The dramatic events of Loki Season 2's fourth episode, including the Temporal Loom's explosion and the transformation of Victor Timely into time-spaghetti, have the potential to reshape the show's narrative. For instance, it raises intriguing questions about Victor Timely's identity and his potential role as a "good" Variant of Kang the Conqueror.
In Loki Season 2 Episode 4, Victor Timely found his way into the TVA where he learned that his own invention the Temporal Loom is hours away from implosion. Because of this, he agrees to help (his biggest fan) OB and Casey build the Throughput Multiplier to fix it. His final act is also a selfless one, volunteering to launch the device into the Loom but the radiation turns him into spaghetti.
So does this mean Victor Timely was meant to be one of the good guys? Several hints in the episode seem to confirm that the wrong Variant (or a good one) was ultimately killed off in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series.
Miss Minutes Tried to Turn Victor Timely into He Who Remains
They may look alike but Victor Timely and He Who Remains are nothing like each other. While Victor clearly has a thirst for knowledge (his fascination with the hot cocoa machine was refreshing) and an eagerness to lend a helping hand, HWR was content to simply watch the TVA operate on his behalf. So while they might be the same person (or Kang Variant), Miss Minutes made it clear that made a mistake in picking Victor to fix the Loom.
Miss Minutes' cryptic statement to Timely, "You'll never be him," suggests that Timely may not be the great figure that He Who Remains was. There is a possibility that Victor Timely could be the key to becoming a version of Kang or He Who Remains, and this transformation might be influenced by Miss Minutes herself. She possesses profound knowledge of the TVA's secrets and those within it, making her a crucial figure.
Miss Minutes' assertion that Timely will never be "him" might imply that Timely is not the version of Kang who made it to the Citadel at the End of Time. There may be nuances to his character that distinguish him from other Kang variants.
Are there other 'good' Kang Variants?
With so many Kang Variants on the way to the MCU, Victor Timely might just be the first of the good ones who could actually choose to help the heroes. Although this might be the end for the brilliant 19th-century inventor, there is hope that there will be more like him in the future.
Loki Season 2 Episode 4 is titled Heart of the TVA and is now streaming on Disney+. The fifth and penultimate episode of the second season is scheduled to premiere on November 2, 2023.
