Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Marvel's Spider-Man Secret Lair promotional image

    Get a Look At the Secret Lair x Marvel’s Spider-Man Superdrop

    09/08/2025
    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions gameplay still

    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions Is All About Adventure (with Friends)

    09/08/2025
    Chord in Persona 5 The Phantom X

    Now Is The Perfect Time To Jump Back In ‘Persona 5: The Phantom X’

    09/05/2025
    Cosmic Spider-Man card details

    [EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

    09/02/2025
    Lee Corso from College Football GameDay in EA Sports games

    EA Sports Always Understood Lee Corso’s Legacy

    09/01/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » TV » REVIEW: ‘Loki’ Season 2 Episode 3 — “1893”

REVIEW: ‘Loki’ Season 2 Episode 3 — “1893”

Allyson JohnsonBy Allyson Johnson10/19/20234 Mins ReadUpdated:03/18/2024
Loki Season 2 Episode 3
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

By far the weakest episode of the second season so far, Loki Season 2 Episode 3 allows Jonathan Majors much too much freedom in his over-the-top, scenery-chewing performance. Following the events of Episode 2 where Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Mobius (Owen Wilson) are unsuccessful in stopping the destruction of variant timelines, the two travel further into the past. Traveling to 1983, the two are seeking a variant version of He Who Remains in order to stop him from becoming corrupted while Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) fights them, believing the only way to nullify the threat is to kill him, regardless of his variant behavior.

The best and most integral part of this series is Loki and his relationship with those around him, most importantly Mobius. Episode 3 seems to forget this as we dive too far into the lore of what makes He Who Remains/Kang The Conquerer turn into the monster we meet him as. In this timeline, found by Miss Minutes (Tara Strong) and Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) he’s a man of science, distrusted by those around him while he tries to sell his latest prototypes that look disarmingly similar to things such as The Loom at the TVA. It’s why all parties are eager to find him, though Renslayer and Miss Minutes are the most successful. Loki and Mobius have to fight Scooby Doo-logic as they lose literal sight of their objective along with Syvlie’s continued interruptions.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

There are moments where Loki Season 2 Episode 3 remains strong capturing the back-and-forth bantr of Loki and Mobius, such as the beginning moments at the fair where they’ve found themselves. Dressed in the classic fashion of the time, the sets and wardrobe are well constructed and handsomely rendered, even if later scenes fall victim again to television’s inability to light scenes properly, the details doused in darkness. However, the start allows for playfulness in the dress as well as the dialogue.

A standout sequence comes when Loki and Mobius come across statues of Norse mythology legends, with Thor, Odin, and Baldur all being given statues. Loki is frustrated at his exclusion while Mobius, slightly bemused, mentions that sometimes he forgets Loki is one of them. A slightly meta joke that the show probably didn’t mean to make considering the writing also tends to forget his god-like abilities at moments they’d come in handy.

Loki Season 2 Episode 3

The strongest part of the episode is when it goes directly into strange, screwball territory, especially with the inclusion of Miss Minutes, which might be one of the MCU’s more interesting inventions for any of its properties. Eerie yet simplified, the character is off-putting in her affected cheeriness. It’s not just that Miss Minutes believes in He Who Remains, or that she wants a bit of the power he holds due to the help she gave him. It’s that this artificial intelligence whose corporeal form is a hologram, 1950s-era clock, is in love with him. She’s jealous of Renslayer when she receives the attention Miss Minutes believes she deserves.

But no matter the stronger moments and character-driven moments it’s all too bogged down by Majors, whose acting tics and stilted delivery are punctuated by a desperation to be seen as a serious, thespian actor. The result is a performance bogged down by an actor who chews at the scenery with such pointed acting tricks we can practically see the thought process before them. This version of Kang is timid and awkward. He stutters, pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose, stumbles, and clumsily nods his head to those who pester him. It would be less egregious if less time was spent with him but his character is the dominant force behind the episode and his story delivers a devastating stall to the momentum.

The episode ends on a necessary note of worldbuilding, however, as Renslayer learns of her role in Kang’s previous ruling over the TVA with the help of Miss Minutes. Now, equipped with a new objective that separates her the variant Kang, Renslayer, and Miss Minutes team up. Their team up creates a new major antogonist to the back half of the season.Loki Season 2 Episode 3 is the big miss of the season so far, but at the very least it teases greater mysteries for the rest of the season as the characters shift and play with their existing alliances.

Loki Season 2 is streaming now, exclusively on Disney+.

Loki Season 2 Episode 3
  • 6/10
    Rating - 6/10
6/10

TL;DR

By far the weakest episode of the second season so far, Loki Season 2 Episode 3 allows Jonathan Majors much too much freedom in his over-the-top, scenery-chewing performance.

  • Watch Now on Disney+ with Our Affiliate Link

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Scavengers Reign’ Delivers Whimsical Horror
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ Episode 7 — “Like a Fairy Tale”
Allyson Johnson

Allyson Johnson is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of InBetweenDrafts. Former Editor-in-Chief at TheYoungFolks, she is a member of the Boston Society of Film Critics and the Boston Online Film Critics Association. Her writing has also appeared at CambridgeDay, ThePlaylist, Pajiba, VagueVisages, RogerEbert, TheBostonGlobe, Inverse, Bustle, her Substack, and every scrap of paper within her reach.

Related Posts

Helluva Boss Season 2 But Why Tho
9.5

REVIEW: ‘Helluva Boss’ Season 2 Is A Deeper Dive Into Love And Power

09/11/2025
Helluva Boss Season 1 Episode 7 But Why Tho
9.0

REVIEW: ‘Helluva Boss’ Season 1 Is Full Of Violence, Chaos, And Heart

09/11/2025
Sandra Yi Sencindiver stars as Yutani in Alien Earth Episode 6
9.0

REVIEW: ‘Alien: Earth’ Episode 6 — “The Fly”

09/10/2025
Task promotional key art featuring Mark Ruffalo from HBO
7.0

REVIEW: ‘Task’ Episode 1 — “Crossings”

09/08/2025
Aneesha Malik in Invasion Season 3 Episode 3
9.0

RECAP: ‘Invasion’ Season 3 Episode 3 — “Infinitas”

09/07/2025
Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 3
9.0

RECAP: ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Episode 3 — “Another Rick Up My Sleeve”

09/06/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
The Long Walk (2025) film review promotional image
9.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘The Long Walk’ Is The Most Heartfelt And Heartbreaking Stephen King Adaptation

By Kate Sánchez09/11/2025Updated:09/11/2025

The Long Walk is a brutal watch. Equally heartfelt and heartbreaking, it’s one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s work.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

EA Sports FC Icons Match promotional image from Nexon News

2025 Icons Match Returns With Football Legends Bridging The Pitch And Video Games

By Kate Sánchez09/03/2025Updated:09/03/2025

NEXON has announced the return of the ‘2025 Icons Match,’ a live event that brings a full roster of legendary players to the pitch.

Gojo Jujutsu Kaisen - But Why Tho (2) Features

Everything To Know About Satoru Gojo

By Kate Sánchez09/07/2023Updated:02/16/2025

Satoru Gojo is the heart of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 — now, heading into Cour 2, here is everything you need to know about the character.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here