but when she shows up she has a very demanding presence and is proven to be a formidable foe to face off against Tom Hiddleston.
Overall Thoughts: All in all, Loki is the Marvel Studios series you’ve been waiting for. What Michael Waldron, Kate Herron and Kevin Feige have done is absolutely stunning. I would definitely tune in when Loki hits Disney Plus this Wednesday. If you thought WandaVision was out-of-the-box wait till you check this out. From its outstanding performances to its intriguing plot, Loki is going to be one wild ride. Tom Hiddleston and Owen Wilson are the best duo I’ve ever seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and I definitely would watch them do this series for multiple seasons. Loki is perfect for the entire family to enjoy and I can’t wait to see where the series goes.
Rating: 10/10
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