#Arcane critical

[fulcrums501st]

how is hallucination Silco more sympathetic to Vi’s prison trauma than the writers lmao

[fandomluver-101]

No, Maddie being a Noxian spy was not some amazing plot twist, it was just a lazy way to make people hate her.

One - she could've been nuanced in that she GENUINELY believed in Ambessa and the direction things were going only to die horribly for it. It was already set up, just follow through without the unnecessary betrayal of Caitlyn crap.

Two - Caitlyn is her superior and if Caitlyn was a male character hooking up with Maddie, way more people would be acknowledging that Caitlyn took advantage of her power and position. It seriously grossed me out watching the first time because are we really supposed to be like "oh, what a homewrecker" instead of going "what the hell, Caitlyn, more abuse of power!?"

Three - you can't tell me Caitlyn didn't deserve to be betrayed whether Maddie was a spy or not. It could've been a situation where Maddie WAS taken advantage by Caitlyn and was in a position where she knew she couldn't say no (Caitlyn is the heiress/head of a powerful house, got multiple major and undeserved promotions, and IS HER SUPERIOR). Then Ambessa manipulated her further and BAM, Maddie betrays Caitlyn.

Acknowledge your characters being bad people in the context of the show instead of going "ooh, let's ruin a character to save our favorite after we made her a bit too irredeemable."

[thesheriffandthebrawler]

sweet! love this guy :3 love this guy :3 love this guy :3 love this guy :3 love this guy :3 love this guy :3 love this guy :3 love this guy :3 love this guy :3 love this guy :3 love this guy :3 love this—

[oneshotprincess]

1. i wasn't familiar with league lore when i started watching arcane and frankly i don't care to be. i'm judging the show based only on what it managed to communicate to me.

a non-exhaustive list of questions it didn't answer for non-lol fans: what the arcane is (an extra-dimension beyond runeterra? a natural force like gravity?), what are runes, what do combining runes accomplish, why are some people mages, how are mages treated in runeterra, what was piltover's history with magic, is ekko's theory about the arcane extracting a price correct, the hexcore's unclear influence on viktor, etc etc etc. all of which i believe could have been pretty organically revealed if they weren't speed-running through 4 plots in season 2

if it's a show that needed homework done before watching, i didn't realize when i started watching. and honestly, i believe the onus is on the adaptation to explain the rules of the world they're adapting or make it clear that the adaptation is not for non-fans.

2. that being said i was talking about the applicability to our own reality. magic doesn't actually exist but science analogous to magic does. the conversation in s1 between heimerdinger and jayce and viktor where they talk about fast-tracking progress to help people now versus being cautious while the underprivileged suffer has a lot of poignant similarities to our reality and i expected a nuanced follow through between them. i'm simply expressing my disappointment that any such nuance was thrown aside for a generic 'magic bad and corrupts' plotline, even if it is presumably lol lore-accurate.

one more thing i definitely dislike about arcane is how...weirdly anti-science it is. maybe it attempted to be talking about the ethical decisions that are involved in scientific progress but instead...

tell me why a disabled man's pursuit to alleviate his suffering is treated as going against the very nature of the universe when his disability is hardly 'natural' (if such a thing exists) but rather caused by the machinations of the upper class of the society he lives. a society that has created many more disabled children and orphans just by how it functions. but ohhhhh magic science bad...don't mess with the order of nature...

[spiritofmymuse]

the arcane creators could have done a whole other season or two on the class struggle and resistance, weaving the changes in Vi and Jinx now seemingly being on opposite sides of the fight, because that complexity was what made me looovveeee season 1. It was rushed in season 2 and the whole caitvi situation is a microcosm of that issue. Even when Ekko gets slightly political and confronts Jayce about building the hexbase underground and polluting Zaun, he’s blasted into an AU and it’s never brought up again. We get Zaunites fighting for the enforcers? And then the rest of the zaunites joining the fight (albeit on their own time with Jinx as their chosen leader, at least they added that) when Piltover hasn’t done shit for them. And the final scene was too happily ever after like we got Sevika on the council without any explanation as to how this issue was resolved.

