My Impressions of LOKI Episode One & Quick Catch-Up with WandaVision and The Falcon & The Winter Soldier Marvel Studios Series

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NON-SPOILER IMPRESSIONS:
I'd imagine flashbacks of when Michael Keaton's "Beetlejuice" waiting in the reception/waiting area of the Afterlife, and visiting the offices, while I watched LOKI gather his bearings (or "try to"), as he is brought thru the various departments in the TVA, in the first episode of Marvel Studios' latest television streaming series, and I find myself sitting back comfortably to enjoy the story and scenes unfold in front of me, and realising much larger (as of typing this review) that it has been a while since I'd felt that "comfortable".

A (NON-TOO) QUICK FLASHBACK
I've devoured both WANDAVISION and THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER, but had hardly put words together to review them in a semblance of coherent-ness here on POPCORNX, and probably never not will in the short term - so THIS'll be it - in reference to LOKI the series...



WANDAVISION had been a MARVELlous offering of TV alas burdened with over-speculation and deciphering by the adoring masses, which no fault of them but for myself for sitting thru the myriad of fan-made reaction videos and tweets, and letting the expectations and conspiracies cloud my own watching experience. What would have been a fairly decent and quite frankly very personable series, turned media-circus as far as my watch-time went, which was such a waste, IMHO.

The themes of loss and coping with loss(es) had been thoroughly overwhelmed and overlooked, IMHO.



I had subsequently avoided everything else surrounding THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER during and after their weekly broadcasts/streams, and quite frankly enjoyed the familiarity of CAPTAIN AMERICA's "The Winter Soldier" and "Civil War", with what folks have rightly called this a "buddy drama", and could get with what the series was trying to say and have presented. All of these are not supposed to be "ground breaking lore" (except for recognising the existence of "Isaiah Bradley"), but are to engage and entertain the audience, moving forward to Marvel's all-encompassing Cinematic Universe, and key milestone moments.

With that said - and with no slight towards all the filmmakers and folks involved in these series - they work as milestone points which will lead towards the (accumulated) key-points or event films/projects, in which they will shine in their own spotlight first, but not beyond the others, IMHO. Like "Limited Edition" series, or in a lesser-extent "extended preludes" to the main-event tentpole blockbuster crossovers, ala comicbooks

Both WandaVision and TFATWS (sorry I was thoroughly tired of constantly typing out the full show's name - not because they don't deserve to, but because I am slack) shone brightly by themselves, and LOKI's first episode felt like it has embarked on another plane of existence - in the Marvel Universe, or otherwise.

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The procedural format is familiar, while the story evokes a specific old-timey past that perhaps mirrored the good old days of when Marvel Comics first started as a publication company - colored in a distinct Americana-flavour - as had WandaVision, and very much so TFATWS, in what would be a very "American"-handed "TVA"-existence, that all controlling everyone else's existence throughout time. What would have been a tale of one of the "Norse Gods" is now under the purview of the TVA. It is what it is, and I have nothing overtly disgruntle about the scenario.

That said, the design is exceptional. Marvel certainly know how to create (a) spectacle.

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Seeing Loki Laufeyson embracing the situation, and of him seeing the future that has yet to happen, and the guilt that enveloped him of his actions, was exceptionally affecting. Kudos to Tom Hiddleston and his craft, and I am ready to follow thru with LOKI if just purely based on his performance, thanks.

Owen Wilson was being the usual lowkey nonchalant charming "Owen Wilson", and fits well in this role.

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As with Marvel Studios presentations - if you are unfamiliar with the characters, and are coming in cold, they have their Marvel Studios: Legends 2-episoder to help get you up to speed, otherwise you might need some catching up to be able to embrace the fullness of the story, IMHO.

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No reason to spoil anything about Episode One, when you can watch it for yourselves (on Disney+), then decide if you'll be watching the following 5 episodes of Season One, with Season Two supposedly happening now. And yes, I'll still be avoiding the surrounding conspiracies and such, thanks :)

Have a good weekend ahead, folks. And enjoy your watch!
Andy TOYSREVIL

NON-SPOILER IMPRESSIONS END.

WARNING: SPOILER VIDEO FEATURETTE:

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