Loki executive producer Kevin Wright has peeled back the curtain on Season 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe series name-dropping Thor‘s half-brother, Balder the Brave.
During an interview with Screen Rant, Wright explained that the decision to mention Balder in Loki Season 2 had nothing to do with previous rumors that the character would appear in the 2022 film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. “No, and had that happened in Multiverse of Madness, we probably wouldn’t have done it,” the EP said.
“I think so much of the fun of that joke anyway is it just feels like Balder has been erased from history a bit,” Wright continued. “And so getting to do that joke and then put him up there and Loki is the one being erased from the history of this Norse mythology, Asgardian mythology, just felt like a fun flip. So in a way, them not being able to do it kind of cleared the ground for us that set up that little gag.”
How Loki Season 2 paid homage to Balder the Brave
Loki’s Balder name-drop came in Season 2, Episode 3, “1893” — which premiered on Disney+ last week. In the episode, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Agent Mobius (Owen Wilson) visit the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. The fair’s Norse pavilion includes wood-carved statues of Loki’s adoptive brother, Thor; their father, Odin; and Thor’s half-brother, Balder Odinson.
Loki is confused by this, commenting that “no one’s even heard” of Balder. Mobius replies, “Sure they have. Balder the Brave. You know sometimes I forget that you’re one of them. You are one of them. Blows my mind.” This makes Loki Season 2 the first MCU production to not only verbally mention Balder, but also depict his likeness.
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created Balder the Brave based on Baldr, a deity from Norse mythology. The character first appeared in 1962’s Journey Into Mystery #85. Despite being one of the lesser known members of Thor’s supporting cast, Balder has maintained a presence in Marvel‘s comic book universe over the years. He most recently appeared in last year’s Thor: Lightning and Lament one-shot by Ralph Macchio and Todd Nauck.
The first three episodes of Loki Season 2 are currently streaming on Disney+. Episode 4 arrives this Thursday, October 26. The season will run for six episodes in total through November 9.