[fulcrums501st]

“Arcane s2 is just too complex for you to understand cuz they use show not tell”

The “showing”:

Vi TELLS us she thinks her sister is gone, and her coming to this conclusion happens off-screen, so instead she TELLS us.

this is the only exploration of VI’s prison trauma. ghost Silco TELLS us “wow prison must have been rough” instead of the show actually showing VI’s time in prison or how it affects her.

largest acknowledgment of Cait’s actions is TOLD. then poof, cait’s actions are forgotten in the actual story.

most on the nose cliche ass line ever

Same here. show uses silco as a mouthpiece to TELL us about “the power of forgiveness” instead of showing how characters forgive, how hard forgiveness it, etc. just “forgiveness is good”. which is again a simple cliche.

“Oh but Caitlyn forgives Jinx”

Yeah, in a cliche ass line of dialogue that just TELLS me she forgave her without showing HOW she got to that point or how difficult that journey was. It jus happens. I am just TOLD. cliche asf

Hold up this might actually be more cliche. I could feel the writer hijacking VI’s mouth to say something out of character. Plus WTF is she even talking about. How tf did Jinx “rewrite Zaun’s story” ??THAT sure as hell isn’t SHOWN just TOLD to me in a cliche line.

Again. Arcane s2 TELLS us what we should be thinking, without bothering to show Cait actually dealing with this conflict in a meaningful way through her actions in the story. she goes right back to brutally interrogating people after this. and she says this after her whole police brutality montage.

The show cant just drop random lines on random characters and be like “look at that, we addressed a thematic question” and call it character work or thematic work, and then not use that thematic idea to explore anything in the actual plot or character actions outside of the one cliche line of dialogue.

[swampgothing]

The song Hellfire should have been used in a different S2 scene. The lyric "Can I do the right thing for the wrong reasons" absolutely should not be associated with Caitlyn gassing the undercity. I truly don't understand why that song is over that montage it just doesn't fit the context of what going on. Am I missing something every time I watch the music video because like huh? I don't get it.

[jackoquako]

Also. I have to mention the fact that the enforcers don’t HAVE to parallel cops specifically. They’re “enforcers”. Look back in history to any violent regime and you’ll find more parallels between the enforcers and them.

they’re not just cops- they’re the idea of violence carried out via the government, and that’s never been a North American specific issue.

"Stop projecting your America-centric view of cops onto the enforcers in Arcane!" as if the very first shot in season 1 isn't a bloodbath with Vi and Powder's parents having been murdered by enforcers, as if we don't witness multiple violations of their power in season 2 and as if police brutality isn't a global issue.

[sandraharissa]

It’s insane how perfect the finale of s1 was, which makes it so incomprehensible to me that in s2 they chose to ignore everything that led up to it and all the promise it held for how the story would unfold

[this-user-is-new]

"ekko would understand vi becoming an enforcer", no, hell. no.

i can't say all that on twitter so here i am. if anything, he'd be one of the last people to accept it.

why would he understand vi joining the enforcers, the very institution that oppresses zaun, killed his family/childhood friends (indirectly), and helps to maintain the systemic inequality that allows figures like silco and the chembarons to thrive? the firelights literally exists because of piltover’s oppression, with the enforcers being one of its main tools. how do you even begin to fabricate a scenario where he understands vi for aligning with them?

and the dumbest defense of this take i've seen: his friendship with heimerdinger. where was this energy when people pointed out how underdeveloped and out-of-nowhere that relationship felt way before season 2 came out? oh, right, you didn't care about ekko at that time. i've noticed that only now, when the main characters are facing backlash, that people suddenly bring him up as a “gotcha.” and it's disgusting.

and even then, there’s a key difference: heimerdinger is an ex-councilor who helped ekko in season 2 (and died for him (not really, but-)). vi, at the end of the day, joined the enforcers and is still one.

[sillysalmonn101]

“Amanda said Caitlyn only gassed chembarons” okay well the show literally showed her gassing crowded, public streets??? Like I’m sorry that the writers are morons and don’t know what to do with their own show, but you will never convince me that Caitlyn only hurt chembarons

I don't consider anything the arcane writers said in dms, tweets, or interviews to be canon. If you wanted it to be canon, then put it in the show. You can't add secret details after the fact that only people who are deeply invested in your show find out about. The viewer should be able to completely understand what tf is going on in your show by simply watching the show.

[sapphic-boyfriend]

“arcane just needed more seasons”

hey, so fun fact !! if the writing/narrative fucking sucks in the first place, it doesn’t matter how many seasons you have, because they’re all going to be bad.

if they were given more time, we would just have more bad writing. is that what u want?

hope this helps !! since some of you don’t seem to get that by now.

