Why Loki Works Where Other Disney+ Shows Don't | FandomWire Video Essay

► FOLLOW US
• Facebook: FandomWi.re/FB
• Twitter: FandomWi.re/Tw
• Instagram: FandomWi.re/IG
• TikTok: FandomWi.re/TT
In this FandomWire Video Essay, we explore why Loki works where other Disney+ shows don't. Written by Sean Boelman.
🔔 Subscribe & hit the Notification Bell! For more entertainment coverage, visit www.FandomWire.com!
📖 Get a free audiobook on Audible: geni.us/OMVWTH
💡 Learn new skills on Skillshare: geni.us/9sElV0D
📺 Watch the latest shows & movies on Paramount+: geni.us/7p3P
🎟️ Get movie tickets with Atom Tickets: geni.us/8XgRyA
🎮 Buy discounted games & support charity with Humble: geni.us/VRDua1
🛒 OUR GEAR
• Microphone: geni.us/FWMic
• GOXLR Mixer: geni.us/GOXLRMixer
• Laptop: geni.us/FWLaptop
• Video Editing Software: geni.us/VideoEditing
• Video Effects Software: geni.us/VideoFX
• Photo Editing Software: geni.us/PhotoEditing
• Live Streaming Software: geni.us/0QEY
• Webcam: geni.us/FWWebCam
💸 SUPPORT US:
• PayPal: bit.ly/3m7PN3v
• CashApp: bit.ly/362vqPA
#FandomWire #loki #disneyplus
Note: If you purchase an independent product featured on our site(s), we may earn a small commission from the retailer. Thank you for your support.
© FandomWire, LLC

[@FandomWireOfficial]

🎮 Buy discounted games & support charity: geni.us/VRDua1 🔔 Subscribe & hit the Notification Bell!

[@fermorwilliams4874]

Thanks

[@fermorwilliams4874]

I won’t to use a different email

[@Natta44]

Loki really balances comedy and seriousness so well. The set design was phenomenal, the visuals, the music. Honestly there wasn't one thing I didn't like. I watched the series i think 4 times, It has good re-watchability. I feel like we got introduced to Loki's 'real' playful personality. Because earlier versions of loki were full of angst and anger. Owens performance is steller and really goes hand in hand with lokis personality giving this great play off. This series is chefs kiss.

[@JasonBrodman]

Loki is the best. The only thing I would have highlighted more is how brilliant Owen Wilson's performance is here. He adds an incredible empathy to the entire show with his pacing and tone. This is Owen's best performance that I've seen anywhere.

[@heatherdumas6775]

He really is such a marvelous actor. His light wit fits perfectly with Loki's dark wit. They're opposites in that aspect but work SO WELL together.

[@edithebongueelimbi8479]

​@@heatherdumas6775CC

[@jamestillman9810]

I enjoyed Loki and thought it was well done. I also thought Falcon and Winter Soldier was excellent and Secret Invasion were outstanding with great acting. It seems the more serious shows don't appeal mainly because they touch on complex serious issues with less joking around. Anytime you touch on racial issues and immigration blended in a science fiction theme the show gets graded lower. I thought those themes make the shows more real versus the fantasy that those issues don't exist. So in my opinion, the Falcon and Winter Soldier and Secret Invasion were simply top notch. The acting in both were really to notch. I thought the same about Ms. Marvel with it's cultural theme. The MCU is grounded in these issues, even Daredevil and the handicap of being blind. This is different than Star Trek which is set far in the future and we solved these issues.

[@jaynekranc8607]

Did you see Owen and Tom in Midnight in Paris?

[@DavidBellweb]

The brilliance of Loki’s series stands squarely on depth Hiddleston brings to the character. We connect with the conflict beneath the villainous bravado and empathize with the lost boy struggling to find a place to root himself. Loki is envious of the stature Thor seems to have by nature and can never be good enough or bad enough to escape that shadow. Hiddleston embodies Loki in a way that leaves us wanting to see more because the Shakespearean villainy is never so forced or over the top that we lose sight of the hero in the shadow.

[@heatherdumas6775]

Best comment here!

[@jjbrowned313]

Yes very well explained psychology of the character.

