In a traditional Marvel film, a problem is presented and the protagonists deal with it accordingly.The Falcon and The Winter Soldierfollowed this structurepretty closely, and Sam and Bucky were dealing with the same action-packed conflict that drives most major MCU projects. When it comes to the other Disney Plus shows,WandaVisionandLokiare taking an entirely new approach by giving the action a backseat role to make room for self-growth and character development.
Loki has already undergone a lot of change, despite the series having just begun. Afteran emotional look at his past, Loki admitted to feeling weakness, claiming that he only hurts people and incites chaos as a way for him to feel powerful and survive. This was a big step for Loki since all the previous development he had over the years hasn’t happened to this 2012 version of him yet. Having a character regress to their former selves isn’t something the MCU explores often, so this could be seen as a type of “do-over” for Loki to come out on the other side of the series as a completely different person.
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Given the success ofWandaVisionand the popularity thatLokihas already seen after just a single episode, it’s now become obvious that the MCU can experiment more with the style of their projects and still appeal to a wide audience. This opens the door for significant alteration in the wayMarvel movies are filmed in the future, and could perhaps allow for more traditional heroes to star in movies that share the same quirky elements present inLoki, or evenThor: Ragnarok.
Although fans still love to see the action, it’s become obvious that a character’s journey with themselves can be just as compelling as a fight sequence with giant aliens from outer space, or big explosions in an empty airport. By taking the time to actually work more on developing the characters before bringing them into the heat of battle, the range of depth in the MCU franchise could see a significant increase in future projects. This has the potential to reshape the way in which characters are written moving forward, giving Marvel the chance tocapitalize on one of their biggest strengths- keeping heroes human. Dedicating more time in the franchise to seeing how the heroes deal with grief, strained familial relationships, or even the realization that there is something bigger than them at work in the universe will definitely keep the characters grounded.
In addition to all the emphasis now placed on personal growth in the MCU,Lokiisworking with new subject matterthat could heavily impact heroes from every part of the galaxy. For example, Mobius told Loki that the Timekeepers created him for the sole purpose of destruction and that he is “meant” to cause pain and death so that others can become great heroes. The idea of destiny is very common in superhero movies, but normally a character’s purpose is to find greatness and go down in history as someone who saves lives, not ruins them. Loki’s destiny is definitely uncharted territory for a major MCU protagonist, although it does slightly mirror Wanda’s supposed fate as the Scarlet Witch, which was revealed duringWandaVision.
What makes Loki’s journey stand out from similar stories like those of Wanda is that he’s always looked out for his own self-interests, rather than the good of the universe. Despite the similarities betweenWandaVisionandLokias of right now,the god of mischiefwill encounter obstacles that Wanda has never seen before. Loki’s biggest enemy looks as if it will be himself, but not necessarily in terms of controlling his power and dealing with the consequences of his actions.
Near the end of the first episode, Mobius also revealed that there is another variant of him killing TVA agents and stirring up trouble in the multiverse. Some fans are even theorizing that Loki will encountera different version of himself in every episode, making him both the enemy and the hero. Obviously, MCU heroes often are at war with themselves when it comes to determining right and wrong, but being your own worst enemy has never taken on such a literal meaning in the Marvel franchise before.
Not only doesLokibring the multiverse to a new level, but the combination of mystery, a unique style, and the possibility of there being multiple Loki’s in the same timeline all contribute to an original tone that fans have never seen before. If Marvel continues down this path of creativity, the entire MCU will be open to a magnitude of possibility. Despite the series being released only a few days ago, viewers are already suspecting thatLokiwill becomea major game-changer for the MCU, especially now that the Timekeepers and TVA have been introduced.
