Tom Hiddleston entered the hearts and minds of every Marvel Studios fan when he first appeared as Loki in 2011 Thor. He then became a global phenomenon when he took on Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in 2012 The Avengers.
The Marvel superhero team movie was the biggest blockbuster of that year, grossing a record $654.8 million worldwide during its opening weekend. Hiddleston’s villainous Loki was by far the film’s highlight and fans couldn’t wait to see what the studio would do with the character next. The God of Mischief would appear in the next two Thor movies and the last two Avengers movies.
In Avengers: Infinity War, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki is killed at the hands of the cosmic titan Thanos, but the character returns in Avengers: Endgame. Loki appears in a time travel scene in Endgame where the future version of Tony Stark commits a time heist after being mauled by the previous version of the Hulk. In that scene, Loki seizes the moment, grabs onto the Tesseract and disappears through time and space.
At the time, there were rumors that Hiddleston had signed up 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 at the Marvel Studios 2019 San Diego Comic-Con panel. Of Loki Finally making its debut on Disney Plus this Wednesday, I got a chance to watch the 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 Marvel Studios has produced to date. The series is executive produced by Rick and Morty writer Michael Waldron and it is certainly as unorthodox as the animated series. Loki is certainly 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 then a brave entry into Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Loki will definitely remind you of that.
The series is hugely entertaining and doesn’t feel like the usual Marvel Studios product. Once the series gets into the main plot, you won’t want to take it out again. From the time travel aspect to the emotion of the series, Loki is definitely the Marvel Studios series you don’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 and also leading him on an adventure to find out who he really is. The series is a brilliant representation of what the folks at Marvel Studios can do when they lean into the wobble of their cosmic narratives.
That and the chemistry between Owen Wilson and Tom Hiddleston will keep you locked in and wanting to see more of the series. The first episode acts as a backdrop by informing the 2012 Loki of what will happen to him in the future, while squeezing in on what the series is really about. Wilson’s agent Mobius needs Loki’s help in capturing an alternate version of the titular villain. Loki is surrounded by an intriguing plot, but the cast will keep you fully invested.
Tom Hiddleston plays a very different version of the character we grew up with, as it’s the 2012 version of Loki and not the one we saw perish at the hands of Thanos. The actor seems to be having a lot of fun stepping back into the role and although he has grown with the character, he gets into Loki’s 2012 mentality with ease. The emotional arc of the God of Mischief is so much fun to watch.
The same can be said about watching Hiddleston perform the scenes he shares with Wilson’s Agent Mobius, leaving you wanting to see a lot more of the duo. Wilson makes his debut in 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 who can’t seem to catch a variant that travels through time and causes chaos. Wilson plays the part well with charm, wit and a sense of fatigue.
Loki also introduces Marvel Studios fans to a slew of new characters, including an interesting new villain who rounds out the supporting cast. The series offers a ton of great performances, but some of my favorite moments come from Wunmi Mosaku’s Hunter B-15. Mosaku is a no-nonsense character who doesn’t really think Loki can be trusted, and rightly so. Every time Mosaku and Hiddleston interacted, I instantly burst out laughing.
The series also includes the MCU debut of Judge Renslayer, 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 feels like there’s something more going on with her. We also have Sophia Di Martino, who enters the MCU as the villainous Lady Loki. We don’t see her physically for a while, but when she appears she is a very demanding presence and proven to be a formidable foe going up against Tom Hiddleston.
General thoughts: Overall, Loki is the Marvel Studios series you’ve been waiting for. What Michael Waldron, Kate Herron and Kevin Feige have done is absolutely amazing. I would definitely tune in when Loki is coming to Disney Plus this Wednesday. if you thought WandaVision was out of the box, wait till you check this out.
From his excellent performances to his intriguing plot, Loki will be a wild ride. Tom Hiddleston and Owen Wilson are the best duo I’ve ever seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and I would definitely see them do this series for several seasons. Loki is perfect for the whole family to enjoy and I can’t wait to see where the series goes.
Rating: 10/10
