Much has been written and dissected about Disney+’s new show, Loki. The first episode, “Glorious Purpose,” just premiered, and the fan and critic theories are already rocketing across the internet. Starring Tom Hiddleston and Owen Wilson, the show follows a variant of Loki as he reappears after the events of Avengers: Endgame. It’s the 3rd Marvel Studios show to premiere on the flagship streaming service, after WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Natalie Holt is Loki’s composer. She has a ton of impressive credits, including Kindred and Knightfall.
My thoughts on the score for Glorious Purpose
Natalie Holt’s score for the first episode of Loki is a tour-de-force of musical invention and storytelling. Holt deftly weaves together a variety of musical styles to create a score that is both exciting and emotionally resonant. The score hits all the right notes and is fitting for a son of Odin.
However, Holt’s score is about more than just creating memorable and iconic music. She also uses music to create tension, suspense, and excitement. Loki’s Glorious Purpose features atonal music and dissonant harmonies to create a sense of unease and danger. It works on two levels – Loki is unnerved and uneasy about the bizzaro world of the TVA that he’s just entered, and as viewers, we’re pretty uneasy about the 2012 Loki being out and about in the world. Loki was still evil at that point. He’s literally stealing the Tesseract when he first encounters the TVA. Loki had yet to grow and do the emotional and literal work to become an Avenger.
Holt’s score is also used to great effect in Glorious Purposes‘ emotional moments. For example, during the scene in which Loki says goodbye to his mother, Holt uses a slow, lyrical melody to create a sense of sadness and loss. Similarly, during the scene in which Loki realizes he is not the only Variant, Holt uses a powerful, emotional theme to create a sense of hope and redemption.
In short, Natalie Holt’s score for the first episode of Loki is a masterful work of musical composition. Holt deftly weaves together a variety of musical styles to create a score that is both exciting and emotionally resonant. The score is a perfect match for the series’ tone and themes, and it will surely be remembered as iconic. (It’s already living on repeat in this author’s head!) I can’t wait to see what the rest of the show will offer musically.
How to watch Loki
You can watch new episodes of Loki when they stream each week on Disney+. The next episode, “The Variant,” airs on Wednesday, June 16th.
What did you think of the music for the first episode of Loki? Has it made you want to check out any of Natalie Holt’s other work? Join the conversation by leaving a comment or find me on Twitter.