In the latest episode of Loki titled "1893," we finally get an update on Ravonna Renslayer and Miss Minutes, who went against the rules at the end of the first season. After giving a child a TVA Guidebook in 1868, Renslayer and Miss Minutes jump 25 years ahead to retrieve the Kang variant they created. Meanwhile, Loki and Mobius are also on a mission to capture the He Who Remains Variant in order to repair the Temporal Loom. As a result, the episode turns into a thrilling game of "Capture the Kang Variant."
Ravonna’s Absence Created a Power Vacuum at the TVA
The individual under scrutiny is Victor Timely (played by Jonathan Majors), introduced in an intriguing manner during the post-credit scene of "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania." Timely is a man of deception, choosing to identify as an inventor. He captivates people through complex and captivating demonstrations of his machines, only to sell them for substantial amounts of money before the unfortunate buyers realize they have fallen victim to his scams. His actions have provoked anger among numerous townsfolk, complicating matters for both those pursuing him and Timely himself. Surprisingly, Ravonna and Miss Minutes successfully flee alongside him. Throughout their tumultuous journey, betrayals unfold between the three individuals, leading to a most unexpected revelation – Miss Minutes' profound love for He Who Remains. Eventually, Loki and Mobius manage to catch up with the group. As the confrontation unfolds, Mobius seizes the opportunity to address any residual tension with Ravonna, who was once not only his boss but also his dear friend.
Ravonna appears to have undergone a transformation, as Mobius attempts to reach out to her by suggesting that she has deviated from the right path. Ravonna shows no amusement and poses a rhetorical question regarding the current state of the TVA. Naturally, she is seeking a specific answer. As we have witnessed in the episodes following the premiere, the TVA, despite being a construct, plays a crucial role in preserving the integrity of the Sacred Timeline and its various branches. However, since Ravonna departed, chaos has ensued and order has been absent.
Leaving her position as Judge at the same time Sylvie killed He Who Remains and unleashed chaos on the Sacred Timeline could not have happened at a worse time. The absence of a leader has left openings for power to be seized, and Ravonna's shift towards the "evil" side complicates matters. Prior to her departure, as Judge, Ravonna maintained order within the TVA, which seemed effective given the absence of events like the ones caused by Loki for a considerable period. However, her absence led to disorder during the council meeting, where General Dox and her rogue agents emerged, causing widespread devastation by pruning branches of the Sacred Timeline and resulting in the deaths of billions across timelines.
Despite the efforts of Loki, Mobius, and Hunter B-15, the absence of an elected Judge to replace Ravonna continues to pose challenges. Even if a replacement were to be chosen, it is unlikely they would garner the same level of respect she commanded. She firmly believes that only she possesses the necessary qualities to stabilize the TVA, as she emphatically tells Mobius during their conversation. Throughout Season 1, it becomes evident that Ravonna is driven by a relentless pursuit of power, which greatly distorts her morals and occasionally leads her to deliver villainous monologues. While such monologues are often seen as mere empty words from antagonists, Ravonna may actually have a valid point in this instance.
Could Ravonna Have Stopped Dox’s Genocidal Mission?
Before Loki and Sylvie disrupted the established order, Ravonna held a tight grip on the organization. Her collaboration with Miss Minutes and Mobius, along with the respect she commanded from her Hunters and Analysts, ensured the smooth flow of time without any interference from rogue Variants. It's important to note that Ravonna's reign occurred before the secrets of He Who Remains were revealed. During that time, they still relied on the (fake) Time Keepers and believed that pruning branches was the only way to protect the Sacred Timeline. However, let's imagine for a moment that Renslayer never left at the end of the previous season. If she had taken a stance on the TVA similar to Mobius or Hunter B-15, she could have guided the TVA in the right direction, allowing the unpruned branches to grow undisturbed. General Dox would never have attempted her uprising, and if she did, Ravonna herself would likely have pruned her. As she points out to Mobius, she was the one consistently covering for him and making the difficult choices he lacked the courage to make.
While it's undeniable that Mobius is a good person and a crucial member of the TVA, there's one thing we know about him – he's afraid of reality and change. He would rather remain oblivious to the truth of his real life on the Sacred Timeline. Therefore, it's understandable that he wouldn't want to make the significant decisions that affect the timeline, as Ravonna did every day as a Judge. Ravonna tirelessly served the TVA for ages, so her desire for more power, equivalent to that of He Who Remains, can at least be understood, if not perplexingly naive.
Alas, it appears that Ravonna has reached the point of no return, both literally and figuratively. While her new location is likely only temporary, Ravonna finds herself at The End of Time after a showdown with Sylvie, leaving the TVA in a state of chaos without any leadership. Upon summoning Miss Minutes, the broken-hearted clock hints at her knowledge of all of He Who Remains' secrets and even a potentially "earth-shattering" secret about Ravonna that she herself may not be aware of. As the episode concludes with Miss Minutes' tantalizing tease, it becomes evident that Ravonna's story is far from over, despite the possibility that her reign at the TVA may be coming to an end.
The Big Picture
The absence of Ravonna at the TVA has created a void of authority and utter disorder, as there is no one to uphold order and take crucial decisions in the second season of Loki.
Had Ravonna chosen to remain and uphold her role as a Judge, she might have been able to avert General Dox's devastating mission and preserve the integrity of the Sacred Timeline.
Given the challenges faced and the circumstances at the TVA, it is somewhat understandable that Ravonna, despite her power-hungry nature, desires more power and displays the ability to make tough decisions as a Judge.
