I’m going to start this post with an unpopular opinion–the CGI towards the end of this episode was distracting. I am very particular about visuals and cinematography, and so for that reason, I am extremely anal about things along these lines. Something about the lighting on Loki and Sylvie was just off and the illusion started to fall apart for me. I also know this was not intentional, but other than that, this was a great episode! Let’s dive in.
The opening song is called “Demons” and is performed by Hayley Kiyoko. The lyrics are as follows:
Please, forgive me, I’ve got demons in my head/There’s something in the water/I don’t like the flavor, I don’t like the taste/Searching for nirvana/Something that’ll take it all away from me/Don’t bother me, my misery/It’s holding me/Won’t let me speak
Around the start of episode one, we saw the kid point to the stain glass window of the Devil, signaling that this is who gave him the gum. The song mentions “demons” who are also associated with the Devil, which I just take as a sign that someone around C-20 is evil. Now, shame on me for not picking up on the bombshell earlier because it was literally given to us in the first five minutes of this episode. If you recall, in my last post, I mentioned that all the workers at the TVA were created by the so-called Time Keepers; however, when C-20 says she remembers this place she’s in but doesn’t remember Sylvie, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MY CLUE. I’m shaking my own head at myself because I knew better. That’s why I watch these episodes twice before I come here to vent. So let’s start here. Renslayer definitely knows that everyone here is a variant. No question about it. This is probably why she’s been so secretive and evasive about people meeting the Time Keepers. And no, I don’t think Kang has anything to do with anything just yet. Logistically, Jonathan Majors has been in Santa Fe filming The Harder They Fall and before that Lovecraft Country in Georgia. Not sure he had time to come by the studio for his Marvel debut just yet. Hold off on that hope for now.
So, I take back what I said about that intro video that you see before you see Renslayer, or another judge but I think it’s just Renslayer. I think the video was created for these recruits. Now I think they only detain people who they want to work for the TVA. Otherwise, they can just reset whoever else and there would be no need to bring them back. But who makes that decision and what criteria are they using to base this decision off of? Also, notice how everyone has a different rank. For example, Chasseur C-20 seems to rank higher than Hunter B-15, played by Wunmi Mosaku, who you better remember from Lovecraft Country! Why is that? What crimes did their variants commit? I’ll keep this in mind as we continue throughout the series.
Speaking of rankings, Loki Prime and Sylvie. I can’t wait to see other similarities and differences between she and he. Loki had his adoptive mother while Sylvie says she can’t remember her mother. Loki learned magic from Frigga while Sylvie taught herself how to enchant people. I often wonder if she’s actually a variant Loki because she seems similar to Loki Prime very different, if that makes sense. With that monologue about love, a rendition of Shakespeare, I feel like they’re trying to send subliminal messages about a love between the two as well as the dagger being a mirror for them. A lot of emotions go into a romantic relationship or friendship or the like but at the center of it is you. Marinate on that. An in depth post about this is coming.
So why is this location important in the MCU? Lamentis, as I found out, was a Kree planet. Where do we know the Kree from? Captain Marvel. Now, I can feel the excitement radiating from you body but hold on a minute. What I’ve noticed about these series is that whatever happens in the series is wrapped up and leaves us wondering about how the character will progress from this point in their development. With that being said, do I think we’ll revisit Lamentis? Maybe, but I’m more inclined to believe that we will further explore Lamentis in this series and then it be left alone.
Did I miss anything? The next episode is Tom Huddleston favorite of the series….!!
BLACK WATCH 