#Glorious Purpose

[loki-hargreeves]

Most purpose is more burden than glory.

[fighto-art]

Happy belated birthday to the best episode in television history dayum

[bluelaidlyworm]

Burdened with Glorious Purpose.

"I know what kind of god I want to be."

[rosemilo]

🔥 burdened with glorious purpose 🔥

[janus-cadet]

We were robbed of Jötunn!Loki content. So, here is my attempt to draw him! A full card, for the God of Stories.

Still here? Wow !

It's actually my second Loki card of the kind, ah! The first one, I've done like- at least three years ago. When season 1 came out. I mean... Look at that...

"Your savior is queer" is still very nice, tho. Weirdly, I'm not too ashamed to look at this one.

[pemberley3k]

Well, if it wasn't before, it IS now. High chance it's just coincidence cuz, infinity stones were created around the time of creation of celestials. That old. But I'm just saying, it's a damn good coincidence🤷. My mind thinks what it thinks.

[aprils-artsy]

Multiverse Powerpuff Girls?

I cannot stop thinking about it so I had to draw them😭

Reference used: The Marvels, Loki season 2, Wandavision

Idea: @/wandaslizzie on Twitter

[loki-us]

The exact same scene, and yet an entire lifetime apart. There is no better illustration of the profoundly transformative impact Mobius had on Loki’s character from the beginning to the end of his show.

In the first episode, Loki’s posture is stiff, cold, abrasive, unyielding. His arms are crossed to shield his body and distance himself from everyone around him. He neither trusts nor is trusted by anyone. He sees every interaction as a game to be won, an exercise only in manipulation and deceit. In the final episode, Loki’s posture is open, genuine, relaxed, attentive. He faces Mobius fully, leans forward to give his full attention. The scenes are brilliantly shot to put distance between Loki and everyone else in 1x1 and changes to close-ups in 2x6 to illustrate that personal connection, to show how much more open and intimate and sincere they are with each other. Mobius has taught him to trust and be trustworthy, to value the advice and wisdom of his dearest friend. He no longer deflects, attacks, or hides himself, he seeks Mobius’ comfort and opinion and thanks him for everything Mobius has done for him.

Loki returns to the beginning a truly changed person and that is what gave him the strength to accept his burden in the end.

[andromedaspark]

Loki variant but it's a dolphin

Call that Glorious Porpoise

[gussiemouse]

Glorious purpose ✨💚

[renegadesstuff]

The new horns 💚🔥

[raven-reapers]

[lettingtimepass]

I realized Loki and Viktor have, not exactly opposite, but similar paths...

When Loki first meets Mobius at the TVA, he has his speech about how he deserves to rule all because people always make the wrong choices.

"For nearly every living thing, choice breeds shame and uncertainty and regret. There’s a fork in every road, yet the wrong path always taken."

Viktor doesn't want to rule, he just wants his inventions to help people. But after he goes through the glorious evolution, he comes to the same conclusion as Loki, that humans will always choose wrong, they can't be trusted, and it would be safer and better for everyone if there was one ruler.

By the end of Loki's journey, he changes his mind. He gives up his life so that everyone--his friends, and Mobius--have the choice to choose their lives.

And with Jayce, Viktor realizes the same thing.

There is no prize to perfection, only an end to pursuit.

If you choose to believe that Loki and Mobius are never reunited and Jayce and Viktor die in the explosion, then their partners help them to save everyone else, despite the fact they can't have a happy ending 💔

Most purpose is more burden than glory.

[joyful-enchantress]

Loki’s costume at the end of S2E6 was perfect.

Yes, every part of it, down to those slippers.

And here’s my unsolicited (and delayed) thoughts on the matter.

First, let’s talk about his robe. Not only was it utterly beautiful, down to the draping and the deep, rich shade of green (and I mean come on, would we expect anything less?), its style was incredibly symbolic.

If you look at previous Loki ensembles, especially the ones that include a horned helmet, there is an air of grandeur and finery about them. The exquisitely stitched, buttery leather; the shiny gold trimmings and metal armor accents; the dramatic, billowing capes and overcoats. Even the silhouette of these looks is broad and structured — one might even say severe. Everything about these past looks screams “Look at me; I’m important” and reinforces Tony’s own observation in The Avengers that Loki is a “full-tilt diva” — he longs for the respect and attention that he deserves (and has been denied almost all of his life) and that longing is reflected in his clothing. They are reminiscent of the royal palace in which he was raised. They allow him to be battle-ready, because he’s had to fight and claw for every scrap of love and attention he’s managed to get. They represent a broken prince. A warrior cloaked in royalty. A would-be-king.

