Caution: Spoilers ahead for Loki episode 2
They have a saying in Asgard - where there are Infinity Stones, Loki is left with little choice but to humbly accept there's no escaping the Time Variance Authority.
Titled "The Variant," Loki episode 2 sends Wilson into the field with Tom Hiddleston tagging along. Although the odd couple struggle at first, Mobius continues to fight the God of Mischief's corner, and by the episode's end, the roots of a friendship are sprouting. Though he might've secretly been planning to overthrow the TVA, Loki now has little choice but to cooperate with his time-fiddling friends, since his evil counterpart shows precisely zero interest in forming an alliance.
Loki's premiere set a bountiful precedent for Marvel Easter eggs, with the TVA corridors proffering nods to both MCU history and the character's dense comic book lore. Episode 2 continues that pace, hiding some fascinating connections to mysterious fictional corporations, Thanos. These are the Easter eggs found lurking in "The Variant."
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Loki's second installment begins at a 1980s renaissance fair - because some people just need that kind of thing. The opening scene's location of Oshkosh, Wisconsin feels too specific to have been picked at random and, sure enough, this is actually a heartwarming tribute to a key figure from Marvel's past. The original comic design for Mobius M. Mobius was based upon Marvel's own Mark Gruenwald, a long-serving and widely-respected writer and editor responsible for characters such as US Agent and Crossbones. Gruenwald was born in Oshkosh, explaining the locale's inclusion in Loki.
Loki's Mind Powers Echo Scarlet Witch & The Mind Stone
In the episode's opening sequence, a team of Minute Men are effortlessly trounced by the murderous Loki variant. Crucially, the villain touches a TVA agent, who then begins attacking nearby comrades, her distant eyes glowing green. This power is reminiscent of Loki's staff in Avengers: Age of Ultron, both of which were caused by the Mind Stone. Loki soon reveals this affliction to be quite different from mind control, but the scene still feels like an MCU callback to Loki's past.
Frost Giant Loki
Preparing to visit the renaissance fair, B-15 and Mobius hold a briefing to explain the multitude of Loki variants one can meet while traversing timelines. The first of these examples is Tom Hiddleston's Loki, but with blue skin and a change of dress. This image nods to Loki's heritage as a Frost Giant, as revealed in 2011's Thor. Evidently, one Loki variant embraced his true biology, and somehow wasn't indoctrinated into the traditional fashion styles of Asgard.
Viking Loki
Also in the procession of Loki holograms are a Tour de Loki, monstrous Minotaur Loki, green onesie Loki, and Viking Loki, but only the last of these connects to the Marvel comics, with the final projection a dead ringer for Loki in Mighty Thor Vol. 3. This era of the character donned a viking-esque helmet and wrapped a fur shawl around his shoulders, somewhat similar to the ancient version glimpsed during Mobius' slideshow.
Dragonfly
As the second squad of Minute Men wind their way through cosplaying revelers drunk on mead, one of the stalls is clearly labelled "Dragonfly Armory." This is apparently where attendees can pick up blunted swords, wooden shields, and other recreational battle gear, but the sign may also allude to Dragonfly, a hero from the Marvel comics yet to debut in the MCU. More frequently associated with the X-Men, there's no obvious connection between Dragonfly and Loki. The name could've been picked simply for sounding vaguely Medieval.
A Kang The Conqueror Statue?
Ever since the three stone faces of the Time-Keepers were revealed, one of the trio (chap in the middle) has been compared to Kang the Conqueror. Though still unlikely, episode 2's Renslayer scenes add weight to the theory. The statue directly behind Renslayer does bear a visual resemblance to Kang, particularly the face-hugging helmet, and said Time-Keeper always being positioned in the center might denote his importance. To fuel the speculation further, Gugu Mbatha Raw's character displays more personality in episode 2, and her unerring iration for the Time-Keepers becomes clear. She also seems to be one of very few in direct with these temporal overlords, and in the Marvel comics, Renslayer is romantically involved with Kang. There might be something in a Kang-like statue standing directly behind her office chair.
If that wasn't enough to rouse suspicion, Mobius tells Renslayer that he's glad to have never met the Time-Keepers, and then begins, "that one looks like he..." before being cut off. Curio and curio...
"Ice Runt"
Loki's MCU movie arc rarely acknowledged his Frost Giant ancestry, focusing more on the mischievous one's relationship with Asgard. By contrast, Disney+ is keen to remind audiences exactly where Tom Hiddleston's character came from. Not only are there constant references to "Laufeyson" throughout the two episodes so far (as well as the aforementioned blue-skinned hologram variant), but Mobius accuses Loki of being a "scared little boy shivering in the cold... that ice runt." Although the metaphor works irrespective of Loki's biology, it's a stinging insult for someone whose world was turned upside-down upon discovering they were a secret Frost Giant.
372
When a frustrated Mobius assigns Loki to library duty, the number 372 hangs prominently in the background. This is most likely a nod to the corresponding 1986 issue of The Mighty Thor, in which the TVA's Justice Peace plays a major role. The comic marked a rare occasion of a TVA member appearing on a Marvel front cover.
Monsters Inc. Receptionist
Hoping to exploit his punishment and learn more about the TVA's creation, Loki lobbies the receptionist for access to files. Utterly unmoved by his pleas, the expressionless assistant coldly refuses, allowing Loki access to one file only - his own. Intentionally or otherwise, this stern figure is essentially a human version of Roz, the receptionist from Monsters Inc., right down to the distinctive shape of her glasses. In addition to the generally gruff demeanor and uncooperative attitude, the TVA assistant shares Roz's monotone voice, and both are sticklers for rules. Amusingly, this would put Loki in the Mike Wazowski role.
Ragnarok
Flicking through the future he should've had, Loki chances upon a file detailing the Asgardian apocalypse, thus providing a direct link to 2017's Thor: Ragnarok. The TVA paperwork mentions "Ragnarok" by name, and lists the death toll at around 10,000. Brief shots of the document also confirm that Asgard's destruction was part of the Time-Keepers' Sacred Timeline. When Loki mentions his discovery to Mobius later in the episode, he name-drops Surtur - the fiery beast that actually polished off Thor and Loki's home planet.
