Welcome to this week’s installment of Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week, wherein we shine a spotlight on strong women who inspire us. Now, this not only includes fictional female characters in geeky media but creators as well. These ladies are a prime example of female empowerment and how crucial it is for youth to have said example to follow.
DISCLAIMER: The following contains spoilers for Marvel’s Loki. Namely, the show’s version of Sylvie.
Sylvie
Fast Facts:
Sylvie Laufeydottir (Sophia Di Martino) is a variant of Loki Laufeyson (Tom Hiddleston). Not much is known about her childhood. We do know that she was born in a different timeline on Asgard, and she was adopted by her parents.
One day, while she was playing with her toys as a child, she was taken captive by Ravonna Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) to the headquarters of the Time Variance Authority. Her reality was ultimately erased with a Reset Charge. While at the TVA, Renslayer brought Sylvie before a judge for sentencing. Her crime? Disrupting the sacred timeline simply by existing.
However, Sylvie stole Renslayer’s TemPad and managed to escape. Ever since that fateful day, Sylvie has been on the lam from the TVA, wending her way through various timelines and concealing herself within apocalyptic events. Her objective was to eradicate the TVA and their sacred timeline nonsense.
When We Meet Her in Loki
Unfortunately, Loki foils her plan. After a brief scuffle, Sylvie and Loki wind up on Lamentis-1 amid another apocalypse. Initially, the pair butt heads. Sylvie doesn’t trust him. Just when they think they’re about to perish on Lamentis-1, the TVA, spearheaded by Mobius (Owen Wilson) and Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku), swoops in to arrest them.
Later, Sylvie learns that the Time Variance Authority workers weren’t created by the enigmatic Time Keepers — they were plucked from their respective lives. They’re all variants. Sylvie and Loki finally meet the aforementioned Time Keepers, only to discover that they’re animatronic. Someone else is pulling the strings.
Then, Loki is “pruned” by Renslayer. Sylvie attempts to interrogate her. She almost falls for Renslayer’s ruse and the latter’s “desire” to help. However, Renslayer merely wanted to lock Sylvie away in a perpetual memory prison. Thus, Sylvie prunes herself and ends up in the Void, a place wherein disruptive variants are deposited. It exists at the “end of time.”
The Void
While in the Void, Sylvie reunites with Mobius, who was pruned by Renslayer. Mobius now sees the light. The duo finds Loki and a handful of other Loki variants. Sylvie discovers that the only way to learn who’s really responsible for the TVA is to get past Alioth, a massive smoke-esque monster. She believes he’s a guard dog of sorts.
Thankfully, with the aid of Classic Loki (Richard E. Grant), Sylvie and Loki evade Alioth’s wrath and find an opulent mansion called “Citadel at the End of Time.” They encounter He Who Remains (Jonathan Majors), the one in charge of it all. He created the TVA to manage the sacred timeline. In addition, He Who Remains is also a variant (Kang the Conqueror being one of his variants).
Now, Sylvie and Loki are presented with an ultimatum: If they kill HWR, then they’ll face his countless other variants and another Multiversal War. On the flip side of that, they could simply depose HWR and take his place while continuing his work. Loki attempts to prevent Sylvie from stabbing HWR. In the midst of their adrenaline-fueled battle, Sylvie and Loki kiss.
Then, she proceeds to shove Loki through a portal that transports him back to the TVA. Sylvie kills He Who Remains as the sacred timeline splinters into 63 separate timelines.
The Real Deal:
Sylvie may come off as too obstinate, but we’re shaped by our circumstances, right? She underwent a traumatic childhood, losing everyone and everything she ever loved. Then, she had to literally run for her life. Sylvie had to grow up way too quickly. She’s tenacity personified. Sylvie is a bona fide survivor, in every sense of the word. She’s a kickass fighter whose physical prowess and magical abilities know no bounds.
Additionally, Sylvie is incredibly resilient. She possesses “street smarts” and “book smarts” in equal measure. She can go toe-to-toe and then some with Loki, who’s the epitome of cleverness and trickery. Yes, she’s flawed, and she’s made her fair share of mistakes, but she only does what she thinks is right. Sylvie works hard to manifest a future bereft of the TVA for the good of many, not just herself.
While Sylvie is most certainly guarded, underneath that hardened exterior is a kind, empathetic and vibrant soul that longs for companionship.
Why She Matters:
Why does Sylvie matter? She’s proof positive that you can reclaim your power. If your voice is unjustly taken from you, you can find it again. Sylvie’s journey on Loki encompasses that. She works hard to ensure that others see past the TVA’s self-righteous façade, and gives it her all to remedy the wrongs they’ve exacted. Sylvie is a survivor, one that refuses to fade away into the shadows.
So, be like Sylvie. Be tenacious. Keep everyone on their toes. Kick ass and take names. Persist — it’s a giant middle finger to those who seek to invalidate your existence. Allow yourself to accept the love you rightfully deserve. And when necessary, stun a giant smoke monster with your peerless enchanting abilities.
RELATED: Catch up on all the glorious chaos with our Loki recaps!
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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