Loki's Season 2 Episode 4 has shocked viewers with what many describe as the "most gruesome" and "violent" scene in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) so far. In "Heart of the TVA," a catastrophic failure of the TVA's Temporal Loom leads to the potential destruction of all universes in the MCU and consequential loss of several lives, including those of General Dox and the Minutemen. Trapped inside a shrinking Time Cube by Ravonna Renslayer, they meet a terrifying end, causing viewers to compare the scene to a horror movie.

Several social media reactions highlight how disturbing the scene was—even sparking debates on whether the brutality warranted a higher age rating. The episode ends with an uncertain future for the series and characters, leaving viewers in a cliffhanger. Despite its darker approach, some critics argue that the show lacks the "wily fun" evident in earlier episodes, resulting in a more obediently structured addition to the MCU. Marvel producer Kevin Wright promised future episodes to cover "new ground" leading into the series finale on November 9.