Loki “The Variant” Review
Loki “The Variant” is the second episode of the stand alone Loki short series. Following episode 1 Loki is dragged along by Mobius to get his unique perspective of the perpetrator of the major crimes. Considering it’s him they’re chasing, this should be an easy task. But unfortunately turns out to be much harder than either of them expected.
Always ten steps ahead
Whilst another team from the TVA are sent to check out and secure another anomaly by the Variant. They’re lured into a trap, all but one of them killed. With Hunter C-20 taken hostage. Loki and Mobius go back to 1985 when this happened for Loki to finally prove his worth. He ends up coming up with all kinds of rubbish just to stall for time and Mobius calls him out on it. The mission is called a failure and they go back to the TVA. Where Mobius has to beg for one more chance with Loki to Ravonna.
He’s given the chance and Loki is given the task of looking through all of the Variant’s files to see if he’ll spot anything they missed. He does. However not in the Variant’s file but his own, showing the destruction of Asgard. He explains to Mobius that things like natural disasters are certain to happen when they do, so no matter what you do before them there will never be a variation in the timeline. Mobius finally agrees after some prodding and they decide to test their theory by going to 79AD, Pompeii. Loki makes a nuisance of himself in Latin but nothing changes. The volcano goes off and there’s no change to the timeline even when the people were told what was going to happen.
Finding The Variant
They then decide to use this as a way to track down the Variant. Looking for all natural disasters that have the candy Mobius found in episode 1. Loki tracks it down to a store in 2050. After a ton of begging Mobius gets the go ahead from Ravonna for the mission and they’re off. They split into teams, with Hunter B-15 insisting Loki stay with her. She gets her way but is soon overpowered by the Variant’s mind control powers. Loki fights off the Variant as it changes from person to person eventually becoming her normal self. Looking a lot like Sylvie Lushton aka Enchantress.
She uses the Reset Charges to bomb the sacred timeline. Using the kidnapped Hunter’s equipment to open a doorway. The timeline starts up again and Mobius and Co watch on helplessly as Loki follows her. It’s also revealed during all the action that C-20 gave up the information the Variant wanted. Which was how to find the Time Keepers. This doesn’t seem to shock Mobius or anyone else so it’s likely he knows this information too.
Review
Just when I thought this show couldn’t get better. What can I say, this episode was pretty much flawless. A lot less emotion driven than the last. Whilst it still had it’s moments, like when Loki learns of Asgard’s fate. The show was more about tension and suspense this time around. Focusing mainly on showing Mobius and Loki at their best together to almost immediately show them at their worst. The tension between those two is palpable, which is deceiving the other more? Has now become the main question.
Owen Wilson as Mobius really shines here especially. With almost every other actor he’s in a scene with he almost always manages to give a little away but very selectively, adding much more mystery to his character. Loki may be the main character but I’ve a feeling he’s gone after the Variant because he knows he was being played like a fiddle and wanted straight answers. However there are moments of genuine concern for Loki with Mobius, even Ravonna mentions it, that he’s got a soft spot for broken things.
No matter how it pans out this was an amazing episode to what is shaping up to be an extraordinary show.
Loki Official Funko Pops are now available, for pre-order details click here.
