This first episode did an excellent job in re-instating just who Loki was and then broke him down expertly. No doubt some will think it was too fast or maybe his emotional reactions were unearned but for me it was executed quite deftly. The Disney+ Marvel series have all been great vehicles for getting really intimate with characters and making the stakes quite personal.
shareReally liked this episode, even though it was extremely expositon-heavy. I want to see more!
And yes, all the Star Wars and Marvel original shows made for Disney Plus have been great! I'm definitely getting my seven bucks a month's worth.
Exposition can have more 'spolsions than real explosions. Doesn't bother me and more often than not when done well, as in these Marvel Disney+ series I have to go back and just rewatch in order to relisten and absorb what was said.
I tend to have the subtitles on, not a distraction for me, just to get the full impact of what is being said for certain series.
Miss a little, miss a lot.
It was gripping. When he returned to the briefing room, I knew he'd have to see his own death, but they built the suspense so well. When he reacted so emotionally to the death of his mother I began to wonder if they would leave it at that, because the scene was already powerful enough to justify whatever was coming next. But then he moved on, and it was the single most painful thing to watch yet in the history of the MCU. Seeing Loki die the first time was grotesque, but somehow watching him watch it was overwhelming in its pathos. He looked like a bug, curled up and being crushed, his eyes bulging, as Thanos crushed the life from him. I nearly turned away from the screen, which I've never done for anything in a film before, for how gruesome and sad it was. And Hiddleston acted it perfectly.
shareThe chilling but eerie thing about that scene was the duality of the two characters involved. Loki of the past watching himself die and realizing that there is nothing he can do to change his ultimate fate. Versus Thanos of the past watching his future self be killed at the hands of Thor and then going about to change his future. It was spooky to me and something seemed off with the TVA.
Loki's reaction mirrors his weakness of not seeing himself as ever being great or doing anything great. Thanos too sees his perceived greatness snatched from him. My first inclination was the TVA is messing with Loki. Free will or Destiny?
Loki doesn't know that his killer will also die but Loki, as far as we know, isn't seeking revenge or is attempting to change his timeline or fate. He is broken and is in pain. It is not his death that shattered him it is the loss of his mother and father. It is as if the TVA decided to "keep" some information from him in order to manipulate him. For me, Loki would have achieved GREAT satisfaction that his brother savagely decapitated Thanos.
Thanos hired Loki, Loki knows this and it was always a risk for Loki to get involved with the Mad Titan, but Thanos upon seeing his own future play out seeks revenge and is immediately changed when he sees his own death.
But just like in WandaVision we can head-canon ourselves into all kinds of weird theories and miss the great writing and acting that is happening.
Yes.
This series is already looking like it’s going to be the best one yet (adored the others). So pleased Disney+ is a thing, now the legit MCU shows have arrived! :) Loki particularly deserved his own feature/series in this franchise.