Loki's glorious purpose nearly left the multiverse's fate hanging in the balance. That is, until the finale episode of Loki Season 2 happened, unveiling his new major role in the MCU. That said, what was the world tree that appeared in Loki Season 2? What's this ... Yggdrasil?
Where Did Loki Go in Loki Season 2 Finale?
Loki's newfound Time-Slipping abilities were a questionable move in Loki Season 2.
Considering that the series didn't address the reason behind his time slips, the closest theory is that he witnessed He Who Remains at the end of time and lived to tell the tale while the Time Variance Authority was threatened to collapse.
Once Loki managed to take control of the time-slipping, he used this to travel back in time. Back before the other Kang the Conqueror variant, Victor Timely, died into strips of spaghetti.
It took him two trips before he realized the correct answer to saving the Multiverse and the TVA.
One was when he returned to the time before Sylvie killed He Who Remains, and the other was during his first conversation with Mobius M. Mobius regarding his glorious purpose.
He Who Remains left two options for the God of Mischief to take: he either kills Sylvie to prevent the death of the first MCU Kang variant or he takes the throne himself, a choice that was teased since the first season.
At the time, Sylvie even claimed Loki would want to take the throne for himself instead of fulfilling his promise to her that he would help her save the TVA variants from their prison.
Given that Loki wanted to do neither, he figured out, at one point, that it was he who had the power to shut down the branching timelines and save the universe. So, here's where Yggdrasil aka the world / Multiverse tree comes in.
READ NEXT: Loki Season 2 Ending Explained: Will There Be a Loki Season 3?
What is the 'Yggdrasil'? Marvel's World Tree / Multiverse Tree Explained
First things first. The Sacred Timeline, at its introduction in the Loki series, was described to be a collection of timelines on the TVA screen.
This has something to do with vein-like streaks that direct what is meant to happen on the Sacred Timeline to keep the Multiversal war from happening.
The 'straying' timelines, aka timelines that don't belong in the main timeline, are called 'branching timelines' for a reason, which eventually led to the existence of Yggdrasil.
Yggdrasil is a Major Thor Easter Egg
Did you know that the MCU has been building up the world tree's Norse Mythology since Thor: Dark World?
The God of Thunder briefly explained Yggdrasil to Jane Foster by saying, "Your world is one of the Nine Realms of the cosmos, linked to each other by the branches of Yggdrasil, the World's Tree."
As for its Norse Mythology origins, Yggdrasil is essentially this huge tree that connects the Nine Realms of existence to its branches and roots. It binds the realms together as a symbol of the interconnection of everything.
Yggdrasil the World Tree was even referenced as the Multiverse in Marvel Comics, specifically in Journey Into Mystery #97.
So, not only has Loki found his 'glorious purpose' of transforming into the God of Stories, but he now has to carry the burden and responsibility of protecting the Multiverse by rewriting the MCU altogether.
Now, he sits alone on the throne, keeping all branches of the Nine Realms at peace within his grasp.
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