Is Miss Minutes Actually Alive? TVA Mascot Explained
Warning: SPOILERS for Loki episode 2.
Is Miss Minutes an actual living entity in Loki? Episode 2 of the Disney+ series suggests that the cartoon clock, voiced by Tara Strong, is much more than just a mascot used by the Time Variance Authority to discuss its objective.
While the TVA and their efforts to patrol the timestream were pulled straight from the comic books, Miss Minutes herself doesn’t appear to be based on any existing Marvel Comics character. Original to Loki, she debuted in the show’s series premiere as a cartoon clock with a southern accent who explained the multiverse and the purpose of the Time Variance Authority in a video about what they really do. It was through Miss Minutes’ monologue that Loki (Tom Hiddleston) learned about the Sacred Timeline, the history of the Time Keepers, the conflict between timelines, Nexus events, what variants are, and more.
Miss Minutes turned into yet another Loki mystery as a result of her role in episode 2. Early in the show, she appeared outside of the TV and materialized on Loki’s desk to quiz him on Nexus events. During this scene, Loki asked her directly if she was a recording or if she was alive, to which she responded, “sort of both.” It looked like she may have been a hologram, but the fact that she was trying to dodge hits from a rolled-up jet-ski magazine indicate that she may actually possess a corporeal form. Plus, her ability to communicate with Loki and even call him by his name are indicative of her being an artificial intelligence of some kind.
When looking at the highly advanced technology present throughout the Time Variance Authority’s headquarters, it’s not actually surprising that they would have the scientific capabilities required to build an AI like Miss Minutes. What’s not made obvious, though, is the extent of her role at the TVA. There may not be a need for a simple cartoon mascot to have a mind of her own. That’s why it feels likely that Miss Minutes has a more important job at the TVA. Comments from Loki director Kate Herron have revealed that the character will factor into the story in a certain way, but exactly where she fits into Loki’s journey with the TVA remains to be seen. Some have gone as far as to theorize that Miss Minutes, like so many other AIs in television and movies, will develop a villainous presence on the show.
Instead, it's possible that Miss Minutes will end up coming in handy for Tom Hiddleston’s character as his stay with the TVA continues in Loki. Since she was apparently programmed with all sorts of knowledge about the inner workings of the TVA and the multiverse as whole, she could know things that could prove advantageous to Loki later on down the line. True to his title of the God of Mischief, Loki could keep spending time with Miss Minutes, learning everything he can about the organization and the Time Keepers, who he quite clearly has an interest in. If Loki is planning a double-cross, Miss Minutes could unknowingly give him the tools he needs to pull it off.
Loki releases new episodes every Wednesday on Disney+.