Dealing with fate, self reflection and the very nature of free will, Loki S1 is the most ambitious and unique the MCU has been in ages whilst actually mostly following through on the promise of its earlier episodes. It eschews an ugly CGI thankfully but is still undermined by a finale that acts as a 45 minute Multiverse Saga trailer.

Tom Hiddleston's Loki has always been a standout so giving him a show to lead was an easy win. Everything that makes him perfect casting is here and there's added sadness as he's confronted with his own fate. He plays the devastation and search for a new glorious purpose brilliantly.

Owen Wilson is great, it's a role that plays to his easygoing strengths for sure and he's even better when paired up with Hiddleston. A double act that would have carried the whole show and is used enough but more of this certainly wouldn't have been a bad thing.

Kate Herron's direction is amazing, the MCU has rarely felt this exciting visually with Kasra Farahani's retro futurist production design making the TVA one of the best locations in this universe. The same applies to Natalie Holt's score which is so beautifully weird, instantly a weekly highlight from its title theme alone.