Why Everyone Loves Loki

Dearest, KeePers, or whatever you call yourselves, 

I am L.K. Olsen and I am burdened with a glorious article. 

You really should keep a better eye on your interns. They are very easy to bribe. 

I got wind Allison Grace was supposed to be writing a post about whether Loki is a villain or hero. Well, I certainly could not leave such an important topic in incapable hands. Therefore, I decided to write it myself. She protested until I offered her two hours of uninterrupted reading time in exchange. After that, it was as easy as casting an illusion.

She is happily reading a comic book as I sit in this most uncomfortable chair. Honestly, how you mortals do this all day, I never will understand. 

Anyway, we are not here to bemoan the failures of humanity, but to discuss Loki. 

A great man named Tom Hiddleston once said (according to the internet) that “Every villain is a hero in his own mind.”

My first order of business is to inform you that Loki is not a villain, but merely an antagonist. 

No, I don’t know the technical difference between the two. What? Do you really think I have time for petty mortal matters? Do your own research. 

Perhaps even calling Loki an antagonist is a stretch. Honestly, he’s just like all brothers and wants to annoy Thor. Sometimes that involves things getting destroyed, but there’s nothing quite like driving your sibling insane. 

Ah, speaking of Thor, let’s examine my first point. 

Everyone Loves Loki Because

He’s an Underdog

Do I honestly need to explain why everyone loves Loki? Isn’t it obvious? *sigh* I do suppose I have a word count to meet and I can’t very well do it by sharing embarrassing stories about Thor. 

Loki is an underdog. No matter what he does, how hard he tries, or how many times he proves himself, he never measures up in Odin’s eye. (Ah, yes. Puns. Marvelous aren’t they?) He’s always two steps below Thor and whenever he tries to get attention, he always gets in trouble. 

Gif credit: Tenor

Haven’t you ever felt like that? In a lesser sort of way, I mean. Nothing quite compares to being the adopted, youngest child that has no chance of becoming king of Asgard. 

Gif credit: Tenor

But you know, when you’re sitting at your desk struggling through an assignment and you hear the teacher praising another student who gets straight As. Everything seems to come so easy to him. He gets an A simply because he woke up. And you have to work hours to eke out a D. (Your mortal grading system makes no sense. Why do you skip “E”? If you didn’t, you could have an “egregious” grade, which honestly sounds worse than a “failing” grade.)

Apparently, people are drawn to the underdogs and not the perfect heroes. This is why so many of you enjoy watching those movies the Spider-child is obsessed with, Star Wars. The rebels are underdogs and there seems to be no way to win. But they do anyway. 

It seems to give you all hope that someday you will rise above your struggles. Sure, you all believe that you desire freedom, but you crave subjugation. But that is beside the point.

When you see a character who has been the underdog all his life, you start to pity him. But lend your ear: Loki does not want your pity. He wants your allegiance. 

Everyone Loves Loki Because

He is Funny

Ah, humor and mischief. My favorite past-times. 

I believe that without Loki’s wit, the Thor movies would be more like Snore movies. Who wants to watch a movie about a perfect blond guy with a hammer?

Loki keeps his cool in bad situations. He always seems to know something you don’t, and perhaps he does. (He’s probably thinking about how stupid you are.) He got pummeled by the Hulk, but still managed to crack a joke. (And, if you pay attention, you will see that Stark found it amusing too.)

A lot of people wish they had that kind of confidence. I say it’s partially a blunder on Loki’s part, just to intimidate others by pretending to be more in control than he is. But yes, there is a lot of confidence involved.

And you all are drawn towards attributes you wish you possessed. It’s simply part of your nature. Everyone does it. 

Let me mention that Loki’s humor is not idiotic. He is not stupid. In fact, he is quite intelligent and knows what he is doing. 

Gif credit: Tenor

However, sometimes his wit gets him in more trouble than if he kept his mouth shut. Which is part of what makes him so entertaining. 

Everyone Loves Loki Because

He is Unpredictable

Some of you want everything to follow a plan and always be the same. I, however, crave chaos. 

Life is more fun if you don’t know what’s around the corner. 

It’s fun to watch the fangirls gasp because “Loki died!” and then hear them squeal when it turns out that it was all a trick. Ah, that never gets old. Thor has caught onto it by now, but it is much too fun to stop. 

You never know what exactly Loki is going to do. Will he help Thor? Will he help the frost giants? Is he just going to stand by and eat popcorn? 

You’ll never know.

Everyone Loves Loki Because

He Genuinely Loves His Brother

How did this point get in here? Who did this? 

*sighs* Very well. 

Loki loves Thor. At least most of the time. There I said it. Happy now? 

He just demonstrates his love in ways that those of you without siblings cannot fully understand. Let me tell you a secret, the more someone annoys their sibling, the more they care about them.

Gif credit: Tenor 

So the more Loki gets in Thor’s way and messes up his plans, the more he cares about his brother. 

Someone, somewhere, said giving an unlikeable character someone to love and care for makes them more likable. 

Honestly, I’m not sure this actually applies to Loki because he is just amazing in general. But having Thor around gives him motivation and purpose. Without Thor, he wouldn’t have as much motivation for his mischief. 

But Thor also needs Loki. Without him, Thor would have nothing to do. There would be fewer messes to clean up. And his life certainly would be less entertaining. 

And besides, what is thunder without lightning? 

Gif credit: Tenor

Everyone Loves Loki Because

He is Flawed

Ah, another point I did not put in this outline. Yet it is also true. 

Loki is flawed. 

He messes up. While it seems as if Thor is perpetually worthy of wielding Mjolnir, Loki isn’t. (Did you know that Loki was able to lift Mjolnir in the comics?)

He’s done some wicked things. He’s been on the wrong side. 

And, unlike some people, he is willing to admit his faults. Occasionally. But most of the time he is in the right. 

Everyone has flaws and faults. When people see others who struggle with the same things they do, they are drawn towards them. Characters who are always perfect and never mess up are less interesting. (Sorry, Thor.) (Not really.)

There. Who knew it took so much time to write an article. 

What? You expect a conclusion? Do you seriously think I have time for that? I have things to do that are much more important than you mortals could ever imagine. 

Gif credit: Tenor 

L.K. Olsen

...what Marvel is so clever at is they make their heroes flawed and their villains heroic.

-Tom Hiddleston