[wildlybewitched]

It’s SO underrated how in S1 E7 Jinx hums the song she sang as a little girl while walking across the bridge during the Day of Ash, and then, in the present day, walks across the same bridge picking off the remaining injured enforcers one by one. And her totally dissociative facial expression is so tragic.

[theclownghoul]

Gratuitous

Opinion piece & analysis

I really hate how Jinx’s suicidality is portrayed in S2, largely in Act lll but we’ll talk about all of it.

In S1 we have about three moments (by my count) that show Jinx harming herself or trying to end her life. Hitting herself in episode 3, being careless with the staples in episode 7 and pulling the pin on the bridge also in episode 7. There is also a line she says to Vi “You’re the reason I’m still alive” in episode 9 which given other things she says in that moment could be interpreted as other ideations.

What makes these moments different from S2 episode 9? Well none of the three main writers were credited to those episodes other than the dialogue in S1 episode 9. Most of them are communicated through animation only. They also just feel different, they’re vulnerable, other things are the focus and her doing these things is just a reaction to those feelings. There was something to get from the scene besides a showcase of her pain.

Episode 9 of S2 is not that. It’s gratuitous, it’s a spectacle, it’s gory and somehow losing all its impact. There’s the music which is not what I’d call tasteful or subtle. It’s making an impression, wants to force a feeling or reaction. Make you sad or horrified and oh, I was horrified but not the way they wanted.

Even the way she digs her nails into her cuticles in S2 episode 8 isn’t really meant to show us anything about her. It’s meant to affect the audience.

In comparison I almost appreciate how people have read her pulling the pin in S1 episode 7 as trying to manipulate or take Ekko out too instead of being a completely clear cut attempt. Because it at least shows that there is enough going on with the character’s mindset that we can speculate on her motivations and how she’s reacting to all the emotions that came from fighting her old friend. If you look at her face it’s sadness and regret (S1 is also better at story through facial expressions since there was forethought). You’re free to have your own reaction, not the one that’s set out for you.

I have mixed feelings about her fight with Vi now and telling Vi that she’s okay to go out by her hand. It feels closer to the moments in S1 than later in episode 9. There’s more going on, we’re meant to consider multiple layers of both her and Vi’s feelings in the moment. It’s a non explicit parallel to the Bridge and does show a pattern of behaviour. It’s also not credited to any of the main writers.

The scene from the opening of episode 9 as a whole, is it romanticization? Heard differing opinions on this and I honestly don’t know where I stand. One one hand it shows how empty she feels and how everything has come crashing down despite trying and it communicates her emotions through the images and music. On the other the scene is meant to be visually appealing while also showing her detonating the bomb very explicitly, like you see her blood. I’m sorry but this is some 13 reasons shit. None of this is helped by the fact that Isha was killed purposely to get her in this state.

I had way more emotions about the actual story in the scene with Ekko in S1 and the scene with Vi in episode 3. Originally I liked this scene but I just can’t really remember why exactly, especially when compared to the earlier ones. The other scenes aren’t lacking in any way when it comes to showing her despair so I’m lead to believe it’s a stylistic choice in line with S2’s music video focus.

Then there’s Ekko… what did he do to deserve this? I’ve said before that if he had to he would save her but the reason he had to was because this scene sounded like a good idea. Saw someone say why is it his responsibility to save her and yeah why? He’s her romantic interest? Not from her perspective at this point and that’s a terrible reason anyway. Not only are we shown her blowing herself up in detail, being inflicted with it but he also has to see that, multiple times. Please don’t make me think too long about it… then we don’t see what actually changes her mind and actually see their bond. That also doesn’t give me a lot of faith is what they think is important to show.

Then she sacrifices herself at the end to “break the cycle” which no one is actually clear on what is meant by that and the same damn song is playing. It’s weird.

I’d like to compare it to the Poison sequence from Hazbin Hotel since that scene faced backlash for romanticizing abuse specifically in that scene. If I can describe what makes Poison not exploitative and what makes Wasteland so then I can safely say they are different and there is something deeply sinister about Jinx’s scene.

Poison benefits internally, inside the context of the story from being visually appealing and pretty. That tells part of the story in and of itself and eventually it cracks, mirroring how Angel feels in the scene and in his situation.

