The Main Issue With Each MCU Phase 4 Entry (So Far)
9. Loki - Its Middle Episodes Are A Bit Of A Drag
The first Phase 4 that hinted towards the MCU’s greater universe-hopping ambitions, Loki was an impressive combination of an astonishing visual palette, an eerie yet propulsive score by Natalie Holt, interesting discourses on free will, identity and shifting moralities and of course strong performances, especially by Tom Hiddleston as the titular God of Mischief and Owen Wilson as likable TVA agent Mobius.
Its first two episodes got affairs off to a dizzying start with the introduction of the TVA and the main conflict at hand, but things fell off by its third episode. Despite featuring strong visuals and Sylvie’s backstory, the episode felt disconnected from what came before and essentially functioned as a bottle episode despite having some narrative significance.
Things did not improve with the fourth episode, as it was too beholden to the secrets behind the TVA and the payoff to these questions were somewhat underwhelming due to the involvement of the less interesting likes of Ravonna Renslayer and the Time Keeper decoys.
Luckily, the show was able to pick itself up in its final stretch and deliver an unusual but poignant reckoning for Loki with his alternate selves and a new villain in Kang the Conqueror.