Can Owen Wilson save Tom Hiddleston from himself in Loki? From Killmonger to Killian, the MCU is packed with morally complex characters, but none more so than the God of Mischief himself, Loki. Introduced as the villain of 2011's Thor, Odin's adopted son caused endless trouble for the folks of Asgard, before turning his attention to Earth on behalf of Thanos. By the time of his death in Avengers: Infinity War, Loki is a man redeemed (more or less). No longer is Thor's brother the misfit outcast of his planet; he's a hero of Asgard and an ally in the struggle against Thanos.

That's not the Loki we're getting in Tom Hiddleston's upcoming Disney+ solo series, however. Implementing their ambitious time heist in Avengers: Endgame, Tony Stark and Steve Rogers led a team through the Quantum Realm to 2012's Battle of New York, where they planned to swipe the Tesseract from Loki in the chaotic aftermath of invasion. Things didn't exactly go to plan. Due to an ill-timed and predictably unsubtle appearance from Hulk, the unguarded Space Stone was flung from the grasp of Tony Stark and directly into the grubby mitts of Loki, who was being escorted back to Asgard at the time.

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When Loki begins, the escaped trickster is at the very height of his villainy, a million miles from the redemption his pre-heist counterpart eventually earned. This Loki is also neck-deep in trouble with the Time Variance Authority, who monitor the natural flow of history. They've done a terrible job so far, but look to be cracking the whip with Loki. Fortunately, one employee takes a kinder view. Could Owen Wilson's Mobius M. Mobius be the key to turning Variant Loki from a lovable villain into a lovable antihero?

Main Timeline Loki Redeemed Himself Because Of Thor & Frigga

Thor and Loki in Thor Ragnarok

For someone who once seemed so hellbent on making Earth kneel, Prime Loki sure comes good in the MCU, and a myriad of factors contribute to this dramatic character growth. The death of Odin, losing against the Avengers, finding common enemies in Thanos and Hela - all played a part in turning Loki away from outright villainy. But undoubtedly the most important step on Loki's road to redemption was having loved ones who never lost faith. Learning his true heritage as a Frost Giant forced Loki to question every aspect of his life. Did his family really love him? Can he be considered a true Asgardian? Does either race actually want him? These feelings of uncertainty and inferiority compounded the jealousy Loki already felt having someone like Thor as a brother, and led him down an increasingly dark path, which Thanos made exponentially worse by exposing Loki to the dangerous Mind Stone.

Though the film itself is best forgotten, Loki's recovery begins in Thor: The Dark World. As Malekith and the Dark Elves invade Asgard, Thor has little choice but to rely on his little brother for aid, and while Hiddleston's character is just as tricky as ever (by the end credits, he's sitting on Odin's throne), Thor and Loki form a genuine partnership in the fight against Malekith, leaving the God of Thunder to grieve bitterly when he believes his brother died. Though Loki is surprised by Thor's olive branch ("you must be truly desperate to come to me"), his cooperation betrays an inner happiness that, when the chips are down, Thor would call upon his brother. Their reluctant, bickering sibling relationship is developed further when they unite once again in Thor: Ragnarok, cementing Loki's transition into an antihero.

Loki's redemption wouldn't have been possible without adoptive mother, Frigga, who stood by her little frosty giant always. Even after the whole "invading Earth with a Chautari army" incident, Frigga continued to treat Loki with the love of a parent, and whatever grudges he felt toward Thor and Odin were never extended to his mother. The pair's final conversation in Thor: The Dark World is arguably the spark that ignites Loki's (well) hidden virtuous streak.

Related: Why Loki Is Releasing On Wednesdays, Not Fridays

Variant Loki Doesn't Have Anyone To Believe In Him

Tom Hiddleston in Loki trailer

Prime Loki's redemption begins with Thor: The Dark World, which is bad news for Variant Loki, as that's exactly where the character's MCU path diverges. Instead of fighting against Dark Elves and annoying secret sisters alongside Thor, or being a momma's boy while locked up on Asgard, Loki has seized the Tesseract and ventured into brand new, uncharted timeline territory. On Disney+, he'll be captured by the TVA and given a stern telling-off from those in charge of space and time, but where does that leave Loki's redemption arc? Frigga is still on Asgard with Odin, and Thor will be off hammering baddies across the Nine Realms. If the secret to Loki coming good is finding people who believe in his capacity for kindness, this new variant timeline is tragically short of potential candidates.

The TVA clearly hasn't bound Loki in chains and clad him in a jumpsuit because they're ready to support the supervillain in making some profound life changes. As far as the quantum cops are concerned, Loki is a bad egg and a threat to the entire multiverse. Labelled a criminal, the MCU's trickster will only become more convinced of his own badness, and rather than gradually softening after his defeat in The Avengers, the TVA risks making Loki even more villainous. Worsening matters, Loki isn't especially fond of the "space lizards" and their "circus" either. Only one man can save the day...

Theory: Mobius' Belief In Him Is What Redeems Variant Loki

Mobius M Mobius talking to Loki in an elevator in Loki

Loki's metaphysical parole officer is Major Mobius, played by Owen Wilson, and based on trailer footage glimpsed so far, this parallel universe pen-pusher will be the only member of the TVA fighting Loki's corner, serving as his champion against the wrath of the agency. In a hilarious elevator scene, Loki asks Mobius whether he's being led to a room to be killed, only for Wilson to reply, "no, that's where you just were." This implies the TVA would've been quite happy to kill Loki and be done with it, but Mobius' intervention has apparently spared the God of Mischief's life. The agent wouldn't be sticking his neck out for someone he thought was a lost cause, hinting this could be the start of a beautiful friendship, in which Mobius mentors Loki on his path to redemption.

Mobius isn't just working on a groundless gut feeling either - he has intimate knowledge on Loki's checkered past. Though the TVA might see Loki as nothing more than a threat to the time space continuum, Mobius has looked closer into the Asgardian's not-inconsiderable file, peeling through every single act in his glorious existence. Despite this, Mobius has evidently decided Loki is worth the effort. The Loki trailer goes further, showing exactly how the sharp-tongued variant can find his (second) redemption. Mobius is going to lead Loki through all the diverging timelines caused by his business with the Tesseract, and he wants Loki to help fix them. The TVA judges think Mobius is insane to trust a man who, until very recently, was doing the biding of Thanos, but Owen Wilson bravely stands by his choice.

Related: MCU: How Powerful Odin Is Compared To Thor & Loki

Although it's not quite the same as having his mother and brother onside, Mobius is risking his career (quite possibly his life; these TVA types seem pretty severe) because he believes Loki is capable of more than just deceiving people and casting Hollywood stars in elaborate stage plays. Having a resolute ally like Mobius as cheerleader could replace Thor and Frigga in giving Tom Hiddleston a gentle shove toward redemption in Loki.

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