Hey, Loki fans! I’m back to talk about everything that went down in the latest episode, “The Nexus Event.” It seems like every episode of this show is crazier than that last, doesn’t it? But first, I must thank the awesome Liz Coopersmith for stepping in for me while I was out on vacation. Next week, we’ll hosting virtual discussion together about this show, plus the long-awaited release of Black Widow, and any other Marvel-related topics that come up. So if you’ve been enjoying these breakdowns, or just want to talk about Marvel with some fellow fans, be sure to join us for the Watercooler’s Marvel Happy Hour.
And now, onto the episode. You may not want to read any further if you haven’t seen it yet, as there will be spoilers from here on out.
If there’s one thing this show does well (though it actually does a lot of things well) it’s character development. From the complex and layered title character, on down to the nameless TVA minutemen, the constantly shifting alliances and relationship dynamics are easy to keep track of because they flow logically from the story. It’s like Loki said a few episodes back, no one is totally good or totally bad. But how can you tell when someone is lying to you, or worse, using the truth to manipulate you? The simple answer is: consider their motivations. Loki knows that better than most, which is why he relies more on deeds than words. And finding out that the organization you work for has been lying to you about your very existence is one heck of a motivator to help bring the whole thing down.
So What Exactly was the Nexus Event?
Something happened on Lamentis-1 that caused a branch in the timeline and allowed the TVA to find Loki and Sylvie just in time (ha! that pun was too good to resist). Was it the connection between the two Variant Lokis? There’s been a lot of debate over whether their bond is romantic or not, but I think that whole argument is beside the point (I’m good either way, actually). What’s key is the acceptance that they are not, as they both believed, destined to be alone. The idea of being doomed to a solitary existence—of never being loved or capable of love—has come up again and again on this show, and I’m not just talking about Sif’s words in the time loop prison (hello Jaimie Alexander! I still love you even if that wig was truly awful). So it makes sense that a Nexus Event would happen the moment both Lokis begin to believe there is someone else in the multiverse who truly understands them.
Whether that shared feeling is mutual admiration, trust, or love—platonic or otherwise—it doesn’t really matter. They’ve finally found someone they can count on until the bitter end. It’s the answer to the question posed in the classic Beatles song “Eleanor Rigby”: “All the lonely people, where do they all belong?” With each other, obviously. That, I’m guessing, is the Nexus Event that threatens to unravel the Sacred Timeline. One Loki against the TVA (whoever may be behind it) is bad enough, but two Lokis united with a common cause could be a catastrophe, at least as far as the Time Keepers are concerned.
About Those Time Keepers
Speaking of the supposedly all-seeing, all-powerful trio who turned out to be frickin’ robots (TM Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s Gen. Glenn Talbot, RIP) what is the actual deal with them? They’re apparently a front for some other mastermind pulling the strings at the TVA, but who? Someone we’ve met before? Common theories include Val from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (check out this upside-down version of the TVA logo), Doctor Strange, Kang the Conqueror, or even more Loki Variants.
One big question we have to ask now is whether Ravonna is in on it. We learned in this episode that she’s worked her way up from Hunter (snatching poor young Sylvie from Asgard) to Judge, and she seems to be the only person in the TVA who’s had direct contact with the Time Keepers. Plus, she lied to Mobius’ face about the fate of C-20, so she definitely knows more than she’s been letting on. Or is she just another pawn, being fed partial truths to keep her in line?
What’s really bugging me about that reveal, though, is why would someone who possesses that much power need to hide behind a fictional triumvirate anyway?
A Scheme of Lokis
And then there’s that post-credits scene (it’s becoming tradition to have them for the last three episodes, but not before). Looks like we’re going to need a collective noun for a group of Lokis. You know, like a pride of lions, a murder of crows, a flamboyance of flamingos (yes, that’s the real term, look it up!). I hereby propose a “scheme” of Lokis. Tell your friends. Make it happen.
Anyway, back to the tag. I’m not sure what it means, but if Loki survived the pruning it gives me hope that Mobius might have too. Ever since that first conversation between Mobius and Ravonna in her office following the botched Ren Faire mission—where they kept alluding to the existence of other analysts—I’ve had a theory that there are more Mobius variants running around solving cases (and that was even before we found out that the TVA workers are all variants). He’s good at it, so if the TVA has access to more than one of him, why not keep them around? I sure hope I’m right, because (much like Loki) I’m kind of attached to Mobius and not ready to let him go just yet.
There’s only two more episodes left before we get the answers to these questions, and more. Both WandaVision and The Falcon and Winter Soldier got more Marvel-ized towards the end of their initial runs, losing some of what made them unique in favor of feature-quality, large-scale action sequences more in line with the movie franchise that spawned them. I can’t quite picture that happening with Loki. It’s too quirky, too stylized, and that’s what’s been great about it so far. Of course, it is Marvel, so anything’s possible, but I’d really like to see them stick the landing of this series in true Loki form.
Stray observations:
- I love the theremin music in Ravonna’s office. It strikes just the right balance of retro, futuristic, and ominous. It fits right in with the rest of the fantastic production design.
- I’d never have guessed that Hunter B-15 would be the one to save the day, but that was a fun reversal. I wish we’d gotten to see a glimpse of her life before the TVA took her. Maybe we still will?
- If Mobius’ love of jet skis doesn’t come into play by the end of the series I’ll be seriously disappointed.
- The look on Loki’s face when they pruned Mobius was pretty much a mirror of mine, but Tom Hiddleston made it even more heartbreaking (aww, he’d finally made a friend!). And then Sylvie’s face when they pruned Loki—equally devastating. Curse this show for making me feel things.
- Seems like Sylvie may be the MCU’s version of the Enchantress from the comics (her name is also Sylvie, and they keep using the term “enchanted”), and I am here. For. It.
- The symbol all over the walls of the Time Keepers chamber caught my eye. At first it reminded me of Storm’s headdress, but being realistic I doubt she’ll come into play (even though she did have an arc where Loki gave her a hammer and she became the Goddess of Thunder). Maybe it’s a reference to something else from the MCU or comics? Or just a neat coincidence.
And that’s it for “The Nexus Event.” Until next week, friends. For all time. Always.
Catch up on all our episode breakdowns for Loki:
Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6
Start a watercooler conversation: