If fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe thought it would slow down after Phase 3, the array of series on Disney+ soon put that notion to rest. And while each series made an impact in its own way, none of them singlehandedly shifted the fabric of the MCU the way Loki did. The God of Mischief became a fan favorite the moment he appeared in the original Thor, and news that he would be starring in his own series was a cause for celebration among Marvelites. Little did anyone know that the series would upend the very fabric of the MCU, and that Loki’s antics would result in the creation of the Multiverse which looks to play a huge role in the ongoing development of Phase 4.
Ranking individual episodes of Loki is a challenge. Like many of the MCU Disney+ series, it was intended as a single arc, and comparisons in quality often come down to varying beats of one large storyline. That said, some episodes stand out more than others. A list of their comparative rankings follows – from worst to first – along with a brief discussion about their placement.
6. “Lamentis” (Episode 3)
Middle sections of endeavors such as Loki tend to carry the heaviest burden. They need to develop concepts and ideas that began earlier in the series while holding the biggest developments for the finale. Accordingly, “Lamentis” does a lot of water-carrying for the series. Having followed the variant Sylvie out of the TVA, Loki spends the bulk of the episode trying to size her up. It’s a necessary passage, and Loki and Sylvie's mutual bonding is played well.
But the rest of the episode seems to mark time, relying on a standard-issue apocalypse – the destruction of an alien planet – to provide the action and mayhem. It works, like most of the show, but it’s mainly a placeholder between bigger and better things.
5. “The Nexus Event” (Episode 4)
Following straight on the heels of “Lamentis,” “The Nexus Event” has a similarly uphill battle. In this case, it has to set up the final two episodes, which literally have cosmic implications while wrapping up earlier threads such as Sylvie’s conflict with the TVA. Like its predecessor, it sticks to the job at hand and doesn’t go beyond its limits, getting the series from point A to point B with the minimum possible fuss.
It gets some help from B-15 and the revelation about the TVA’s employees, as well as a mild surprise in revealing the Time-Keepers to be empty shells. That said, its most memorable moment is the mid-credits cookie, featuring the first appearance of the variant Lokis and the promise of more to come.
4. “The Variant” (Episode 2)
With the Loki’s premise explained in the first episode, “The Variant” takes some time to explore it. Loki tentatively agrees to help the TVA hunt down his murderous variant, giving his new partner Mobius time to explain more about how reality works. The story has purpose and direction, and the mystery of the variant Loki’s identity is intriguing enough to pull the episode along nicely. It benefits most from the burgeoning chemistry between Loki and Mobius, as well as letting the God of Mischief play detective as he deduces the variant’s hiding space.
3. “Glorious Purpose” (Episode 1)
The premiere episode threw both Loki and the audience headlong into an outlandish new corner of the MCU, as it follows the God of Mischief through his reality-breaking escape during the events of Avengers: Endgame. “Glorious Purpose” embraces his confusion as he finds himself in the TVA for the first time, struggling ineptly against its seemingly bottomless bureaucracy and coming to the existential realization that the power he sought all his life means nothing in this new reality. It’s a sobering moment for the character, but a promise to the audience that Loki will defy a lot of expectations.
2. “For All Time. Always.” (Episode 6)
Build-ups of the kind Loki engaged in all season can sometimes fall flat when the finale doesn’t match the hype. The MCU’s Disney+ shows haven’t had the problem, but few of them stuck the dismount like “For All Time. Always.” Loki and Sylvie confront He Who Remains in a chilling harbinger for Kang the Conqueror, and the episode ends both with the spectacular undoing of the “Sacred Timeline” and the promise of an even wilder second season as the Multiverse explodes.
1. “Journey into Mystery” (Episode 5)
A series that promised madness made good on it with the penultimate episode, as Loki finds himself at the Void at the end of time. The journey to He Who Remains takes up the bulk of the running time, but the real genius comes in the Loki variants surviving in the Void who come to the protagonist’s rescue -- topped by Richard E. Grant in a green-and-yellow outfit straight out of Jack Kirby's works and a gator Loki variant that became an instant internet sensation. It was the realization of everything Loki was supposed to be, and the ideal springboard into the franchise-changing events that followed.