Wasteland benefits externally, it’s done for the audience as I’ve been saying. There is nothing about Jinx’s mindset or actions that we get a better insight into from the stylistic choices. We know “she loves a spectacle” but that’s the only internal explanation that I could make. Even if they wanted the cutting of her hair and the burning on the last drop but the framing could have easily been different.

Think about the staple scene for contrast, it has no interest in being something other than what it is, brutal and disorienting, just as she is feeling in that moment. Jinx would behave that way whether there were “eyes” on her or not. Poison is the same, Angel “performs” to keep his thoughts at bay regardless of an audience. Wasteland only exists in its current form to entertain.

The final “sacrifice” also falls into this, solely focusing on eliciting a reaction from the audience and making a spectacle of sadness. There is no resolution to Jinx’s earlier conversation with Ekko, we don’t see her reflect, we don’t see a change. We have no reason to believe she’s in any way in a better place. Her decision to give her life for Vi’s isn’t particularly fleshed out and this as a conclusion to her arc is bizarre at best and offensive at worst, suggesting she had to remove herself from her loved ones lives, something she simultaneously feared and was tempted by.

I probably shouldn’t feel the need to make such a caveat but I am aware that the could be a matter of preference when it comes to how scenes like this are portrayed but the way this scene was done continues to strike me as odd. I can’t help but think it maybe intentionally or unintentionally is playing into the “sacrifice” message where, it may be a sad thing but Jinx had to die. And that’s a horrible thing to say.

[samhadjblog2]

I like how you go on about "You need things to spelled out like a child" bit. Its the same "pretentiousness" of " You need to have a high IQ to understand rick and morty". Also I said that Caitlyn and Vi had different goals in the start of the season and its only as the season went on that they gradually developed the same goal. Its also important to note that Vi and Caitlyn while wanting the same thing also clashed with one another. (Example being Caitlyn about to shoot Isha in order to get to Jinx). And that's the thing with Arcane it wasn't just "Characters joining up" and that's it. It was "Characters with varying different goals and ideals that often had them either team up push each other away".

Again with your sentiments of "needing to spell out thing" I understand foreshadowing. However as I've stated before the scene between Jayce and Silco is talks about what the city stands for "Progress". Yes they mention "The Rune wars" and how the city was built with the idea of standing against a common foe. However I keep on telling you "This is the only point of reference of "People coming together" is about just that "Coming together" not "Coming together against a common enemy". You go on "This is so obvious" and yet everything else indicates that this wasn't the case. The conflict of the first season were both sides fighting against one another and besides this "One reference to the cities founding" nothing indicates the two sides would fight a common foe. Because up to that point there was "No" common enemy and so much of the focus was the characters fighting one another all with varying different goals. To then just say "Well here's a common enemy to fight against" is very much out of place for what this story was trying to be. My argument wasn't "This had to more specific", like you keep going on about, I just said that "One scene with Jayce and Silco isn't evidence for this being the inevitable outcome of the story". Had there been more references to this then sure "that would be foreshadowing".

Honey you going on about "You don't get how stories work just demonstrates that you have no argument and relying on "Ad Hominem's". Ambessa didn't appear with as you put "a moist ache to twirl indicating evil intent". She came with a value for strength and dominance, someone not to different then Silco. Yes she had her own intentions to get Hex-tech yes however that didn't take away from the fact she was there to support Piltover, even if it was for her own selfish intentions. If we used the same logic of "Well she appeared menacing" then Silco would of been the main antagonist that everyone rallied against. Because he did equally bad stuff as Ambessa and yet he wasn't someone that was pitted against by everyone else in the end of S1 in fact as you mentioned he even struck a deal with Jayce. Ambessa's involvement is not to different then to how America would help out other countries as a means for their own gains. While its a negotiation built off of selfish goals its still a negotiation none the less.

Here's the thing about the Hexcore again you can argue was morally questionable but acting like that this would apply to "All of Hextech" is ridiculous because so much of the negative ramifications that we were exploring this season weren't the one's with "The Hexcore" and instead its "the anomaly" which was so contrived,but more on that later.

As for the "Find out" analogy let me clear things up. Jayce uses the Hexcore and VIktor something that happened "To Viktor" not something of his own accord. (Which isn't bad, just wanting to point that out because this is a problem later on). As for the whole Jayce makes weapons part fine. However I would argue after Viktor heal Huck he is sidelined really hard after this.

