WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for Loki episode 5.
When Richard E. Grant's Classic Loki sacrifices himself in Loki, he laughs maniacally, and there may be a reason for it. Loki episode 5 reveals that Tom Hiddleston's Loki was sent to a strange void at the end of time when he was pruned by Gugu Mbatha-Raw's Ravonna Renslayer. Sophia Di Martino's Lady Loki believes the villain controlling the Time Variance Authority is beyond the Void, so she prunes herself and reunites with Loki. In the Void, both of the Loki variants meet other versions of Loki, including Grant's Classic Loki, and they discover the person controlling the TVA may be hiding behind a monster called Alioth.
Alioth seems nearly unbeatable. The monster, which is even more formidable in the Marvel comics, is a cloud-like beast that consumes matter and energy. It basically acts as the TVA's garbage disposal, eating whatever people or objects the agency prunes and sends its way. Loki's original plan is to kill the beast, but it's clear that doesn't have a chance of working. However, after briefly touching Alioth, Lady Loki has a vision and discovers she can enchant the monster. If she can somehow take control of its mind, she believes she can get to the ones controlling the TVA.
The plan works, revealing Alioth was guarding a mysterious citadel, but it would've failed without an unexpected move from Classic Loki. After initially leaving Lady Loki and Loki to fend for themselves, Classic Loki returns to distract Alioth. In order to give the other two Loki variants time to enchant the monster, Grant's character conjures up a fake Asgard. The distraction works, but it comes at a great cost. Alioth finally sees Classic Loki and devours him. Before he dies, Classic Loki laughs deliriously and shouts, "Glorious purpose!" Considering he's about to die, the move seems odd, but it's actually clearly rooted in Classic Loki's Marvel journey.
Classic Loki is over being a Loki. After escaping Thanos in his original timeline, he realized misery follows him wherever he goes. In Loki episode 5, other Loki variants attack Classic Loki's secret hideout. He escapes with Loki, Kid Loki (Jack Veal), and Alligator Loki and says Loki variants can't change. "We're broken, every version of us," he says. But by sacrificing himself to help Loki and Lady Loki, Classic Loki proves himself wrong. He's not selfish like the other Loki variants. He does have a glorious purpose, and it's giving up his life to help others. He laughs because of the absurdity of it all.
The moment is also a callback to the character's origins in the Marvel comic books. Classic Loki isn't like the other Loki variants in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially Hiddleston's character. Hiddleston's Loki is a charming antihero. He's a broken man who's deeply scarred by his upbringing. Classic Loki is an over-the-top villain. He's bitter, and he wants to spread mayhem. As an extravagant villain, he would clearly have a maniacal laugh to match. By sacrificing himself, Classic Loki is shedding his past and the villain he used to be. After a lifetime of selfishness, hatred, and deceit, dying a hero is kind of funny.
Loki releases new episodes every Wednesday on Disney+.
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