The Man Behind the Curtain: Who is He Who Remains?
Jonathan Majors’ portrayal of He Who Remains in the first season of Loki left fans both intrigued and puzzled. As the creator of the Time Variance Authority (TVA), his character has been pivotal in shaping the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) multiverse. “He Who Remains lived through a massive multiversal war triggered by his variants, and his death not only meant that the TVA was left without its leader but also that the Sacred Timeline would begin to branch without control,” the show revealed. But what’s the real story behind this enigmatic figure? Let’s dive in.
The First Multiversal War: A Prelude to Chaos
The MCU has never been a stranger to cosmic conflicts, but the multiversal war takes the cake. “Centuries into the future, scientist Nathaniel Richards discovered the multiverse, and with that, its different universes and his variants,” the show tells us. These variants, some with ambitions larger than life, triggered the first multiversal war.
Loki’s newest character, Ouroboros a.k.a. O.B. (Ke Huy Quan), drops a clue about the timeline. “The last time he had a visitor was 400 years ago, when Loki time-slipped to the past, meaning the TVA was already up and running at that point,” he mentions. This suggests that the first multiversal war happened more than 400 years ago, but the exact date remains a mystery.
The Time-Keepers: A Fabricated Tale
“He Who Remains erased the memories of every single employee and created the Time-Keepers, three androids who would pose as the leaders of creators of the TVA, serving as He Who Remains’ mask,” the series reveals. This was a strategic move to keep the TVA’s operations under wraps while He Who Remains pulled the strings from behind the scenes. Miss Minutes, the TVA’s AI mascot, was also his creation, designed to spread propaganda and false narratives.
Ravonna Renslayer: The Unlikely Ally
“In Loki season 1, Ravonna Renslayer was a TVA operative known as Hunter A-23,” but her role was much more significant than initially thought. A tape recording dated June 12th, 2321, reveals a conversation between He Who Remains and Ravonna, thanking her for her role in ending the multiversal war. “Ravonna has now been revealed to have been an ally of He Who Remains in the first multiversal war, though what exactly was her role and how she helped end the war is still a mystery,” the show teases.
Alioth: The Guardian of the Void
Alioth, a trans-temporal entity, was another key player in ending the multiversal war. “He Who Remains harnessed and experimented on Alioth’s power, becoming his master,” according to the series. Post-war, Alioth was assigned to guard the Void and the Citadel at the End of Time, consuming any living being that dared to enter.
The Citadel at the End of Time: A Fortress of Solitude
After resetting the TVA and erasing everyone’s memories, He Who Remains built the Citadel at the End of Time. This became his new residence, from which he oversaw the Sacred Timeline. But what happened to the Citadel after his death remains unknown.
The Dark Side of He Who Remains
Despite his grandiose plans and intricate designs, He Who Remains was far from a benevolent leader. “He Who Remains wasn’t honest with those working at the TVA and used them to his benefit,” the series points out. His control over the TVA was a betrayal, a manipulation to serve his own ends.
The Sacred Timeline: A Fragile Peace
He Who Remains’ ultimate goal was to prevent his surviving variants from taking over the multiverse. “He Who Remains claimed that pruning branches was in order to prevent his surviving variants from taking over the multiverse again,” according to the series. But in doing so, he was essentially doing what he didn’t want his variants to do, revealing a paradox in his actions.
What’s Next?
With He Who Remains now dead, the Sacred Timeline is branching uncontrollably, setting the stage for a new multiversal war. As Loki season 2 unfolds, the story of He Who Remains and his role in the multiverse continues to be a focal point, promising more twists and turns in this intricate tale.
So, as we eagerly await the next chapter in Loki’s saga, one thing is clear: the story of He Who Remains is far from over. And as the MCU’s multiverse expands, his legacy will continue to cast a long shadow over the events to come.
