The MCU Just Contradicted The Entire Point Of Loki

WARNING: Spoilers for What If...? episode 3, "What If...the World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?"

Episode 3 of Marvel's What If...? seemingly contradicted the entire point of Loki and its message, as well as undermined the redemption arc the God of Mischief has now completed twice. Loki comes to Earth with Asgard's army behind him in What If...? episode 3 to find Thor. Initially, he appears to be a different version than the Loki viewers know from the MCU. Though Loki's first words to Nick Fury in What If...? episode 3 are to tell him to kneel and he's hellbent on reducing the planet to ash and ice, it's not with the intention of ruling, but to avenge Thor's death. He has the command of Asgard's forces, he agrees to work with Nick Fury, and even Lady Sif appears to be a willing and trusted advisor Loki listens to. The arrogance is still there, as well as the grandstanding–it is still Loki, after all. This time, however, it appears to be a Loki who is finally well-adjusted and has a close-knit relationship with his family.

However, by the end of the episode, Loki has quickly regressed. Instead of leaving Earth and taking Asgard's forces with him after finding the one responsible for his brother Thor's death and getting revenge, he reneges on his deal with Nick Fury and decides to stay. Having seen a planet to subjugate and rule, Loki immediately went right back to his old ways. He informs Fury he changed his mind and decided to "extend his stay"–always a loaded phrase where Loki is concerned. One day later, he announces in a press conference at the United Nations that the entire world has decided to unite under his command and rule.

It's an interesting turn of events, perhaps even predictable, all things considered. Yet, it completely undermines the entire story of the Loki series. The MCU has already shown that if the deeply insecure Loki is given real support and the opportunity to forge a genuine bond with someone, he can change. He becomes a better version of himself, not one obsessed with ruling for the sake of ruling, but one who is able to be heroic. In the Sacred Timeline, it's Thor's belief that finally gets him to change. In the alternate timeline of Loki, it's the combination of Mobius and Sylvie who get Loki to start accepting himself for who he is. In fact, by the end of Loki, the God of Mischief's entire purpose has changed and he no longer particularly cares about ruling on a throne.

Loki evolving isn't an aberration, either. Twice now, he's had plenty of opportunity to resist changing when presented with a better, greater path. Twice he chose the way of the hero–or at the very least, antihero. His Sacred Timeline arc went from being a villain in The Avengers, to doing the right thing for the wrong reasons in Thor: The Dark World, to finally doing the right thing for the right reasons in Thor: Ragnarok, ultimately making a noble sacrifice in order to save his brother in Avengers: Infinity War. His Loki timeline was sped up even faster, with the support of Sylvie and Mobius–as well as no longer being beholden to the whims of He Who Remains–showing that with support and left to his own devices, there's an (anti)hero in Loki.

But What If...? episode 3 undermines all of that. It's an alternate timeline, so not one He Who Remains is necessarily controlling, meaning Loki isn't locked into his destined path of villainy. Loki's relationship with his family is also clearly better than in either of the previous two realities. For starters, he seems to genuinely care about avenging Thor's death, something he would have pretended to not care about before. Likewise, Odin trusts his adopted son enough to send the entire Asgard army with Loki rather than coming to Earth himself. And with the Casket of Ancient Winters, it would appear the What If...? Loki is aware of his Frost Giant lineage. From everything that's been shown before, this version of Loki should have no need or desire to rule and subjugate. Frustratingly, Marvel's What If...? ignores all in Loki's past.

Next: The MCU's New Loki Twist Fixed The Avengers' Biggest Mistake