The Long-Awaited Return: MCU Acknowledges The Forgotten Avengers' Success 2 Years Later

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Loki Season 2, Episode 2, "Breaking Brad."

Summary

In Loki season 2, episode 2, the concealed history of The Eternals is subtly referenced, shedding light on their presence in the timeline. Despite its mixed reception, the film Eternals has remained relatively unnoticed, except for a handful of cleverly placed Easter eggs.

The Loki Easter egg serves as a timely recognition of The Eternals' past and alludes to potential developments for the team in the MCU. After a significant period of silence, the MCU appears to be finally embracing The Eternals' mysterious history within the timeline, with a subtle reference to their existence in episode 2 of Loki season 2. Although Eternals received a mixed response upon its release in November 2021, it introduced various plotlines to explore. Unfortunately, the team has been largely overlooked since then, apart from a few carefully concealed Easter eggs. Despite having operated on Earth for centuries, covertly influencing human history, The Eternals have been neglected outside of their own feature film.

Chloé Zao's ambitious film, Eternals, directed and set across centuries, introduced significant storylines that appeared to have implications for the future of the MCU. One of these storylines involved Tiamut, a Celestial being, being left frozen and exposed in the midst of the ocean. However, apart from a passing mention in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, these narratives remain unexplored. The lukewarm reception of the film makes it uncertain when these characters will be revisited. Nevertheless, the inclusion of a Loki Easter Egg serves as a timely acknowledgement of The Eternals' past.

Loki's Eternals Reference Explained

Loki season 2, episode 2 showcases numerous hidden references, particularly given the time-traveling theme of the show. It provided an opportune moment to subtly acknowledge a faction of timeless beings. During Loki and Mobius' stroll through London’s West End in 1977 to confront X5/Brad Wolfe, they casually pass by some movie posters. Among them is one showcasing the esteemed Eternals hero, Kingo. In Eternals, the team eventually disperses, with each member embarked on their own individual journey. Kingo, portrayed by Kumail Nunjiani, has forsaken a clandestine existence in favor of a more prominent role as a Bollywood star.

How Kingo Is Around in Loki's 1977

The MCU has previously acknowledged Kingo and his acting career in the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. This particular short film focuses on Drax the Destroyer and Mantis attempting to bring Kevin Bacon to Star-Lord as a Christmas present. During their quest to find the Hollywood actor, they come across a few posters featuring Kingo's movies. Being a Bollywood superstar, Kingo has appeared in numerous films throughout the years. However, the most recent reference suggests a potential future for Kingo and The Eternals in the MCU.

The previous existence of The Eternals has never been explored in the MCU. However, living such a public life would inevitably raise doubts about Kingo's longevity as a performer. In Eternals, Kingo cleverly covered up his immortality by posing as a descendant of a long line of actors who took turns playing the role in each generation. The poster from 1977 likely depicts Kingo's assumed "father." It was necessary to uncover the hidden history of the original team replacing The Avengers, and it is fitting that a series like Loki, which focuses on time travel, would be the perfect platform to do so.