Loki Season 2: Riding the Kang Wave – But For How Long?

Article Overview

Kang the Conqueror has been portrayed as weak in the MCU, as he has been defeated and killed off in each appearance, hindering his ability to prove his strength.

In Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Kang will emerge as the main antagonist. However, considering his history, the Avengers might find it relatively effortless to overcome him.

Marvel Studios has a golden chance to bolster Kang's character and establish his dominance prior to the release of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. One potential approach is to revive certain versions of Kang who have perished or delve deeper into their individual destinies.

In order to make Kang the Conqueror a true threat in the MCU, Marvel Studios will need to address a concerning trend that continued in Loki season 2. Throughout the Multiverse Saga, Kang has been established as the overarching villain, taking over from Thanos. While Thanos was not prominently featured until Phase 3, Kang has been a constant presence since the introduction of his variant, He Who Remains, in Loki season 1. However, Marvel Studios has encountered a significant problem with Kang the Conqueror.

In the Multiverse Saga, Jonathan Majors has portrayed three primary variants of Kang the Conqueror. He Who Remains made his appearance in Loki season 1, Kang the Conqueror himself ruled over the Quantum Realm in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and Loki season 2 introduced Victor Timely to the MCU. These appearances are leading up to Majors' prominent role in 2026's Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, but this plan is now uncertain due to recent allegations against Majors. However, Kang's challenges go beyond the personal issues Majors faces, as Timely's apparent demise in Loki season 2 further complicates the character's future.

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Victor Timely’s Loki Season 2 Death Means Kang Still Hasn’t Proven His Strength

During Loki season 2's "Heart of the TVA" episode, Victor Timely shockingly met his apparent death while attempting to repair the TVA's Temporal Loom. This added to the impactful cliffhanger ending of episode 4, but it also continued a recurring pattern observed in Jonathan Majors' previous portrayals of Kang the Conqueror in the MCU. In each of his three appearances as Kang and his variants, the antagonist has been defeated and ultimately killed by the heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Consequently, Kang the Conqueror has not had the opportunity to showcase his true strength within the MCU, creating confusion regarding his future role in the franchise.

In the finale of Loki season 1, Loki and Sylvie confronted He Who Remains, the individual behind the TVA. In pursuit of her life's mission, Sylvie eliminated this enigmatic villain, triggering the emergence of the multiverse and causing chaos within the TVA. Majors' subsequent portrayal as the exiled Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania saw Kang being thrust into his own multiversal power core by Scott Lang's Ant-Man and Hope Van Dyne's Wasp. While this act appeared to cause the villain's demise, his true fate remains uncertain. With Victor Timely's death in Loki season 2, none of the primary Kang variants introduced in the MCU have managed to survive thus far.

Kang The Conqueror Needs To Pose A Threat To The MCU Before Phase 6

The Multiverse Saga built up Kang the Conqueror as a formidable enemy, but his portrayal in the MCU has made him appear weak due to his multiple deaths. Despite his expected showdown with the New Avengers in The Kang Dynasty, Sylvie, Ant-Man, and time itself have managed to defeat him, raising questions about the upcoming Avengers team's ability to easily defeat him. Fortunately, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is not releasing until 2026, giving Marvel Studios time to establish a stronger foundation for Kang and his variants. It remains possible that Kang's actor, Jonathan Majors, could make appearances in other projects between Loki season 2 and The Kang Dynasty, showcasing his strength and potential success in future missions. Additionally, Marvel Studios could potentially reverse the deaths of certain Kang variants to address this issue.

How The MCU Can Fix Its Kang The Conqueror Mistake

Victor Timely's death in Loki season 2, episode 4 may not be as straightforward as it seems. Rather than a definitive end, it's possible that his demise was merely a diversion. The Temporal Loom's time energy could have fragmented Timely across different periods, a possibility that might be explored in the subsequent episodes of Loki season 2. A similar strategy could also apply to Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Speculations suggest that Kang may not have truly perished but instead became imprisoned within his multiversal power core. This intriguing circumstance opens up the potential for this particular incarnation of Kang to make a comeback, although the future of Jonathan Majors' villain remains uncertain.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about the portrayal of Kang the Conqueror in the MCU. On the one hand, I appreciate the introduction of a formidable new villain who poses a significant threat to the Avengers. Kang's character is complex and intriguing, and I am excited to see how he develops in future MCU projects.

On the other hand, I am concerned that Kang may be defeated too easily in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. The fact that he has been defeated and killed off in each of his appearances so far undermines his credibility as a major threat. I hope that Marvel Studios can find a way to make Kang a more formidable opponent in future films, and I am eager to see how his story unfolds in the MCU.