Heroism looks good on Loki, and it may be the key to defeating Kang; but, his new time-slipping ability could lead to a bigger problem. In season 2 of Loki, the God of Mischief has been on a journey of redefining himself as he rewrites his story. No longer bound by the failures of his past and presumed fate, Loki has set a path for redemption and has gained some friends to care about along the way.

The series seems to be setting up the genesis of the multiverse war and the rise of Kang the Conqueror, a time-traveling villain. Loki's time-slipping power is an ability to time travel. This could either lead Loki to joining the Avengers in their fight against Kang, or it can be the perfect opportunity for Loki to return to his old ways.

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How Loki's Time-Slipping Could Be Used Against Kang

In the fight against Thanos in Avengers: Endgame, Doctor Strange used his sorcery to see the future in an attempt to discretely direct his universe down the path of victory. If the Avengers had a member on the team who could use time-slipping, it's possible the blip could have been prevented along with the turmoil and tragedies that followed. The same logic can be applied to Loki's time-slipping and any ensuing fight against Kang or his other conquering variants. Worst case scenario, Loki could prevent the multiverse war by doing the one thing he wouldn't even dream of doing. Going back in time and stabbing Sylvie in the back before she kills He Who Remains would likely prevent the rise of Kang the Conqueror. But, the cost of losing Sylvie relative to a multiverse war may be too great to bear for Loki, not to mention still having to deal with He Who Remains.

That being said, the parameters or drawbacks of time-slipping have not been detailed. Questions regarding the scope of time and multiverse travel are important factors. Loki may not be able to travel to any point in time in any universe at will. He may only be able to travel to points of personal connection. That could be people he knows or places he's already been. This has been illustrated to be the case so far in Loki season 2. If this is the extent of Loki's time-slipping, then this would mean he would have to first live through an event in order to rewrite it, or he'd have to know the person in order to travel through their timeline.

In a battle against Kang, season 2 of Loki shows that he may not necessarily have to fight Kang to rewrite the future. Used effectively, time-slipping could grant Loki the opportunity to change the future clandestinely. Something as simple as taking the TVA book Victor Timely was gifted before creating his inventions could be a turn of events that could have a positive domino effect. A head-to-head conflict between two genius-level time travelers would be an exciting, unpredictable showdown. Time-slipping as an ability may or may not give Loki an advantage against Kang but, it does level the time-traveling playing field.

Loki Could Be The Next Leader Of The TVA

Loki's time-slipping ability grants him the power to rewrite not just his story but effectively everyone else's too. It's too soon to tell whether his villainous ambitions are no longer at play. Loki's heroic spree and current change of heart could be short-lived if his reason for being a hero is taken away. It seems as though the TVA is too big to fail and Loki will fight to protect his new friends, possibly even if that means playing the villain for their sake.

Loki's ambition to rule can be put to good use if the TVA is looking for a new leader. As someone who now understands the paradox of managing the timelines and thus, interfering with people's destinies, Loki could be the right person who can strike a balance between the two responsibilities for the sake of stabilizing the timeline. Perhaps the God of Mischief would finally be able to say he has rewritten his own story by becoming the "God of Second Chances" if he were to become the TVA's next leader after what happened to Ravonna Renslayer.

On the other side of the equation, Loki would probably always be seen as a potential threat despite his heroism. Given his former villain status and the TVA's inability to control Loki's time-slipping, it's presumptuous but pragmatic to consider the possibility that Loki could become as dangerous as He Who Remains. The power to cast illusions, manipulate people's minds and emotions, as well as time travel can either be a recipe for disaster or the key to bring out the best in people, even if both are products of manipulation. This may be another reason why the next Thor movie should also star Loki considering Thor's depressing spiral.

Loki's new time-slipping power can save the TVA and the sacred timeline. But Loki's redemption story and new ability can be the gift that keeps on giving in the MCU if he were to use it to help other heroes or villains also find a brighter future. It's possible that Avengers like Scarlet Witch, or the other Loki variants in the Void, could be visited by this version of Loki burdened with a glorious purpose as the "God of Second Chances" to help them rewrite their stories for all time.

MCU

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a sprawling movie and television franchise that weaves together individual stories of superheroes including Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and many more. The first film in the franchise, Iron Man, was released in 2008. The MCU has garnered critical praise and financial success, earning billions at the box office and becoming a cultural phenomenon.

TV Show(s)

WandaVision , The Falcon and the Winter Soldier , Loki , Ms. Marvel , She-Hulk

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