Loki: Breaking Brad
October 13, 2023 5:24 AM - Season 2, Episode 2 - Subscribe
With the TVA on the verge of a temporal meltdown, Loki and Mobius will stop at nothing to find Sylvie.
That pie was so green I assumed it was a sentient being that would slap both of them for taking a bite.
I don't know how I feel about that McD's paid placement... it seemed like A Lot and yet also hilarious. My brain auto-assumed Sylvie was somewhere in rural Oklahoma, living her best John Cougar (not yet Mellencamp) life.
I could watch Ke Huy Quan read any physics book aloud for hours. The man's charisma is infectious; I hope he continues to get fun parts like O.B.!
But yes, it's rather depressing to realize Cosmic Genocide continues to be the TVA's most effective solution to its problems. I can't help but think they're trying to address a bigger question: What distinguishes heroic acts from villainous ones? Is it the actor? That's kind of the question Brad was asking during his interrogation scene. Or is it the scale, or maybe the nature, of the problem? Lack of effective alternative solutions? I think many would argue that the Avengers have been villains at various times in the MCU; just ask Scarlet Witch.
Honestly just want a scene of Sylvie flippantly tossing Alligator Loki some fried apple pies while they watch Grand Ole Opry together.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 6:51 AM on October 13, 2023
I don't know how I feel about that McD's paid placement... it seemed like A Lot and yet also hilarious. My brain auto-assumed Sylvie was somewhere in rural Oklahoma, living her best John Cougar (not yet Mellencamp) life.
I could watch Ke Huy Quan read any physics book aloud for hours. The man's charisma is infectious; I hope he continues to get fun parts like O.B.!
But yes, it's rather depressing to realize Cosmic Genocide continues to be the TVA's most effective solution to its problems. I can't help but think they're trying to address a bigger question: What distinguishes heroic acts from villainous ones? Is it the actor? That's kind of the question Brad was asking during his interrogation scene. Or is it the scale, or maybe the nature, of the problem? Lack of effective alternative solutions? I think many would argue that the Avengers have been villains at various times in the MCU; just ask Scarlet Witch.
Honestly just want a scene of Sylvie flippantly tossing Alligator Loki some fried apple pies while they watch Grand Ole Opry together.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 6:51 AM on October 13, 2023
Thinking about it, it would have been better if Loki had used some kind of clever trickery to get the information out of Brad. Maybe he could have used his shapeshifting powers to impersonate someone Brad trusted. Loki's supposed to be a clever schemer but he always seems to be one step behind here, and his powers aren't actually used that much.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 7:18 AM on October 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by TheophileEscargot at 7:18 AM on October 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
Maybe he could have used his shapeshifting powers to impersonate someone Brad trusted
Magic doesn't work in the TVA so he couldn't. Interesting that that rule still is in effect.
posted by fiercekitten at 7:55 AM on October 13, 2023 [4 favorites]
Magic doesn't work in the TVA so he couldn't. Interesting that that rule still is in effect.
posted by fiercekitten at 7:55 AM on October 13, 2023 [4 favorites]
Confident, in control Loki is a magnificent bastard, and I LOVE HIM.
'It's not a fair fight'.
Indeed.
posted by Faintdreams at 8:37 AM on October 13, 2023 [6 favorites]
'It's not a fair fight'.
Indeed.
posted by Faintdreams at 8:37 AM on October 13, 2023 [6 favorites]
Also X5 is a posturing coward and he sucks.
B-15 was rocking that 70's spangly look.
posted by Faintdreams at 8:39 AM on October 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
B-15 was rocking that 70's spangly look.
posted by Faintdreams at 8:39 AM on October 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
Loki, at its best, is like a good Doctor Who episode (finding joy in the everyday and weird characters being fun) and at its worst it’s like bad Star Wars (plot contrivances explained as supernatural forces and billions dying with little import). This was Loki at its best and worst, in one episode.
posted by Kattullus at 8:49 AM on October 13, 2023 [11 favorites]
posted by Kattullus at 8:49 AM on October 13, 2023 [11 favorites]
The Automat appears to only offer pie. Looking closely, I only see key lime pie. The TVA is a very weird outfit.
