Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
In thisFandomWireVideo Essay, we explore whyLokiworks where other Disney+ shows don’t.
Check out the video below:
Loki Is The Best Disney+ Marvel Show
The Marvel Cinematic Universe shows onDisney+have been an interesting experiment for the franchise. Given that they cost less money to make and promote than a theatrical film, they have become a great way to introduce and explore new concepts, characters, and ideas that are a bit riskier than what we would normally have seen in the movies. Of course, as is the case with any experiment, the results have been somewhat hit-or-miss.
WhenLokiwas first announced, it was met with a combination of excitement and hesitance. Although Tom Hiddleston’s villain was a character that many fans adored, would he be enough to carry a series on his own? It turned out that those fears were completely unfounded, asLokiis arguably the best of the Marvel Cinematic Universe shows so far.
The true indicator ofLoki’s success compared to the other series on the streamer is that it is only one of two officially renewed for a second season — the other being the animated showWhat If…?which began with a two-season order to start with. Ultimately, there is noonefactor that can explainLoki’ssuccess, as it’s really a combination of several things that the show did right, culminating in a season finale that set the stage for what would follow in the extended universe.
First and foremost,Lokiworks because it focuses on the story of a true fan-favorite character. Although other characters like Wanda Maximoff, Bucky Barnes, and Falcon were well-liked in previous outings, none were as established as the Norse trickster. In the first three phases of Marvel, we had already seen Loki in numerous films, and he is one of thefewvillains to cross over from his individual franchise into the mainAvengersstoryline.
A large chunk of the Disney+ shows have faced the obstacle of introducing audiences to a brand new character they had never met before. Although there are always cameos from familiar faces — such as Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner inShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law, or Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel being a looming specter overMs. Marvel— those shows live or die based on how the audience connects with those new characters.Loki, on the other hand, has the pre-established goodwill from the character’s established history in the universe.
Loki also pinpoints exactly what audiences have loved so much about the character in the past. What fans have latched onto with the character in the past is his evolving relationship with his brother, Thor. Although the hero obviously isn’t in play in this series, we do get a nice analog in Owen Wilson’s Mobius M. Mobius. There’s a nice dynamic between the two of them that splits the difference between buddy comedy and antagonism.
On the other hand, something likeThe Falcon and the Winter Soldieris lacking because it isn’t able to replicate the characters’ pre-existing relationships from previous films. Both characters in the MCU were firmly supporting characters defined by their relationship with Captain America. Although the series gives them each other to bounce off of, the show lacks the presence of a more commanding force.
Lokiwas also able to capture the balance in tone it set out to achieve significantly better than any of the other shows that have come out so far. The film nails the quirky sense of humor, but that makes sense given that Loki is known for his quick wit and banter. The show also contains some of the most memorable jokes in all of Phase Four, including the Crocodile Loki that absolutely set the internet ablaze when it was introduced.
However, it’s also important that a show like this contains a certain level of action necessary to quench the thirst of fans who’ve come to expect it, andLokicontains plenty of great fight sequences. The series uses the Time Variance Authority’s ability to manipulate time to elevate the action and makes full use of slow motion to present breathtaking visuals in an exciting display.
This is also the birthing ground for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s foray into the Multiverse andLokiuses that plot device in some very interesting and entertaining ways. Primarily, in its use of variants and differing versions of Loki, acting as both allies and foes of the primary version of the titular character. It’s this level of creativity and fun that many of the other Disney+ shows, and even films, struggled to achieve. After all,No Way Homedidn’t feature an Alligator Spider-Man, did it?
While other Disney+ shows tend to go too dark or, on the other end of the spectrum, too goofy,Lokifinds a balance and manages to stay between those lines throughout its run.Falcon and the Winter Soldierattempts to ground itself too much in reality and, as a result, ends up feeling dark, dire, and distant for many of its episodes. On the other hand, something likeShe-Hulk: Attorney at Lawsought to differentiate itself by delving into outright silly territory, making it hard for viewers to get truly invested in the story or believe the stakes.Lokiis in that perfect middle-ground between lighthearted and big enough in scale to make it fun yet impactful.
Another significant element that makesLokiso beloved by fans is its visual style. The show is heavily centered around retro tech, from the animated mascot Ms. Minutes to the entire design of the Time Variance Authority. The show came at a moment when nostalgia was still at an all-time high, so shows with this type of aesthetic were highly in demand. The production design on this show is truly next-level — but that should come as no surprise, given that the production designer was on the team responsible forBlack Panther.
