The June 23 release of the newest installment of the Disney+ and Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Loki proved to provide the midpoint shift within the series and what fans can expect in episodes to come. The newly released series is only set to consist of six forty-minute episodes and its third episode, entitled “Lametis,” offered a new midpoint to the series’ story arc. Within the episode, audiences are able to find out more about the unidentified variant revealed at the end of episode two, the character being named Sylvie portrayed by Sophia Di Martino (Yesterday, Flowers).

In “Lamentis,” fans were greeted with the first episode not to include Owen Wilson’s (Wedding Crashers) Mobius and solely followed the battle and subsequent survival tactics of Tom Hiddleston’s (The Night Manager) titular character and Sylvie. Upon the duo’s escape of the 2050 Alabama superstore timeline into the TVA, the two combat one another due to their conflict of interest over the state of the sacred Time Keepers. Loki inevitably teleports the two with a TVA telepad and hides it before they arrive in a 2077 apocalypse in which they cannot escape without Sylvia charging the telepad that Loki has conveniently concealed. 

During this escape from the apocalypse, Loki ultimately reveals that the telepad is broken and the two must take charge of the escape vessel or arc, but ultimately become stranded due to a meteor striking down their escape. 

Loki has built its success on the development of the intricate professional relationship and occasional friendship between the God of Mischief and Wilson’s TVA agent Mobius. “Lamentis” presents the anti-hero character in a new light with an equal and possibly more evil counterpart with Sylvie. The episode does rely heavily upon the development of the on-screen chemistry between Hiddleston and Di Martino, yet it does find its successes in the comedic parallels of usage of their unique superpowers. The episode does hint at the building of respect and recognition between the two while also maintaining Di Martino’s character at a distance to maintain the dichotomy between the two nefarious individuals present within the series. 

“Lamentis” offers a unique approach to how Marvel is willing to present its timelines. For one, the series is constructed upon building and maintaining certain foundations in time to maintain the Time Keepers’ vision of the one, truly sacred timeline. The third episode’s big reveal included the realization for Loki via Sylvie that each and every TVA agent is a former variant in themselves, yet has not been made aware of this fact. The Disney+ and Marvel Studios’ original series is teasing multiple possibilities such as another third-party imprisonment scenario as fans saw with WandaVision. “Lamentis” brings further questions that revolve around the mysterious and unknown Time Keepers. Is Sylvie the true villain or are these Time Keepers in fact the antagonists holding these unwilling participants hostage? 

The midpoint of Loki provides yet another paradigm shift within the world we are slowly getting adjusted to and further confirmation of Marvel Studios’ willingness to mess around with the complex nature of time. However, regardless of the switches the series may employ, Hiddleston continues to stay true to form as a facetious but centered mischievous individual that exposes the visualization of free will within these comic book stories. 

Rating: 8.5/10