Understanding the Sacred Timeline and the Multiverse in Loki Series

The Loki series from Marvel introduces complex concepts regarding time and the multiverse, centered around the Sacred Timeline. This timeline and the multiverse are integral to the narrative of the series and play a crucial role in understanding the overarching plot and the actions of the Time Variance Authority (TVA).

What is the Sacred Timeline?

The Sacred Timeline is a single, linear timeline that the Time Variance Authority aims to protect and maintain. It represents a specific path through the multiverse that the TVA deems essential to prevent temporal disruptions. The TVA actively intervenes to maintain continuity and prune branch timelines that diverge significantly from the Sacred Timeline.

Interactions with the Multiverse

While the Sacred Timeline exists within the larger context of the multiverse, it is a controlled path within it. The multiverse consists of all possible timelines, including those that branch off from the Sacred Timeline. The TVA seeks to regulate these branch timelines to prevent potential threats to the Sacred Timeline.

The Sacred Timeline vs. Multiverse

Some misconceptions about the Sacred Timeline include the belief that it represents the entirety of the multiverse. In reality, the Sacred Timeline is a finite collection of parallel universes brought together by He Who Remains. This collection of universes shares similarities, such as the common birth of Kang, who runs the TVA.

Implications of the Sacred Timeline

The existence of the Sacred Timeline and the TVA’s actions lead to several interesting implications. For instance, the TVA apprehends various versions of Loki from different universes, each of which has violated the Sacred Timeline in their respective universe. This concept highlights the importance of the Sacred Timeline within the broader multiverse framework.

Expansion of the Multiverse

Significantly, the multiverse as we understand it today only came to existence after He Who Remains was killed, and the TVA stopped curating the Sacred Timeline. This implies that the Sacred Timeline was a pruned version of the multiverse, containing a limited number of related timelines. Any branch that diverged too far was wiped out, ensuring the continuity and control of the Sacred Timeline.

Isolation of the MCU and the Multiverse

In the context of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the Sacred Timeline represents a specific part of the multiverse. Unlike the broader Marvel Multiverse where all events have consequences, the Sacred Timeline includes the MCU worlds, which were unaffected by the Incursions that destroyed the multiverse into Battle World during the Secret War.

Marvel's Perspective on the Multiverse

Even within Marvel's own multiverse, there are complexities. While the MCU is not connected to the live-action stuff in the broader Marvel Multiverse, everything that Marvel has created, including past events in Star Wars, Star Trek, and Godzilla, is considered part of the multiverse due to Marvel's expansive narrative universe.

In theory, the Sacred Timeline remains a critical aspect of the Loki series and the broader Marvel narrative, representing a controlled path within the vast multiverse. This controlled path ensures the continuity and consistency of the narrative, making the Sacred Timeline an essential element in understanding the complex world of the multiverse.