However "The anomaly" is pure contrivance for instance "When was it ever established that there was a second hexgate generator. Your telling that "VIktor (WhoJayce helped built the generator) someone from the Undercity" would he not consider how the generator would affect the Undercity ?" This is full on contrivance.

AlsoIts only until "now" that the anomaly starts to have an effect on the tree ? The tree seemed pretty fine before so why now ? And this isn't a sign of 'Over-usage" because the Hex gates were shut down at the time and so its affected wouldn't of been as prominent. And it seems like the show is saying "All of Hex-tech is bad".

"Tree was never re-visited when it shown to be a serious issue". On top of that besides the one glitching of Caitlyn and Vi's hex-tech weapons "The anomaly" doesn't affect anything else and is just reduced to being a "Mcguffin for Viktor". So it simply just "negative ramifications". On top of that all its just there for is to simply fling Ekko, Heimerdinger into an alternate dimension in order for Ekko to learn a "Specific lesson to help Jinx" (Not trying to trash on the episode and I honestly think its pretty great, just that a lot of its purpose is to simply get Ekko from point A to point B in a unnatural way") Same with Jayce it was simply character development in order for him to see the dark future of the Glorious evolution and sure it was kind of interesting to see Jayce's journey parallel Viktor's life however I feel like this storyline faulters a bit in the end (More on that later).

So "The anomaly" is entire existence is just solely to get the characters where they need to be. So. A contrivance.

Jinx's not blowing up the council wouldn't of had Ambessa not take over. Ambessa is a ruthless person who is able to use deception just like her daughter she would of found a way. Also there was no guarantee that Silco would of agreed to this deal, because when he learned that he would have to give up Jinx to get what he wants he was on the fence. (Sure you could say that might of gone through with it however it was still a very complicated choice and there is some hints that he might of not gone through with it). Also the council was also on the rock about giving the Under-city sovereignty. There was a lot that would've gone wrong. And all of it could of been easily exploited by Ambessa. So I wouldn't call that a consequence of Jinx's action.

The main focus of Arcane was its politics saying that "It was about its characters" is a disservice to the show. Because so much of their goals, motivations and ideals are intrinsically tied to the conflict of Piltover and Zaun

I looked over your post. And a lot of what you said are themes of class. ". People who come from the oppressed class can, in turn, oppress their own people." A theme of class.

"People can benefit from being part of the rich/oppressor class" without realizing how they benefit from the system, and even those who see it can struggle to break from their own privilege. A theme of class

"Some people are most concerned with harm reduction while others seek radical change" A theme of class

The only one that's more interpersonal is "Sometimes, the only way to move forward is in step with the person who was just holding you back. "

Class conflicts aren't "Black and white" narratives where rebel heroes fight bad oppressive people. A lot of them do explore the themes that you brought up. And people weren't upset the story wasn't some "Black and white heroes vs bad guys" In fact a lot of people would consider the ending "Black and White". Because as I said "Saving the world is a baseline goal that tells us nothing about characters motivation". Also analogy's to Nuclear ware-fare, and a bigger nation taking advantage of a small nation are another examples of "Political themes".

My point about Warwick is that "Him loosing his agency "Again" isn't tragic it just demonstrate how meaningless his character is. Because compare it to his LoL a former gangster who wanted to turn a new leaf, only to have his past catch up to him, which led to Singe capturing him and experimented on him. All with the effort revealing the true nature of who he was. And so became a dangerous wolf-creature that killed relentlessly. However as time went on he began to come to slowly regain small fragments of his past and focused on only killing criminals. However he could not escape the beast.

Meanwhile in Arcane half of this is true he is revived he go's on a rampage (with a lot of cuts in-between fights). And as he see's Vi he immediately regains all semblance of his humanity and is able to hug it out. And then he is taken to Viktor to be fully healed and regains all of his humanity. And then when Jayce shot Viktor that is how he "Loose control", not because he's too much of a beast but because of magical circumstances. And then his memories just immediately stripped away again. Making him into a generic blank-slate. And that isn't interesting that just makes him a plot-device. A cheap excuse for the Sister to reconcile without having to truly explore their internal issues. On top of just having things happen to him instead of making meaningful choices of his own accord. His tragedy isn't because of his own choice rather its because things happen to him.

Intersting standpoint about Mel and Ambessa's confrontation.

