Loki (1.4) Episode Recap: Alone But Never Again

As I have written for what seems like every episode recap for Loki, this show knows exactly what it wants to do with its titular character. At every turn in this show, it forces him to confront his own actions and try and decipher what that means for who he is and can be. Whether or not the payoff will come for the latter half of that thematic statement is to be determined, but the show has done a good job exploring the first half. The majority of this past week’s episode explored Sylvie’s story, which emphasized the storyteller’s commitment to exploring all aspects of who Loki is and starting to explore who he could become.

“You are alone, and you always will be.”

Through all the Marvel movies, Loki’s most significant and meaningful relationship was with Thor. In the opening moments of this past week’s episode, that may not be as true. Sylvie and Loki were bonded in the previous episode by necessity. In the beginning of this episode, that bond deepens as they both start to accept their demise. Much of the rest of the episode focuses on exactly what brought Sylvie to this moment, particularly her first interaction with the TVA. It turns out that she has grown up on the run from the TVA after being taken as a child. The most callous reveal comes as Ravonna cannot even remember what Sylvie’s original offense was when she is asked.

The most interesting part of this backstory is how it draws parallels between the two Lokis. They are both outcasts. In that isolation of growing up alone under the backdrop of nexus events though, Sylvie manages to become her own distinct Loki. One that wasn’t lucky enough to have a supportive mom like the Loki we know. She had to learn things on her own and figure out how to survive on her own. When Loki first meets Sylvie, it’s clear that she is used to being alone and having to survive that way. Over time though, both Sylvie and Loki start to soften. As they bond, they become more than who they once were. Loki is driven by more than just mischief and attention. Naturally, as soon as this occurs, tragedy strikes. To push Sylvie and Loki further, they must truly be tested. Loki is a god that has been killed many times over, after all.

While this episode certainly has some of the show’s most affecting moments between Loki’s realization of love for Sylvie, Mobius and Loki’s trust and friendship, and even Ravonna’s internal struggles, all of this gives way to the mid-credits scene that sets the stage for a wild final two episodes to the show’s first season. When Loki is pruned, there is a moment of shock. It’s replaced by Sylvie’s controlled rage toward Ravonna, but you can feel pain bubbling beneath the surface. The same is true of the audience at this point. The show doesn’t make you wait long before letting you know that pruning does not mean killing, however. Loki wakes up and is surrounded once again by variants of himself that have also been pruned. Now they have to make it out of wherever they may be. This also definitely means that Loki is going to insist on finding Mobius and even though the show did foretell that a bit, it will certainly build to a delightful reunion between the pair of friends.

“You can be whoever you want to be. Whatever you want to be. Even someone good. Just in case someone ever told you different.”