[@annemiller8227]

Well said!!!

[@azmatusmankhan2470]

​@@heatherdumas6775no9 onn

[@ZyliceLiddell]

He was great in S1E1 and S2E2 but that was it I’m afraid. He was just another character entirely throughout the rest of the show! 😢

[@heatherdumas6775]

In 2009, I remember seeing the first Thor movie in theaters (three times, I might add), and Tom Hiddleston's Loki stood out for me. I knew he was going to be even bigger in the future. I remember the year, bc my dad had just passed away, and I kept thinking he would have LOVED this movie and all the Marvel movies/shows that it set the stage for.

[@anonymousproductionsxd2912]

You mean 2011

[@angelapearce467]

Well said. I'm so sorry for your loss.

[@Justadrie44]

2011 but still thanks for the story man

[@yukia.8188]

Tom Hiddleston really portray Loki's characters perfectly. Just like when you reading & imagining how Loki sounds like in the comic, he captured it well

[@thedestroyer2alltrolls411]

portrays*

[@thedestroyer2alltrolls411]

character*

[@courtneyhowell812]

Go read about the Norse God of Mischief

[@kimbre01]

Loki works because of Tom Hiddleston and how much love he has for this character. He's also a producer of the series and gives lectures about the history of Loki.

[@deannafassett4816]

Loki is the greatest of the shows on Disney+. Tom gives even more depth to the character we deeply love. His relationship with Mobius is great. Now if Disney and Marvel would just keep it up for a few more seasons that would be great 😃

[@brontiq]

Loki works bcs of Tom Hiddleston. People fell in love with him deeply from the very first movie he showed up in and the love only grew from there

[@thegentlesheepbarn3578]

It's simple. Brilliant acting. Great writing.

[@pegaga1618]

it was all TOM ITS TOM TOM TOM

[@theresabrown8994]

Do not forget that the performances, especially but not exclusively, Tom Hiddleston who believes completely in the character that he has created. Each an every actor believed in what they were doing, the director believed in them, thus the viewer believed.

[@HellzYa29]

Loki is by far the best show, but I think Hawkeye held it's own and is way better than Wanda and Falcon & Winter Soldier

[@chasethecolors]

I agree, except for that last episode. That was one of the worst, most contrived and unbelievable things things I’ve ever seen. Took me right out of it :(

[@annemiller8227]

Definitely agree!

[@Condoriano474]

Jesus dude. You must have really shit taste un media then

[@annellle]

Loki and WandaVision were top for me. My fav MCU character is actually Bucky but idk, just couldn’t connect to the series at all - the first episode just felt dull (which is different from dark, i love dark stuff, this just felt badly paced and shallower). Really loved the developed depth of Loki, both the character himself and the series. And I love the pain expressed in WandaVision. Tom and Elizabeth top the list of best acting and character performances for me, they are just the most believable and connecting to their story and their pain feels the most real, which is the mark of incredible talent.

[@Grammyofboys]

Tom Hiddleston is an absolute riot. Love love love him❤️❤️❤️

[@dianedallas5127]

Absolutely loved Loki in the movies, but was always thinking he should be bigger, the series of Loki is brilliant, love it so much, Tom is the right person to play him, Love it 👌🥰

[@annemiller8227]

The show is way better than having his "own" movie bc we got HOURS of more content!!

[@ZyliceLiddell]

@@annemiller8227But that content was mostly boring and ‘out of character.’

[@littlesister7021]

I love watching Loki. Tom Hiddleston is so amazing and gorgeous. I can't wait for season 2. I also enjoyed Hawkeye and She Hulk. Hoping both of them get another season.

[@joeysantos3978]

Truth is he seems to love playing Loki n it shows , same like rbj it just fits him perfectly

[@jaynekranc8607]

Tom Hiddleston made Loki lovable. He's just got so much charm. And the rest of the cast was perfect.

[@zaidholliday6033]

I'm not sure why F.andWS isn't regarded as 1 of the best from D+ shows but I loved it and at least it touched on the "BLIP" aftermath better than I expected.

[@marionbaggins]

It's Underrated!!!