My argument for Ekko's acceleration rune is that People say that future Viktor went back in time multiple times in order to create the right outcome for Jayce to go and save him. A lot of people point out that all of this led to Ekko using the acceleration Rune in order to get to this moment. Which again makes no sense because "The Bleak future that future Viktor came from has all of the same elements as the timeline where Ekko builds the Z-drive, because if not why are things like the broken clock tower (Something that wouldn't of happen had Ekko made the Z-drive) appear in the same dark bleak future. So I wouldn't make sense for there to have been a loop if the events of the dark future were one and the same. And so Jayce was responsible for Viktor's dark turn. I.E a self fulfilling prophecy

I'm not saying that the show "had to end with a civil-war" rather that just that it should end with the focus put squarely on the conflict between Piltover and Zaun. However if it were to go in that direction your forget that the undercity also has Shimmer and those chemtanks which would still pose a threat. Also the black rose also could've supported Zaun's independence. Which would led to a more interesting Cold-war analogy. Heck I suggested and ending where its Vi and Jayce trying to stop the war from breaking out and trying to negotiate peace talks once again.

There are many ways the show could of ended, I just think that the ending shouldn't of ended with a "Let's team up to fight a singular bad guy" trope because it lacks any real interesting meaning. I also think its important to note that a lot of people though that the show would end on a note that would have the characters end up in a similar situation that there LoL counterparts ended. Jinx continues to be a terrorist, Vi and Caitlyn continue to be enforcers, Jayce continue to make Hex-tech tools, Viktor seeks to accomplish his "Glorious evolution". Ekko uses his Z-drive to fight against both Chem-baron's and Piltover with some tension with Vi. Warwick becomes a vigilante who fights criminals in Zaun. And that there wouldn't be a "Nice happy ending."

And as I said before the story of Arcane 'is" about class conflict. As the themes you've listed indicate this to be the case. And back to my point about episode 5 onward. A lot of issues start to rear there head around here. For starters we have VI's pit fighter story be glossed over through a music-video, when it feels like this should of been an arc in of itself (It especially felt annoying since Act 1 felt like a season if of itself ). On top that the episode doesn't really delve into much of the sisters internals issues and just have them make peace. Also I'm not really a fan of Vander and Silco knowing who Felecia kind of muddles thing such as "Why didn't Vi or Silco remember each other ?". It also seems odd to have Silco at the violent attack on the bridge when it seemed like what happened between him and Vander happened before the events on the bridge. Episode 6 was alright baring the dumb Jayce shooting Viktor bit.

As I said before I enjoyed episode 7 a lot. And I enjoyed Ekko learning to not give up on a better tomorrow.

As for Jayce not shooitng Viktor my point is that "He Just met his future self" Why not go up to Viktor and try to tell him this information. Also as I said "The events in the finale lines up with the dark future Jayce just came back from". The Noxian ships, The broken clock tower, A mannequin that looks like Caitly ,as well as his future self being in the same pose as he was in the finale were in the dark future. So him shooting Viktor was a Self-fulfilling prophecy. Also Viktor wouldn't of been able to accomplish the "Glorious evolution" Singe pointed out that his powers were weakening. Also just "Having Jayce be crazy" be why he shoots Viktor is just a dumb. Its not a meaningful turn of events its just the story forcing itself into a specific direction.

Also no the "question of Zaun joining the help" kind of doesn't happen. A lot of the people from Zaun joined the fight. Because as I said "When faced with the end of the world of coarse people would say yes". A we see that Zaun already joined the fight even before Jinx brought reinforcement (Many of the people being her followers). And also this conflict isn't "The consequences of their actions" Its the consequences of Jayce being dumb and shooting Viktor instead of talking things out. And his glorious evolution has very little to do with "Piltover and Zaun". Its too much of an overbearing Ontological threat then one built from the class issues of Piltover and Zaun.

And as I said it doesn't feel like the show ended on the note of "The two cities reluctantly working together however there is still tension. Because as I said Viktor's glorious of Evolution had very little to do with the conflict between Piltover and Zaun. And so because of this when they easily united they in the fight it feels less like an awkward first step towards peace and more like just quick way to resolve everything. (Again this didn't have to conclude with a civil war, rather an ending that placed more emphasis on Piltover and Zaun and less on Viktor's glorrious evolution.)

