After only the first episode of the series, Loki has set up some pretty big obstacles for its characters to face. The magnitude of the Time Variance Authority (TVA) will undoubtedly carry on beyond just the show and have a lasting impact on the entirety of the MCU. Between the multiverse, the vague introduction of the Timekeepers, and the revelation that everything that's happened in the Marvel Universe was already predetermined by these faceless gods, Loki is doing some pretty heavy lifting with its plot points.
There’s a unique use of never-before-seen technology that the TVA has on hand to keep the multiverse in order. Based on what Loki has shown fans so far, the existence of this technology, and frankly the entire existence of the TVA itself, is not public knowledge to outsiders. Before the series, it appeared as if Doctor Strange and the other sorcerers were the ultimate masters of time and space, but that no longer seems to be the case. The introduction of the TVA, Timekeepers, and magical technology will surely have more importance beyond just the Loki series, because of the projects Marvel has prepared for the near future.
With the upcoming Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness film, there's a good chance that both the Timekeepers and the TVA pop up again as Doctor Strange and Wanda Maximoff struggle to maintain the balance of the universe. It's unclear whether or not the sorcerers have any knowledge about the Timekeepers or the TVA, but if someone is threatening to destroy the multiverse, then they will undoubtedly step in to control the situation. This also begs the question of whether or not the Timekeepers are who they say they are.
Loki is known to cause trouble, and as lovable as he is, he’s not the most morally sound guy. Of course he views the Timekeepers as enemies because he blames them for ruining his chances at becoming a king. However, as explained in Loki’s introduction to the TVA, Timekeepers can punish and imprison someone for something as little as being late to work. When a person veers off the path the Timekeepers wish to uphold, the TVA steps in to carry out the punishment for breaking multiverse rules, whether or not the rule-breaking was intentional.
This seems to be a little harsh and quite unfair to people who had no idea what they were doing. It also implies that mortal beings can be forced to stand trial over mundane accidents, as they struggle to understand something they've never been exposed to before. As of right now, the Timekeepers seem far too powerful, and despite Loki’s bad habits, it seems as if his first judgments were spot on. Having proved themselves to be an enemy of Loki with little sympathy, their potential appearance in future MCU projects could mean trouble for characters like The Scarlet Witch or Doctor Strange.
Using Loki to establish the Timekeepers as antagonists is actually one of the smartest things the MCU could do. The heroes’ last battle in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame was on a much bigger scale than anything the Marvel world had ever seen before. Finding a way to top Thanos in terms of power is going to be an incredibly challenging task for Marvel, but it becomes a lot more possible now that the Timekeepers exist within the MCU.
This would also be a great way to introduce new characters with the ability to control time and space, so that the next ensemble superhero movie lives up to the standards that Infinity War and Endgame did. According to Loki, the god of mischief was blinked into existence so that he could cause trouble for others and force them into becoming great heroes. His chaotic ways will most definitely get him into some sticky situations throughout the series, especially now that he’s been challenged with hunting down another version of himself. Everything that happened in the first episode seems to be setting the scene for another major multiverse war, so the inclusion of Timekeepers as a cosmic threat to the Marvel heroes is plausible.
Fans know that there's a solid connection between both televised and cinematic Marvel projects, so it's unreasonable to think that the events of Loki won't have any major impact on the rest of the franchise. Given the intensity and amount of world-building provided in just the first episode, there’s bound to be a lot more big reveals and dramatic plot twists as the series progresses. Although Loki will not make an appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder, his newfound knowledge of the multiverse allows for the possibility of him returning in future films. Viewers are crossing their fingers in hopes that Lokie doesn't die again, but if he continues on his current unplanned path and makes it out alive, he could play a key part in restoring the multiverse.
Given the number of important plot events Marvel is setting up within the series, they'll have a lot of ground to cover if the Phase 4 multiverse is going to be a success. As of right now, the future of the MCU looks very promising, but the outcome of Loki will arguably have more impact on the Marvel franchise than any other project that's come before, due to the significant emphasis on the multiverse.
New episodes of Loki are currently streaming every Wednesday on Disney Plus.