Why The Time-Keepers Didn’t Intervene In Avengers: Endgame

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Loki episode 6.

Loki has introduced the MCU’s Time Variance Authority – and here’s why this mysterious group didn’t get involved in the events of Avengers: Endgame. The MCU introduced the idea of manipulating time in 2016’s Doctor Strange, but the franchise is only now outlining its model of temporal mechanics. The Loki Disney+ TV series introduced a shadowy group known as the Time Variance Authority or TVA, whose job was to prevent the creation of branched timelines. They picked up the titular hero after the Avengers unwittingly created a branched timeline in Avengers: Endgame, one in which the trickster god escaped with the Tesseract after the Battle of New York in 2012.

The Avengers’ time travel mission was necessary in order to undo Thanos’ most horrific victory, the destruction of half the living creatures in the universe. This was only possible with the power of the Infinity Stones, meaning Earth’s surviving heroes had no choice but to travel back in time in order to pick them up – but why did the TVA let them get away with this?

Loki episode 6 revealed the TVA had been created by He Who Remains, the last survivor of the first Multiversal war. Played by Jonathan Majors, He Who Remains was actually a variant of Kang the Conqueror, and he was using the TVA to ensure no other versions of Kang came into existence in the 30th century and challenged his power. That means He Who Remains could allow a certain degree of flexibility at earlier points in the timeline, and indeed when Loki was captured by the TVA he was told the Avengers’ time travel was “supposed” to happen; Loki’s escape was the only problem He Who Remains had with the Avengers’ time travel.

It certainly helps that the Avengers were given crucial guidance by the Ancient One, guardian of the Time Stone. The Ancient One wrongly believed branches in the timeline were only created by interfering with the Infinity Stones, which she said maintain “the flow of time” in the universe; as a result, she told the Avengers it was essential they return the Infinity Stones to the exact moment where they had taken them. In other words, while the Avengers did create new branches in the timeline, they then pruned them, in a fashion. The TVA chose not to interfere in the Avengers’ actions because they knew these new branches would be erased by the Avengers themselves.

Loki’s escape in 2012 created a branched timeline the Avengers could not deal with, however. The Avengers’ limited understanding of temporal mechanics meant they thought that branch was sealed when they returned the Time Stone and the Mind Stone, but they had no way of tracking Loki even if they had known that wasn’t the case. That branch needed the TVA to step in – triggering the events of Loki, and the ultimate downfall of the entire TVA.

Loki will return for season 2.

About The Author

Thomas Bacon
(4894 Articles Published)

Tom Bacon is one of Screen Rant’s staff writers, as well as a Peer Mentor for new writers and a member of the Care Team, offering support and a listening ear to members of the Comics group. A lifelong fan of major franchises including Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Marvel, Tom is delighted his childhood is back – and this time it’s cool. You can find him on Twitter @TomABacon.

A graduate of Edge Hill University, Tom remains strongly connected with his alma mater as a volunteer chaplain. He’s heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will swiftly learn he’s into British politics too.

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