One compelling theory penned 6 years ago rewrote Loki‘s origin and turned him into an even more tragic character in the MCU than before. Loki’s MCU timeline saw him make an indelible mark on the MCU as one of its most beloved characters and as one of its most pivotal, taking him from a villainous upstart to the God of Stories responsible for holding the entire multiverse together. With his future looking uncertain, however, there are still plenty of compelling ways to interpret his past, adding to the impact of his most recent outing and the Loki season 2 ending.

As a younger Asgardian struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and his brother’s example, Loki’s story was tragic enough. 2011’s Thor would double down on this, however, by revealing that he was not strictly Asgardian at all, but the son of the Frost Giant, Lauffey. This would help explain Loki’s misfit persona, something compounded by the fact that he has always looked so different from his more conventionally godlike brother, Thor. One theory, however, completely flips this presumption on its head.

Loki Theory Explains Why He Looks So Different To Thor

The theory, first posited by JessiLeighArt on Reddit, delves deeper into the Asgardian family tree with the advent of Thor: Ragnarok, which debuted the more overtly villainous Asgardian sibling, Hela. Following Odin’s death, his firstborn daughter could return to Asgard, flout the enchantment that banished her to Hel, and begin wreaking havoc on the Nine Realms. Her appearance came with one very notable tidbit, however: that while Loki is adopted, he somehow bears a striking resemblance to his sister, with both sporting pallid skin, slender builds, black hair, and a penchant for green flourishes.

The theory suggests that their stark resemblance is due to Odin’s enchantment specifically bestowing him features that resemble Hela. As Odin can seemingly alter Loki’s appearance on a whim, switching his Frost Giant features for Asgardian ones, his choice of hair color seems somewhat counterintuitive given his family’s typically fair-haired genes. This theory asserts that Odin’s choice came from a place of anguish, choosing to have his adopted son resemble the genetically unique daughter he could never see again.

Loki season 2 confirmed the existence of another Asgardian sibling, Balder the Brave, though as he has only appeared in the form of an effigy, it remains to be seen how similar he looks to his siblings.

Loki Theory Is Even Deeper After His MCU Ending

This theory means that Odin’s fondness for Loki was somewhat related to his appearance, reminding him of the daughter he once loved but was forced to banish. Given Loki had spent his entire life seeking his purpose, this notion packs a sting as even his appearance, something over which he had limited control, was tied to the importance of another sibling. Upon failing to win his father over with his designs in Thor, Loki’s tragic descent into villainy therefore feels even more justified.

This also makes his ultimate genesis as the God of Stories, the glorious purpose that puts him quite literally at the center of the multiverse, pack an even greater punch. Loki is now fully divested from his days as the Asgardian black sheep, even going so far as to form Yggdrasil itself from the branches of infinite timelines and turning into a pivotal Asgardian symbol. In doing so, he is bathed in green and black, a signature color scheme that he has definitively claimed as his own while even embracing eternal loneliness for the betterment of all MCU inhabitants.