Episode 3 of Loki Season 2 kicks off with a captivating scene, where Renslayer materializes amidst the bustling streets of Chicago, Illinois, a stunning throwback to the year 1868. Miss Minutes, her faithful companion, accompanies her, elucidating that Renslayer's mission involves depositing a mysterious package through a window. This enigmatic task, she reveals, stems from a contingency plan devised by their variant of Kang, even as he foresaw his own demise. The innocent recipient, a young boy, unwittingly unwraps the package to uncover the TVA handbook, setting into motion a chain of events.
Back at the TVA, OB divulges a dire situation: the branches Dox had meticulously pruned are now resurgent, burgeoning with new life. Consequently, the Loom's intake ring struggles to accommodate this influx, its capacity strained to the limit. OB emphasizes the urgency to augment the Loom's capabilities, lest they be overwhelmed by the proliferating timelines.
However, a roadblock emerges: Miss Minutes, who holds administrative keys to the TVA's innermost sanctums, is absent, stranded in the past. To unlock the system's secrets, they must locate the one who crafted it—a feat that seems impossible, for he is none other than the late, lamented He Who Remains.
Mobius and Loki, undeterred, traverse the temporal landscape to arrive in Chicago, ten years removed from Renslayer and Miss Minutes' initial appearance, in 1893. Their hunch leads them to the World's Fair, a pivotal juncture in history, where they suspect the duo's machinations are unfolding.
Their investigation yields intriguing clues: Renslayer's presence is hinted at in the local newspaper under the alias 'Ghost Clock,' while an exhibition titled "Temporal Marvels" catches their eye as a likely rendezvous point. Sneaking through the crowds, they spy Renslayer, seemingly ageless and in possession of Miss Minutes, oblivious to the watchful eyes of Mobius and Loki.
The stage is set for a thrilling confrontation, as the intricate web of time manipulation and power struggles unfolds before our very eyes.
As they observe, Kang's variant, the youthful prodigy from the episode's dawn, stands triumphantly on stage, now a seasoned figure, his years etched on every line. He proclaims time as the cornerstone of all that is yet to come, flaunting his Temporal Loom with the air of a magician revealing his greatest trick. His ambition: to illuminate the entire fabric of existence with this extraordinary device.
Mobius, witnessing the Loom's awe-inspiring potential, is convinced of the urgency to reclaim this individual for the TVA's sake. Loki, however, is horrified, his voice ringing with alarm as he argues against such a perilous plan. Renslayer shares his dismay, yet her reasons diverge; she recognizes the inevitable fate of this man—he is destined to morph into Kang, a threat beyond measure.
Amidst this tense standoff, Renslayer, Loki, and Mobius converge outside, their bodies taut with determination as they grapple for control over the enigmatic Timely. He, a master of deception and guile, dismisses their efforts with a shrug, mocking the era's inability to keep pace with his boundless creativity.
The chase intensifies, and just when it seems chaos will consume all, Sylvie bursts onto the scene, sword in hand, her eyes ablaze with a single-minded purpose—to end Timely's existence. Loki, quick to react, intercepts her, his words a plea as he explains the Loom's dire importance to the TVA, on the brink of collapse, and Timely's pivotal role in averting disaster. Sylvie's warning is sharp, her conviction unwavering: aligning with him spells doom.
In the maelstrom, Timely finds himself cast adrift, ejected from the Ferris wheel's embrace into the fray. Then, with a sudden, ominous turn, Miss Minutes materializes, her form towering over all, unleashing a rampage that scatters the masses like leaves before a gale. The stage is set for a confrontation that will test the limits of loyalty, reason, and the very fabric of time itself.
Loki and Mobius opt to depart, leaving Renslayer and Miss Minutes to engage in a private discourse with Timely, delving into the intricacies of the timeline and the enigmatic origins of the TVA itself, crafted by Timely's hand. Renslayer vows to safeguard him, while Miss Minutes divulges that she is a product of his creation. Yet, Timely steadfastly refuses to budge until he retrieves his prototype, a testament to his unwavering dedication.
Embarking on a vessel, Timely reminisces about receiving the guidebook as a child, a revelation that it was Renslayer who had bestowed it upon him. His most profound discovery, however, lies in the Throughput Multiplier, a potential game-changer in unraveling the Loom's mysteries.
But that very night, loyalty took a sinister turn as Miss Minutes and Timely treacherously abandoned Renslayer, casting her adrift in a dinghy. Victor Timely, undaunted, returns to his sanctuary, where Miss Minutes opts to steer clear of the TVA's radar, choosing concealment over confrontation. Timely, sensing her impending betrayal, decides to dispose of her, only to be interrupted by Renslayer's reappearance. She asserts her dominance, restoring the partnership's authoritarian structure.
Loki and Mobius soon arrive, imploring Renslayer to reconsider her path, but she retorts, insisting that she is the linchpin upholding order amidst the chaos. Just then, Sylvie storms in, unleashing a verdant shockwave that echoes through the chamber, her sword poised to strike Timely. Yet, mercy triumphs as she spares him, swayed by his plea that he is no longer the man who wrought havoc upon millions. Sylvie leaves Renslayer to ponder her fate, while Loki and Mobius escort Timely back to the TVA's confines.
As for Sylvie, she propels Renslayer through a portal, hurtling her towards the End of Time, a desolate realm where Kang lies lifeless and the fabric of existence teeters on the brink of collapse. Renslayer, unfazed, summons Miss Minutes from her TemPad, who teases with revelations that may unsettle even Renslayer herself—secrets that promise to ignite a tempest of emotions.
