WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for Loki episode 6. 

The new villain in Citadel at the End of Time. They learn that He Who Remains (Jonathan Majors), a variant of Kang the Conqueror, is behind the Time Variance Authority. To keep order in the universe, the villain offers Loki and Lady Loki the opportunity to take his place controlling the Sacred Timeline. Loki is interested, but Lady Loki doesn't bite. Instead, she sends Loki to an alternate version of the TVA and kills He Who Remains. The act unleashes timeline chaos and unlocks the Multiverse.

Before his demise, He Who Remains tells the Loki variants all about the TVA. According to him, a Kang variant from the 31st century discovered that there were other universes. At the same time, other Kang variants came to similar conclusions and made . Though there was a temporary peace, it wasn't long before a war broke out. To restore the cosmic harmony, He Who Remains harnessed the power of the matter-consuming monster Alioth, created the TVA, and fit everything neatly into the Sacred Timeline.

Related: Has Loki Season 2 Already Filmed? Missing Scenes Theory Explained

To convince Loki and Lady Loki to take his spot, He Who Remains uses a proven Endgame trick. In Loki finale, and the TVA is what stops the Multiversal War. "This is the only way," he says.

Loki Doctor Strange 2 Benedict Cumberbatch Tom Hiddleston

The trick is a convenient plot device for Marvel. Despite the TVA destroying lives and pruning innocent timelines, He Who Remains claims it's the only thing keeping an infinite number of Kang variants from starting a war again. "Stifling order or cataclysmic chaos," he says. The "only way" statement excuses the TVA for heinous acts by simply saying everything has to happen to achieve a greater good. Marvel has also used the trick to explain away plot holes. For example, in Endgame, a rat somehow frees Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) from the Quantum Realm, and Marvel expects everyone to accept it because it's part of Doctor Strange's one way to defeat Thanos.

Though it's a convenient trick, it's not very believable. Out of more than 14 million scenarios, was there really only one where the Avengers win in Avengers: Endgame? What if Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) didn't punch Thanos in Infinity War, allowing Spider-Man (Tom Holland) to remove Thanos' Infinity Gauntlet? Or what about the Avengers gathering the Infinity Stones before Thanos reduces them to atoms, saving the heroes from multiple trips through time? Likewise, it seems there must be another way besides the TVA to stop the Multiversal War in Loki. Interestingly, Lady Loki doesn't go along with the Kang variant's "only way," killing him instead. So if there is another way, the Avengers better figure it out.

More: The MCU Revealed How Kid Loki Killed Thor - Theory Explained

Loki will return in season 2.

Key Release Dates