This Loki theory suggests Victor Timely is actually He Who Remains
A familiar face is actually a familiar face
In Loki season 2, nothing is as it seems. It all begins with the God of Mischief being timeslipped back to a past version of the TVA that hints at something more sinister going on. Memories are being wiped, no one remembers anything, and everything feels a little… off.
That general feeling is probably what caused Redditor TheMediocreCritic to posit their theory that Victor Timely isn’t just a simple Kang variant; he’s actually He Who Remains.
According to the post, He Who Remains knew he would be defeated and had the ultimate backup plan: he would create a paradox/time loop to ensure that someone would go back in time and help Victor Timely create the TVA, construct the myth of the Time Keepers, and continue to be the one to hold dominion over all timelines at the End of Time.
"The loop begins again, just as it always has," the Redditor writes. If so, it puts Loki and Mobius in an unwinnable situation, one where they need Victor Timely to save the collapse of all time, but that’s a scenario that will lead to the creation of He Who Remains every single time – pretty clever, if you ask us.
As mentioned in the comments, multiple Loki names and references – Ouroboros, Mobius, Asgard and Ragnarok – feature some sort of nod to looping back on oneself or a cyclical design. It certainly feels like the show is trying to tell us something…
We’ve also been thinking about time loops and how Loki season 2 has played with time so far. Episodes 2 and 3, in particular, feel like they’ve jumped ahead a little without filling in the gaps.
Sure, you could put that down to below-par writing – but this feels something altogether more deliberate. What if Loki, Mobius, and the TVA have been on an endless loop, repeating the same actions over and over? The details in-between aren’t covered because something – or someone – is playing with their memories. Much to ponder, then, as we enter the second half of Loki season 2.
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter
Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox
Whatever happens next (or the time after that, or the time after that…), it’s clear that there’s a temporal rug waiting to be pulled from underneath our major players. If so, expect one of the most mind-blowing twists in Marvel history. All the magic in the multiverse might not be enough to break Loki out of this time-wimey predicament.
Loki season 2 is currently streaming on Disney Plus. For more, check out our latest guides and explains on the MCU and the show-at-large:
I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at 12DOVE, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.