Summary
- The Marvel Studios intro in the Loki season 2 finale is reversed, representing the potential consequences of the Marvel multiverse if Loki didn’t prevent the decaying timelines from dying.
- However, the Marvel Studios intro would sound quite different had Loki used the original audio from Marvel’s traditional sequence.
- The Loki season 2 finale explores themes of time, rebirth, and redemption, from the Marvel Studios intro all the way through the end credits.
Loki season 2 episode 6 opens with the Marvel Studios intro going in reverse, but that’s not what the typical MCU opening sequence would actually be like if it were played backwards. The iconic Marvel Studios intro has gone through various changes throughout the years, going from a rather simple flipbook effect featuring comic book pages to a 3D rendition of the Marvel logo, and then to a montage of several movie moments starring characters from all previous MCU movies. The Marvel Studios intro has also changed according to the movie or show it precedes, featuring different characters and scenes inside its letters.
Some of the most memorable one-off changes in the Marvel Studios fanfare have been Captain Marvel‘s homage to Stan Lee, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever tribute to Chadwick Boseman, and Avengers: Endgame‘s half-absent Avengers cast after Thanos’ Snap in Avengers: Infinity War. Other variations are more subtle, like Loki episode 3’s old-timey version and the Loki season 2 finale’s reversed Marvel Studios intro, which begins with the Marvel Studios logo and ends with a close-up of the flipping comic book pages before transitioning into the exploding Temporal Loom that heralds Loki season 2’s ending. However, the Marvel Studios intro would sound much creepier if the Loki season 2 finale also reversed the original music.
Why The Loki Season 2 Finale Reversed The Marvel Studios Theme
The reversed Marvel Studios fanfare fits the Loki season 2 finale’s plot and themes perfectly. The Marvel Studios intro fades into the TVA’s exploding Temporal Loom, which carries temporal radiation that resets everything it touches. The reversed sequence seems like a visual representation of what could happen to the Marvel multiverse if Loki didn’t time-slip back and prevent a catastrophe. Although reversing the music as well could have emphasized this effect, the Marvel Studios intro depicting MCU characters moving back in time manifests the meaning of “undoing” history quite clearly.
The Loki Season 2 Finale’s Reversed Marvel Studios Theme Has A Bigger Meaning
Beyond the literal meaning of the Loki season 2 finale’s reversed Marvel intro, the MCU opening sequence also brings the season’s structure full circle. Just like the Marvel fanfare goes the opposite way from the one at the beginning of Loki season 1 episode 1, the title of the Loki season 2 finale is “Glorious Purpose”, the same title as the first episode of the series. Loki’s “For you. For all of us” line calls back to his last conversation with Odin in 2011’s Thor, and Loki’s new throne at the end of time fulfills his dream of becoming a ruler — not to mention Loki’s success coming from the time loop he repeated for centuries until he found an alternative to He Who Remains’ cruel plans.
All of these elements make up Loki season 2’s cyclical structure, which resembles the mythical figure of Ouroboros: a snake eating its own tail. Ouroboros’ Norse equivalent is Jörmungandr, a giant snake that portends Ragnarök when it releases its tail. While Loki doesn’t dive into Norse mythology explicitly, it does explore certain themes from its myths, including time, rebirth, and redemption. Loki has kept the Marvel Cinematic Universe from being erased, and he has brought a new beginning to the Marvel multiverse.
Key Release Dates
