Loki's TVA Risks Repeating An Umbrella Academy Mistake

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Loki episode 1, "Glorious Purpose."

Marvel's Loki introduced the Time Variance Authority to the Marvel Cinematic Universe but still needs to avoid the same mistake The Umbrella Academy made with The Commission. Over the last few years, fans have theorized what the God of Mischief's journey would next entail. In Loki season 1, episode 1, "Glorious Purpose", it was revealed that the first step of it would see him taken into TVA custody. Confirmed to police what they've designated the Sacred Timeline, the still-enigmatic organization rapidly tried Loki for his perceived crimes against it, picking up the slack after The Avengers didn't care that Loki stole the Tesseract.

Comparisons have already been made between the Time Variance Authority and The Umbrella Academy's Temps Commission. The latter similarly existed outside of time and monitored what they deemed to be the proper flow of events. The Commission was also divided between a bureaucratic system of analysts and specialist field agents that ensured a predetermined future came to pass — combating interference from Diego Hargreeves and the rest of The Umbrella Academy's titular group. Furthermore, both time-bending organizations shared a retro aesthetic that belied them having access to the entirety of existence.

In the case of The Commission, their agenda in The Umbrella Academy season 1 was ensuring that a Vanya-created apocalypse occurred. Unfortunately, it was never conveyed exactly why such an infinitely capable organization was so steadfast in pursuit of the literal end of the world. There were countless theories and several potential reasons for why that was. However, the show's writers seemed focused more on having fun with their time-traveling conceits than clarifying any deeper meaning behind them. The results of such efforts were undoubtedly amusing and made for a great viewing experience. That being said, it would be a total missed opportunity if the TVA fell into the same trap and didn't flesh out the finer details (beyond their propaganda) sooner rather than later. That would be especially true since they (and the Time-Keepers) seemed equally set on guaranteeing a specific future.

The handler carmichael five Umbrella Academy

The Umbrella Academy season 2 went even further in eschewing any deeper logic. Control of The Commission shifted from Carmichael to The Handler and beyond. In the process, the group was driven not so much by any kind of specific endgame, but rather by an individual's general quest for power. That was more than enough for the group to retain an interesting presence. Equally, it served to make them once again a formidable force for the adopted siblings to tackle. However, the group has remained truly vague overall, and the original questions surrounding The Commission looked even more set to go unanswered. Of course, that could change in The Umbrella Academy season 3. With focus having shifted to The Sparrow Academy, though, that has continued to feel unlikely for the foreseeable future.

Based on trailers released for Loki - as well as the first episode - the MCU will have plenty of fun with the time-travel concept. To do so at the similar expense of conveyed reasoning, however, would be a shame. What exactly the Time-Keepers (and, by extension, the TVA) are so rigidly steering the timeline towards shall remain subject to speculation and rampant debate. It could also be in service of ensuring a set event — be it apocalyptic or otherwise. Alternatively, it could be something akin to the Time-Keepers preserving their own creation, or protecting such as Kang the Conquerer. Then again, it could merely be as simple as actually enslaving the universe without it realizing. Whatever the case, hopefully Loki can avoid the mistake of The Umbrella Academy in its remaining episodes, by making clear what was at the heart of the TVA's creation and truly necessitates their particular work.

Loki releases new episodes every Wednesday on Disney+.

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