Loki Season 2: Facing the MCU's Ongoing Multiverse Dilemma

Summary

In Loki season 2, episode 4, the death of Victor Timely is not the first instance of a Kang the Conqueror variant dying in the MCU's Multiverse Saga. Previously, Sylvie killed He Who Remains in the Loki season 1 finale, and another variant met their end in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quauntumania. However, this repeated killing of Kang variants may desensitize viewers and diminish the significance of ultimately defeating Kang the Conqueror. Moreover, it conveys a misleading message about his power and could present a narrative challenge for the MCU as the Multiverse Saga reaches its climax.

In episode 4 of Loki season 2, a problematic twist occurs for the third time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Multiverse Saga. Tom Hiddleston's God of Mischief continues his quest to better understand the multiverse in his popular Disney+ series. With the assistance of his former TVA colleagues, Mobius and Hunter B-15, as well as some new allies in OB and Casey, Loki pursues He Who Remains' latest variant — Victor Timely, who holds the key to resolving the pressing multiversal crisis before them.

In Loki season 2, episode 4 titled "Heart of the TVA," Loki and Mobius bring Victor Timely to the TVA following their challenging journey to 1893 Chicago. Their objective is to fix the Temporal Loom. However, their mission is disrupted by the sudden arrival of Ravonna Renslayer and Miss Minutes. Despite the obstacles, they manage to prepare for the repair. Victor Timely, inspired by Mobius' previous actions, volunteers to take the Throughput Multiplier beyond the blast doors. Sadly, they underestimate the impact of the Temporal Radiation this time, and it tragically leads to the unexpected death of Victor Timely.

The MCU Has Killed Kang Variants Three Times Already

In the context of the Loki show, this is surprising. Loki and Mobius put in significant effort to persuade Victor Timely to assist them. However, in the grand scheme of things, this is not a new occurrence. It is not the first instance of a Kang the Conqueror variant dying in the Multiverse Saga; it is actually the third occurrence. Firstly, Sylvie killed He Who Remains in the finale of Loki season 1. Following that, another variant was eliminated in the Quantum Realm at the conclusion of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quauntumania by Ant-Man and the Wasp. Admittedly, the manner in which Victor Timely met his demise is more shocking and gruesome, but ultimately, it is merely another instance.

Why Kang's Repeated Deaths In The MCU Are A Problem

Marvel Studios faced significant backlash for the rushed debut of Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. While he had made brief appearances in previous films, it wasn't until the 2018 blockbuster that he was properly introduced. Now, with Kang the Conqueror set to be the main antagonist of the Multiverse Saga, it seems like an attempt to address the criticism surrounding Thanos. However, repeatedly witnessing the demise of Kang's variants before Avengers: The Kang Dynasty will negatively impact the franchise's storytelling.

All the variants, portrayed by Jonathan Majors, can desensitize people to the notion of seeing him continuously defeated or killed in the Multiverse Saga. Consequently, when Kang the Conqueror is finally defeated, it may no longer have the intended impact on the audience. Furthermore, witnessing his variants dying in various ways sends a misleading message about the upcoming adversary for the Avengers. It portrays him as unworthy and weak, which could create a storytelling issue as the Multiverse Saga reaches its climax. Catch new episodes of Loki season 2 every Thursday on Disney+.