In Marvel’s Loki, despite the centrality of his variants to the plot, Kang’s name hasn’t been referenced. The latest explanation by Marvel for this intentional omission has shed light on the genius behind this decision. While characters like He Who Remains and Victor Timely have played significant roles in Season 2, the deliberate avoidance of Kang’s name in the script has a profound significance, as revealed in the recent episode.
Titled “Science/Fiction,” Episode 5 of Loki Season 2 marked a pivotal moment as Loki mastered his Time Slipping abilities, granting him the power to traverse any timeline at will. This newfound capability places him and the TVA in a better position to address the Temporal Loom’s catastrophic overload and subsequent explosion. As the series approaches its finale, the upcoming episode is expected to lay the groundwork for Kang, despite the villain’s conspicuous absence from the narrative thus far.
Loki Season 2’s initial five episodes have notably refrained from mentioning Kang
Season 2 of #Loki has really delivered on the Kang content so far! I’m hoping to see a solid conclusion to this storyline in the finale and hopefully a glimpse at what the future may hold for this character’s arc. pic.twitter.com/gn0Oq1Di46
— Block A ⚡️ (@VillainousComix) November 6, 2023
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Loki’s Season 2 objective ostensibly revolves around safeguarding the TVA and preventing a multiversal conflict instigated by various Kang variants. Surprisingly, the characters have skillfully avoided explicitly mentioning Kang’s name, instead engaging with He Who Remains and Victor Timely, who are both iterations of Kang. While He Who Remains remains the primary focus in Loki, the absence of Kang’s true name throughout the series remains notable.
Every major Kang variant has already died on screen. #Loki pic.twitter.com/3wxXToSH3l
— New Rockstars (@NewRockstars) November 1, 2023
In a similar vein, even in Season 1, the show circumvented directly referring to Kang, with the enigmatic He Who Remains hinting at his persona by dubbing himself a “conqueror.” Consequently, the characters refrain from uttering the name “Kang,” being solely acquainted with “He Who Remains” and his various iterations. However, there exists a more profound reason for the deliberate omission of Kang’s name from the script—it signifies that Loki’s narrative doesn’t revolve around him.
The scene from #Loki had the announcement soundtrack of Avengers Kang Dynasty & Secret Wars 🥶🔥 pic.twitter.com/SfqBkAq2yJ
— G ツ (@suryashanjay) October 30, 2023
If Loki becomes the God of Stories and Avenger Prime and has to recruit new avengers for the Secret War/Avengers film then Sylvie could act as his right hand just as Ravonna did for Kang during their version of the multiversal war pic.twitter.com/Ddkl6qjfyv
— Jex 💚 SYLKI IS BACK (@jexendo) November 5, 2023
Loki Season 2 is about the titular character and not Kang
In Season 2, Episode 5 of Loki, the central theme revolves around Loki’s newfound ability to shape his narrative. This pivotal episode showcases the titular character’s profound transformation, representing one of the MCU’s most significant redemption arcs. Through a journey of self-discovery, Loki realizes the depth of his affection for his companions and breaks free from the perceived fate shared by all Loki variants—that they are destined for failure. He Who Remains serves as a surrogate for Kang, the primary antagonist of the Multiverse Saga, ensuring that Loki’s self-realization takes centre stage without interference.
So apparently the council of Kangs weren’t talking about the variant in QUANTUMANIA they were talking about KANG prime in #Loki 😮 pic.twitter.com/pHDTlFbeMg
— CINEHOUSE 🤩 (@itscinehouse) October 29, 2023
He’s literally the God of Stories now, just like in the comics. He’s growing into his power. It’s why there have been so many references to him being a god this season. Every episode in S2 has planted the seeds for it. It’s not science; it’s fiction, and Loki holds the pen now.
— Alisha Grauso (@AlishaGrauso) November 4, 2023
My #MCU Time Keepers theory
Kang: the variant that conquers all time
Loki: god of stories variant
Ouroboros: sole variant
My thought process is viewing who’s integral for every Multiverse reset in #Loki and evaluating who the 4 yet now 3 statues in the Citadel represent. pic.twitter.com/I3E1grCosz
— 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐋 (@iisneel) November 5, 2023
As the Loki Season 2 finale approaches, the question remains whether the series will deviate from its established pattern and bring Kang into the forefront, contributing to the buildup toward the climactic team-up movie, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. Regardless, the series has effectively conveyed that Loki, now embracing the role of the “God of Stories,” has left a significant mark on the Multiverse Saga, all without directly involving Kang. This accomplishment underscores Loki’s status as a gratifying and impactful addition to the MCU, solidifying the character as one of its most beloved.
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