Loki: Season 1 - SPOILER-FREE Review
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Created by: Michael Waldron
Directed by: Kate Herron
Written by: Michael Waldron, Elissa Karasik, Bisha K. Ali, Eric Martin, Tom Kauffman
Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Wunmi Mosaku, Eugene Cordero, Tara Strong, Owen Wilson, Sophia Di Martino, Sasha Lane, Jack Veal, DeObia Oparei, Richard E. Grant
Synopsis: Loki (Tom Hiddleston), the God of Mischief, steps out of his brother's shadow to embark on an adventure that takes place after the events of Avengers: Endgame.
Creating a (successful) cinematic universe, franchise, saga - whatever you prefer to call it - is a tremendously challenging task, but currently, it's becoming something more and more common, especially in the film realm. However, bringing television into that same titanic general narrative is unthinkable, and, if done before, it certainly wasn't as universally acclaimed as the incredibly popular MCU. After WandaVision surpassing everyone's expectations by becoming one of the best shows of the year, and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier still resonating with most viewers despite the drop in quality, Loki was, of course, highly anticipated by the fandom.
I'll keep every revelation, plot twist, and major moments under wraps, so don't worry. This review tackles the entire season without disclosing character names, taking the first official trailer as an example of what was known before the show began. However, I will mention actors listed as part of the cast when the first episode aired, even if they only appeared later on - I repeat, characters will stay nameless. With that said, Loki is yet another outstanding addition to the exponentially expanding Marvel universe.
Michael Waldron (HarmonQuest) and Kate Herron (Sex Education) bring an exceptional team of writers who had the monumental job of introducing the Time Variance Authority (TVA), an organization that drastically changes how time and space work in the MCU forever. From the in-depth characterization of the TVA to the countless mysteries present in this first season, Loki holds an effective narrative structure that allows all of its episodes to end with intriguing questions left unanswered, which leaves most viewers craving for the following week.
With so many shows releasing entire seasons in a single day, I can't help but appreciate when a TV series recognizes that a weekly release might be better for the show. With the Multiverse right around the corner, Loki obviously walks down the same path all MCU movies and series will follow until (probably) Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. If WandaVision and TFATWS primarily impact characters, Loki undoubtedly changes every viewer's perspective of the universe, setting up Phase Four brilliantly.
Nevertheless, this season also becomes a deep study of Loki as a character. The pilot does a remarkable job of reminding its audience that this version of Loki still wants to rule the Earth and destroy the Avengers since he comes from 2012. With the help of Mobius (Owen Wilson) and some other characters portrayed by, for example, Sophia Di Martino (Yesterday) and Richard E. Grant (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker), Tom Hiddleston (Avengers: Infinity War) navigates through Loki's complex feelings about himself. From his supposedly "glorious purpose" to his so-called "illusions", I feel delighted with the show's character exploration.
Hiddleston delivers a phenomenal performance, not giving a chance to anyone to stand out. Coming back to the most iconic role of his career, the actor demonstrates all of his immense talent, seamlessly switching between the 2012's "bad" Loki and the proud Asgardian, Odinson of the latest MCU installments. His interactions with Owen Wilson (Wonder) are some of the most fascinating conversations between two MCU characters ever, debating complex, sensitive themes such as faith, destiny, and what makes a person truly good or bad?
Wilson surprisingly fits perfectly into the Marvel saga, as does every other actor in the show. Mobius becomes a beloved character with much more to him than a simple TVA employee. Sophia Di Martino holds significant screentime and possesses an impactful subplot with Loki that I have to admit didn't fully convince me. Despite her character being extremely interesting from the first to the last second on-screen, it's when Loki's motivations align with her individual storyline that the overall narrative suffers from pacing issues and tonal unbalance, including a mostly irrelevant third episode.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Motherless Brooklyn) portrays a mysterious TVA judge who contributes more to exposition than an actually exciting subplot, though her friendship with Mobius has some good moments. As the season approaches its finale, a group of characters shows up, which raises both great sequences and a few issues. This group offers the mandatory action and entertainment in the final episodes, but their potential is so special that I wouldn't be surprised if a spin-off series rises from nowhere. However, their screentime is so short that the finale feels just a tad underwhelming, despite its massive impact on the MCU.
Speaking of which, this show is undoubtedly the most relevant series so far, especially when it comes to how the next Phases will be developed. The finale opens the doors to a new Thanos-level villain, but the somewhat ambiguous last revelations leave a sense of uncertainty that I didn't expect. Unless the viewer is a comic-book reader, the finale might be partially disappointing, but never to the point of ruining anything the show builds until that moment, much on the contrary.
Technically, Natalie Holt's score is one of those unique elements that deeply elevate any film or TV series. The addictive instrumental music is essential to set up the overall mood of the show, beautifully controlling the atmosphere in each episode. Loki is also the series that features the most visually stunning production design (Kasra Farahani), as well as the best VFX, though I could have lived without some sparse, heavy uses of CGI. Finally, Autumn Durald Arkapaw's cinematography surrounds the series in a dark, mysterious environment that flawlessly suits the overall story.
Final Thoughts
Loki is yet another extraordinary addition to the MCU, delivering a deep study of the eponymous character while introducing the fandom to the beginning of the Multiverse. The writers do a phenomenal job building the TVA and developing its detailed time concept that tremendously impacts the universe without relying too much on exposition, despite a couple of heavy deliveries. From the award-worthy production design to the addictive, memorable score, every technical aspect is near-perfect. However, the performances completely drive the show, mainly Tom Hiddleston as the iconic villain, but Owen Wilson, Sophia Di Martino, and a few others also shine. Mixed feelings about the finale that might be slightly underwhelming for non-comic-book readers, and also about an unconvincing subplot involving Hiddleston and Di Martino. Still, it's the most important series of the MCU so far, so don't you dare miss it!
