Sophia Di Martino's Loki Variant has proved to be one of Loki's most fascinating characters, but if this past Wednesday's episode made anything clear, it's that we still have much more to learn about her.
While she may be using the alias "Sylvie," she is a version of Loki, but certainly not the Lady Loki character from the comics. Instead, it seems Marvel Studios has borrowed several different elements from a number of characters, including the broken crown she's been wearing since we first met her.
Talking to Screen Rant, Di Martino shed some light on the significance of the crown.
"Sylvie's been on the run for a long time, she's been hiding out in apocalypses," the actress explained. "She's been brawling a lot, she's been beating a lot of people up. I think the horn is probably broken somewhere along the line. It's also, I believe, inspired by the comics and the Lady Loki character. It says a lot about Sylvie - she's wearing a crown, but it's kinda broken."
A female version of the God of Mischief did indeed wear a broken crown in the pages of Loki: Agent of Asgard, so this works as both a reference to that and as a way of showing Sylvie has been through a lot.
Based on the footage we've seen from upcoming episodes, something tells us we'll learn more about plans for Sylvie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the coming weeks.
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of the biggest reviews in yesterday's episode of Loki!
8. The Time-Keepers' Hiding Place
Mobius has never met the Time-Keepers, and while Renslayer seems to have some sort of open channel of communication with them, the three lizard-like creatures are clearly staying hidden.
There has to be a reason for that, and while the members of the TVA believe it's because they're hard at work crafting the Sacred Timeline, something tells us their motivations may be a little more sinister. Either way, we still don't know what gives them the right to decide how everyone's stories unfold, so it's no wonder Sylvie wants to destroy them (as Kang once did in the comics).
Either way, we now know that they're just an elevator ride away behind those golden doors, and that's where Loki and Sylvie will need to head if they hope to meet them. Initially, we suspected that Richard E. Grant might be playing King Loki, but now wouldn't be shocked if he's a Time-Keeper.
7. Lamentis-1
Lamentis-1 is a moon adjacent to the planet Lamentis, but in 2077, both are seemingly destroyed. We don't know what leads to that apocalypse, but the comic book version of this planet is located on the edge of Kree-controlled space (possibly meaning the humanoids we see here are, in fact, Kree).
Believe it or not, the planet has only made one appearance on the page and that was in Annihilation: Conquest Prologue #1. There, it was caught in the middle of a conflict between the Annihilation Wave and the Phalanx, so it's possible that's what led to the massive scale of destruction we see here.
If so, the Annihilation Wave may still be decades away, but it would be pretty cool if this was meant to lay the groundwork for the big screen debut of classic Fantastic Four villain Annihilus.
6. No TemPad
By the time this episode ends, the TemPad has been destroyed, and Loki and Sylvie are trapped on a moon that's about to be obliterated. Needless to say, we're expecting them to escape somehow, but it won't be with the use of one of the devices the TVA uses to travel through the Sacred Timeline.
That doesn't necessarily mean time travel is off the table, but it could be that the next couple of episodes are set in the MCU's future (which would explain how the God of Mischief ends up in a version of New York City that's seemingly been decimated by an unknown attack or disaster).
If someone is coming to rescue them, that begs the question of who, and it could be at this point in the story we learn that Sylvie is working for or with other Loki Variants who hate the Time-Keepers.
5. "Sylvie"
So, we've now mentioned Sylvie a few times here, and it's in today's episode we learn that's the "alias" the female version of Loki has decided to give herself. She's definitely a Variant, but a clear lack of willingness to elaborate on her past makes us think there's still more to her story here.
She really didn't like being called "Loki," and the reason for that is bound to be addressed in some way. Perhaps she was created by another version of the God of Mischief - which would line up with her role as Enchantress in the comic books - and that's what makes her a Variant?
The TVA deciding she doesn't deserve to exist would be more than enough to explain why she hates the Time-Keepers, though the same could be said if she is a Loki. We'll have to wait and see.
4. The God Of Mischief's Sexuality
One of the biggest moments in this episode comes when Loki reveals that he's bisexual, something many fans have been hoping to see play out in the MCU for several years now.
We've never seen the God of Mischief get a love interest in this shared world, but if a season two is coming, then that could change. Either way, we learn that Loki has loved both men and women in his past, and while he's never found true happiness with anyone, it sounds like he'd be open to it.
Marvel Studios still has a long way to go when it comes to making sure the MCU reflects our world, but this is a step in the right direction and a reveal we hope won't be quickly moved away from.
3. The Truth About The TVA
One of the biggest reveals in this episode of Loki comes when Sylvie casually mentions that the TVA's agents are all Variants. While Mobius has clearly been led to believe he was created by the Time-Keepers, the truth is much darker, and it seems these Variants have their memories taken from them and are subsequently brainwashed into towing the company like in the TVA.
That's all sorts of twisted, especially as we learn the young agent kidnapped by the female Loki has been in their service for hundreds of years despite once having a normal life on Earth.
The God of Mischief is clearly gob-smacked that the members of the TVA don't know the truth, and seeing as he's formed something of a bond with Mobius, he might just make it his mission to now set the record straight and take down the Time-Keepers. Either way, we just hope this is all leading to Mobiys finally getting the opportunity to ride a jet ski into the sunset.
2. A Multiverse Of Variants
We're starting to get a little more information about what it means to be a Variant in the MCU, and as the TVA is full of them...well, that would explain how there's a Multiverse packed with alternate versions of the heroes and villains we've grown familiar with over the past few years.
While we didn't anticipate the likes of Captain Carter and Jamie Foxx's Electro being "Variants," the idea certainly opens the door to a lot of storytelling opportunities. If the TVA can control a whole organisation made up of these alternate versions of those who stepped off the Sacred Timeline, we have a feeling the Multiverse won't fall apart if different timelines are allowed to exist.
Either way, it's clear the events of Loki will set the stage for the introduction of the sort of concepts we'll see in What If?, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
1. Romance For Loki...And Loki?
When Sylvie attempts to enchant Loki, there's an oddly touching moment that many fans have already assumed could lead to a romance between the Variants. It's a cool idea and one that would be fun to explore over the next few episodes (talk about an MCU power couple).
However, we can't help but wonder whether there's more to that scene than meets the eye. Remember, in the comic books, Sylvie was created by the God of Mischief, so what if, in her timeline, he's her adoptive father? That would be one heck of a twist, and the reason she doesn't like being called "Loki" might be because it brings back some upsetting memories of his death.
That could have even come at the hands of the TVA, and we're now wondering whether Richard E. Grant could be playing a Loki who got a happy ending, only to have it torn from him by the Time-Keepers.