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 "excerpt": "\"Science/Fiction\" is the fifth episode of the second season of Loki, written by Eric Martin and directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, premiering on Disney+ in 2023.",
 "snippet": "\"Science/Fiction\" is the fifth episode of the second season of Loki, written by Eric Martin and directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, premiering on Disney+ in 2023.",
 "node": "culture.performance.screen.installments.episodes.ep.core-articles.general-episode-articles.american-science-fiction-episodes",
 "markdown": "# Science/Fiction\n\n**Science/Fiction** is the fifth episode of the second season of *[Loki](https://www.edgepedia.org/loki-tv-series)*, the [Marvel Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/marvel-studios) television series streaming on Disney+. Written by Eric Martin and directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, it premiered on Disney+ on November 2, 2023.<sup>[1](https://www.marvel.com/tv-shows/episode/loki-season-2-episode-5)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/episodes/2648015/loki-2x05-sciencefiction)</sup> The episode follows the title character after the meltdown of the Temporal Loom, as he time-slips across branched timelines to find his scattered friends before the branches are destroyed.<sup>[1](https://www.marvel.com/tv-shows/episode/loki-season-2-episode-5)</sup>\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Placement | Season 2, Episode 5 of *Loki*<sup>[1](https://www.marvel.com/tv-shows/episode/loki-season-2-episode-5)</sup> |\n| Credits | Written by Eric Martin; directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead<sup>[1](https://www.marvel.com/tv-shows/episode/loki-season-2-episode-5)</sup> |\n| Premiere | Disney+, November 2, 2023<sup>[1](https://www.marvel.com/tv-shows/episode/loki-season-2-episode-5)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/episodes/2648015/loki-2x05-sciencefiction)</sup> |\n| Premise | After the Temporal Loom meltdown, Loki bounces through branched timelines to gather his friends<sup>[1](https://www.marvel.com/tv-shows/episode/loki-season-2-episode-5)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.ign.com/articles/loki-season-2-episode-5-review-science-fiction)</sup> |\n| Critical response | IGN called it an emotional highlight of the season, anchored by Tom Hiddleston's best work in the series<sup>[2](https://www.ign.com/articles/loki-season-2-episode-5-review-science-fiction)</sup> |\n| Function in the arc | Ends with Loki returning to the TVA just before the Loom meltdown, setting up the season finale<sup>[3](https://www.vulture.com/article/loki-season-2-episode-5-recap-science-fiction.html)</sup> |\n\n## Synopsis\n\nThe episode picks up directly after the events of Episode 4. Loki finds himself bouncing through time, encountering versions of his friends in different branched timelines.<sup>[1](https://www.marvel.com/tv-shows/episode/loki-season-2-episode-5)</sup> The structure visits settings in which the TVA characters live ordinary lives as Loki tries to gather his friends before the timelines are destroyed.<sup>[2](https://www.ign.com/articles/loki-season-2-episode-5-review-science-fiction)</sup>\n\nO.B. supplies the episode's explanation of the crisis: the Temporal Loom was designed for a single timeline and cannot handle infinite branches, and Loki must find his friends across the branches before they are spaghettified (Stretched into strands and destroyed by extreme gravitational forces).<sup>[3](https://www.vulture.com/article/loki-season-2-episode-5-recap-science-fiction.html)</sup> The episode ends with Loki's time-slipping landing him back at the TVA just before the Loom meltdown, teeing up the season finale.<sup>[3](https://www.vulture.com/article/loki-season-2-episode-5-recap-science-fiction.html)</sup>\n\n## Reception\n\nIGN's review called \"Science/Fiction\" an emotional highlight of *Loki*'s second season, anchored by [Tom Hiddleston](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-hiddleston)'s best work in the series.<sup>[2](https://www.ign.com/articles/loki-season-2-episode-5-review-science-fiction)</sup> On Rotten Tomatoes the episode holds a high critics' score, with the critics consensus praising the episode's emotional depth and Hiddleston's performance.<sup>[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/loki/s02/e5)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Loki Season 2 Episode 5 'Science/Fiction' — Marvel official](https://www.marvel.com/tv-shows/episode/loki-season-2-episode-5)\n2. [IGN review of Loki S2E5 'Science/Fiction'](https://www.ign.com/articles/loki-season-2-episode-5-review-science-fiction)\n3. [Vulture recap of Loki 'Science/Fiction'](https://www.vulture.com/article/loki-season-2-episode-5-recap-science-fiction.html)\n4. [Rotten Tomatoes — Loki Season 2 Episode 5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/loki/s02/e5)\n5. [Science/Fiction – Loki 2x05, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/episodes/2648015/loki-2x05-sciencefiction)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Seasons, episodes, and installments › Episodes and serial chapters › Individual episode articles › General episode articles › American science fiction episodes*\n\n*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "credit": "\"Science/Fiction\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/science-fiction-epss8jz5eh. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
 "credit_md": "\"[Science/Fiction](https://www.edgepedia.org/science-fiction-epss8jz5eh)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/science-fiction-epss8jz5eh](https://www.edgepedia.org/science-fiction-epss8jz5eh). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).",
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 "speakable": "\"Science/Fiction\" is the fifth episode of the second season of Loki, written by Eric Martin and directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, premiering on Disney+ in 2023."
}