I love this broken ass space twink and this show was bitchin'. A rant:
In 2012 a superhero movie indifferent tween me sat down in a theater. She saw a greasy haired brit with his wicked grin come out of the danger cube and was obliterated with a hyper-fixation that persists to this day. I'm a casual fan of most of the MCU- but Loki was my hook.
I hoped for content where he got to be more than a morally ambiguous snarky side snake. He rocks at that role but the development was limited because the films he was in were not his own. So when this fool's series was announced (post Infinity/Endgame trauma💀) I was shooketh. Until recent years, you just wouldn't expect they'd ever make a series on such a concept. Not Disney, not on a genocidal supervillain. I'm not an apologist, the guy had a bad time but he is most definitely a super villain in Thor & Avengers. As a fictional character you can still have fun with him which is what they continued to do, and by some miracle it became acceptable to have an entire series? WHAT? Remarkable.
What a blessing, my favorite character gets a show. I didn't get it, but subjectively I was going to enjoy it just by the mere fact it's LOKI(Tom's specifically). I didn't have any expectations. he could be eating grapes on his throne and I would clap because I love this character, the universe, and yes I love Tom Hiddleston too. Man minds his own business and just tries to be a good person. But here's the thing, both subjectively and objectively- I LOVED it.
While the Loki series is just a fictional show it does break my heart to see so many previous Loki stans turn on it for reasons that don't seem fair. I wanted to share my experience and why this show blew me away.
Loki gets some convincing character development
(I really didn't see how they'd do that with Avengers Loki specifically) A lot are saying the character goes too soft and goofy in this series, but in context his changed behaviors make sense and reflect the character we've learned about. He doesn't appear like the brooding force of nature he is in Avengers because he's been humbled(physically) by said Avengers and then once again(mentally) by the TVA. He also begins to perceive his own delusional power struggle- the facade he’s been keeping up with since Thor’s 'almost' coronation. Before that it's pretty safe to assume he was, as he says, a mischevious scamp who probably had a lot of fun. Kind of like the Loki we see in this series. As a result of being humbled he walks with a nihilistic skip in his step all the while just doing what comes naturally by scheming to take a throne. What else is he going to do while he's there? It’s this or be predictably disintegrated. While his initial goals mirror past ones his demeanor is opening up because the reasons are beginning to shift. Other characters do something that no one has before by befriending him, also changing him to care slowly about things outside of himself. With the shell withering away what do we see? Well it’s the humility you’d expect from a hero. He changes, he develops, his powers even develop, it's cool.
SHIPS
Previously popular ships for loki involving canon MCU characters were fans having fun with frostiron (you guys are amazing like they had one conversation and you ship them? Spectacular.) or th*rki (sorry can’t get on board with you there chief). He definitely boinked the Goldbloom in Ragnarok but I digress let’s talk about our variant….
When the series began it was batshit to see how quickly the ‘haha Owenwilsonxloki crackship’ to ‘haha okay fr tho😳’ to ‘this ship isn’t canon let the show burn in hell’. They have great chemistry, and while this show made it a couple small notches up the Disney lgbtq representation poll- it’s too much to expect Disney would tell a blockbuster story with two male presenting lovers as the leads. It sucks ass, but realistically wasn't going to happen in their media yet. There’s no romantic moment that cues the audiences there was potential for that. STILL, compared to other characters we’ve seen Loki interact with there IS a positive non-familial bond and I completely understand why those (like me) starving for ships would take it and run with it. The things the fandom has done with this ship in terms of fan content is beautiful and something to be cherished- for that reason I like lokius and will continue to enjoy fanwork surrounding it.
As for the show's canonical pairing... If you don't like romance that's valid and understandably you'll probably dislike the show as it's plot hinged on a reality shattering romance. The decade old character has existed devoid of love interests until this series and personally it was something I looked forward especially if it was done right. And guys? It was done right.
Upon Sylvie & Loki’s first meeting at the end of 2, I had a good bad feeling. Good: I look at her and I look at his eyes light up- this might be a thing. Bad: Ship war is coming. Episode 3 rolls and we get the ‘failed’ enchantment scene, a discussion about relationship status, a serenading scene, a romantic love discussion, and all while these things have happened these folks in the tags are proclaiming these two are SIBLINGS. No one can tell you how to view the technicalities of a relationship between two AU versions of the same being outside of the series. This concept is completely syfy and has no real life precedent. BUT in the context of this show (where an alligator is also a variant) the facts are NO they did not come from the same frosty alien uterus despite mirroring upbringings. What they are doesn't exist, what they are not is siblings. It's all a variation. It's not normal, agreed. It's bizarre as hell. The fact that's it's bizarre is part of the tension that makes it a more intense relationship than most in the MCU. And a well established one, not rushed as its clear it was always intended, here is a thorough post about it someone explained it well. So when 'romantic' buzzword tiger is on the table in 4, the level of denial reaches a new low. No it wasn't creepy siblings, it was exactly what it looked like and it culminates in 6 with that *chef's kiss* worthy kiss. To do without the romance entirely it would be an entirely different show and kind of a lamer one if it followed a similar structure but with siblings (a relationship loki already has, the most prominent one that we have seen constantly throughout his MCU presence). I cannot see how you'd get the sort of punch the romance gives with a friend dynamic others are implying- I wouldn't go close to calling it a sibling dynamic because that's a life long thing. I sort of had this problem with Hela in Ragnarok coming from the 'conveniently hidden plot device' abyss. she was a sibling but did not feel like one. Thor and Loki do feel like lifelong brothers, people that they just met not so much. The relationship Loki has with Sylvie is one that mutually changes them for the better, even if the end has her making the same type of decision he would've made pre-series. It's weird but it's beautiful, and if you can loosen up to get on board you're going to have so much more fun with this series my guys.
It’s not a perfect show, the MCU is far from perfect but does what it does very functionally for a fictional universe of superheros. I have things I would've like to see like some more Jotun Loki. The show can't perfectly please everyone. I don't know what people were expecting from a show about the character that died and we thought we'd never see again- but I know what I was thinking. I was thinking how grateful I was to see him again. That was it. What I got was a cinematic quality show with GREAT characters all around, an epic adventure, a stellar romance, and something to look forward to.
I just ask Loki stans to look at it with an open mind, the show might've not been everything you've ever wanted- but it gave us our Loki back and it gave him things we never thought we'd get from him. like this scene:
Okay, not seriously but seriously Hot damn. 100/10 gold stars, please give loki series some love.
