When Marvel first announced that aLokiserieswould joinWandaVisionandThe Falcon and The Winter Soldieron Disney+ streaming service, Marvel fans weren’t quite sure what to expect, but with Tom Hiddleston returning as the titular god of mischief, it was certain to be entertaining. Digital Trends got an early look at the first two episodes ofLokiahead of the series’ June 9 premiere, and the opening arc of Marvel’s latest small-screen adventure doesn’t disappoint.
Here are some spoiler-free notes on the first act of Marvel’s six-episode series, offering some hints about what you’re able to look forward to when Loki returns to the screen.
No notes needed
There’s a lot of history behindLoki, but fortunately, you don’t need to set aside time for a full Marvel Cinematic Universe marathon before the show’s premiere. The series premiere not only recaps the events inAvengers: EndgameandThe Avengersthat allowed Loki to effectively reboot his timeline, but also offers a convenient explanation of why this new, alternate path for the Asgardian trickster hasn’t changed other MCU events as we know them (yet).
The series finds Loki’s teleporting adventures cut short when he’s apprehended by the Time Variance Authority, an agency tasked with preserving the timestream from anyone who plays too fast and loose with historical events as they’re supposed to unfold. Given the chance to be erased from existence or assist the TVA, he chooses the latter — but not without his own sinister scheme, of course.
There are a fewthings you should know before watchingLokithat will probably be helpful, though, asLokidoes reference some of its title character’s greatest (or perhaps, most infamous) moments in the Marvel movie-verse to date, so there will be major spoilers for anyone who comes in with a clean slate.
Mischief meets emotion
It’s hard to believe anything you see when it comes to Loki, but Asgard’s notorious trickster has given MCU fans a glimpse of his less-villainous side here and there over the years. In just its first two episodes,Lokidives quite a bit deeper into his previously unexplored emotional core, and it manages to add layers to the character without sapping any of the unrepentant guile that has made him so fun to watch.
The series forces Loki to confront the sins and failings of his past — as well as the now-alternate future MCU fans know best — and the result is a reckoning that makes one of Marvel’s gods feel more human. Maintaining Loki’s superhuman “other-ness” while forging a very human connection isn’t an easy line to walk, but the series makes it look easy early on.
Cameos, Easter eggs, and secrets…
There are plenty of surprises in the first two episodes ofLoki, and we won’t spoil any of them here. However, you’ll want to pay attention to the details and keep the pause button handy to catch the myriad of little elements that makeLokieven more rewarding.
Not all of the hidden treasures inLokiare Marvel-related, however, and his involvement with an agency that counts all of human history as its field of operations means there will be plenty of little call-outs to pop culture (both forgotten and familiar) from the past few decades. Everything from the type of soda certain characters drink to the desktop mementos they choose to display is worth noting if you want to fully immerse yourself in the weird, wonderful world ofLoki.
Believe the hype
All of these hints about what’s to come are fine, but isLokias good as fans are hoping?
Obviously, the answer will vary from one person to the next, but when it comes to meeting expectations,Lokidelivers — and then some. The first two episodes of the series wisely let Hiddleston occupy as much of the spotlight as possible, and his Asgardian mischief-maker smirks and schemes his way through the show’s introductory act with reckless abandon.
With each of Loki’s numerous appearances in MCU films, the calls for an opportunity to see him go solo have become louder.Lokiis the realization of that potential, and it’s more than satisfying, even after more than a decade of anticipation.
