Loki S2 Episode 5 “Science/Fiction” Review: Slipping Between Reality And Time

We’re just one episode away from the finale as another week, and Loki episode arrives on Disney+. After the shocking ending to Episode 4, viewers were left astounded as to what could occur in the remaining episodes, which got many tuned in this week to see what’s next for the God of Mischief.

As always, the fifth episode indulges in a few major plot points and references past episodes to explain key details; we're issuing a SPOILER WARNING for those who have yet to catch the latest episode on Disney+. Let's jump right back into the multiversal madness as we recap and review of Loki Season 2 Episode 5, "Science/Fiction."

A Fated Reunion Destined To Rewrite The Past

The penultimate episode of Loki Season 2 finally touched on what had followed after the shocking conclusion of Episode 4, in which the Temporal Loom failed and Victor Timely turned into human spaghetti. While the season has been marvelous at best, its convoluted narrative has left viewers grasping for straws to comprehend the episode's context.

Episode 5, aptly titled "Science/Fiction," briefly addressed themes and plot points from past episodes and got to the bottom of what happened after the Temporal Loom lost control. Loki, being the only person remaining, everyone was sent back to their original timelines as the God of Mischief continues to time slip; however, it does follow a pattern.

It's revealed much later that Loki's time slips to timelines and locations of the people he needed the most, in which he assembles everyone who was by the Temporal Loom but from across the multiverse. Loki, who has assumed the mantle of being a masterful storyteller, time-slipping to multiple timelines, gets the band back together through much persuasion and convincing.

Much of what the episode entails is explained through the interactions between Loki and O.B., who got sent to 1994 as Loki explained his original plan of saving the Temporal Loom. O.B. explains that Loki's plans can't be possible due to time-traveling at a place where time doesn't exist (the Time Theater at the TVA), making it impossible to travel back to the TVA.

Confused much?

With Loki unable to control time-slipping, O.B. explains that by time-slipping to the people he's looking for, he's moving between space and time, making Loki an enhanced version of a "TEM Pad." Ultimately, Loki is at quite an impasse trying to find and convince everyone to aid him to prevent the Temporal Loom from destroying itself again and from He Who Remains due to his being unable to control himself from time-slipping.

Knowing that the TVA still exists somewhere but is out of reach for the God of Mischief, getting everyone together is a work of science and a little fiction. Using the Temporal Aura of everyone before the loom collapsed, O.B. revealed that collectively together, he'll be able to read the aura, which should help make traveling back to the loom much easier.

Essentially, the Temporal Aura are coordinates or tracking devices that can be utilized to return to the moments before the cataclysmic event until Loki slips away again. It takes O.B. only a short time to create an updated TEM Pad to travel back before the loom collapses, and Loki brings everyone together; he still needs to track down Sylvie.

Loki has gotten better at pitching to everyone he has located; he finds Sylvie back at the McDonald's from the earlier episodes just as he is about to hash out his plans. Surprisingly, Sylvie, too, remembers what had happened but is quite pleased that everyone was sent back to their timelines as Loki tries to convince her to help him save it.

Sylvie is rather dismissive of Loki's plans to bring everyone together to go back in time and rewrite stories, which could be their new reality. We continued to see the effects of the timelines dying as objects like the TEM Pad and a glass of bourbon to people disappearing in front of Loki and before our very eyes, finally giving it a sense of gravitas of how devastating the catastrophe is.

"I can re-write the story" yes LOKI, pure goosebumps moment#Loki#LokiS2pic.twitter.com/IURsoP5eSQ

— sanmeyo (@sandeep_sanmeyo) November 3, 2023

After returning to Mobius, Hunter B-15, Casey, and O.B., a disheartened Loki claims that he was wrong and that everyone should return "home" before they too get spaghettified, just as Sylvie witnesses it happening to a friend. Realizing that there may be a chance of trying to rewrite the past, Loki, who had battled to get the time-slipping under control, finally learned that it's not "what or how" he's going to achieve his primary goal; it's who he's doing it for.

Loki, now possessing a new godly power, traverses back to the final moments before the explosion with O.B. at his side. What remains in the last episode is how he'll be able to use his newfound ability to "rewrite the story" before the episode ends.

This episode continues reaffirming that Marvel Studios can produce compelling stories with some of their most revered characters amidst a wave of problems plaguing the superhero franchise. By simply working with the properties they have, focusing time and resources on producing high-quality content, and appreciating the incredible storytellers (the writers, actors, directors, production team, visual effects, etc.) behind these projects, they may be able to rewrite their story before it turns into spaghetti.

New episodes of Loki Season 2 are released every Thursday at 6 pm PT and 1 am UTC / 2 am BST on Friday on Disney+. Loki Season 1 is available to stream.