posted by SPrintF at 2:09 PM on October 13, 2023 [11 favorites]
posted by SPrintF at 2:09 PM on October 13, 2023 [11 favorites]
Really want a McDonalds
Really made me want 1980s McDonalds back when the food was just partly chemicals instead of mostly chemicals.
posted by Servo5678 at 3:31 PM on October 13, 2023 [4 favorites]
Really made me want 1980s McDonalds back when the food was just partly chemicals instead of mostly chemicals.
posted by Servo5678 at 3:31 PM on October 13, 2023 [4 favorites]
I'm not sure what's going on, but it's interesting?
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:19 PM on October 13, 2023
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:19 PM on October 13, 2023
Got fired from a McDonald's in the early eighties so I don't have a huge amount of affection for it... but there was a time in the mid-late eighties during which the best thing I could do in terms of eating out was two-for-one coupons for Big Macs that a local movie theater had, so there was that. And the McRib, which was relatively new at that point. Anyway, as bizarre as it seems that Sylvie would actually work at a place like that, it really is better than the TVA time-nuking entire parallel dimensions.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:06 PM on October 13, 2023
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:06 PM on October 13, 2023
Sadly the McDonalds was the freshest part of the episode.
The screenwriiting and direction were shipped stale-dated straight from the Marvel factory.
posted by fairmettle at 5:10 AM on October 14, 2023 [5 favorites]
The screenwriiting and direction were shipped stale-dated straight from the Marvel factory.
posted by fairmettle at 5:10 AM on October 14, 2023 [5 favorites]
Both Ke Huy Quan and Eugene Cordero are such rays of sunshine amid all the grim and grit.
posted by cheshyre at 8:46 AM on October 14, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by cheshyre at 8:46 AM on October 14, 2023 [8 favorites]
Current questions that need to be addressed: (in no particular order)
What was the agenda of the TVA military splinter group? ( Let's call them the TVA-b )
Where is Ravenna Renslayer and who does she answer to?
We have yet to see any evidence that a He Who Remains invasion is, infact imminent. Is it?
Who wanded/obliterated Loki during the first episode?
Was it a future version of a Loki himself? (There are some visual clues to this but they might be misdirections.)
Why was the phone ringing at the TVA in front of the elevator that Sylvie climbed out of? Who was making the call?
Who were B-15 and Mobius before they became TVA Agents and how long ago was that ?
How old is OB ?
Who was OB before the TVA?
posted by Faintdreams at 9:49 AM on October 14, 2023 [3 favorites]
What was the agenda of the TVA military splinter group? ( Let's call them the TVA-b )
Where is Ravenna Renslayer and who does she answer to?
We have yet to see any evidence that a He Who Remains invasion is, infact imminent. Is it?
Who wanded/obliterated Loki during the first episode?
Was it a future version of a Loki himself? (There are some visual clues to this but they might be misdirections.)
Why was the phone ringing at the TVA in front of the elevator that Sylvie climbed out of? Who was making the call?
Who were B-15 and Mobius before they became TVA Agents and how long ago was that ?
How old is OB ?
Who was OB before the TVA?
posted by Faintdreams at 9:49 AM on October 14, 2023 [3 favorites]
Both Ke Huy Quan and Eugene Cordero are such rays of sunshine amid all the grim and grit.
I am so glad that Eugene Cordero seems to be getting more screen time this season. And Ke Huy Quan is so darn great--I can't think of another actor I'd have wanted to join this cast.
posted by MrBadExample at 12:28 PM on October 14, 2023 [2 favorites]
I am so glad that Eugene Cordero seems to be getting more screen time this season. And Ke Huy Quan is so darn great--I can't think of another actor I'd have wanted to join this cast.
posted by MrBadExample at 12:28 PM on October 14, 2023 [2 favorites]
I enjoyed this episode. I loved the trip back to retro McDonald’s.
