After the most recent episode ofLoki, one question remained at the forefront of viewers' minds:what’s up with Alligator Loki? Ok, so maybe there are several questions. But one of them involves the origin story of a certain one-horned brain scrambler known as Sylvie, and no, it isn’t about why her helmet only has one horn (though that’s also a valid query).
The episode began with a flashback to the day Sylvie was taken from the timeline and branded as a variant. Simply playing with her toys on Asgard as a small child, her fun time is abruptly interrupted by none other than Gugu Mbatha Raw’s Ravonna Renslayer, everyone’s favorite secretive judge fromthe Orwellian-influenced TVA. The young Sylvie is plucked from the sacred timeline, but quickly manages to escape her captivity, leading to her life on the run. But there’s no indication of what exactly caused the TVA to home in on her in the first place.
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According toLokidirector Kate Herron, the nexus event that created a new timeline and made Sylvie a target may have been intentionally left ambiguous. “My interpretation of it is that it’s definitely open for discussion, because I wouldn’t want to shut that down,” Herron said when speaking with CinemaBlend. “I have my own idea of what it is, but I think in my head, it’s definitely something innocent and something out of her control.” After the shocking ending to episode 4, it’s clear that there’s more to the TVA than simply “keeping order” as they claim, and that likely extends to whatever reason they had for coming to Sylvie’s doorstep. It’s no wonder many are speculating thatLokimight end on a tragic note.
As what is apparently a female version of Loki from a different timeline, Sylvie most certainly has been a mischievous sort even from a young age. So the idea of her attracting the attention of some sort of authority isn’t particularly farfetched. But even so, it’s difficult to find any sort of justification behind the TVA abducting a small child, regardless of her innate sense of impishness. Fun fact: Cailey Fleming, the talented young actress behind Sylvie’s childhood self, also playedyoung Rey inStar Wars: The Force Awakens(though notThe Rise of Skywalker).
Of course, this being a Marvel production, it’s almost a given that Herron isn’t even contractually allowed to answer the question truthfully. Her response does read like a particularly masterful dance through the issue rather than a direct addressment. The studio is known for keeping its biggest spoilers a secret, so something like this would be child’s play for them. Hey, they’ve already gotten plenty of practice from dealing withTom Holland spoiling things.
So maybe there really is a big reveal coming up about what Sylvie did to cause a nexus event. But maybe there isn’t, and the reveal is just that Renslayer (or some other sinister force) had a more twisted agenda behind it all. Either way, there are only 2 episodes left, so the truth will come out soon. But considering how many jaw dropping moments have been crammed into each one, fans might want to put some pillows under their chins.
