Loki Finale: Fulfilling Destiny, Burdened with Glorious Purpose

Loki fulfills his destiny, transforming into the God of Stories and taking his seat on the throne, changing the multiverse forever.

Loki's journey from villain to anti-hero to hero has been a long and winding road, from his first appearance in Thor to his fate in Avengers: Infinity War and the events of Loki season one. The pivotal moment in the series comes when Odin tells both Loki and Thor, "Only one of you can ascend to the throne. But both of you were born to be kings." This quote sets the stage for the episode "Glorious Purpose."

The episode begins with Loki returning to the moment when Victor Timely (played by Jonathan Majors) is about to launch the Throughput Multiplier. A montage ensues, showing Loki's repeated attempts to guide Timely past the blast doors and launch the Multiplier. Despite his comical failures, it becomes clear that Loki is the one who should be doing it. However, Loki's selfless nature leads him to try to change everyone's fate without directly intervening. It takes Loki retracing his steps and slipping up to see the bigger picture and understand what needs to be done.

After centuries, Loki learns the ins and outs of the TVA handbook with the help of O.B. (played by Ke Huy Quan). Together, they manage to guide Timely past the blast doors and launch the Multiplier. However, they soon realize that their actions have led to an infinite rate of branching timelines, creating a scaling problem that threatens the stability of the sacred timeline. Sylvie (played by Sophia Di Martino) understands that this was her destiny as a Loki, but she feels that her fate was predetermined to fail.

Sylvie's character development in the series feels lacking, as she remains relatively unchanged throughout the season. Her decision to return to a mundane life after killing He Who Remains seems at odds with her potential as a powerful and independent character. This missed opportunity to explore Sylvie's potential is disappointing, as she could have been anything she desired with her magical abilities.

Loki attempts to reason with Sylvie and prevent the multiversal calamity, but she refuses to listen and repeatedly kills He Who Remains. As the situation becomes increasingly dire, Loki is faced with a choice: kill Sylvie to protect the sacred timeline or destroy the loom itself, risking the outbreak of multiversal wars. He ultimately decides to change the grand equation presented by He Who Remains, seeking another way to resolve the crisis.

Loki's conversation with Mobius (played by Owen Wilson) prompts him to approach Sylvie and present her with the two options. After a heartfelt discussion, Sylvie convinces Loki that it is not enough to protect one timeline if it means sacrificing free will. Together, they decide to destroy the loom and give everyone a chance to create a better future.

In a stunning sequence, Loki takes his place as the God of Stories, weaving the timelines together and holding them in place. This act changes everything, setting the stage for Phase 5 and the transformation of the TVA into a center that works to untangle and unify the timelines. The series ends with the promise of new adventures for the characters, including B-15, Casey, O.B., and Sylvie, who all deserve their own tales.

As the dust settles, Mobius reunites with his former life, and Sylvie and Loki embrace the possibilities that lie ahead. The episode concludes with Loki fulfilling his destiny as the God of Stories, holding the timelines together and shaping the future of the multiverse.