Warning! This article contains spoilers for Loki season 2, episode 1.
Summary
In season 2 of Loki, episode 1, Loki finds himself struggling against the TVA's control under Kang the Conqueror, while also dealing with Mobius' lack of recollection, resulting in a turbulent experience of slipping through time. Ultimately, Loki realizes that he needs to remove himself from the timeline precisely when Mobius triggers a Temporal Aura Extractor in order to put an end to the time-slipping chaos.
The introduction of the Temporal Loom in this episode reveals its increasing overload caused by the branching timelines resulting from He Who Remains' demise. This situation has the potential to create a multiverse. General Dox seeks answers from Sylvie.
Loki season 2 picks up right where the first season left off, with episode 1 concluding with unexpected twists and turns, setting the stage for the God of Mischief's second solo MCU adventure. In this season, Loki finds himself grappling with a new reality: a TVA controlled by Kang the Conqueror. Additionally, his former ally, Mobius (played by Owen Wilson), fails to remember him as the mischievous yet charming character traverses through time, whether it be the past, present, or future.
As such, a significant portion of content in Loki season 2, episode 1 revolves around Loki's predicament. The arrival of a version of Mobius who has no recollection of Loki is traced back to Loki's time-slipping into the past. This occurrence gives rise to numerous Easter eggs throughout Loki season 2, episode 1. The episode, to say the least, is filled with chaos as Loki, Mobius, and O.B. (played by Ke Huy Quan) scramble to find a solution to prevent Loki's time-slipping from becoming irreversible, while the remaining members of the TVA deal with the consequences following the demise of He Who Remains. Given the intricate and time-travel-centric plot, this article elucidates all the details concerning the ending of Loki season 2, episode 1.
All Loki's Time-Slips Explained: Where He Went In The Past Or Future
The opening of the episode picks up right where Loki season 1 left off, with Loki time-slipping into the past of the TVA. As he evades the pursuing TVA soldiers, Loki crashes into a building and comes face to face with a past version of Casey, who has no recollection of knowing him. Loki then experiences his first slip back into the present as he attempts to reconnect with Mobius and explain his predicament. In his relentless pursuit of Mobius, Loki continues to shift between the past and present, ultimately finding himself in the War Room of the TVA's past.
In the War Room, he discovers recordings of He Who Remains and Ravonna Renslayer from the Multiversal War, as well as the original designs of He Who Remains' face displayed on the walls. Subsequently, Loki travels back to the present and reunites with the versions of Mobius and B-15 who remember him, bringing the cast of characters together for Loki season 2. Loki proceeds to explain the complex situation to everyone before Mobius suggests taking him to Ouroborus, also known as O.B., in an attempt to resolve the issue of time-slipping.
As Loki's time-slipping becomes more frequent, it often becomes a source of humor, with the destination only revealed during O.B.'s first scene. During this scene, Loki interacts with the past version of O.B., while Mobius converses with the present version. Eventually, Loki returns to the present, but the third act of Loki season 2, episode 1 introduces another unexpected twist to the story.
How Loki Stopped Time-Slipping
The final time slip of the episode sees Loki venturing into the future of the TVA, where utter chaos reigns. In a desperate race against time, Loki scours the surroundings to find a Timestick, which is crucial for executing O.B.'s plan to put an end to the time-skipping. However, his mission takes an unexpected turn when he comes face to face with Sylvie in this dystopian future. As if they were destined to cross paths, Sylvie implies that she has been on the lookout for Loki. Before they can delve further into their encounter, an unidentified attacker abruptly prunes Loki, whisking him back to the present along with Mobius and O.B., just as the episode draws to a close.
The process of how Loki managed to stop time-slipping is rather intricate. O.B. devised a plan to halt Loki's time-slipping by having Loki eliminate all traces of himself from every timeline through self-pruning. However, for the plan to be successful, Loki had to prune himself simultaneously with the activation of a device known as a Temporal Aura Extractor by Mobius. According to O.B.'s theory, the synchronization of these two events would result in pulling Loki back into the present moment, thus preventing further time-slipping.
Who Pruned Loki?
