Jet-Skiing through Identity: a deep dive into Mobius M. Mobius (part 1) 🚤
The story started when you said hello.
Our first interaction with this character dates back almost three years now, on the 9th of June 2021. That was when the first episode of the Loki series was released.
So it goes: we see Mobius at the guiding side character, someone to follow in this vast new space the main character is suddenly thrown in. He is a calm, steady figure. However, his serious status as an analyst not cancelling a friendly character. The first ever shot in the series introduces Mobius under the sunlight. The following scenes show him speaking French to a little girl, proving a soothing behavior despite the tight situation they were in.
For someone who works at the TVA, he shows to be quite open minded. He, of course, has a very analytical mind - while still considerating he could think outside the box, whereas other of his colleagues wouldn't accept that a box exists. Even having studied variants, having a focus point is Loki, and knowing the danger it would bring to have to trust one, he still gives this variant a chance. More than that, he takes full responsability for it: when Ravonna says: "If anything goes sideways, it's on you" he responds with a relaxed "Okay".
The first impression Mobius leaves is, therefore, one of a relaxed, almost joyful one.
Although meant to be playful, his response to Loki's threat to "burn this place to the ground" with a flippant "I'll show you my office, you can start there" hints at a potential underlying dissatisfaction with his own situation within the TVA.
But that's not all, and when the easygoing dialogue doesn't work to get under Loki's skin (which couldn't have happened so easily anyway) we get to see where studying variants brought Mobius: to knowing how to manipulate through emotions, using the information at his hands. The only way to get Loki talking was to shatter the illusion he was maintaining, and Mobius knew that. Being able to see this variant for what they truly are proves his smartness, but "lack" of empathy. However, it is more of a block than a lack- for the sake of efficiency- as a consequence of not only working, but living your entire life in the TVA. As a consequence to this, great strenght is also required to keep your true nature instead of just letting it be erased by time and the utter dedication to the time keepers- the only beings allowed to tell right from wrong. Mobius proves that strenght too.
Then, in the second episode of the series, the frame narrows down: from the big scheme to a lower one. Now, a more comfortable theme seems to be growing in the atmosphere between these two characters. We can see Loki sitting with his feet on a desk, magazine in hand, having a small quarrel with Miss Minutes. This is when we find out that Mobius still has more to introduce about himself. There is something that gets him closer to the viewers: having a personal interest with no specific corrrelation with the rest of the story: jet skis.
Going on the first mission of finding the rogue Loki variant (Sylvie, as she is later called) Mobius doesn't let himself be fooled away by Loki's silver tongue, even if in attempt to give him the chance he brought him in for, he almost gets into his play. "You almost had me for a second. My ears are sharp too" Therefore, this character with a first impression of a calm guide and a comic relief isn't to be underestimated. Just because he believes in his cause (collaborating with Loki to fin his variant) it doesn't make him a fool. -> If you have to courage to believe in something impossible, you also have the strength to make it possible.
There is also a soft jelaousy in his character; and seen not only in his attitude towards Loki finding an ally in Sylvie. It's there when talking to Ravonna Renslayer about "other analysts", and the traces left by them in her office.
This might appear as a personal pride, when for Mobius, it is more like a fear: he's afraid of being abandoned or replaced. (Remember the "Who's gonna miss an old analyst with a heart of gold" from season 2?) This internalized feeling therefore translates to the jelaousy we see on screen (or the blocking of emotions once again, but we'll get to that later).
Ravonna's "I know you have a soft spot for broken things" reveales how this character always cared, maybe more than he should have. This desire to help Loki get better (spoiler: he succeeds) is rooted in his own heart, in need of the same care he is giving away. -> Look at you comforting others with the words you wish to hear.
It also grows quickly into something more, that strictly has to do with this variant, a sympathy that is not put into words, but is seen in actions.
