Loki Villain Identity: Every Clue To The Twist

WARNING: Spoilers for Loki season 1, episode 6, "For All Time. Always."

The Loki season 1 finale revealed Kang the Conquerer to be the true villain behind the Time Variance Authority — but what were all the clues leading up to the twist? Throughout the Disney+ series, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) have been in search of the person behind the TVA in hopes of taking it down from the inside. After traveling through the Void and defeating Alioth with the help of various Loki variants, the pair faced the looming Citadel at the End of Time on their own.

In Loki episode 6, they find He Who Remains (Jonathan Majors), a man with an uncanny ability to evade Sylvie's blade and who is–but also isn't–Kang the Conquerer. He Who Remains reveals that he is able to do this because he has seen everything that is going to happen. In the 31st century, Kang was a scientist who discovered alternate universes. While discussions with his own variants started amicably, it soon turned into all-out war, as He Who Remains says some of his variants are serious villains. While the episode never outright confirms that He Who Remains is Kang the Conqueror, he mentions that some call him a "conqueror," and that some of his variants are not as nice as he is.

Using this ability, the man created the TVA and the Time-Keepers in order to prevent a war between the multiverses. With the TVA as a front, He Who Remains pruned anyone who put the Sacred Timeline at risk in order to prevent his own variants from waging war between themselves once again. But He Who Remains wasn't able to remove all evidence of his existence — here's every clue throughout Loki that hinted at his identity.

Alioth

When Loki was sent to the Void, the other variants were quick to warn him of the beast who rules over the domain: Alioth. The living storm devours all that crosses his path, leaving nothing but ruins in its wake. It takes the power of Loki and Sylvie united and Richard E. Grant's Classic Loki with an assist to take down the mighty beast. He Who Remains explains that Alioth appeared during the multiversal war, but in the comics, Alioth served as Kang the Conquerer's greatest foe. Alioth rules a large portion of Limbo, the land time travelers like Kang use to move along the timeline. Because Alioth eats temporal energy, time travelers like Kang are incredibly appetizing. Throughout the comics, Alioth and Kang are locked in a battle over the land of Limbo, fighting for control of the timeline. Alioth's appearance in Loki episode 5 was a big predictor of Kang's impending arrival; where Alioth haunts, Kang the Conquerer is soon to follow.

Kang's Citadel

Loki Episode 6 Loki and Sylvie Outside the Citadel

After Sylvie touches Alioth in Loki episode 5, she has a vision of a citadel just behind Alioth. After Sylvie and Loki enchant the beast, it clears the path to what lies behind him: the Citadel at the End of Time. This was yet another clue to Kang's arrival. In the comics, Kang rules over the city of Chronopolis from a massive citadel, both of which exist outside of time in Limbo. Sylvie's vision even showed the citadel in blues, purples, and greens, which mimic Kang's original coloration in the comics. The citadel in Loki ends up as a hybrid of Kang's citadel and the Citadel at the End of Time, where He Who Remains lived in the comics. The Citadel at the End of Time made its first appearance in Thor #245.

Ravonna Renslayer

In Loki, Ravonna Renslayer is a ruthless and meticulous judge for the TVA, to which she is viciously loyal. However, Ravonna's very existence was a hint at Kang's involvement in the series. In the comics, Ravonna is Kang's greatest love and greatest nemesis; and Marvel comic book readers have been awaiting Kang's arrival since Ravonna was first introduced. After Kang attempted to take over her kingdom in the comics, Ravonna swore she detested Kang and that she did not return his feelings and their tumultuous relationship began from there. While their relationship might be different in Loki than it was in the comics, the two characters are as intertwined as Kang and Alioth. With both Ravonna and Alioth starring in the series, Kang's appearance was nearly guaranteed.

Kang The Conqueror Statue

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania before his surprise appearance in the Loki finale. At the end of the episode, the statue that remains in the alternate TVA is only the statue of Kang, revealing who is truly in charge of the TVA.

Qeng Enterprises

Qeng Tower in the Void from Loki episode 5

The Void in Loki episode 5 was filled with Marvel Easter eggs, one of which was a decimated Avengers Tower which has been renamed as Qeng Tower. In a 2015 comic run, Tony Stark ends up selling his famous building to Qeng Enterprises. Qeng Enterprises is run by the mysterious CEO Mr. Gryphon, who ends up being a variant of Kang who was trapped in the 21st century, making the tower yet another hint at Kang's interference in the Loki universe.

Jonathan Majors Cast As Kang The Conqueror

In December of 2020, Kevin Feige announced that Jonathan Majors would be taking on the role of Kang the Conqueror for Ant-Man 3 (2023). People online speculated that the early announcement meant Majors would be making a surprise appearance in an earlier project, and when Loki featured timeline mischief, it was a solid bet that Kang would be appearing in Loki despite Majors's denial. Now, it's clear why Majors was signed on so early ahead of Ant-Man 3 — to give him time to film his appearance in Loki.

Next: Loki: Every MCU Easter Egg In Episode 6

Loki will return for season 2 on Disney+.