Latest MCU entry pulls bait and switch on time, audience

Through the latest Marvel and Disney+ tv experience Loki, the Norse trickster finally garners the spotlight he has always craved. The series features intriguing adventures and a mystery that has many people excited for the future of the MCU, yet also questioning if Marvel is queerbaiting with his character. 

The story follows a Loki from an alternate timeline created by the events of Avengers: Endgame, one who hasn’t yet learned the humility and life lessons of his main timeline counterpart. Fortunately, before he can escape and wreak havoc upon the universe, he is captured by the all-powerful Time Variance Authority, an organization dedicated to correcting timeline-based anomalies. In the TVA, Loki teams up with Mobius (Owen Wilson, Cars) in order to stop a Loki variant from another timeline who seems hell-bent on taking down the TVA from the inside out.

The series reveals that Loki (Tom Hiddleston, Thor: Ragnarok) is bisexual during a conversation with his variant, Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino, Yesterday). There have also been instances within the series where people thought there was a spark between Loki and Mobius, yet the narcissistic god ends up in a relationship with Sylvie - ultimately leaving many viewers upset. The relationship seems unnecessary and problematic as both are versions of the same Loki, just from different universes. Beyond this quasi-Greek, quasi-incestual narrative stumbling block, the lack of relationship development leaves the dynamic feeling more distant and cold than the Lokobius possibility.

Some see this as a win for the LGBTQ+ community since Loki is the first openly queer character in the MCU. On the other hand, others argue that Marvel putting Loki and Sylvie together after his coming out can be counted as queerbaiting. Unfortunately, Marvel has said that Loki’s sexuality was not going to be explored further, rendering the argument frustratingly moot.

Something that hits closer to home for people of Oshkosh is the speculation of the representation of a UWO Alumni and the town itself. Within the series, during the second episode, it can be seen that the characters travel to a renaissance fair in good old Sloshkosh. Although the setting is unrecognizable, Mark Gruenwald’s involvement in the series triggered Event City’s first national exposure since Public Enemies.

 Carrying a bachelor’s degree in art from UWO and working very closely with Marvel Comics, Gruenwald later became chief executive editor of the comics and also helped with the storylines of Captain America and The Avengers. Even within the comics, the character Mobius has a very similar appearance to that of the former Oshkoshian, specifically the fashionable mustache. The shoutout features a fun way to see the city's name within such a popular series. For those interested in going to UW Oshkosh with a focus on art, there is a scholarship in Gruenwald’s name.

The overall series was a magical and intriguing experience that left viewers itching for the next installment. Hiddleston brought emotion to the character and allowed viewers to relate while Di Martino did a great job of bringing a powerful point of view through her determination to bring down the enemy in the series, the TVA.

Grade: B+ 

The cinematography and storyline were amazing, but the queerbaiting throws off the excitement of there being a confirmed LGBTQ+ character in the MCU.

By Jasmine Travis

Oshkosh West Index Volume 118 Issue 1

October 6th, 2021