Mind-Blowing Marvel Easter Egg Finally Uncovers the Jaw-Dropping MCU Reset Date

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Loki season 2 episode 1

Summary

In the first episode of Loki season 2, a startling revelation unfolds regarding the MCU's initial Multiversal War. He Who Remains repeatedly erased the recollections of the TVA, deceitfully promoting the authority of the Time Keepers while seizing control for himself subsequent to betraying his fellow warriors during the conflict.

The potential for a reboot or destruction of the MCU timeline looms as characters like the mutants may be reintroduced through a hard reset. Marvel has recently unveiled a game-changing revelation that alters the course of the MCU timeline and paves the way for a reboot of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Remarkably, a previously undisclosed detail unearthed in the first episode of Loki season 2 discloses the specific date when the Marvel timeline will reset, unveiling new insights into Kang's inaugural Multiversal War.

Loki season 2 started off with an unexpected turn of events. It revealed that the ending of Loki season 1 was overturned, refuting the theory that Sylvie's killing of He Who Remains resulted in Loki being sent to a timeline where Kang had already assumed control. The truth is that Loki was actually sent back in time, hundreds of years before his initial encounter with the TVA in season 1. This was during the aftermath of the first Multiversal War.

Kang's First Multiversal War Is In The Future Not The Past

In Loki season 2 episode 1, as Loki slips through time to the past, prior to the TVA's memory erasure, he stumbles upon an audio recording featuring He Who Remains and Ravona Renslayer (played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw). In the recording, the previous guardian of the Sacred Timeline expresses gratitude towards Ravona for aiding him in triumphing over the Multiversal War. Astoundingly, this clip unveils two immediate revelations:

Ravona Renslayer was He Who Remains' partner, and he made a promise that they would rule together in the Citadel at the End of Time.

He Who Remains erased the memories of the TVA in order to deceive them about the existence of the Time Keepers (and likely repeated this act multiple times, as Loki had suggested).

Instead of He Who Remains creating the TVA following his victory in the initial Multiversal War, as season 1 hinted was the result of Alioth the temporal monster from the Void, they actually fought alongside each other as comrades. However, He Who Remains ultimately betrayed his allies and seized control for himself.

But the true revelation lies in a subtler detail, which can only be uncovered when one pauses at the moment Loki discovers the audio recording and examines the player closely. In the details regarding the recording, beneath the visual representation of the sound waves and under the heading Event Date Vector, the date of the recording is revealed to be 06.12.2321 - June 12th, 2321. This provides a concrete reference point marking the conclusion of the First Multiversal War.

The First Multiversal War occurred centuries after the present time of the MCU. This means that He Who Remains' victory took place in the distant future, and his control over the Sacred Timeline was a retrospective action. This explains how the TVA knew which branching timelines and variants to eliminate, and why He Who Remains' stronghold is referred to as the Citadel at the End of Time.

The TVA's ability to operate outside of time and manipulate any point on the timeline made this possible. He Who Remains' goal was not just to prevent the Multiversal War from happening again, but to steer the Sacred Timeline in a way that it never occurred. This revelation also suggests that time is an infinite cycle, and the Marvel timeline is moving towards either destruction or a reset.

Loki Proves The MCU Has Already Reset

Instead of taking place in the distant past, He Who Remains' origin story occurs 300 years in the future, specifically aligning with the release date of Loki's season 1 in the present MCU timeline. In season 1, He Who Remains reveals that a previous version of the Sacred Timeline existed, where multiple timelines coexisted before conflicts between variants arose. This storyline parallels the MCU's plans for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars, where He Who Remains and the TVA emerged victorious in the Multiversal War, establishing the approved Sacred Timeline with the aid of the Temporal Loom.

The reset of the MCU timeline likely occurred at least 5000 to 10000 years ago, predating the birth of Odin, one of the MCU's oldest characters. Though beings like the Celestials and Universe Elders such as The Grandmaster and The Collector are believed to have existed since the beginning of time, a timeline reset does not necessarily imply a return to year 0. Similar to He Who Remains, whoever oversaw this reset would have controlled the passage of time without the majority of existence being aware of their presence. The specifics of a reset are now quite ambiguous, but what is known is that He Who Remains successfully erased the memory of the Multiversal War, a crucial factor if the MCU intends to utilize Loki's story for a comprehensive reset.

Is Loki Setting Up The MCU's Reboot?

Loki season 2 episode 1, titled "Ouroboros," is not just a random choice. It introduces a new character played by Ke Huy Quan and references the concept of the ancient snake eating its own tail, symbolizing an eternal, never-ending cycle. Essentially, it suggests that the Sacred Timeline is a loop and that everything that will happen has already occurred, leading to a Multiversal War that brings about the end of all things. Surprisingly, this also implies that the most probable future for the MCU is a reboot, particularly if He Who Remains returns or is replaced, possibly by Loki himself, as hinted in season 1.

This narrative echoes a familiar theme seen in The Matrix trilogy, where Neo discovers that the Matrix is continuously reset by the Architect at the end of each cycle. In that case, Neo defied his predetermined fate and chose free will. Likewise, it seems that the only way for the MCU to survive a complete reset is by following a similar path. With mutantkind making their entrance in Marvel's Phase 6 without an explanation, combined with the precedent of reset timelines in Marvel Comics, there is strong evidence to suggest that the MCU may indeed reboot with Avengers: Secret Wars. The details and implications of this reboot are still uncertain at this point, especially regarding the existing heroes.

The destruction of the Multiverse by Secret Wars in Marvel Comics resulted in a reset of the Marvel timeline, with only a small group of characters retaining memories of the Battleworld events. This seemingly drastic occurrence presents several advantageous opportunities for Marvel Studios:

The highly intricate mythology of the MCU could be streamlined, greatly simplifying the narrative landscape.

Marvel could effectively handle the restructuring that Bob Iger had pledged to downsize the MCU, parting ways with less valuable assets and concentrating on a more modest approach to rebuild.

Formerly retired or deceased characters possessing significant brand recognition and immense financial appeal, such as Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Thanos, Ultron, Black Widow, and many more, could be reintroduced in fresh renditions, providing Marvel with a parallel to James Bond's continuity refresh.

A new Marvel timeline can now incorporate mutants and other previously impossible elements due to resolved rights issues, without the need to alter existing continuity. The MCU was initially developed in a piecemeal manner, lacking confidence in the feasibility and longevity of a shared universe. As a result, it gradually expanded with additional elements. A reset would enable a smoother integration.

All aspects of the current MCU timeline could be considered for preservation. Actors could continue their roles while providing a fresh start for a new generation of Marvel fans. This would allow them to experience something new without the requirement of familiarizing themselves with an extensive backlog of movies and TV shows.

Considering the current situation, a potential MCU reboot might not be an unfavorable choice for Marvel Studios. Utilizing the Multiverse narrative introduced in Loki, which could be further explored in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, would be a preferable approach rather than a complete and destructive reboot that starts from scratch.

Don't forget to catch new episodes of Loki releasing every Thursday on Disney+!

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