Loki “Glorious Purpose” Review
Loki “Glorious Purpose” is the first episode of Disney+ Loki series. The premiere episode was released today and It put’s Loki in the spotlight and on trial. There’s no pulling punches here as Loki finds himself arrested by an organisation that will happily kill him as he’s an issue but he doesn’t go quietly. In true Loki fashion this episode flops from genre to genre in the most magnificent way possible.
Being Aressted
Beginning the show is a clip from Endgame showing Loki’s escape. Just after that, a scene showing where he ended up: in Mongolia. Sensing a chance he tries to subjugate the three people that come across him but he’s unsuccessful and also interrupted by the TVA. Hunter B-15 takes him in and he’s cleared for trial. His trial goes exactly as expected, Loki not quite taking it seriously but knowing these people are clearly dangerous.
He’s saved from death after being found guilty by Mobius who sees an opportunity. Mobius himself had just come back from a mission where multiple TVA agents were stabbed to death and the Reset Charge was taken. The Agents had no idea it was coming and it’s later revealed that they all believe Loki, or a variant of him, is responsible.
Taking custody of Loki. Mobius takes him to his office and shows him a projector that shows his life up until now. Even events in different timelines. He shows Loki his previous exploits in a desperate attempt to get him on side and open up. He even reveals that Loki was D.B. Cooper the whole time as he lost a bet to Thor. Failing in his attempt to get Loki to open up he reveals to him that he’s the reason his mother died. He leads the elves right to her thinking it was Thor. Loki goes mad, he demands Mobius show him where he’s taken her as he still can’t believe where is or what’s happening. And he certainly isn’t about to accept that he was the reason his mother was killed.
Facing the Truth
Eventually Mobius is called out of his office and Loki seizes the opportunity, he steals the remote that controls the time necklace thing that all prisoners wear. And gets himself out of there. He comes across the worker who processed him and the tesseract, Casey (the MVP of this episode in my opinion) and makes him give Loki the tesseract back. In the drawer with it are tons of Infinity Stones. So many that some of the workers use them as paper weights. He finally realises how powerful an organisation this is and decides running is stupid. He returns to Mobius’ office.
Using the projector he watches his moments of his life. His mother’s death, his father finally telling his sons he loves them and dying, his moments of fondness with Thor. And eventually breaks down. Finally all those years of pretending these things don’t affect him get to him and he cries so much it seems he won’t stop. Until he gets to the part with Thanos and his death. He laughs bitterly but has no time to mull it over as he’s attacked by Hunter B-15. She’s strong but without control of him he eventually gets the upper hand and puts the collar on her. Playing around with her in past and present until he’s bored.
He sits and waits and eventually opens up to Mobius. Saying he’ll help him. It’s here that Mobius explains what he wants him specifically for. He needs Loki to help capture himself. The final scene show another group of TVA agents being drawn into a trap where they’re burned alive by a hooded figure.
Review
Well. What a ride that was. My expectations were high but even I was blown away by the quality of this episode. There is so much to unpack here. Loki finally admitting that he did what he did because he sees himself as weak and it’s the only way to bring down the strong. Seeing his reaction to his mothers death, hell the acting is so good in those scenes you can practically see Loki going through the 7 stages of grief. And lemme tell you, it is heart-breaking. I cried. Of course I did.
Mobius says to Loki that he can’t offer him salvation but maybe he can offer him something better. Though he never elaborates on what Loki is getting as part of the deal (besides not being killed) so maybe he’s up to something? I dunno. I don’t want to think it but Mobius is clearly very smart, a match for Loki even, so his endgame is questionable at the moment.
Speaking of Mobius, his and Loki’s relationship is adorable. Though not quite on the level of Loki and his pal Casey, it will 100% develop into something fantastic. Owen Wilson brings a mysterious and quite spooky air to the aloof and fun Mobius. Whilst he doesn’t stand out in a typical Marvel way in this episode, he does so with cleverly timed subtlety. That impressed me way more than if he had come flying onto the scene obnoxious as you like.
Whilst I have been singling out certain people, I’ve gotta be honest. There are no bad or lacking characters or actors here. Everyone is bringing their all and it shows. Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Ravona is no nonsense and an easy person to dislike early on but warm to eventually. Wunmi Mosaku as Hunter B-15 is again someone you really don’t want to root for but she’s just so cool. And a shout out to Aaron Beelner who plays the Scanner Clerk. His comedy timing with Hiddleston’s made the short scene gut bustlingly hilarious, fantastic performance.
Obviously I can’t forget my OG Eugene Cordero as Casey. What a character. He’s definitely a character we’ve seen before in comedies. The simple “dunno what’s going on but I’ll ride with it” character but Cordero’s reactions to Loki’s extremities is comedy perfection. His subtle lines are made hilarious with just the mastery if the delivery.
I could praise them all. They all did brilliantly and this episode has definitely made me hungry for more Loki next Wednesday!
Loki Official Funko Pops are now available, for pre-order details click here.
