Why Loki Can't Ride Backwards On Trains (& Why It's Important)

Caution: spoilers for Loki ahead

Tom Hiddleston not wanting to ride backwards on a train reveals crucial details about his character in the latest installment of Sylvie (a.k.a. Lady Loki) to work together after becoming stranded on the ill-fated moon of Lamentis-1. A stolen TVA pad is their only hope of surviving the oncoming cataclysm, but the device needs charging (nice to see that problem still exists in the future), and the only power source is the Lamentis evacuation ark. The two Lokis blag their way aboard a train heading for the escape ship, and it's here they learn more about one another.

In a curious scene, however, Loki gets picky about where he sits. As he and Sylvie find a booth, Loki asks to sit facing the direction of travel, anxiously telling his companion "I can't go backwards on a train." Sylvie replies, refusing to sit with her back to the door and leaving Loki no option but to travel uncomfortably in reverse.

Not being able to travel backward is a fairly common problem for a great many people. The sensation of moving in reverse at high speed is disorientating because the acceleration pulls a enger out from their seat, whereas moving forward pushes you snug to the chair. The former requires physical compensation to remain steady. When riding a train backward, it's also trickier for the brain to subconsciously predict the carriage's course, and these unpredictable movements cause motion sickness. It's all about maintaining balance, which is why Thanos travels by personal helicopter instead.

Loki and Sylvie on train in Lamentis in Loki

More interesting than the ins and carrot-filled outs of motion sickness is what the exchange says about Loki and Sylvie as variants of each other. Sylvie claims to sit facing forward because she's keeping exits and entrances covered like a true warrior but, as Loki duly points out, their carriage has doors on both sides. This might suggest Sylvie is lying - she suffers motion sickness just like Loki, and that's why she quickly sits down in the forward seat and refuses to move, making up some excuse about doors to hide her true reason.

That Loki readily announces his dislike of traveling backwards while Sylvie lies about it reveals much about their respective personalities. Loki at this point in his MCU career remains in his arrogant "God King" mindset. A lifetime of Thor movie by acknowledging his brother was the strongest of the two. After all, what's one or two weaknesses to someone as wonderful as the God of Mischief.

Sylvie's lie bears the hallmarks of a very different mindset. By concealing her motion sickness problem she's instinctively hiding a weakness from a potential enemy. A lifetime on the run would naturally make Sylvie cautious and distrustful compared to the relatively pampered Loki, and she confirms as much by pointedly calling her alternate self a "prince." Refusing to be open about her weaknesses is a symptom of a harsher life, but might also imply that Loki trusts Sylvie far more than Sylvie trusts Loki.

If Sylvie and Loki do both suffer the same nauseous affliction, the two variants might be more similar than either cares to it. Loki episode 3 hints toward this when Sylvie uses her crown as a weapon (as Loki did in Thor: Ragnarok), and even more shared traits could emerge in future episodes.

More: Loki: Every MCU Easter Egg In Episode 3

Loki episodes release every Wednesday on Disney+.