[@nalublackwater9729]

Late, and after watching the series finale but... The Loki series not only does things right for the most part (the pacing of the second season was meh for me), but it also delivers what fans does. No other character that is none of the titular heroes has been able to amass such a big fanbase. Let us remember they intended to kill him for good in The Dark World, but because there was a very negative response during test audiences, they called Tom back to film the movie's stinger. Loki has the great honor of being one of the few characters who has been kept alive and around throught he sheer power of love from his fans. And this I can only give it to the actor himself for being so good-natured, so respectful towards the fans, such a good profesional and so caring about his job.

[@user-dx5tr4rm8z]

Loki as a God has been trashed several times by mortals and I think that humbled the demigod. His wile E. Coyote moment catching Hawkeye's arrow only to have it blow up in his face seconds later. Then the beat down by the Hulk. That had to hurt and make him wonder how powerful he really was.

[@ZyliceLiddell]

He always had a low ego. He just played on his arrogance and ‘puffed up his chest’ to appear more intimidating on the external level.

[@angelapearce467]

Long live Loki!! I adore him! I had high expectations for the series and it did not disappoint. Tom Hiddleston was brilliant as ever and Owen Wilson was perfectly cast. I was disappointed when it was over. The series left me wanting more!! I love that.

[@evaharrell9371]

I love all of them and it should give them all a chance a new season for all of them

[@kiakiaification]

YES IT IS! Can not wait until the next season.

[@FandomWireOfficial]

👍

[@crcurran]

I haven’t seen she hulk yet or ms marvel but I watched the rest. Loki was the best by far. The rest were forgettable.

[@WW-lm4cd]

by far she hulk was the worst.. the tone.. the writing.. the ridiculous things that happened.. and the stupid plot.. it should've been at least like s1 of daredevil taking its time and have alot more good lawyer / court scenes

[@rikkiseddo]

@@WW-lm4cdwith respect. You’re wrong. My guess is, with only a hint of presumption, is that your a straight, white, male. This show wasn’t written with you as the target audience. If I’m wrong, my apologies, She Hulk had issues, but mainly due to its oversized ambition for a TV show. Having three CGI characters and Marvel’s terrible relations with VFX studios meant shows released without final grade CGI shots (although fixed later, after the damage was done). Also doing She Hulk as Daredevil would of been dry AF. DD worked because of its earnest main character, his Catholicism, his work and his guilt and living in Hell’s Kitchen. Jennifer Walters isn’t Matt Murdoch and that’s why his cameo worked. And why her show had to be different. Also how else do you portray a hero with the ability beyond a forth wall breaking of Deadpool? Don’t get me wrong, there were other issues, notably Skaar dropping by in the past ten seconds. But Megan the Stallion, Wong, Blonsky, Murdoch/Daredevil, Madisynn, Nikki & Pug and Jen were all delights.

[@WW-lm4cd]

@@rikkiseddo @rikkiseddo i respect your response, I didn't say copying the exact same thing from daredevil s1 and put it on shehulk.. i only meant the way you explain the character backstory with great writing and establishing the character and giving it time to grow, like i said the court scenes, how serious they were and showed matt murdock intelligence as a lawayer.. i didn't mean the other things from the show .. and im not gonna talk about the short timing on the episodes with no meaning at the end was ridiculous let alone having to wait every week just to be disappointed, and let's clear the writing was lame.. and the plot was stupid

[@WW-lm4cd]

@@rikkiseddo besides i never even mentioned the vfx i had no issue's with them.. and she hulk struggles as a woman and stuff i liked those stuff it showed the weak side of her.. but you do that in a at least 50 min long episodes not 20 min, i have nothing against the show in what way so ever I'm saying the writing is bad.. and im not the only one since the show flopped so badly

[@ShadowSonic2]

​@@WW-lm4cdShe Hulk has always been a Deadpool type who breaks the 4th wall, the lawyer stuff was never a serious thing in her stories

[@colonelalister]

Love the video but you completely missed out on including a comparison with 'Moonknight' as a series. In my opinion 'Moonknight' both the show and its namesake character, along with the rest of the cast were brilliant and it stands in a good position. Yes, it could have included more, but there's only so much you can include in a show introducing so many new characters and concepts into the MCU. So, in it's limited essence, I still feel it stands toe-to-toe with Loki in essence. Wish you'd included it in this video.