At one point in the episode, my son piped up and said “Wait, he was in The Goonies!” about Ke Huy Quan. He said he recognized his voice.
posted by Fleebnork at 3:39 PM on October 14, 2023 [2 favorites]
At one point in the episode, my son piped up and said “Wait, he was in The Goonies!” about Ke Huy Quan. He said he recognized his voice.
posted by Fleebnork at 3:39 PM on October 14, 2023 [2 favorites]
Really made me want 1980s McDonalds back when the food was just partly chemicals instead of mostly chemicals.
I served time in our suburban McDonalds in the mid-80's. Of all the things that impressed me, was that an Egg McMuffin was actually made of food. And if you're working grill, it's trivial to whip up a quarter pounder with cheese and GRILLED onions.
The McDonald's set and Sylvie's uniform were just perfect.
posted by mikelieman at 5:16 PM on October 14, 2023
I served time in our suburban McDonalds in the mid-80's. Of all the things that impressed me, was that an Egg McMuffin was actually made of food. And if you're working grill, it's trivial to whip up a quarter pounder with cheese and GRILLED onions.
The McDonald's set and Sylvie's uniform were just perfect.
posted by mikelieman at 5:16 PM on October 14, 2023
At one point in the episode, my son piped up and said “Wait, he was in The Goonies!” about Ke Huy Quan. He said he recognized his voice.
During this episode, my viewing partner and I had an unresolved discussion of whether he retained his accent after immigrating to the US at age 8 or if he perhaps has a minor speech impairment, although the following quote appears to show that he simply chooses to lean in to his accent:
posted by fairmettle at 3:56 AM on October 15, 2023
During this episode, my viewing partner and I had an unresolved discussion of whether he retained his accent after immigrating to the US at age 8 or if he perhaps has a minor speech impairment, although the following quote appears to show that he simply chooses to lean in to his accent:
"Given the choice of playing along or protesting, I played along. I’m great at the Asian accent as minstrelry. When I do it for my white friends even today, it never fails to bring a laugh."Given the plethora of racist tropes in Indiana Jones: Temple of Doom, it wouldn't be surprising if his voice played a part in his originally being cast in the role of Short Round, though he has recently defended the film.
posted by fairmettle at 3:56 AM on October 15, 2023
I think that quote is by the writer of the article and not Quan.
posted by misozaki at 4:58 AM on October 15, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by misozaki at 4:58 AM on October 15, 2023 [5 favorites]
Didn't like this episode or the previous one. The writing is really confusing to me, it's like they're gluing some action scenes and some plot points together in a way that doesn't make sense. X5 was on a mission to do what now? And he's who? Why do we care? The first season had some of that writing problems too but all the production design and world building was so novel that carried the show. But now in season 2 it's just more of the same TVA so the story really needs to be stronger to hold the show up.
Also unhappy with "torture the prisoner to get information" as a central plot point. Maybe it'd be OK for Loki to do it if it's a return to evil Loki (boy I miss him). But Mobius is supposed to be the good guy, having him cooperate in the torture thing was gross.
Finally I'm uncomfortable with Ouroboros' shtick. The character is really interesting and the name is highly suggestive. But the goofy comedy acting is making me cringe. Particularly weird since Quan just had such a fantastic turn in Everything Everywhere All at Once and showed such range. Maybe he'll still have room to do more.
posted by Nelson at 6:20 AM on October 15, 2023 [3 favorites]
Also unhappy with "torture the prisoner to get information" as a central plot point. Maybe it'd be OK for Loki to do it if it's a return to evil Loki (boy I miss him). But Mobius is supposed to be the good guy, having him cooperate in the torture thing was gross.
Finally I'm uncomfortable with Ouroboros' shtick. The character is really interesting and the name is highly suggestive. But the goofy comedy acting is making me cringe. Particularly weird since Quan just had such a fantastic turn in Everything Everywhere All at Once and showed such range. Maybe he'll still have room to do more.
posted by Nelson at 6:20 AM on October 15, 2023 [3 favorites]
The Automat appears to only offer pie. Looking closely, I only see key lime pie. The TVA is a very weird outfit.
I loved that set design with the little Pies Pies Pies signs and all the green. I almost don't care about the plot as long as I keep getting uncanny valley brutalist/modernist TVA. I'm all for the current return to that trend.
