Thor: Love and Thunder trailer shows that Loki will never be forgotten by Thor, or the films for that matter. Like many other loved MCU characters, Loki died during the Infinity War. In his last moments he turned to good, and he, unfortunately, paid for it. In a very small blink-and-you'll-miss-it scene, the mighty Thor pays perfect homage to his long-gone brother.
The first trailer for Love and Thunder showcased a heartbreaking Avengers: Infinity War detail which made reference to Loki and his memory, and now the second trailer shows further evidence that Thor's brother is there in spirit. The trailers hint at a spiritual journey for Thor, where he battles with more inward emotions rather than fighting battles down on Earth. This would, of course, mean that he will have to face the grief of all the people he's lost over the years, which he seems to be coping with in a unique way.
In the comedic scene where Zeus attempts to flick off Thor's disguise, he instead leaves him naked. The scene is played for laughs, but it reveals a sentimental tattoo on Thor's back. Upon closer inspection, it appears that Thor has gotten a fairly large tattoo of Loki's helm, which takes up almost his whole back, to commemorate Loki's tragic death. To go along with it are the words 'RIP LOKI' in Nordic font, with a broken heart underneath for good measure.
The reveal, and the contents of the tattoo, are showcased in Love and Thunder in the most farcical way, in true Taika Waititi style. Waititi was tasked with the handling of Loki's death, a truly beloved character of the MCU, and does so in equal parts stupidity and sensitivity. He perfectly understands Thor's fragile mental state and his child-like, manic approach to how he would cope with his grief. At its core, the premise of Thor wanting to get something permanent to memorialize his brother is very heartwarming, especially since he appears to have no tattoos for his mother, Frigga, or his powerful all-father, Odin. Despite their conflicts, Thor wanted to pay tribute to his brother, and in his (traumatized) brain, this gaudy tattoo was the best way to do that. The premise is touching, but the execution of the huge back-piece, as well as the cartoony broken heart, means that the display is inherently funny and a little silly.
Waititi is aware that he can have a somewhat nonchalant approach to Loki's death, as the character still exists in some form to audiences in his own show, MCU character variants now being introduced thick and fast, it is plausible that Thor could meet a variant Loki someday, possibly in Thor: Love and Thunder, and when that day comes, Thor would have a very gaudy tattoo to explain.
