“Loki” Disney+ Episode 1 Review by Brooke Daugherty : Pop Culture Leftovers

“Loki” Disney+ Episode 1 Review by Brooke Daugherty

June 10, 2021 7:33 pm |

If you are waiting to binge Disney+’s Loki series, you might want to rethink that plan. The pilot episode of Loki is just as good as the two preceding series. Loki is not a sitcom turned dramedy, nor is it an action packed spy series. It is something completely different, but still at home in the MCU.

The titular character, played by Tom Hiddleston, has long since been a fan favorite, certainly due more to Hiddleston’s performance than love for Loki’s abhorrent activities. Michael Waldron created the series for Disney+ as well as penned the first episode. He was able to take the character and expand on his story while maintaining the essence of the God of Mischief. British director Kate Herron may not be known for much more than her work on Sex Education, but her enthusiasm for the character shines through in her directing. She wanted to direct Loki so fiercely that she sent in a 60-page pitch which landed her the job over other more established directors. Based on this first episode alone, she will be in demand by the time summer is over.

If the writing and directions weren’t enough to make this a hit series, Hiddleston outdoes himself in this series. Through his appearances in three Thor films and two Avengers films, we have seen different sides to Loki. In this pilot episode, we see a full range of emotion in one scene. He skillfully transitions through each emotion as though he were teaching an acting course.

Alongside Hiddleston we have Owen Wilson as Mobius M. Mobius, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Ravonna Renslayer, Wunmi Mosaku as Hunter B-15, Eugene Cordero as Casey, and voice over legend, Tara Strong as Miss Minutes. Everyone does a great job in their parts, including Wilson. He gets a lot of flack, but he is a decent actor. Wilson’s performance as Mobius isn’t transformative, he still seems tobe Owen Wilson dropped into a situation, but he is believable in the role.

If you are bothered that Loki has been confirmed as gender fluid in the MCU or there is “too much diversity”, I implore you to not only skip this series, but also find a new fandom. The first episode was a wild ride of its own and I can’t wait to see where Waldron and Herron will take us in the coming weeks. WATCH THIS NOW.

PCL Rating: Tupperware

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: FRESH