We’ve reached the halfway point of the second season of Marvel Studios “Loki”, and business has picked up, as this episode introduces us to a brand new variant of “He Who Remains”, aka Kang, who goes by the name of Victor Timely. Who is very different to other variant versions of the character we’ve seen so far and highlights what’s great about the multiverse, but also one of the biggest issues with Marvel right now.

Much like a great episode of “Doctor Who”, this episode of “Loki” is set in the past, Chicago, during the World’s Fair in the late eighteenth century, which I think worked well, especially with Victor Timely’s Victorian approach to gadgets.

I really enjoyed seeing a different side to Kang in this episode, showcasing how variants can be very different, but the idea that this character is so important as “He Who Remains” backup plan does seem a little odd. One of the biggest problems with this phase of the MCU is that Kang is supposed to be this big universal threat to the galaxy and is going to be the big bad villain that the Avengers are going to reunite twice to defeat in “Kang Dynasty” and “Secret Wars”, but in this episode, it’s hard to see how a conman is going to be a big threat, though obviously, this particular version isn’t. Jonathan Majors is just so good in this episode.

One of the great moments in the episode, is when Loki and Morbius spot a Norway-inspired house at the fair, with a subtle musical tone to the “Thor” films and some references to Thor, Odin and also, interestingly, Balder, who is Thor’s half-brother, who hasn’t yet made his appearance in the MCU. It’s nice to see some Norse mythology mixed back into the series, which even Morbius references, “Oh I forgot you’re one of them”, which feels very apt within the MCU as a whole.

Possibly one of the most terrifying aspects of this episode, and one that seems eerily intertwined with many of the issues of the world right now, is the use of Miss Minutes. Who was built by “He Who Remains”, initially as artificial intelligence to play chess against, only to be reprogrammed to self-program and to have a desire.   It’s a dark moment and really creepy.  There is one moment, where Miss Minutes shows her true intention of wanting to be placed inside a body to be able to be loved, by a Kang, which is honestly, one of the most scary moments in the MCU. It’s freaky and pulls on that fear of AI, how it’s going to become corrupted by becoming almost human. This is an amazing scene and a highlight of the show so far.

There’s a lot in this episode to enjoy, and the TV show format allows more character development, which a film couldn’t offer. It’s got some fun moments, but also plenty of action, especially the scenes involving Sylvie and Loki squaring off on the Ferris wheel. Some of it doesn’t make much sense right now, but hopefully, things will be cleared up as we go into the next half.

Overall, Episode 3 of “Loki” was really enjoyable. Setting the episode in the past changed the feel. It helps set up how things down the line, but most importantly, it feels like it’s an episode with importance. I especially feel “Loki” offers something that the other recent Disney+ shows haven’t. This show is going to be required viewing for the future of the MCU, it’s going to help establish the threat of Kang, and I’m loving it!

Rating – 4 Out Of 5

The first season, along with the first three episodes of the second season of “Loki” are available to stream now on Disney+.

What did you think of the third episode of “Loki”? Let us know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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