In Ragnarok, after Loki betrays Thor & he just chuckles, because he’s two steps ahead of Loki this time, he’s figured out his game. “Never much for sentiment, were you?” Thor says (or something similar). Loki’s reply is such good and telling wording—“Easier to let it burn.”
Easier, not better, which is an important distinction to me.
Better would indicate that Loki doesn’t care for sentiment at all. But Loki is all raw emotion and sentiment, actually (I️ mean he’s always crying)—he isn’t evil, he’s a well-loved prince who was dealt with an uncomfortable truth, who, after having the world’s worst tantrum, is dealing with it by not dealing with it at all. He capitalizes on lazy, easy tricks and deceit because he finally got what he wanted and realized he actually doesn’t care that much (I mean his entire betrayal of Thor was about the least amount of effort he’s ever put into something, he probably spends more time on his hair). All he wants is Odin’s affection. All he wants is Thor’s affection. He loves Asgard and he loves his family and it’s easier to betray it than to sink into how unbearably much it all actually means to him. And I think that line “Easier to let it burn,” captures that cognitive dissonance and Loki’s actual potential for good remarkably well.
It’s a turning point that is highlighted by Thor moments later, when he offers Loki a different way to process that loyalty and affection. Loki has tried to burn everything to the ground because it’s expected of him at this point, but Thor tells him he can be more than, his legacy can be more than just the family fuck up. And I think this one line really captures that potential, that despite everything, there is good (and love) in Loki, if he so chooses to take it.
Anyway, tl;dr “Easier to let it burn” is some great wording that speaks volumes about Loki’s character and that volume is that he has all the feelings and probably cries a lot.
