Loki: Marvel’s Master Stroke

Loki Is Such An Absurdly Good Television Show

Loki is the best thing that Marvel has made since perhaps The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. I’ve yet to see the latest Spiderman, so there’s that gap, but the quality of this show is not to be underestimated. 

And that opinion is just from the first episode, which is almost half exposition—so you know this can only go upwards. As the plot continues to move along, I can only expect the twisty time travel plot to get even more complicated, laden with Easter eggs, and incredibly fun.

I’m not the first to make this comparison, but this feels like Marvel has stolen away Doctor Who to make it their own. Sadly, with how poorly the last two seasons of that show have been received (and no, it’s not Jodie’s fault), it might take the crown. Loki is the type of show that can and will spawn a fan explosion. This can be made to fit many, many seasons if Disney decrees it so.

This Series Is How Disney Takes Over Television

But why do I say that? Why is this show getting so heavily praised by me? Well, first off, bias on the table: this is my absolute favorite kind of show/story. Buffy, Men in Black, and Gravity Falls all revolve around a secret world that people must deal with or fight members of in secret. The hurdle is that it’s so easy for this premise to be done poorly (see my reviews of The Irregulars, The Order, and especially October Faction), but Loki is different. From the first scene to the last, Loki so far knows what it’s doing.

Marvel has always had a strong understanding of the three-act structure and especially the Hero’s Journey. I think no one could argue that they utilize it every chance they get and succeed almost every time. It might be formulaic, it might be overdone, but it’s basically down to a science. Loki uses it to get across so much information, so much whimsy, so much comedy, and make you instantly connect to Loki as a character—and not just Tom Hiddleston—that I’m blown away.

Loki Is A Masterclass In Writing A Opening Episode

Every moment of this one-hour show is so tightly done. The pacing is immaculate. Yes, there’s a lot of time spent where we’re watching a moment from a Marvel movie, or even animation (Tara Strong voices the clock!), but the character work being done within those bounds is staggering. The worldbuilding establishment, from the sinister parts of the organization to the new rules of this universe, is seamless. Every moment drips with utility and purpose.

And then there are the technical aspects. Disney-owned properties looking nice is not a surprise, but it does look as good as you’d expect. The bureaucratic esthetic of the Time Variance Authority is stylish and distinct. We get some strange combination of a DMV, courthouse, and dream-like corridors. At no point does this place not feel alive and yet alien. 

This may be the franchise idea that Marvel movies have always been building to fruition. It’s a culmination of Marvel’s strengths. It’s a fandom favorite character, in a setting that by necessity ties into other Marvel properties, going on pulpy but high-concept adventures. The madness, majesty, and grand scale of Marvel’s back catalog is being leveraged for all it can take.

Marvel Is Further Embracing Its Glorious Absurdity

It even helps fix potential issues moving forward with the MCU. I’m not a big enough deep lore aficionado to grasp the implications of divergent timelines being erased, but I’m sure it solves quite a few issues and considerations of how their universe operates. The MCU is always in danger of falling into itself, and this probably keeps a tighter lid on things. 

What I’m saying is believe the hype with this one. This was supremely calculated for maximum impact and attention. No matter how early Loki the show was thought of in the planning of the MCU, I wouldn’t be surprised. This is Marvel at peak Marvel. This show is a revelation, and you should be getting in on it as soon as possible. I’ll be reviewing the first three episodes once they release, but I’ve almost no doubt I’ll be singing the absolute praises of this show for a long, long time.

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