After watching the first season of “Loki,” I noticed a detail that really stood out: Loki immediately recognizes the Avengers’ time travel when he’s in the TVA’s court.
Could it be that he noticed something off about Tony’s appearance during their time travels?
This observation brought up another question, one that Loki himself asked: Why was he the only one to get caught by the TVA for messing with the timeline, and not the Avengers or Thanos?
In this article, we’ll dive into these intriguing aspects of the MCU’s approach to time travel and uncover some answers.
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How Did Loki Know All That Time-Travelling?
When Loki uses the space stone to escape in “Avengers: Endgame,” it’s not long before the Time Variance Authority (TVA) steps in to arrest him for altering the timeline.
Confused, Loki questions why the Avengers, who also tampered with time, aren’t in custody.
Ravonna Renslayer of the TVA explains that the Avengers’ actions were supposed to happen, making them part of the timeline’s canon, unlike Loki’s escape.
The question arises: How did Loki even realize the Avengers had traveled back in time?
It’s tempting to think Loki might have noticed something off about Tony Stark’s appearance—maybe a smell or a look.
But that’s not the case. Even Captain America mistook his future self for a disguised Loki during their own time-travel encounter, dismissing any suspicion.
The answer to Loki’s awareness lies in his upbringing.
Remember, Frigga, Loki’s adoptive mother, could instantly tell that the Thor she encountered in “Endgame” was from the future.
Frigga, having been raised by witches and skilled in magic, taught Loki everything she knew.
This magical education enabled Loki to detect that it was indeed Tony Stark from the future, and not a look-alike or deception.
That’s also why Loki mentioned the cologne of two Tony Starks when in the trial and tried to accuse the Avengers.
Why Loki Is Caught By the TVA, Not the Avengers or Thanos?
When Loki uses the Tesseract to escape, he unintentionally creates a new timeline, prompting immediate action from the TVA.
However, Loki points out that his actions were only possible because the Avengers traveled back in time first.
The TVA’s response to Loki’s accusations is that the Avengers’ actions were meant to happen—they were part of the sacred timeline.
In “Endgame,” the Avengers follow the Ancient One’s instructions to return the Infinity Stones to their exact moments in time, supposedly maintaining timeline integrity.
Loki’s actions, however, were not part of this predetermined path, making his deviations from the timeline unauthorized.
Although the Avengers’ time heist results in multiple branches (Steve even decides to stay in the past with Peggy, and Thanos comes to the future), it is viewed by the TVA as essential for (or not affecting) the sacred timeline.
The distinction between Loki’s capture by the TVA and the apparent overlook of actions by the Avengers is deeply rooted in the mere intentions and designs of “He Who Remains,” the architect of the TVA.
His primary role is to maintain order across the multiverse by pruning any deviations that might lead to a Multiversal War.
This strategic placement by He Who Remains suggests that every major and minor event during the time heist is meant to unfold exactly as it does, it is what he considers the ‘greater good’ of the multiverse.
In contrast, Loki’s actions post-“Endgame” are not part of this grand design.
His opportunistic use of the Tesseract to escape is not a predetermined event and leads to the creation of an unauthorized timeline branch.
This act of creating chaos without being a preordained part of the timeline’s fabric drew immediate attention from the TVA or “He Who Remains,” marking him as a variant needing correction.
Last Words
Loki’s knack for recognizing the time-traveling Avengers reflects his deep magical insight, setting him apart from other characters in the MCU.
This moment not only highlights his intellect but also foreshadows his complex journey with the Time Variance Authority later.
At the end of the day, it turns out that Loki’s capture was ultimately a biased decision made by ‘He Who Remains.’
What are your thoughts on Loki’s inherited magic talent and TVA’s dictations of Loki’s case compared to other characters’?
Share your views in the comment section below!