WandaVisionhad attempted to do something similar with a retro aesthetic, but it didn’t fully commit to it. Instead, each episode evolved to a new style of sitcom filmmaking. Although this was an interesting experiment in and of itself, the world created by that show was nowhere near as immersive and alluring as that created byLoki— which is ironic, considering that the whole premise ofWandaVisionwas about Wanda constructing that false world.
Fans have praisedLokifor being the most successful use of the multiverse in Marvel thus far. AlthoughSpider-Man: No Way Homewould do an excellent job of bringing heroes and villains from past iterations of the character together,Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesswas criticized for not exploring the multiverse in creative enough ways.Loki’s commitment to showing us different variants and timelines made it a great introduction to this concept which would become pivotal for the rest of the MCU.
What many of these Disney+ Marvel shows have struggled with is understanding their role in the greater context of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Some fans have complained that watching the new Marvel movies now requires watching the Disney+ shows too because of how their events directly set up the events of the next movie. However, this is a bit of a double-edged sword, as this means the shows often can’t stand on their own. Thankfully,Lokidoes this better than the rest.
Just look atWandaVision, for example.WandaVisionstarts out well, but in the final two episodes, it largely becomes a teaser trailer for what will happen inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Any emotional connection we had with the characters is abandoned in favor of a rushed connection to turn Wanda into Scarlet Witch.
Similarly, Ms. Marvel serves double duty by introducing us to a new character in Kamala Khan while setting up the nextCaptain Marvelmovie,The Marvels. While the first three or four episodes of the series stand on their own and tell a pretty compelling, independent story, it becomes clear in the final two episodes that they are more concerned with the future of the franchise than telling a good story in its own right.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldieris one of the more egregious examples of a Disney+ show existing only to set up other properties. The primary focus of this show is to pass the baton — or, more accurately, the shield — on to Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson. However, the show also introduced us to new characters like Wyatt Russell’s U.S. Agent and Julia Louis-Dryefus’s Valentina that will come into play in future films likeThunderbolts.
Loki, on the other hand, does it right. Sure, the events ofLokihave a wide-reaching impact on the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it’s also a fun adventure from the moment it begins till the moment it ends, and the story stands on its own outside of its connections to the wider universe. And while the final episode ends on a cliffhanger, with a presumably more sinister variant of Kang taking over the TVA, the season as a whole feels like a complete, cohesive story — not something that merely bridges to another film or television show.
Lokiis important because it introduces us to the idea of Kang through “He Who Remains.” However, it is important to note that the name “Kang” is never mentioned once in the series. This is crucial because it shows that the creators ofLokiweren’t ready to take things too quickly. Although this character is very much expanding the world, this expansion did not come all at once, so as to not overwhelm the viewer with extra exposition.
Lokiplayed an important role in setting up the events ofAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and presumablyAvengers: The Kang Dynasty, but either of these films could have been watched without season one ofLoki. While the show explains and adds some context to the ideas of Kang and the Multiverse, the explanation given to the characters inQuantumaniais more than enough to understand what is happening. That is whyLokiworks well as a series on its own.
Based onAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, it seems that the upcoming second season ofLokiwill focus on Loki and Mobius teaming up to track down variants of Kang throughout the timelines. Although this is probably going to tie directly into the events ofThe Kang Dynasty, it is also sure to be an amazing adventure on its own.
Follow us for more entertainment coverage onFacebook,Twitter,Instagram, andYouTube.
Reilly Johnson
Articles Published :412
Reilly Johnson is a businessman and a staple in the online entertainment community contributing to some of the largest entertainment pages in the world. Currently, Reilly is the President of FandomWire.
More from Reilly Johnson
Why Deadpool And Wolverine Worked & The Flash Failed (VIDEO)
How Test Footage Leaks Made Deadpool Possible (VIDEO)
Why The Internet Is Wrong About The Acolyte (VIDEO)
Recommended
Delta Force Console Release: Crossplay and Cross-Progression, Explained
Austin Butler’s Diet and Workout Routine For His Ripped Physique
When Is Palm Royale Season 2 Releasing on Apple TV+?
Top 5 Details In Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Reveal Trailer That You Might Have Missed
Are Blood Ravens Returning in Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 4?
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Cast Revealed - From Returning Icons to New Faces
AvengersDisneyDisney+Falcon And The Winter SoldierLokiMarvelMarvel Cinematic UniverseMarvel StudiosMCUThe Falcon and the Winter SoldierWandaVision
