In Marvel’s Loki, the title character is captured by the Time Variance Authority, a vast interdimensional bureaucracy. The nature of the TVA is fascinating enough, but the sci-fi aesthetic is worth discussing all by itself.
In a new interview with Polygon, director Kate Herron breaks down the show’s set design, which pulls from classic sci-fi elements and an eclectic mix of architectural styles to create a unique look. “I wanted the show to be like a big love letter to sci-fi,” Herron said. The dystopian look of the TVA is achieved through a mix of Brutalist and Midwest style. “The font on the computers was inspired by Alien. The doors you see are inspired by Dune.”
Even Miss Minutes, voiced by Tara Strong, is based on the charismatic Mister DNA from Jurassic Park.
The TVA on Loki is meant to look timelines
One of the key objectives, Herron noted, was that none of the elements stand out more than the others. This helps to create the sense of timelessness that would come from a group of people who literally oversee the passage of time. “Kasra and our production design you can’t place these places in time,” Herron said.
In classic science fiction series like the original Star Trek or The Jetsons, the technology has a distinct look that’s meant to be futuristic, but that often gives away the time period in which it was made. But by combining all of these elements, Loki can’t be pinned down to any one style. It’s like building a house in 1900 and then filling it with pieces of furniture from all the different decades, so that by the time 2000 rolls around it doesn’t look like any one time period but instead reflects all of the eras.
As Loki continues (new episodes drop on Wednesdays on Disney+), it will be interesting to see how this design aesthetic evolves, especially after (if?) Loki leaves the confines of the TVA. For now, it’s fun trying to spot all of the Easter eggs hidden by the production team in the series premiere.
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