“Marvel’s Slump Persists: A Critical Review of ‘Loki’ Season 2”

‘Loki‘ Puts Plot Over People in a Less Focused Season 2: TV Review

A Tangled Nest of Convolution

Time travel is impossible in real life, but it’s also pretty difficult to pull off in fiction, where a nifty plot device can too easily devolve into a tangled nest of convoluted exposition. The first season of “Loki” avoided this problem, making the Disney+ show a bright spot in a somewhat stagnant era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

A Simple Emotional Narrative

In following a “variant” of the Norse trickster god into the depths of the Time Variance Authority, or TVA, the series paired impeccable production design with a simple emotional narrative — especially once our primary Loki (Tom Hiddleston) met his match in his female counterpart Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino), a relationship that opened questions of identity, free will, and self-determination.

Questions of Identity and Free Will

Tracking the potential branches of the so-called Sacred Timeline could make your head spin. Like a Zen koan, “What makes a Loki a Loki?” is grounding and easy to grasp.

A Relieved Second Season

In the final moments of its first season, “Loki” revealed it would become the first Marvel Studios show for Disney+ to have a second season. This news came as a relief, given its cliffhanger ending; after Loki and Sylvie traveled to the end of time, Sylvie killed He Who Remains (Jonathan Majors), the founder of the TVA and the primary obstacle keeping the Sacred Timeline from becoming a full-fledged multiverse.

Challenges for the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Two years later, “Loki” is back amidst challenges for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The franchise’s latest phase has run into trouble onscreen and off. “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” was a critical and commercial disappointment, and Majors is facing trial for charges of assault and harassment. These circumstances add pressure and scrutiny on “Loki” Season 2, which has also seen personnel shuffles behind the scenes.

A Season 2 Hindered by Overwhelm

While “Loki” remains a cut above other MCU shows, second only to “WandaVision,” Season 2 succumbs to the same traps the original story cleverly avoided. The season begins in media res, with Loki tasked with finding Sylvie, figuring out why he’s hopscotching through time, and navigating the chaos of a TVA workforce that’s just discovered all memory-wiped variants. This overwhelming narrative is perhaps too much for both Loki and the viewer to process, especially since it feels increasingly unmoored from Loki‘s own journey of self-discovery.

A Lack of Emotional Urgency

The season introduces new MacGuffins and characters that add to the frantic motion and momentum but lack a sense of emotional urgency. Despite online explainers that can detail the logistics, they cannot create the emotional resonance the season lacks.

Strong Performances and Visuals

The ensemble cast delivers strong performances, with Jonathan Majors’ work as He Who Remains standing out. The playful and inventive visuals also give “Loki” an added edge.

A Reversed Hierarchy

While the first season’s set design and cosmology felt in service to Loki‘s emotional arc, the second season places more emphasis on plot and less on character development. The racing around for unclear reasons leaves less space for friendships and emotional bonds.

A Good, but Potentially Short-Lived Time

“Loki” is still a good time, but despite the renewal for a second season, it may not have been built for a long one.

Editorial: The Marvel Slump

The challenges faced by “Loki” Season 2 reflect a larger issue within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The franchise’s latest phase has struggled to maintain its previous levels of critical and commercial success. “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” failed to build on the goodwill generated by “Loki,” and Jonathan Majors’ legal issues have thrown a spanner in the works of Marvel‘s plan to establish him as the next major villain.

These setbacks highlight the precarious nature of blockbuster business planning. While allegations of domestic violence should rightly be the primary concern, the potential impact on a billion-dollar franchise cannot be ignored. This situation raises questions about the prioritization of profit over ethical considerations in the entertainment industry.

Advice: Balancing Plot and Character

“Loki” Season 2 serves as a cautionary tale about the risk of prioritizing plot over character development. While complex narratives and intricate world-building can be exciting, it’s essential to ensure that viewers remain emotionally invested in the story. Balancing plot and character is crucial for maintaining a strong and engaging narrative.

Creators should take the time to root the action in their characters’ wants and needs, establishing a sense of emotional urgency that resonates with the audience. By doing so, they can avoid the trap of overwhelming viewers with convoluted plotlines and sacrificing the emotional depth that makes a story compelling.