Loki season 1, episode 4 review: The Nexus Event

Following the midpoint of last week’s shocking plot twist, the fourth episode of Loki has more revelations that unfold in The Nexus Event.

In last week’s chapter of Disney Plus‘ Loki series, “Lamentis”, Loki Laufeyson (Tom Hiddleston) and Sylvie Laufeydottir (Sophia Di Martino) were stranded on the distant moon of the same name in the year 2077 following the female variant’s attack on the Time Variance Authority. As the duo tried to escape, the Ark was destroyed by a meteor, leaving them with nothing to do but perish on the planet.

Threat to her very own Existence

“The Nexus Event” opens with a flashback to Asgard in an alternate universe to find a young Sylvie (Cailey Fleming) minding her own business playing with her dolls when a unit of Minutemen led by a younger Ravonna Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) apprehend her and bring her to the TVA.

During her court hearing by a judge, the young Sylvie resists arrest and manages to steal a TemPad from Renslayer and flees as the scene transitions to a present one showcasing an older Renslayer in an elevator as she descends to the chambers where the Time-Keepers reside to discuss the matter of Sylvie.

Detained by TVA Once Again

Upon meeting the Time-Keepers, Renslayer catches up with Mobius M. Mobius (Owen Wilson) in a hallway regarding the current situation at hand with Loki and Sylvie roaming around space-time. Renslayer makes Mobius aware of the situation at hand, letting him know the Time-Keepers blame her for Sylvie’s attack and subsequent escape with the Time-Variant Loki. She informs Mobius that Hunter C-20 (Sasha Lane) is dead following her enchantment. She insists Mobius locate the variant Lokis.

Meanwhile, on Lamentis-1, the meteors continue to destroy the moon and Loki with Sylvie prepare for its imminent destruction. The latter reflects on the little memories she has of Asgard and her past as a fugitive while she ponders on what makes “a Loki” – if they are predetermined to lose. Although in actual fact, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s God of Mischief put it: They are survivors.

When the meteor now begins to reach its climactic demise, the TVA led by Mobius with Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku) discovers a breach in the timeline and recovers the variants in the nick of time from a nexus spike. They each get thrown into their respective Time Theaters. Loki tries to warn Mobius the TVA have been lying to him but the Agent Analyst shrugs off his forewarnings as just another attempts to deceive him. The Minutemen then throw Loki into a Time Cell.

Time-Loops, More Revelations and Loki Variants Strike Back

While in a Time Cell, Loki encounters Sif (Jaimie Alexander) and realizes he is trapped in a time-loop crafted from his memories as Sif consistently injures him for cutting a strand of her hair.

Mobius reveals to B-15 what Loki told him about the TVA resulting in the hunter launching her own type of investigation. After Loki breaks out of his time-loop with Sif by admitting his narcissism, Mobius retrieves him from his Time Cell to interrogate the God of Mischief about Sylvie and the Nexus Event they caused back on Lamentis.

The Nexus Event

Episode 4 of Loki was by far an improvement over the previous episode – which was arguably the weakest so far in terms of pacing and narrative structure. “The Nexus Event” was brilliant in that it began to slowly unravel the mystery behind the TVA and the nature of the Sacred Timeline as the plot thickened.

The reveal that the Time-Keepers are just mere figureheads to act as a front for what is presumably a totalitarian organization controlling the fate of others had been hinted at before but that revelation proved to be one of the series’ most captivating moments.

Instead of the goofy, swashbuckling, Laufeyisms from “Lamentis”, we pivot towards what this writer was hoping for – a backlash against the idea of determinism and the fight for free will. There were some strong character moments with Loki, Sylvie and Mobius plus some really virtuous, unforeseen plot twists.

The only problem yours truly had with this episode was that some of the moments may have been a little too jarring because certain characters are slightly underdeveloped. For example, there was no sign that Renslayer – despite showing a lack of empathy – would be so ruthless, especially towards her colleague.

Moreover, a romance between Loki and Sylvie is not warranted. It all feels a bit premature when they hardly spent enough time with each other to form a platonic friendship let alone a romance.

Lastly, the problem is a lack of consistency in regards to power levels of the TVA. While the fight choreography between Loki, Sylvie, Renslayer and the Minutemen was executed fine, the TVA seem way more overpowered in this particular scene than they should be. Granted, we know the TVA is capable of bringing in the most dangerous criminal variants like Titans, Kree and Vampires with time-dilation technology, but with years of fighting experience as a Front Giant on Asgard who fought with Thor for millennia, Loki should not be overpowered by Minutemen.

It is not quite clear whether the dampeners were in effect and what level of effect do they pose to Loki, but he should be able to toss TVA units aside with his fighting prowess and abilities.

Catch Loki on Wednesdays at 12 a.m. PST and 3 a.m. EST on Disney+.

10 huge Marvel and DC comics reveals fans need to know about. dark. Next

What are your thoughts on Loki so far? Did you love this episode? Who are you rooting for this season? Let us know in the comments below!

Home/Disney Plus