[@annemiller8227]

Absolutely!! I was wondering if anyone else was going to remark on Moonknight!

[@teddylifer]

Loki has the best talent (Owen Wilson, Jonathan Majors) the score of the show & the storyline is necessary & incredible

[@markmckenzie2197]

I liked the story plain and simple. Tom's performance was great but I had no love of the character before this show. I found his relationship with Owen more interesting than the stuff with his brother in the films. I actually think this shows appeal extends beyond MCU fandom.

[@ZyliceLiddell]

I didn’t like what he became in the show.

[@PurushothamKc-cw4rf]

Yeah Loki is the successful webseries and I also wish that Loki should join forces with the new Avengers Kang Dynasty.

[@marydenton2479]

Love love love it. Been waiting for more for a while now‼️‼️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🤙🤙

[@dajahmaljohnson9031]

Loki sv series is great. That falcon and winter soldier series was great too.

[@dblucee6545]

Loki is awesome

[@chadwillett619]

'Puny god'

[@beepboopboppitybop]

You can obviously tell Loki has more effort and love put into it than most of the shows made for Disney+. For me, the two great shows for Marvel (made for the mcu so far) are Loki and Moon Knight. CGI, story, and overall everything is clearly better than the others.

[@user-gx6ht5dg8f]

Best show Disney has put out yet

[@jasongershman1018]

I think you were a little rough on the Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The intros of the Countess and US Agent were ancillary. The writing, acting, and action sequences were all top notch, and it had the Dora Melage'!

[@MrDenisGaming]

Just watching this video i feel good watching loki.

[@jakeqwaninne8502]

well , loki works because tom hiddleston plays him so well, the way he delivers what they give him for a script, and whoever is writing his dialogue is brilliant with sarcasm and witt , because he is suposed to be a bad guy ( deep down he's not , he's jealous ,insecure ,and kinda a little spoiled,but basicly he's o.k.), he can get away with being politicly incorect ,and shame ,degrade , and insult people because he's perceived as bad anyway,, and sorry folks, but that kind of comedy was funny, and the writers run with it, a vilian is always alot of fun, loki knows he's wonderful and he just demands that those beneath him recognize it, so it's always a bit satisfying to see a bloated eago get swatted from time to time

[@ZyliceLiddell]

In S1E1 that worked well but for the rest of the show they took it too far by having his balls kicked repeatedly and he lost the personality which made him a great character in the first place!

[@JamesJNothingIsTooSensitive]

​@@ZyliceLiddellThey definitely took the "I am woman, so I am better" too far, but they didn't go so far woke as to ruin the show, unlike other shows.

[@noelleyritana3384]

LOKI IS PERFECT FOR ME....

[@wandaprescott6672]

Loki's Great ! Because He's Bad & Good...He's Funny..Very Nice Looking. I love Loki..😊❤

[@ZyliceLiddell]

He wasn’t funny in S2. He was a bland character unfortunately.

[@CramcrumBrewbringer]

SPOILERS: I love that the series ended not with some cool looking CGI final epic fight, but instead a sacrifice on his freedom.

[@ZyliceLiddell]

One of the only truly good parts of the show.

[@joshuaryan1539]

Loki and WandaVision are the best.

[@FandomWireOfficial]

Agreed.

[@iharshgarg]

Loki works because loki has loki

[@dianecarr8833]

Love Loki

[@brandenaustin37]

Wait...Falcon and the winter soldier was too dark???

[@lorainew47]

Ask him what he means by " too dark!"

[@Solisium-Channel]

I just watched the last episode of season 2. Didn't think that shitsney could make anything other than a poop. It was awesome!

[@marionbaggins]

Short Answer: Yes Long Answer: HECK YEASH

[@Aztec339]

Tom, Tom and Tom

[@ayadathilprajilesh3273]

Loki Rock Waiting for season 2

[@hanif107]

ngl i actually like the winter soldier and falcon show

[@a.jtol.9756]

I do agree about these movies he is actually in my top 5 actors also.He is a really great!!!!!!!!!!!! I would like for you to ask every there top 5 MOVIES&ACTORS are?