He once again proves to be gentle with Loki, despite the latest mission not going the way he was supposed to. He's stubborn, still wanting to go his way even when there are so many others: safer, and that conform to the TVA. He wants to give Loki his daggers back (LOVE IS A DAGGER WHO?!?), clear proof that he is confident in what he is doing. While the potential consequences outweigh his previous actions , Mobius's determination stays the same.
The one unforeseen factor that disrupts his meticulously ordered plan is Loki's escape through the time door after Sylvie bombed the sacred timeline. For the first time, we see Mobius's cool crack, his frantic calls of "Loki!" echoing in vain.
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*spoilers below for Season 2, Episode 3 of Loki!!!!*
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Listen, you have no idea how excited I was when Loki said "I've never met this man in my life" about Victor. 10/10, absolutely flawless.
But for real, my jaw was on the floor for the entirety of Loki s2e3. I mean, we all knew Miss Minutes was definitely evil, but that took a turn I was totally unprepared for. I'm going to need the full week to process everything she said. And the fact that Sylvie didn't kill Victor because he was just a variant who hadn't done anything wrong yet, just like she was when she was kidnapped? Beautiful!
I'm so invested in the plot of this season, and I think a lot of that is due to the care that the cast and crew have taken with these characters. I love that I'm never sure whose side I'm on, and that ambiguity is what makes the show so compelling. (I think we can all agree that we're against whatever Miss Minutes is planning though. She needs to be permanently dismantled)
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Loki S2E3 Spoilers ❗️❗️❗️
❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️❗️
You know, I was thinking about that scene in front of the statues of Baldur, Odin and Thor.
Or more so, about Loki’s reaction to it.
Mobius reminds Loki that he’s one of the Norse Gods. An Asgardian God.
And then we get this somber moment, with the beautiful and sad music (which appears also in season 1 and plays when Loki is reminded of his home).
And in my interpretation, in that moment Loki struggles with his identity once again. I think that he looks out at the statues and thinks about the fact that. He’s not Asgardian. He’s a Frost Giant from Jotunnheim.
Of course he often reminds others, that he’s Asgardian, and Asgard is his home. But I don’t think that Loki fully believes this.
But what he does believe. Is that if he says something a hundred times, it will become true and he’ll believe it.
And so he desperately hopes that it’s true, because he wants to believe it.
Of course he cuts off this line of thinking by making a quick jab at Thor. Acting as all is well and normal.
But the thought lingers, that he wasn’t Asgardian enough to be depicted on that pillar beside his father and brother.
Idk just some post episode thoughts 🤷♀️ I enjoyed this episode and I’m happy that the show stays entertaining. In the past with some other marvel shows, by episode 3 or 4, I remember that the plot got dull and the pace slowed. But it seems that Loki won’t have that problem, for now. I am really glad that it’s going so well ❤️
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The way my norse pagan ass JUMPED at this scene
It´s wonderful, because I think it has been kind of forgotten that Loki is a PAGAN GOD. I mean, why is it almost never referenced?
Also, I had to pause when they mentioned Baldur because... Loki and Baldur... Well... I whished they had make a reference or even a joke to the fact that Loki is responsable for his death.
Given the fact that Baldur´s never shown nor mentioned in the Thor movies, I´m assuming he was killed pre-Thor 1, so a reference would´ve made sense,
but I´ll take what I can get...
Edit: "sometimes I forget you're one of them" is probably a joke from the writers. Because yes, marvel has damn near forgotten Thor's/Loki's true nature. I feel like despite them being pagan deities, they're much more some dudes who have their names and some of their powers.
I would've appriciated even a tiny reference.
Him mentioning Sigyn or his children would be enough to show that the writers give a damn about his origins.
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Season one episode three my beloved. Disaster bisexual gods my beloved. Terrible metaphors and hedonistic drunk Loki my beloved. Stabby cranky snarky absolutely done with all this shit Sylvie my beloved. Crazy foreshadowing and accidental expression of devotion (“you’re in my way” “you are my way”) my utter beloved. Brute force vs diplomacy and guile (surprise surprise, they both get thrown on their asses) my beloved. Absolute disaster knife happy dorks my beloved
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