And as I stated before I believe if they wanted to convey the idea of "Sevika being placed" as an awkward first step. I think a better of achieving this would be a scene similar to Silco and Jayce making a deal. With focus on Sevika's confliction as well as a scene similar to Jayce telling the Council about this negotiation. That would feel more engaging. Because that is what makes for meaningful political drama, and that's a Arcane is a show about class.

Yes this is a show about characters however the character's motivations were tied to class conflict of Piltover and Zaun. And so simply having the characters break away from the cycle without examining the issues that forced them into this situation. And its not like these issues should of been resolved in a year just that ending should feel more attached to these issues.

Back to my main point. Things like Heimedinger's memories whiel alluding to the dangers of the Hexcore a lot of the more negative ramifications towards hex-tech. Its not a sign that the show would end on a "Save the world narrative". Rather its meant to indicate that Viktor was going down a dark path and that he is messing with something he doesn't fully understand.

And as I've said about Silco and jayce's conversation. Its a reference of how the city should "Come together" not "Come together against a common enemy". Because if you want to argue that the show was always hinting at the two cities coming together fine I can see that. However to say its to come together to stop a world ending threat far from the case. And as I said Ambessa getting involved isn't foreshadowing that "She is the endgame villain" She was here to help Piltover as means for her own gains. Because by your own Logic Silco would be the main antagonist because he too comes off as equally menacing.

And no if there was a civil war it would be Piltover and Zaun. Because those are the two cities that have the most focus and where what the main conflict started as in the first season. And having the focus be directed towards a newly introduced threat would be cheap not matter if it were Ambessa or Viktor. Because it makes the story Black and white and not morally grey. And like I said Heimerdinger while have legit concerns for Viktor's Hexcore it still not a sign that the show would end on this note rather that he was going down a dark path.

“What happened to rebel Vi? Season 2 destroyed her character!”

“What happened to rebel Vi” is that Vander took her to the bridge where her parents died in his revolution and asked her what she was willing to lose. Then she meets Cait who is gentle and kind while still being tough and it makes her rethink how she sees topside. When Jinx tells her she changed too, that’s what she’s talking about.

I’m sorry if you thought Vi was going to be a topside-hating revolutionary in Season 2, but that’s clearly not where her character arc was going. Remember how she forced her way between Ekko and Cait? It seemed very straightforward that was the role her character was taking on.

I feel similar about people who act like the show was betraying its premise because it ended with reconciliation/Zaun and Piltover working together. Again, the fact that two of the most important relationships were between characters from both sides and that they made a point of talking about Zaun and Piltover first coming together against a common enemy was a pretty clear indicator that was the plan.

Now, I get being annoyed that that was what they chose to do. You don’t have to love the creative decisions of media, just like media doesn’t have to compromise its creative direction to satisfy you. But not liking that they went that direction is not the same as the show having bad writing or engaging in character assassination.

Everything Vi did in season 2 was very much in character with how she changed and who she became throughout Season 1. Hell, she used enforcers and Hextech to raid Shimmer facilities before Commander Kiramman ever threw on a beret. So, yes, actually wearing the uniform was a huge and complicated decision that she was definitely not happy about, but it also fell in line with what she had been doing.

There’s meat for another post at some point about the three different Zaun/enforcer partnerships we see in the show: Vander/Greyson, Silco/Marcus, and Cait/Vi; but I’m not going to go into that now.

TLDR: “Rebel Vi” who wants to fight all of topside hasn’t existed since the end of the second episode of the show.

Editing to add that Vi doesn’t see attacking Chem Barons as attacking Zaun; she’s taking down the people who are destroying Zaun.

[calcified-fluorited]

I rarely think of Arcane nowadays but when I do it's with a strange sense of bewilderment. They really went through all that trouble in s1 to establish the incredible gap between the living conditions of the two parts of the city, went through all the trouble to show us the injustice enforcers would inflict upon zaun at the wave of hand from the council- a council, who were not even aware of the living reality of their citizens, yet were quick to use violence our of fear.

After all that they've built up to show it obvious as the light of day that the people of the undercity were suffering, and that the ones giving the order rarely if at all had to confront the pain they caused (vi being stuffed in prison, or the enforcers being sent to brutalise people over the crimes of one single person) (this is also kinda why jayce shooting that kid was a moment for him, he saw it for real that he was part of it whether he liked it or not)

After all this, we get a "you gotta move and forgive"

that's so wild