[@laurarivera6199]

I'm waiting for season 2... HELLO!!!!

[@georgeperez-stillwagon6458]

Yes

[@Samito07]

I enjoyed Wanda Vision, for me it is the second best MCU show behind Loki and the third best for is Hawkeye.

[@victoriathorne8252]

Amora Enchantress is my bff

[@PoeticMe-easyreading]

I think Loki is a great evil guy and the dead time cops should give him his life back

[@ZyliceLiddell]

They should have let Tom do more in the show other than sit and eat pie with Owen Wilson and listen to Kang talking for “THIRTY MINUTES!” 🙄

[@amerpdx]

This makes no sense. You hail Loki as the only successful and great show by pointing to its Rotten Tomatoes score of 92 Critics, and 90 Audience. WandaVision however is a failure with 91 Critics, and 88 Audience? And WandaVision couldn't have gotten a second season due to its story but it does have a continuation with Agatha's show. Im just confused why you're saying that only Loki worked when thats clearly not the case. I also emjoyed What If, and Moon Knight was also a great show. Along with Falcon and the winter soldier. We had 5 great & good shows from Disney Plus and 3 forgettable ones. And still, theres Secret Invasion coming which looks awesome.

[@amerpdx]

Your beef with WandaVisions last two episodes is noted but I don't believe that viewers didn't enjoy the episode that finally gave us Wanda's origin and backstory. The amount of excitement each episode made with people trying to figure out what is going on topped Loki. Everyone was simply much more invested in WandaVision because it told a great story and created so much mystery and suspense. I think you're being a bit biased, perhaps a Loki fan?

[@keithcarrillo8238]

I absolutely agree it's pretty odd putting Wanda vision and not as successful in the same sentence. Or just ignoring the hype after each episode. Everyone was plugged into it.

[@keithcarrillo8238]

The fights in the falcon and the winter soldier was really good. It had the type of scenes you would want to see in a theaters.. that's one thing i know loki doesnt have. I'm hoping to see it in this season though.

[@victoriathorne8252]

I’m Victoria Asgardian Demi-Goddess of Mischief

[@victoriathorne8252]

My half-sister is Jane Foster

[@neilknightley4703]

Season 2 was even better

[@bogoljubdjordjevic7528]

I not even know exist that's problem with money I can't even pay to watch

[@kylebryning9026]

9

[@ZyliceLiddell]

This series didn’t have much to do with Loki himself at all apart from S1E1. The rest of the show could have just been some other character.

[@mr-nasir8983]

Loki and the Moonlight is the best so far..!!! Love❤so much..!!!💥💥💥

[@user-kv3rn4gb5c]

I love the story of Loki, but ever since Disney took over the Marvel I don't watch it because I don't do Disney. It's a really sad thing what Disney has done to Marvel too bad somebody else didn't get the rights to the series. Seems like most everything just need done in the last few years has bombed especially Snow White.

[@ZyliceLiddell]

I love the actor and character of Loki and even some of the concepts were clever but the show was boring. I preferred The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Secret Invasion. The ‘Loki’ show was incoherent for most of the time and focused on Sylvie and Kang too much. They also made Loki powerless and made his personality into that of an absolute *HUSK* of what it once was!

[@tpraveenkumar]

Yo , what happened to moon knight?

[@thamizhan_]

Moon knight

[@lorainew47]

Couldn't get into Loki no matter how hard I tried! Love him the other MCU movies, but the tv series left little to be desired! Still don't know what the fook it was about!

[@georgepoitras3502]

Loki worked because it was one of the first Disney plus Marvel shows before Disney thoroughly TRASHED the MCU.....Now that the fans are on to the bait and switch the gig is up

[@ShadowSonic2]

IE, it stopped being the M-He-U and started treating women better?

[@georgepoitras3502]

What movie treated women better? The Writing for pretty much everything after Endgame was garbage.