Now, compare that to his robe in Loki S2E6. It isn’t flashy. It has a soft silhouette. The shade of green is deeper and richer than we’ve seen; more earthy. An earthy shade of green which, in my opinion, is a nod to Yggdrasil, the cosmic tree that he will weave the branches of the multiverse into. The gold trimming across the front is subtle and understated - I even missed it at first and didn’t realize there was any gold trimming on the robe at all until I got a closer look later. It is simple. The draping is reminiscent of the robes worn by Buddhist monks. His robe reflects a Loki that has more wisdom and humility, and who has realized that being a good king — a proper god — means he will spend his life in service to others. It is the robe of a man who is confident and self-assured and knows exactly what kind of god he needs to be.

Now let’s talk about the slippers. I noticed that they got quite a bit of flack immediately after the finale aired. And I get it — they’re an odd choice, especially when we are so accustomed to the dramatic boots and finely-crafted and statement-making dress shoes he typically dons. For similar reasons as the robe, they are symbolic and fitting for Loki’s development into a wiser, more humble character. Don’t get me wrong, these loafers are still impeccably stylish, and no doubt they are of the finest craftsmanship, because this is still Loki we are talking about here. But they have a purpose, and that purpose is to get him to his final destination. These simple slippers barely even protect Loki’s feet, showing us a kind of vulnerability that we’re unaccustomed to seeing from Loki. He isn’t guarded in this moment; he’s open, connected to his purpose, and sure of himself. The shoes aren’t for battle; they aren’t meant to impress. They are meant to serve.

Now, about what is, quite possibly, my favorite feature of the costume. The horns. These iconic horns which we’ve associated with Loki from the very beginning take on an entirely reimagined look in the finale. First of all, they are bigger than any set we’ve seen resting upon Loki’s brow. So big, in fact, that they weren’t actually a physical part of the costume Tom Hiddleston wore. So big that they would likely hinder his performance if he actually had to bear their weight on his head.

In addition to their size, the horns are made of the same temporal-infused material from which both HWR’s talisman and the citadel at the end of time are constructed. Gone are the opulent golden horns that glisten and shine with the grandeur of royal finery. These horns are dark and heavy. They symbolize the unfathomable weight of the burden that Loki bears in his godly endeavor to save the multiverse. The golden temporal material that runs throughout the horns like veins is reminiscent, to me, of Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken things with gold. And in a way, Loki is a broken thing that has been healed and mended throughout his personal journey of self-acceptance and friendship, and is now more beautiful than he ever has been. More humble. More selfless. More godly.

In addition to the horns, the cape, too, is the largest we’ve seen Loki wear. And while at first, this dramatically oversized cape may seem to stand in opposition to the humility that the rest of the outfit encapsulates, it works. It works because, like the horns, it is symbolic of the burden Loki has chosen to bear. This cape would be unbearably heavy; it would make even the most basic movement difficult. And on top of its sheer size, his cape even becomes torn into strips that are woven into the timelines themselves, literally securing his burden — his service to the multiverse — around his neck.

Lastly, I want to talk about the way this outfit manifested. There’s been a common thread throughout this discussion about the humility and selflessness that this ensemble puts on display. And while that’s true, we’re talking about a relative level of humility and selflessness, when compared to Loki’s previous tendencies. This is still Loki we’re talking about here. He’s got a flair for the dramatic. He’s nothing if not intentional about the way he presents himself. And the way he marched down that gangway like it was his own personal runway, while his clothing fell away in shreds and tatters to reveal this completely fresh but familiar look, was completely on-brand for him. It was theatrical. It was glorious.

His outfit at the end featured accessories that were heavy and larger than life. Those parts were a burden.

It wasn’t short on the style and drama that we’re so accustomed to seeing from Loki. It was glorious.

And every part of it, down to his humble shoes, was fit for purpose.

One look at this finale costume and you know, without doubt, that Loki is burdened with glorious purpose.

A/N: If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading my unsolicited thoughts on this beautiful piece of costume design! Also, apologies for the delay in posting. I know some of you have been told this post was coming since the night the finale aired, weeks ago. Thank you for your patience with me as I gathered my thoughts and found the time to organize them and type them out.

🏷️ @peachyjinx @acidcasualties @muddyorbsblr @lokischambermaid @lokisgoodgirl @mochie85 @tallseaweed @give-me-a-moose @fictive-sl0th @coldnique @maple-seed @loopsisloops @gigglingtiggerv2 @simplyholl @superficialdomina @mischief2sarawr @ijuststareatstuffhereok89 @wheredafandomat @liminalpebble @ladyofthestayingpower ++

[rosemilo]

Loki throughout season 2

[marril96]

Loki 2.06 | Glorious Purpose