Episode 1 of Loki propels us through the annals of time, revisiting the aftermath of Loki's daring escape from the Avengers' clutches in Endgame, setting the stage in the barren expanse of the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, in the year 2012. Scarcely has Loki regained his bearings when a contingent of soldiers, claiming allegiance to the enigmatic Time Variance Authority, descends upon him, their intentions clear: to apprehend the trickster god and employ their power to slow time itself, a prelude to resetting the cosmic tapestry.
The Tesseract, a prize beyond measure, is swiftly confiscated, while Loki finds himself confined within the confines of an elevator, accompanied by a formidable four-armed automaton. His garments reduced to mere atoms, Loki is escorted to a chamber where he's compelled to attest to the veracity of his every utterance, inking his name on documents that seal his fate.
This is the Time Variance Authority, a bastion forged amidst the ashes of a colossal multiverse war, where disparate timelines clashed for supremacy. The Time Keepers, wielding their divine authority, imposed a sacrosanct timeline, a beacon of order amidst chaos. And the "variants," those unfortunates who strayed from their destined paths, find themselves at the mercy of the TVA, tasked with restoring the fabric of time to its pristine state.
The narrative then flits back to the idyllic town of Aix-En-Provence, France, in the year 1549, where a terrified young girl's voice echoes through the streets, accusing the devil of her village's plight. Her words capture the attention of the TVA, particularly Agent Mobius, as they delve into the mystery. Just as the girl's narrative unfolds, a figure materializes through a portal, presenting a dossier detailing Loki's transgressions.
Loki, now standing trial, marshals a formidable argument, challenging the notion of a sacrosanct timeline. He poignantly cites the Avengers' own meddling with time, their reckless jumps through the annals of history, as proof that even the most noble of intentions can lead to unintended consequences, shaking the foundations of the TVA's unwavering belief in the sanctity of their timeline.
It appears that the Avengers' meddling with history was a fated occurrence, granting them a pass of sorts, whereas Loki's departure from the sacred timeline was not sanctioned. Yet, his very ability to escape stems paradoxically from the Avengers' interference. Nevertheless, Loki stands convicted, his fate seemingly sealed, until Agent Mobius intervenes, stealing him a reprieve from the inevitable.
Loki, unyielding and dismissive, scoffs at the notion of the Time Variance Authority's absolute authority. As Mobius divulges his mission to hunt down perilous Variants, Loki is subjected to a montage of his life's highlights, each moment of temporal tampering met with Mobius' evasive responses, the focus steadfastly on Loki himself.
Even glimpses of Loki's future are unveiled, wherein his mother's demise is painted as a necessary evil, underscoring Loki's penchant for causing chaos and suffering to forge greatness in others. Seizing an opportunity while Mobius' attention wanes, Loki slips the bonds of his confinement, utilizing a teleportation device to seek out Casey, the befuddled desk clerk who, astonishingly, has yet to encounter a fish and possesses the Infinity Stones in his possession.
Gripping the Tesseract, Loki ponders the TVA's claim to ultimate power, his skepticism growing. Returning to the chamber where he was first confronted by Mobius, Loki witnesses his own demise at the hands of Thanos, a grim finale to his timeline. Soon, Mobius appears, shedding light on the truth: the Variant they've been relentlessly pursuing is none other than Loki himself.
The scene shifts to Oklahoma, 1858, where the TVA descends upon their quarry. A hooded figure, its identity veiled, casts a lantern to the ground, igniting a conflagration as it stands by, watching the world burn. Could it be? The figure, surely, must be Loki.
