Loki! (spoiler thread)

[JEB]

So, Timeline Variance is a Thing, it has an energy signature and can be traced. And we've seen what the temporal reset charges do - they nuke the entire area, but selectively. One would presume that they do so by only targeting people and objects which have a variance signature.

I think the implication is that the charges blitz everything in a small area, so if a person is in the area when the charge drops their entire timeline gets erased thus causing the anomalies

I gathered that the charges disintegrate the entire section of the timeline allowing it to heal. Enough simultaneously disintegrated sections could cause a lot of trouble.

Based on this article, it sounds like the fact that we're not clear exactly how Reset Charges work is a plot point...

It does now seem pretty clear that alt-Loki intends to break the "Sacred Timeline" and bring back a multiverse (apparently by deleting various sections of it and forcing divergences). The question is, to what end?

 

[Maxperson]

Based on this article, it sounds like the fact that we're not clear exactly how Reset Charges work is a plot point...

It does now seem pretty clear that alt-Loki intends to break the "Sacred Timeline" and bring back a multiverse (apparently by deleting various sections of it and forcing divergences). The question is, to what end?

That article says what I said, though. Loki says that it disintegrates the "infected" portion of the timeline, which Mobius confirmed. The enemy Loki probably has specific vulnerable points in time that are all being disintegrated at once.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Considering this can cover all of time and space, its surpringingly earth-centric so far. Is that purely a budgetary reasons....or is there a plot point behind it.

While they may not visit other planets, go back and watch at the very end, when it shows the screen listing all the new timeline branches. The "female Loki" sent the charges to Vormir (the Soul Stone planet), Asgard, Thanos' home of Titan, Xandar, Ego the Living Planet, Sakaar, Kree-occupied Hala, and a bunch of places on Earth. Plus who knows where else that was not shown on that screen.

 

[JEB]

That article says what I said, though. Loki says that it disintegrates the "infected" portion of the timeline, which Mobius confirmed. The enemy Loki probably has specific vulnerable points in time that are all being disintegrated at once.

Loki's exact words (which, as you noted, Mobius confirmed):

Reset Charges prune the affected radius of a branched timeline, allowing time to heal all its wounds. Which, by the way, sounds like a nice way of saying disintegrate everything in its vicinity.

As @MarkB pointed out, we see the variant stuff (like dead TVA agents) disappearing, but grass and such are left behind - presumably because things are being rolled back to what would be on the "Sacred Timeline" at that point.

The question is, what happens when you "reset" chunks of history that haven't been altered by time travel? Obviously, this results in massive divergences and new branch timelines... but that suggests the Reset Charges were either altered in function by alt-Loki, or they don't work the way the TVA says they do. (One thought - maybe the Reset Charges rolled back changes made by the Time Keepers themselves.)

I assume, of course, this will all be explained in upcoming episodes...

 

[Maxperson]

Loki's exact words (which, as you noted, Mobius confirmed):


As @MarkB pointed out, we see the variant stuff (like dead TVA agents) disappearing, but grass and such are left behind - presumably because things are being rolled back to what would be on the "Sacred Timeline" at that point.

The question is, what happens when you "reset" chunks of history that haven't been altered by time travel? Obviously, this results in massive divergences and new branch timelines... but that suggests the Reset Charges were either altered in function by alt-Loki, or they don't work the way the TVA says they do. (One thought - maybe the Reset Charges rolled back changes made by the Time Keepers themselves.)

I assume, of course, this will all be explained in upcoming episodes...

The existence of the grass after the Reset Charge goes off doesn't necessarily mean that the entire section wasn't disintegrated. That grass presumable existed before and would exist after the infected section of the timeline is pruned, so it would appear as if it hadn't been affected. The same would go for the other things that appeared to be unaffected.

 

[Tonguez]

That article says what I said, though. Loki says that it disintegrates the "infected" portion of the timeline, which Mobius confirmed. The enemy Loki probably has specific vulnerable points in time that are all being disintegrated at once.

