Warning: spoilers for Loki season 2, episode 1
Summary
In the first multiversal war centuries ago, He Who Remains, the creator of the TVA, played a vital role. To conceal his true identity, he wiped the memories of the TVA employees and brought the Time-Keepers into existence.
Ravonna Renslayer's role as an ally of He Who Remains in the initial multiversal conflict remains shrouded in mystery. In the first season of Loki, we were introduced to He Who Remains, the creator of the Time Variance Authority. Despite his demise, his significance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's multiverse continues to be influential. The TV series Loki has played a crucial role in delving into the MCU's multiverse, particularly through its exploration of the TVA and its long-held secrets.
When The First Multiverse War Happened
: He Who Remains, a variant of Kang, emerged as the true mastermind and overseer of the TVA in the captivating finale of Loki season 1. Unveiling a web of deceit within the organization, he controlled the most significant fabrications. He Who Remains had endured a colossal multiversal conflict brought about by his alternate selves. His demise not only left the TVA leaderless but also unleashed uncontrolled divergence in the Sacred Timeline. Even though He Who Remains has passed away, his narrative remains profoundly significant in the forthcoming Loki season 2. Discover the gripping account of his involvement in the multiversal war and the motivations behind his creation of the TVA.
The MCU has seen previous multiversal conflicts before Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. In a distant future, scientist Nathaniel Richards unlocked the secrets of the multiverse, revealing its various universes and his own alternate versions. Nathaniel and his counterparts came together with the intention of sharing knowledge and technology, but some of these counterparts had grander ambitions. They saw the alternate timelines within the multiverse as opportunities to ascend to power, sparking the MCU's inaugural multiversal war.
The exact date of the MCU's first multiversal war is unknown, but there are hints in Loki season 2 that provide some insight. In the show, Ouroboros, also known as O.B., mentions that the last time he had a visitor was 400 years ago when Loki traveled to the past. This indicates that the TVA was already active during that time. Therefore, it can be inferred that the first multiversal war occurred over 400 years ago in linear time. While the exact start date remains unknown, season 2 may have already revealed the end date.
During a time slip to the past, Loki discovers a wall in the War Room engraved with He Who Remains' face. There, he finds recordings, including one featuring a conversation between He Who Remains and Ravonna Renslayer. In the recording, He Who Remains expresses gratitude to Ravonna for her role in ending the war. This recording is dated June 12th, 2321, making it the only known date associated with the first multiversal war.
He Who Remains Set Up The Time Keepers Lie Around 400 Years Ago
In the early days of the TVA, everyone was aware that He Who Remains held the leadership position. However, he later initiated a complete overhaul of the organization. He wiped the memories of all the employees and introduced the Time-Keepers, three androids who assumed the role of the TVA's creators and leaders, acting as a facade for He Who Remains. Additionally, he crafted an artificial intelligence named Miss Minutes to assist the TVA and serve as his personal aide. Miss Minutes, acting as the organization's mascot, spread propaganda among the workers and captured variants, spinning the fabricated tale of the Time-Keepers.
In line with the breadcrumbs dropped in Loki season 2, and considering the increasingly perplexing nature of the MCU's time rules, the falsehood perpetuated by the Time-Keepers was established roughly 400 years ago. However, the motive behind He Who Remains' decision to reset the TVA, fabricate the Time-Keepers, and seclude himself at the end of time remains a mystery.
Ravonna Renslayer Was He Who Remains' Key Ally In The First Multiversal War
In Loki season 1, Ravonna Renslayer operated as Hunter A-23 within the TVA. Eventually, she rose to the position of a judge. Ravonna was responsible for sentencing the current Loki to be pruned, and she ultimately sent Mobius and Loki into the Void. Seeking free will, Ravonna evaded the TVA by using a Timedoor, but her ultimate destination remains unknown. Following the conclusion of Loki season 1, theories emerged regarding Ravonna's close connection with He Who Remains, which were confirmed in the aforementioned tape. Ravonna has been revealed as an ally of He Who Remains during the first multiversal war; however, the specifics of her role and how she contributed to ending the war remain a mystery.
Alioth Was Key To Ending The Multiversal War
While in the Void, Mobius, Loki, and Sylvie had an encounter with Alioth, a trans-temporal entity responsible for safeguarding this realm. In the season 1 finale of Loki, He Who Remains divulged to Loki and Sylvie that the existence of Alioth stemmed from the temporal and spatial ruptures caused by their variants during the multiversal conflict. Recognizing its immense potential, He Who Remains harnessed and conducted experiments on Alioth, ultimately becoming its master. The creature's formidable power served as a crucial factor in bringing an end to the multiversal war.
He Who Remains Betrayed The TVA
After the establishment of the TVA, Alioth was assigned the responsibility of safeguarding the Void along with the entrance to the Citadel located at the End of Time. Within the Void, Alioth had the ability to devour any living organism, although certain variations managed to elude its grasp. Through their enchantment skills, Sylvie and Loki successfully enchanted Alioth, granting them passage into the Citadel where they encountered He Who Remains.As more information emerges about the TVA, it becomes increasingly clear that He Who Remains intentionally withheld crucial details regarding the multiversal war, his own history, and the creation of the TVA. Additionally, it is evident that he inflicted considerable harm upon the organization, rather than acting in its best interest. He deceived the TVA employees and exploited them for his personal gain, abducting alternate versions of individuals and erasing their memories to manipulate them into serving his agenda. He Who Remains' true intentions behind the TVA were far from noble, as he consistently betrayed both the organization and its dedicated members.
He Who Remains Built The Citadel At The End Of Time
Why The Multiversal War Makes The TVA Prune Branches
After reviving the TVA, wiping out the memories of all employees, and establishing the Time-Keepers, He Who Remains constructed the Citadel at the End of Time. This enigmatic figure discovered an asteroid at the temporal extremity and fashioned it into his new abode, overseeing the Sacred Timeline from this vantage point. The protection of the Citadel at the End of Time was entrusted to Alioth, while Sylvie and Loki were met by Miss Minutes upon their arrival. However, the fate of the Citadel following the demise of He Who Remains remains unknown.He Who Remains secluded a collection of realities characterized by the same foundation and fabricated the Sacred Timeline. The Time Variance Authority (TVA) was then established to govern and safeguard it against invasion by his alternate versions. To uphold harmony across the multiverse, He Who Remains ensured that every incident unfolded as it was destined to, preventing the formation of variant timelines. Any branches that emerged from the Sacred Timeline were eliminated. Although He Who Remains alleged that pruning was necessary to prevent his surviving alternate selves from seizing control of the multiverse once more, his actions, coupled with his manipulation of the TVA, contradicted his very intentions.