On behalf of the Time Variance Authority,
I hereby arrest you for crimes against the Sacred Timeline.
Long ago, the all-knowing Time-Keepers emerged,
creating and organizing the Sacred Timeline.
Sometimes, people like you veer off the path.
We call those Variants.
Laufeyson, how do you plead?
- I'm Agent Mobius, by the way. - How long have you been here?
I don't know. It's hard to say, time passes differently here in the TVA.
Now, you parade about
as if you're the divine arbiters of power in the universe.
Infinity Stones?
Some of the guys use 'em as paperweights.
Is this the greatest power in the universe?
- I can't go back, can I? - I can't offer you salvation,
but maybe I can offer you something better.
A fugitive Variant's been killing our Minutemen.
And you need the God of Mischief to help you stop him?
Why me?
The Variant we're hunting is...
You.
Make a wish.
Hi! What's going on?
You guys aren't dressed right.
I... So...
Variant detected, Commander.
Let's move.
Some of us need this, you know.
No nexus energy yet, ma'am.
It's a trap. Watch your backs!
My lords, my ladies, welcome
and thank you for joining us, here at the castle.
Please, settle into your seats for a great battle is about to commence.
The prize? Our princess.
Will evil prevail, or are we holding out for a hero?
Commander?
Where have all the good men gone And where are all the Gods?
Where's the streetwise Hercules to fight...
What are you doing?
Having some fun.
Isn't there a white knight Upon a fiery steed?
Late at night, I toss and I turn And I dream of what I need
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero Till the end of the night
He's gotta be strong And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'Till the morning light
He's gotta be sure and it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
I need a hero!
Okay, y'all, let's review what we've learned.
What happens when a nexus event branches past red line?
Very bad things.
Come on, Loki. What is it?
It's when the TVA can no longer reset a nexus event.
Okay? Boring.
Right. And that would lead to the destruction of the timeline
and the collapse of reality as we know it.
Can you hear me?
Are you a recording? Or are you alive?
Uh, sorta both.
Ah.
Watch it! Where's your manners?
Oh! Hey! Quit it!
That is not nice. Jerk.
- You can't hide... - Training goin' well?
- Yeah. - Is that my jet ski magazine?
Put it down. Gear up.
There's been an attack. Let's go.
Put it on.
Good. Yeah. Smart.
C-20 and her team went dark
shortly after they jumped into the 1985 branch.
All signs point to another ambush.
We've grabbed enough temporal aura to know it's our Loki Variant.
But which kind of Loki, remains unknown.
They're the lesser kind, to be clear.
Let me see the back of that jacket.
Hmm.
Very subtle. Well done.
I don't want anybody out there to forget what you are.
Oh, your only hope of capturing a murderer?
No. A cosmic mistake.
- That's enough. - Lovely.
Here's the deal.
When we get out on the branch,
we're not just looking for a Time Criminal.
We're looking for a Loki.
A variation of this guy.
A type we should all be very familiar with,
because the TVA has pruned a lotta these guys,
almost more than any other Variant.
And no two are alike.
Slight differences in appearances, or not so slight.
Different powers, although, powers, generally include
shape-shifting, illusion-projection, and my favorite...
Duplication-casting.
Illusion-projection.
No, they're two completely different powers.
How?
Illusion-projection involves depicting a detailed image from outside oneself,
which is perceptible in the external world,
whereas duplication-casting entails recreating
an exact facsimile of one's own body in its present circumstance,
which acts as a true holographic mirror of its molecular structure.
But you already knew that.
Okay, take a breath. Noted.
We're gonna break into two teams, including myself and Professor Loki.
Why?
Because whoever this Variant is, we haven't been able to find him.
So let's bring in an expert.
That's me.
- Do I get a weapon? - Nah.
Well, I'll have my magic back. Is no one concerned about that?
- Of what? - Me betraying you.
- No. - Why not?
You know that we can catch you.
And how's betraying us gonna get you any closer to the Time-Keepers?
An audience with the Time-Keepers is on the table?
Keep that focus.
Apex of nexus signature located, ma'am.
Let me ask you this,
why don't we just travel back to before the attack,
when the Variant first arrives?
Nexus events destabilize the time flow.
This branch is still changing and growing, so you gotta show up in real time.
Did you watch any of the training videos you were supposed to?
Well, as many as I could stand.
Your TVA propaganda is exhausting.
And what do these do?
Reset charges prune the affected radius of a branched timeline,
allowing time to heal all its wounds.
Which sounds like a nice way
of saying disintegrate everything in its vicinity.
He's on it.
I watched the videos.
I mean, some of them.
So he's taking hostages now?
The Variant's never taken a hostage before.
Maybe he's upping his game.
Or he pruned her.
A Loki couldn't have gotten the jump on C-20.
I think you underestimate, actually...
Fan out and search for her.
And hurry up,
we're at three units until red line.
- Let's go. She's right. - Come on.
Wait...
If you leave this tent, you'll end up like them.
What do you see?
I see a scheme,
and in that scheme, I see myself.
We have a saying in Asgard,
"Where there are wolf's ears, wolf's teeth are near."
