In the finale of Loki season 2, Tom Hiddleston delivered a genius improvised line that calls back to Robert Downey Jr.’s iconic moment in Avengers: Endgame. Both Hiddleston and Downey Jr. have been a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since the very beginning, and their characters, Loki and Iron Man, have had a profound impact on the franchise.
Loki’s Improvised Line
In the final moments of Loki season 2, Loki is reunited with his variant Sylvie. They have just defeated the Time Variance Authority (TVA) and reset the timeline, but they are now aware that they have created a multiverse. Sylvie is ready to kill He Who Remains, the creator of the TVA, but Loki stops her. He tells her that He Who Remains is not evil, but rather a man who was afraid of the chaos that would ensue if the multiverse was allowed to exist. Loki then says, “I am the God of Mischief, but I am also the god of stories, and stories have the power to change the world.”
This line was not in the original script, but Hiddleston improvised it on the spot. He felt that it was the perfect way to sum up Loki’s character arc and to foreshadow his new role in the MCU.
Downey Jr.’s Improvised Line
In Avengers: Endgame, Iron Man is facing off against Thanos, the Mad Titan who has just snapped his fingers and wiped out half of all life in the universe. Iron Man knows that he is the only one who can stop Thanos, and he is willing to sacrifice himself to do so. He takes off his gauntlet and says, “I am Iron Man,” before snapping his fingers and killing Thanos.
This line was also improvised by Downey Jr., and it has become one of the most iconic moments in MCU history. It perfectly encapsulates Iron Man’s character and his willingness to put the needs of others above his own.
The Importance of Improvisation
Improvisation is an important part of the filmmaking process, and it can often lead to some of the most memorable moments in a film. In the case of Hiddleston and Downey Jr., their improvised lines have helped to define their characters and to shape the MCU as a whole.
Hiddleston’s Improvised Line as a Tribute to Downey Jr.
Hiddleston’s improvised line in Loki season 2 can be seen as a tribute to Downey Jr.’s iconic moment in Avengers: Endgame. Both lines are about the power of stories and the importance of making the right choices. They are also both about the legacy of two of the most beloved characters in the MCU.