High Stakes Take an Unexpected Turn in the Loki Season 2 Premiere

This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

The mischievous Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is back once more for his second round of adventures on Disney+. The Loki Season 2 premiere answers all questions after the shocking cliffhanger in season one’s finale, bringing about reunions, action, and thrilling high stakes. Marvel’s shows have been a hit over the last few years since WandaVision in 2021, however, Loki is the first of them to receive a second season, and for good reason.

Anticipation for Loki Season 2 has been high over the past few months ever since Marvel’s release of the first trailer. Audiences have been waiting patiently to see the aftermath and destruction caused by Sylvie’s (Sophia Di Martino) actions in the season one finale. Uncertainty for Loki, his friends, and the Sacred Timeline is brewing, and the Loki Season 2 premiere leans all the way into the chaos.

Season two begins where season one left off after Sylvie prunes Loki back to the TVA, but seemingly not the one he’s familiar with. The Loki Season 2 premiere sets the tone of this season perfectly, bringing even more action in just the first five minutes. The fast-paced set pieces highlight the aftermath and consequences of Sylvie’s actions at the end of season one, bringing excitement to the scene whilst setting this season on a dangerous and vital path within the larger MCU.

Loki’s time slipping is made very evident within the first episode. He is just as confused as the audience, and not only that, but it physically hurts him every time he does. The Loki Season 2 premiere takes complications to a whole new level, with the lack of knowledge of why he is time slipping, the possible effects on his body and the timeline, and how to stop it. This uncertainty works in the episode’s favor driving the narrative forward, raising questions, and ultimately creating connections between Loki and different timelines.

It’s heartbreaking to relive the final moments from season one between Loki and Mobius (Owen Wilson), and through four little words, “I don’t know you” panic sets in for their friendship. This is soon explained and angst comes to a halt as Loki’s time slipping is explained, and the gang works on potential solutions.

Hope is restored for the bromance as Mobius recognizes Loki and the pair reignite their friendship. It is heartwarming to witness the two back together as they have become one of the most iconic duos within the MCU through both their similarities and their differences.

The bickering and witty humor back and forth between the two begins almost instantly, bringing smiles and laughs within the first half of episode one as these two act like boyfriends. Loki season one sets up this friendship perfectly, and it’s great to see right from the start of season two that this pairing remains strong. Their friendship creates some thrilling parallels to why audiences fell in love with this dynamic in the first place.

Mobius’ care, love, and willingness to save Loki is the highlight of this episode. Risking your life for someone else is not something people take lightly, however, Mobius agrees to do this in a heartbeat with no objection no matter the risk. The Loki Season 2 premiere further develops a beautiful relationship between these two, giving strength and hope for their dynamic the rest of the season.

For all B-15 lovers out there, the Loki Season 2 premiere will make you squeal with joy. Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku) stands to have a much bigger role this season than last as apparent by her increase in screen time. B-15 stands strong against the TVA in every conversation, rebelling and speaking her mind after learning of the TVA’s devious ways. This is a refreshing change after watching her character be a stickler for the rules in season one, and to see her develop into a strong-minded woman is delightful.

On top of the return of characters from season one, the Loki Season 2 premiere introduces some new, and rebellious characters including the prominent X5 (Rafael Casal). In his first episode, it is evident the impact and importance this character will have this season due to his commanding presence in numerous sequences and his strong, yet strange relationship with Docs (Kate Dickie). This episode introduces both X5 and Docs as devious and rebellious characters, who storm up some tensions and problems along the way.

The TVA is in shambles, the Sacred Timeline is ruined, branches are appearing everywhere, and yet O.B.’s (Ke Huy Quan) focus is on the flickering lights. The introduction to O.B., the repairs mastermind in the TVA, is delightful and charming. The input of a lighthearted, bubbly character to Loki is most definitely needed as he brings joy and smiles, while also being the brains behind the plan to fix Loki’s time slipping.

Chaos was undoubtedly going to hit everything time-related after the Loki Season one finale, but to this extent is a shock. Although the return of He Who Remains (Jonathan Majors) isn’t featured in this episode, his overwhelming presence dominates the Loki Season 2 premiere causing panic all around; “That’s who built this place, that’s who stole your lives, that’s whose coming back”— Loki.

Stakes are high for the TVA, time itself, and most certainly for Loki and Mobius. After an awkward debriefing with OB, the risk of fixing Loki’s time slipping comes to light. The only way to fix this unique problem is to prune himself whilst Mobius works diligently at the other end. While this sounds simple, the chance of Loki and Mobius completing their respective tasks within their allotted time is low.

The Loki Season 2 premiere features a thrilling conclusion loaded with suspense that builds up from the opening credits. This installment is packed with drastic twists and turns while he runs around the TVA trying to find a pruning device, and as time is running out he bumps into none other than Sylvie.

Loki‘s score compliments the situation and performances of both Loki and Mobius, bringing anxious feelings about the safety of the beloved duo. As the final few minutes commence, the alarming noise of the ringing phone links back to horror tendencies seen in other MCU projects. Unfortunately, Loki doesn’t discover who’s on the other end of the line. This only raises questions for the future of this season, setting up the show for extreme suspense in episode two.

All hope is not lost though, episode one finishes with uncertainty as Loki has been seemingly pruned back into the present day, but how? Due to this being in the future, the culprit could easily be an established character such as Renslayer, X5, or anybody who has a hatred for Loki. There is also the chance it could be a new character yet to be establishes.

The Loki Season 2 premiere not only sets up the season from a narrative perspective but also establishes danger and high stakes throughout. Episode one is beautiful, showcasing new areas of the TVA and also bringing a horror tinge through the soundtrack and the building of suspense. Oh, and don’t forget to watch the end credits for a bit of McDonald’s promo and a Sylvie moment.

Loki Season 2 streams exclusively on Disney+ with new episodes hitting every week. Follow the Agents of Fandom socials to stay up to date with the latest entertainment news.