At the conclusion of episode 1 in Loki season 2, the plan is set into motion. As Loki urgently seeks a Timestick to prune himself at the appropriate time, he ventures into the future of the TVA. In the meantime, Mobius activates the Temporal Aura Extractor, which is connected to the Temporal Loom – a component of the TVA responsible for transforming raw time into tangible timelines. Ultimately, an unidentified individual prunes Loki in the future, triggering the Temporal Aura Extractor to retrieve him back to the present and seemingly bring the time-hopping to a halt.
One of the intriguing enigmas posed in Loki season 2, episode 1 revolved around the identity of the individual who pruned Loki in the future. Just as Loki becomes entranced by Sylvie's sudden arrival, an unknown person unexpectedly prunes him from behind, leaving both the audience and Loki bewildered. Similarly, when Loki returns to the present, the identity of the individual responsible for his pruning remains undisclosed. However, it is highly probable that Loki himself is the one who carried out the pruning. Presently, Loki is conscious that, at a certain point in time, a version of himself will emerge at that precise moment, necessitating removal to prevent temporal inconsistencies. Therefore, he assumes the responsibility of fulfilling this task.
What's Sylvie Doing In The TVA?
Alongside the question of who pruned Loki in the future, this scene raises several other queries. One such query revolves around Sylvie's presence in the TVA. As of the finale of Loki season 2, episode 1, the answer to this remains uncertain. It is probable that these events will be revealed from the perspectives of both Loki and Sylvie as the season progresses, potentially culminating in the final episode. This season promises to explore intricate time-travel storytelling even more extensively than its predecessor.
Who's Calling The TVA Phone?
Another significant query arising from the conclusion of episode 1 in season 2 of Loki is the enigmatic caller behind the incessantly ringing TVA phone in the future. This attention-grabbing device captivates both Loki and the camera, suggesting that the identity of the person on the other end holds great significance in the overarching story of the series. Regrettably, as of the conclusion of episode 1 in season 2 of Loki, the mysterious caller's identity remains frustratingly ambiguous.
How Loki Season 2 Changes MCU Time Travel Rules
In Loki season 2, episode 1, an intriguing aspect unfolds as it defies the established time-travel principles of the MCU. Previously, in Avengers: Endgame, Hulk asserted that altering the future was beyond the capabilities of individuals who journeyed back in time. According to Hulk, any actions undertaken in the past would simply generate a fresh timeline. However, the first episode of Loki season 2 presents a contrasting perspective. It becomes apparent that Loki directly influences present-day events when he slips through time and engages in a conversation with O.B. This discrepancy could potentially stem from the distinctive time rules governing the TVA, further highlighting the evolving nature of the MCU's time-travel regulations in Loki season 2.
What The Temporal Loom Means For The MCU Multiverse
In Loki season 2, episode 1, a new addition to the MCU multiverse is introduced called the Temporal Loom. O.B., a character in the show, explains that the Temporal Loom is a part of the TVA where raw time is refined to form physical timelines. However, due to the death of He Who Remains, the timeline has started branching uncontrollably, causing the Temporal Loom to become overwhelmed. This has resulted in Loki's time-slipping abilities and power surges at the TVA.
The implications of this for the MCU multiverse are significant. O.B. acknowledges the issue and mentions that he will try to modify the Temporal Loom to accommodate the ever-expanding branching timelines. This suggests that the events in Loki season 2 may be responsible for the creation of the multiverse, as O.B. works towards finding a solution. As for other ways the Temporal Loom will impact the MCU multiverse, we will have to wait for the next five episodes of Loki season 2 to learn more.
What Does General Dox Have Planned For Sylvie?
In Loki season 2, episode 1, General Dox's plans for Sylvie can be summed up as a quest for answers. With the chaos engulfing the TVA following He Who Remains' demise, high-ranking officials like General Dox start to panic. This prompts Dox to insist on uncovering the exact events that transpired at the End of Time. To achieve this, Dox orders all available TVA agents to pursue Sylvie and extract an explanation from her. This course of action is bound to bring trouble in the upcoming episodes of Loki season 2. Don't miss the new episodes of Loki, premiering every Tuesday on Disney+.
