In storytelling, a dynamic character is a character that undergoes a significant change throughout a course of a story. A good guy turned bad. Or a bad guy turned good. This type of character really piques the interest of the audience because they really enjoy how their journey affects the character’s growth and development. Which is why Loki is one of Marvel’s most loved characters.
Loki starts as a villain. A narcissist and a manipulator. He believed humans were beneath him and he had the right to rule them. He tried to conquer Earth and defeat Asgard but he’s always defeated by his adoptive brother Thor and the rest of the Avengers.
After a series of adventures with Thor, Loki soon grew soft. Particularly in Thor: Ragnarok when Odin told Loki that he loved him as a son before dying. Later in the same movie, Loki fought alongside Thor to protect Asgardians and found peace with his brother.
In Avengers: Infinity War, Loki attempted to kill Thanos to save Thor. Although he failed, Loki still risked his life to protect his brother.
From Evil To Good
Loki’s death sums up his completed character arc in years. Which is quite frustrating to see that in his own series, Loki is revived through time travel.
People need to realize that this Loki never experienced the events of Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Ragnarok, and Avengers: Infinity War. He literally turned New York into a warzone, ordering Chitauri armies to kill innocent civilians. Now, he’s in TVA, being so eager to save the multiverse. It took seven years of writing to turn Loki into a good guy, so why would Loki be good in only one tv series?
Fortunately for the audience, Marvel cares about Loki’s character developments as much as we do.
In the recent episode of Loki Season 2 Episode 5, it is revealed that the real reason Loki wants to save TVA was not because it’s the right thing to do or he actually wants to save the multiverse. It’s because deep down, Loki doesn’t want to be alone. He doesn’t want to lose all of the friends he made in TVA.
From a narcissistic loner into a person who loves his friends. A dynamic character. For a second time.
Loki can now control his time slipping problem, turning him into a literal time walker! It’s not because of why, or where, or when… it’s because of who! The friends he made along the way.
In comic books, writers often use time travel as a cheap tactic to resurrect fan-favorite characters. However, in the live-action version, the writers are able to make Loki undergo another well-written character arc for a second time.
With the recent episode, we have a reason to believe that Loki is no longer the God of Mischief, but he is now the God of Stories.