[@ShadowSonic2]

​@@georgepoitras3502Phase 4 was better than most of Phases 1 and 2

[@georgepoitras3502]

@@ShadowSonic2 You have to know that is a rare opinion.......You are the first Marvel Fan who ever said that. So the Eternals(WTF) was better than Ironman or Cpt America or Thor..........😃😃😃

[@ZyliceLiddell]

People are entertained by ‘talking for thirty minutes?’ Loki’s character used to be entertaining and cool!

[@ganesh_121]

But loki is died infinity war

[@lagoings56]

The only really eh I'll pass show for me was Ms Marvel. I enjoyed Falcon and the Winter Soldier, WandaVision rocked & Hawkeye wasn't the tops but it was better than average. Oh & Werewolf by Night was 🔥 I'm not counting What If because as an animated series it has fewer restrictions holding it back.

[@johnstewart3737]

With She Hulk, Moon Knight, Ms.Marvel, Falcon & Winter Soldier and especially Secret Wars all really really sucked. I guess the stock price and other movies like Little Mermaid has kept them in business. But for me the MSHEU DIED at the INFINITY WAR AVENGER MOVIE!

[@ZyliceLiddell]

It was too slow paced and boring. It stripped Loki of all his ‘Loki-ness’ and turned him into ‘No-ki.’

[@Legend354.]

I like your take but can you fix your mic pls! this is some real asmr sounding video.

[@DarrylBarnes]

Falcon and winter soldier addressed racial injustices among other things. YT ppo never wanna hear about that. They call it dark and never learn any lessons.

[@spionkop7874]

FAWS so much better

[@thedestroyer2alltrolls411]

Nice joke.

[@Live4everDB]

Loki was okay, but WandaVision is the best Disney+ show by far

[@thedestroyer2alltrolls411]

WandVision is an unnecessary spin-off and pure cringe. It’s also a snooze-fest.

[@Samito07]

I agree, WandaVision was so good because of the mystery and its unpredictability.

[@stuartglass4772]

Absolutely ridiculous. Loki is a Norse God and by his comic powers he would have destroyed them in seconds totally disintegrating them. They have made him into a imbecile who can only throw a few little knives around. Totally ridiculous they was all the Asgard characters are shown.

[@jloki9259]

Ummm... don't want to break any one's ❤️ but this comment is correct...and... correct...✊Loki could have smashed any soldiers...an,umm...was put in some, holding pattern type coma, 😐😑😑😏😉😑😑...

[@jloki9259]

So What's Happening? Loki and WandaVision are still, by far, the best in the line up!!! I guess be a little patient with Loki as he is not currently in the universe he's from. Marvel can either hit the ball out of the park or perform some type of highlight reel butt fumble in the big game. We'll see. Fans don't lie!

[@MichaelBuieFilms]

I liked watching the show. But I was put off by the silliness and trivialization of a powerful God and objects like the Stones. Thr soapy feel of WandaVision at the beginning of that series wa in context and worked for me.

[@lorainew47]

Agree 100%! That's why I watched it but still don't know what I watched!🥴

[@skylineXpert]

This loki is only half of what norse mythology say. As he doesnt match the sagas description and story of him "word for word" and isnt played by a hermafrodite then the 90% that like this show half been sold a half baked cake. But it appears they like mud pies... If it says so in the sagas then historical correctnes should take preference over political correctnes and disney-fying old norse mythology...

[@aishaalamoudi599]

All MCU series except She Hulk didn't work for me. enough with the hyperbolic drumming up of hate and culture war nonsense.

[@mattspencer6154]

Cash grab. Plain and simple. Loki will be fine bc of Tom H. People wanna work with him just to work with him. That’s why Loki wins. Bc of Tom H.

[@courtneyhowell812]

Nah I adore the Norse God Loki even more than Tim Hiddleston’s Loki

[@thedestroyer2alltrolls411]

Loki Season 1, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Werewolf by Night were the only good installments in Phase 4.

[@ShadowSonic2]

No, not at all. Phase 4 was better than most of Phases 1 and 2

[@thedestroyer2alltrolls411]

@@ShadowSonic2 No, shut up. Phase 4 was mostly worse than Phases 1 and 2 (and 3).

[@georgeperez-stillwagon6458]

Yes