If the first episode of Loki pitted free will against fate, the second episode sets up a clash of order vs. chaos. This tension ripples throughout the relationship between Loki and Mobius, but also in the showdown between Loki and his female counterpart. Even the jet ski plays a crucial role in this debate!

But that's not all. "The Variant" also explores how much our ideology can shape the reality we perceive. And when competing views of reality come face-to-face, violence is usually just around the corner...

Join Amanda Marcotte, Maeve Adams, and Marc Faletti as we strip Loki's second episode down to the scaffolding to see what makes it tick.