[The TVA holds up a mirror to Loki and they say “this is who you are.” They force self reflection out of a guy who just probably never, ever wants to do it. ] ~interview with Waldron
It never stops amazing me just how much Waldron doesn't understand Loki in the slightest. That fundamental does not get it. Loki was never someone who lacked self awareness and so many of his issues was wrapped in his self doubt. Waldron wants Loki to hate himself, that's it. That is what the "Self-Reflection" is. It's Loki being showed his mistakes and told he did bad things because he's inherently bad.
Mikey claims he wants Loki to reflect on his actions when the truth is that mirror's only purpose is to blame him for everything that happened in his past just so that the actions of his family + what Thanos did to him can be swept under the rug. That's not self-reflection, that's gaslighting (he's told his family loved him which is basically a new version of the "imagined slights" in The Avengers) and victimization (he's blamed for NYC like it was all his doing and told he had Frigga killed).
And the worst part is that too many people think this is what "therapy" looks like. They think being told that you're a terrible person, not being allowed to explain why you did things and having a person of authority hurt you emotionally is "healing", they genuinely think this is what taking responsibility is supposed to look like.
Loki needed to take responsibility for his actions? Sure, although the worst thing he ever did was try to destroy Jotunheim, not invade NYC. But sure, he needed to own it. Fine. Being tortured, beaten, and emotionally abused is NOT taking responsibility.
Also, it's kind of telling that Mikey thinks the TVA is in any way entitled to hold the moral ground here. They want Loki to look in the mirror? How many mirrors does the TVA need to face what they have done? How many mirrors does Mobius need? They better save some for Sylvie as well. It's unbelievable: a bunch of fascists want Loki to take responsibility? Don't make me laugh.