Loki Season 2 Review: Tom Hiddleston's Iconic Character Loses Its Edge

The beloved character Loki, a staple of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), makes his return in Season 2. Loki's defining trait has always been his unpredictability, earning him the moniker of the 'God of Mischief.' Tom Hiddleston's charismatic portrayal of this character has been unmatched. But what if Loki were stripped of all his trademark unpredictability? Season 2 dares to do the unthinkable. Does it succeed? Let's dive in.

Season 2 of Loki continues from where it left off, with Loki trapped and under arrest in a variant of the Time Variance Authority office. Our beloved antihero grapples with an identity crisis, while the time cop Mobius (Owen Wilson) and Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku) suffer from temporary amnesia after being plucked from their respective timelines. Meanwhile, Loki's female variant Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) has opened the doors to a multiverse of chaos by eliminating He Who Remains.

This move was a strategic one, intertwining the stories of the alternate multiverse and establishing a central plotline for many upcoming MCU films in Phases 4 and 5, such as "Spider-Man: No Way Home" and "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness." However, what Season 2 lacks is the adventurous spirit of director Kate Herron to explore uncharted territories and take creative leaps. What makes the concept of a multiverse intriguing, at least in theory, is its boundless potential. By sidelining it to follow a more conventional narrative, the MCU has made a somewhat disappointing choice.

The standout feature of Loki Season 2 is the performances. Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan steals the show with his witty one-liners and delivery. Owen Wilson is a joy to watch and, this time around, might even be a more intriguing character than Hiddleston. While Owen and Tom share palpable chemistry, they don't have ample material to work with together. Surprisingly, the new season seems to have stripped Loki of his mischievous and charming side, presenting a more obedient and 'goody-two-shoes' version of the character. His preoccupation with the TVA and his aspiration to be a hero don't quite hit the mark.

The first four episodes, provided for review, leave viewers in the dark about the characters' trajectories and the purpose of the setup. Where Season 2 will take Loki in the multiverse of madness remains a mystery. It appears that the creators themselves may not have it all figured out yet.

Nonetheless, the series shines in its visual representations of 1980s America, offering a retro-infused aesthetic and expertly edited time travel sequences.

If Season 1 marked a dynamic shift in the MCU, Season 2 feels like a step backward. It lacks character development and emotional investment, leaving viewers adrift in a time loop with an uninteresting Loki. It would be less frustrating to have our memories of Season 2 erased than to witness the character's loss of edge.