This seems like a good excuse to link of my fav articles about Loki design here.
posted by warriorqueen at 6:39 PM on October 15, 2023 [8 favorites]
I loved that set design with the little Pies Pies Pies signs and all the green. I almost don't care about the plot as long as I keep getting uncanny valley brutalist/modernist TVA. I'm all for the current return to that trend.
This seems like a good excuse to link of my fav articles about Loki design here.
posted by warriorqueen at 6:39 PM on October 15, 2023 [8 favorites]
Who was OB before the TVA?
I wonder if he's a variant of Kang, though I don't really want him to be. But showing alternate Kangs played by different actors would be a convenient way for Marvel to dissociate itself from Jonathan Majors.
posted by whir at 7:16 PM on October 15, 2023 [4 favorites]
I wonder if he's a variant of Kang, though I don't really want him to be. But showing alternate Kangs played by different actors would be a convenient way for Marvel to dissociate itself from Jonathan Majors.
posted by whir at 7:16 PM on October 15, 2023 [4 favorites]
"Given the choice of playing along or protesting, I played along. I’m great at the Asian accent as minstrelry. When I do it for my white friends even today, it never fails to bring a laugh."
I think that quote is by the writer of the article and not Quan.
This is correct. Film critic Walter Chaw has written quite extensively on experiencing Western pop culture through the lens of the Asian-American experience.
The article linked above, about Chaw's lifelong uneasy relationship with the image of Asian-American identity projected by Quan as an '80s kid actor (indeed, Chaw's long-standing Twitter profile pic has been a line drawing of Short Round), is about how Chaw eventually came to recognize the humanity and dignity that Quan brought to an admittedly stereotypical ethnic kid-sidekick role, and the throughline that can be drawn between that and his Academy Award-winning role in Everything Everywhere All At Once.
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:30 AM on October 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
I think that quote is by the writer of the article and not Quan.
This is correct. Film critic Walter Chaw has written quite extensively on experiencing Western pop culture through the lens of the Asian-American experience.
The article linked above, about Chaw's lifelong uneasy relationship with the image of Asian-American identity projected by Quan as an '80s kid actor (indeed, Chaw's long-standing Twitter profile pic has been a line drawing of Short Round), is about how Chaw eventually came to recognize the humanity and dignity that Quan brought to an admittedly stereotypical ethnic kid-sidekick role, and the throughline that can be drawn between that and his Academy Award-winning role in Everything Everywhere All At Once.
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:30 AM on October 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
Loki, at its best, is like a good Doctor Who episode
Heh. Partner and I just watched this episode and the first last night. After the first was over, I looked at them and said, "That is the weirdest episode of Dr. Who I've ever watched." I was beginning to wonder if Loki would regenerate.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 8:14 AM on October 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
Heh. Partner and I just watched this episode and the first last night. After the first was over, I looked at them and said, "That is the weirdest episode of Dr. Who I've ever watched." I was beginning to wonder if Loki would regenerate.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 8:14 AM on October 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
Thinking more about the Automat, I realized it may have symbolic significance. At the TVA, there is no Polyverse of Pies. No, there is only the Sacred Pie-line and that pie is Key Lime. All other pies (coconut cream, rhubarb, apple, etc) are merely variants to be abhorred.
Looking forward now to Across the Pie-derverse in which Miles Meringue teams up with alternative Pie-men to battle Simple Simon at the Fair of All Worlds.
posted by SPrintF at 5:19 PM on October 16, 2023 [10 favorites]
Looking forward now to Across the Pie-derverse in which Miles Meringue teams up with alternative Pie-men to battle Simple Simon at the Fair of All Worlds.
posted by SPrintF at 5:19 PM on October 16, 2023 [10 favorites]
There’s a rich vein of pie-derverse ready to be mined for the MCU.
posted by The Man from Lardfork at 9:06 PM on October 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by The Man from Lardfork at 9:06 PM on October 16, 2023 [3 favorites]
I thought that link was going to take me to a this piderverse.
posted by MiraK at 1:23 PM on November 15, 2023
posted by MiraK at 1:23 PM on November 15, 2023
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by TheophileEscargot at 5:29 AM on October 13, 2023