It means to be aware of your surroundings.
Which is absurd, because my people are, by nature, gullible fools.
A trait that I, the God of Mischief,
exploited time and time again simply by listening.
My teeth were sharp, but my ears even sharper.
We're running out of time, Mobius.
Hold it. Just give him a chance.
You remind me of them.
The Time Variance Authority and the gods of Asgard, one and the same.
Drunk with power, blinded to the truth.
Those you underestimate will devour you.
You underestimate me,
just as you underestimate this lesser Loki.
Which is why, you walk into one wolf's mouth after another.
Two units. He is wasting our time.
Okay. Come on, Loki, make a long story short.
We need to look for C-20.
That's exactly what the Variant wants you to do.
It's a trap. He's waiting for you outside this tent.
Should I secure the reset charges?
No. He wants me. I'm the key to his plan.
- He knows that I'm stronger. - Almost one unit.
And he rightly believes that together we can overthrow and rule the TVA.
But that's not what I want. I have a new purpose.
I'm a servant of the Sacred Timeline.
And knowing what I now know about his tactics,
I can deliver you the Variant,
but I need assurances.
Yeah?
Assurances that I won't be completely disintegrated
the moment the job has been done.
Right...
We'll need to speak to the Time-Keepers at once.
They're in graver danger than we realized.
He's lying. Just playing games.
There's no one out there.
Reset the timeline.
You had me for a second.
My ears are sharp too.
Is it just me, or does this office keep getting better and better?
Where'd you get that one, the snow globe?
I love those.
I don't remember bringing back that case.
You're not the only analyst working for me.
But, would you say, maybe, I'm your favorite one?
And why do you get to keep all the trophies from my cases in here?
You don't think I'd love having that roller skate
there sprucing up my cubicle?
Because I approve the missions.
Good point.
Speaking of which, let's talk about the one you just botched.
You might need this for our discussion.
I hope it's a double.
This Variant is... "Insubordinate, stubborn, unpredictable."
Sounds like someone else I know.
I was just thinking it sounds like someone I know.
- Mobius? - What?
Those rings were already there.
And they're all from you.
Maybe it's from your other favorite analyst.
Listen, Ravonna, I'm sorry.
I realize that my, you know,
methods with this Loki are controversial, but...
Towing a dangerous Variant into the field is controversial.
Yeah, it didn't go exactly the way I wanted it to today,
but here's what we did find out.
The Variant likes to stall for time,
and, eventually, we'll catch the other one doing the same thing.
Because understanding this Loki helps me get closer
to the one we're chasing. Right?
Look, I know you have a soft spot for broken things.
- I don't think so. - Yes, you do.
But Loki is an evil, lying scourge.
That is the part he plays on the Sacred Timeline.
Maybe he wants to mix it up.
Sometimes you get tired of playing the same part.
Is that possible? He can change?
Not unless the Time-Keepers decree it.
And then, it shall be so.
And how are the old Time-Keepers?
How do you think?
I don't know. 'Cause I've never met 'em.
Thankfully. Although, I shouldn't say that.
That one looks...
The Time-Keepers are monitoring every aspect of this case.
I've never seen them so involved.
They want that Variant caught.
So do I.
And this is the last chance you're gonna get with this Loki.
Great. That's all I'm gonna need.
Thank you, R Slayer.
I don't remember this.
This must be from that analyst you keep on the side.
Stay focused.
Eyes on the road.
Mobius?
I was almost gone.
You really believe in this Variant?
Mmm... Luckily, he believes in himself enough for the both of us.
And, hey, if it doesn't work, I'll delete him myself.
He's really arrogant.
You're probably wondering what happened out on the mission.
That was your first lesson in catching a Loki.
Expect the expected.
Half the fun of being a trickster
is knowing everyone knows you're a trickster, and then,
many of your tricks can come from exploiting
- the fact that you know that they know... - Okay. Just shut up!
Please. What happened to the guy I met on the elevator?
Who didn't like to talk. Remember him?
Now I'm stuck with this guy
who won't stop yacking away about what makes a Loki tick!
What? Isn't that precisely why I'm here?
No. I don't care what makes you tick.
You're here to help me catch the superior version of yourself.
- That's it! - Hang on.
I'm not sure "superior" is actually quite the right word.
See? There it is. Right there.
I believed, stupidly,
that insecure need for validation would motivate you to find the killer.
Not 'cause you care about the TVA mission or bein' a hero,
but because you know this Variant is better than you and you can't take it.
Very nice.
I mean, it is adorable that you think you could possibly manipulate me.
I'm ten steps ahead of you.
I've been playing a game of my own all along.
What, charm your way in front of the Time-Keepers,
hustle them, and seize control of the TVA?
Am I getting warm?
A double cross by history's most reliable liar.
Okay. Why are you in there sticking your neck out for me?
I'll give you two options,
and you can believe whichever one you want.
A, because I see a scared little boy, shivering in the cold.
And you kinda feel bad for that ice runt.
Or B, I just wanna catch this guy,
and I'll tell you whatever I need to tell you.
I don't need your sympathy.
Good, 'cause I'm runnin' out of it. 295 00:17:19,958