When Loki was looking at the Destruction of Asgard file it said something like a 0.2xxxx Divergence (or something) at the time I wondered if that might be relevant* - I think it might still be relevant, it just seemed too prominent to not matter

(*my theory was that Alt-Loki might be collecting the Reset Charges in order to harvest those fractional ‘variations’ that diverge but don’t reach the red line - that would be a huge amount of energy if she could harness it
(I also wondered if Loki was hiding in that tiny fractional gap rather than in various ragnaroks)

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I may be reading too much into this

I doubt it.

Loki's still coming across as a bit dumb and incompetent to me. This guy is no god of mischief.

The know who he is. They will be on the lookout for devious scheming. Playing the fool is a way of putting people off their guard. Also a way of staving off boredom when you are the smartest person in the room.

Loki here has a problem - a trickster's ability to pull tricks is based on understanding the situation. Loki does not understand the TVA, and that hampers his ability to pull off much of anything.

So you play for time, until you do have sufficient understanding. You see Loki trying to acquire more info on the TVA: "we are from the future, aren't we?"

Also see: The Doctor (especially 2 and 4).

I gathered that the charges disintegrate the entire section of the timeline allowing it to heal. Enough simultaneously disintegrated sections could cause a lot of trouble.

Quite, the healing is the important bit. When you destroy "what is supposed to happen" a whole lot of "could happens" appear in it's place.

Considering this can cover all of time and space, its surpringingly earth-centric so far. Is that purely a budgetary reasons....or is there a plot point behind it.

There are other worlds mentioned on the computer monitors at the end: Xandar, Titan, a few others.

It does now seem pretty clear that alt-Loki intends to break the "Sacred Timeline" and bring back a multiverse (apparently by deleting various sections of it and forcing divergences). The question is, to what end?

Her choice of music suggests she considers herself the hero.

Not surprising, given the TVA's neo-fascist stylings.

"The restoration of free will" seems like a pretty heroic agenda. On the other hand, our Loki wants to take over the TVA and use it to rule the multiverse.

 

[pukunui]

One thing I liked is when Loki started talking about the science behind his illusion magic. It reminded me of who, in Thor, it was established that Asgardians view science and magic as the same thing, but I don't think we ever hear them actually talk about the science side of their magic. So that was nice.

 

[MarkB]

One thing I liked is when Loki started talking about the science behind his illusion magic. It reminded me of who, in Thor, it was established that Asgardians view science and magic as the same thing, but I don't think we ever hear them actually talk about the science side of their magic. So that was nice.

Yeah, and I wonder whether that was really just some throwaway lore, or an actual plot point. There's a strong possibility that when he used his magic to 'dry' himself, he actually duplicated himself, and that duplicate is who we were following for the rest of the episode.

 

[hopeless]

OH I really like that idea!

Spoiler

She's not Loki that's the Enchantress!
She's using Loki's reputation to hide her true nature otherwise the TVA would be prepared for her antics!
She's tried those tricks even on Captain America and especially Thor!
So I think they might be on to something here.
The TVA HAVE been modifying the timeline and Enchantress sending those charges are intended to counter the TVA's efforts to keep their future or Sacred Timeline the only possible future!

Remember what she said?

Spoiler

This is NOT about YOU!
It really isn't the TVA have been specifically depowering him that's why Loki has been so weakened even then he's managed to figure out what this so-called Variant was doing!

So if this is accurate...

Spoiler

They can only react accordingly as long as they know WHO they're dealing with!
Those infinity stones DO work, please remember all they need to depower them is say the Reality Stone altering reality so they're depowered. And they than have the means to secure their facility and grounds ONLY if they know what they're dealing with.
The Enchantress when they came across her may have been hiding from Helmdall by posing as Loki, Helmdall however would have inevitably seen through her disguise but the TVA didn't!

I'm seriously hoping the spoilers I keep hearing about, the bad ones are wrong this has the potential to be amazing as long as they keep that drivel out of it!