WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Loki, Episode 2, "The Variant," streaming now on Disney+.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) has proven time and again that anything he says can't be taken at face value. In the show's premiere episode, Loki is apprehended by the Time Variance Authority, keepers of a sacred timeline that he disrupted by stealing the Tesseract in his timeline. During an escape attempt, Loki gets ahold of the Tesseract yet again and tries to leave the TVA, only to learn that the Infinity Stones don't work while in the facility. Almost immediately, Loki begins to cooperate. However, it's not for the greater good but rather to overthrow the TVA for his own means.
Following his interaction with the Tesseract, Loki's plan begins to take form. After he dispatches Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku), he stays to watch a highlight real of his future. Seeing the events of other MCU films, he learns of his mother's death, his reconciliation with his brother and father and his own death at the hands of Thanos. There is no doubt these moments affect him, but he chooses to play up his feelings and show a vulnerable side to Agent Mobius (Owen Wilson), who wants his help. Now, working with the TVA to stop another Loki variant, he has the chance to learn the inner workings of the powerful organization.
The TVA was created by the Time-Keepers. The goal of the TVA and the Time-Keepers is to maintain the sacred timeline and avoid multiple realities that could lead to another multiverse war, like the one that happened eons ago. While Loki believes this to be absurd, he quickly understands the gravity of the situation and begins to work multiple angles. Because Agent Mobius has faith in his new partner, Loki plans to use him as a means to get closer to the Time-Keepers. During Season 2, Episode 2, "The Variant," he utilizes his tactics to tells Mobius everything he wants to hear, proving his worth. By earning his trust, Loki even gets his knives back before they're taken away again by Hunter B-15.
While Loki works with the TVA, he also continuously inquires about meeting the Time-Keepers. He hides his true motivations under the guise of an eager recruit. However, he really wants to get closer to the people in charge and utilize his persuasion skills, and maybe violence, to take control of the organization. The genius in his plan is that by letting Mobius think he has control, Loki can more easily manipulate him by maintaining the reality that the seasoned agent created for himself.
By staying with Mobius and cooperating where he can, Loki meets his variant counterpart (Sophia Di Martino). However, rather than detain Lady Loki, he reveals his plan aloud and enacts his next phase: recruitment. Loki needs a second in command, and there is no better choice than another God of Mischief. But he is quickly mistaken when the variant reveals that her own plans have nothing to do with controlling the TVA but creating more realities.
For now, it is unclear if the main Loki's plan to control the organization is still on the table after meeting the other variant. But his grand plan will have even grander obstacles to overcome for success. This timeline's Loki never tried to kill Hela or Thanos and has failed at attempts to destroy Jotunheim and conquer Earth. Making the TVA his next target shows his creativity and drive to overcome failure as he tries to complete his most ambitious scheme yet.
Loki stars Tom Hiddleston, Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Wunmi Mosaku, Sophia Di Martino, Richard E. Grant, Sasha Lane, and Eugene Cordero. New episodes air Wednesdays on Disney+.