How do you improve a show that has a clever plot, limitless story possibilities and two amazing A-list actors? You hire a bunch of bad, uncharismatic D-list actors and make the story about them instead.

This time rather than actually assassinating Loki to replace him, we got the "Luke Skywalker" treatment of character assassination. Loki's powers, charisma, wit, clever manipulation of others, personal goals and willingness to sacrifice anything to achieve those goals are gone. He now acts as though he has amnesia and has no idea who he is.

Loki is endlessly humiliated, becomes subordinate to a fake new Loki for no reason, acts the fool and literally tells us how amazing fake Loki is.

This is a necessary step to prop up the fake Loki to be superior to real Loki in all areas. Thus justifying fake Loki being the protagonist of the show.

Since the show writers lack the talent to create a genuinely superior character that would challenge, out smart, out maneuver the clever Loki we know. The only solution for this forced protagonist swap is to make real Loki a bumbling fool of a side kick, that has no desires or plans of his own.

As you would expect with bad writing, the show delivers majority of plot and character development by telling not showing. Show is plagued with endless scenes of people sitting and talking occasionally interrupted by walking and talking.

The cast of the new D-list nobodies deliver a distractingly poor performance. While the real talent of Hiddleston and Owens is wasted playing badly written, dumb characters who are irrelevant to the plot.

In contrast the show shines briefly during Richard E. Grant cameo, he totally stole the show. Showing what a good actor can deliver when allowed.

Rating: 2 stars for squandering the show's potential, bad writing, bait and switch marketing and destroying a beloved MCU character.

5 stars for viewers that have no knowledge or attachment to Loki's character. In that case, it's average shlock you can view to pass the time.