Loki: Why The Villain Should Have Been A Loki Variant

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

Lady Loki (Sophia Di Martino) finally make their way to the Citadel at the End of Time. The Citadel is home to He Who Remains (Jonathan Majors), a Kang the Conqueror variant that runs the Time Variance Authority. According to He Who Remains, the TVA is the only thing stopping an infinite amount of Kang variants from attacking the timeline. He even offers the Loki variants the chance to take over at the TVA. Loki believes the story, but Lady Loki is unmoved. The TVA took her life away, so she sends Loki to an alternate version of the TVA and kills He Who Remains. The act unleashes the Multiverse.

Before his death, He Who Remains explains the entire story of the TVA. According to the character, a Kang variant lived in the 31st century and discovered that universes were stacked on top of each other. At the same time, other Kang variants from different timelines were figuring out a similar truth. They made , and there was a momentary peace. However, Kang variants like conquering, so that didn't last. A Multiversal War broke out that threatened all of existence. To stop it, He Who Remains harnessed the power of the matter-eating monster Alioth, formed the TVA, and isolated the Sacred Timeline. He Who Remains was behind it all.

Though the finale reveals He Who Remains was the mastermind behind everything, the show often hinted it was a Loki variant. The Disney+ Marvel series firmly focuses on the God of Mischief until the last episode, which surprisingly sidelines Loki. Though the show constantly examines how Loki brings on his own problems, regularly showing the character fighting different Loki variants, the finale pulls the rug out. Instead, He Who Remains is revealed to be secretly orchestrating things. While the reveal excited some fans, it goes against the show's previous themes and could leave viewers feeling hoodwinked.

He Who Remains' Reveal Sidelined Loki Too Much

he who remains kang jonathan majors loki character poster

Through five episodes, Loki was all about the God of Mischief's journey. In the Loki premiere, Mobius (Owen Wilson) is curious about what makes a Loki tick. He breaks down Hiddleston's character until Loki finally seems to understand what drives him. He realizes he doesn't enjoy hurting people. He does it because he believes he has to. "It's part of the illusion," Loki says, adding, "It's the cruel, elaborate trick conjured by the weak to inspire fear." He even calls himself a villain, though Mobius doesn't see it that way. By the ending of Loki, the God of Mischief is deeply changed, but the finale isn't interested in it. Sure, Loki seems like he's ready to take up He Who Remains on his offer to keep the TVA running and save the universe from a Multiversal War, but he doesn't get the chance. Instead, Lady Loki sends him off to another timeline.

The finale is much more interested in what's going on with He Who Remains. In the episode, the series reveals that the Kang variant was secretly behind everything, pulling the strings at the TVA from the start. According to He Who Remains, he "paved the way" for Lady Loki and Loki to get to him in the Citadel at the End of Time. The episode also goes into a long exposition sequence where He Who Remains explains everything about the TVA. He Who Remains steals the episode, not simply because of Majors' performance, but because He Who Remains takes all the screen time. Loki doesn't have a chance to shine because the series sets him aside, going off in a completely new direction.

Loki Fighting Himself Was Established All Through The Show

Loki begins by showing how the God of Mischief is his own worst enemy. Though he had a troubled upbringing and constantly lived in Thor's (Chris Hemsworth) shadow, Loki brought most of his problems on himself. His lust for power alienated him from his family and brought pain to countless others. Moreover, Loki's constant urge for a glorious purpose did nothing but isolate him from the world. And no victory would ever be enough. By Loki episode 5, Hiddleston's character realizes the error in his ways, understanding that no amount of ruling would ever truly make him happy.

Beyond mere theme, Loki takes the concept of the God of Mischief being his own enemy literally. Throughout the show, Loki is constantly fighting different versions of himself. For example, in Loki episode 2, he squares off with people who Lady Loki has enchanted, and he takes such a beating that he quips, "I would never treat me like this." Then in Loki episode 5, numerous Loki variants brawl for who would be the ruler of the Void at the end of time. Over and over again, the show firmly establishes that Loki's greatest threat is always himself.

Why A Loki Variant Would Have Been Better Than Kang

Throughout the series, Loki seemingly hints that the God of Mischief is the big bad. For instance, the whole philosophy of the TVA matches perfectly with Loki's. In the Loki premiere, Hiddleston's character says, "For nearly every living thing, choice breeds shame and uncertainty and regret." He wants to liberate people from their freedom, which is exactly what the TVA does with the Sacred Timeline. Loki episode 4 continues the trend. In the episode, Loki has an interesting line, telling Mobius, "Of course it was me pulling the strings all along." In the moment, Loki was trying to lie to protect Lady Loki, taking credit for calling the shots in their plan to take down the TVA. However, the episode reveals that the Time-Keepers are a lie and someone else secretly rules the TVA. In doing so, the show seemingly put the line in a new context.

However, the Loki finale changes everything. Though the series stresses over and over that Loki is his own worst enemy, the final episode suddenly reveals his true nemesis is actually He Who Remains. All of the hints about Loki were seemingly meaningless. A Kang the Conqueror variant was really behind it all. There are Kang the Conqueror Easter eggs throughout Loki, but the reveal still feels like it's out of nowhere. The twist in the finale sets up the future of the MCU, as Kang the Conqueror is set to be a major Phase 4 villain; however, it also does Loki a disservice. When it comes to the God of Mischief's story, there's no bigger villain than Loki himself.

More: How Loki's Finale Confirmed An Infinity Stones Theory

Loki will return in season 2.