#but also. they don’t even MENTION isha. like. I get it. she died. it’s devastating. but?

[beartes22]

Super angry at arc 3 of arcane btw. They rushed to close everything up and it shows

[ifeelhuman]

:’(

and that was the end of act 2 from season 2 of arcane. all the devastation and brief reprieve. let’s get into it.

this is another review that will be more character-focused. starting with Singed/Dr. Revek, he is real interesting. beyond Silco and Viktor, we haven’t really seen him work much with others. in particular this season, he’s been operating alone in his experiments and procedures. his compliance in/to work with Ambessa is intriguing—especially since when Warwick arrived at Still Water decided to stay in his cell for reasons undisclosed. he even says he expected Caitlyn or Ambessa to find him. he also mentions in the same line in the previous episode that “it’s always the same look, when one covets a weapon.” but… did he really rebuild Vander into the murderous Warwick just to get in the graces with one such as Mother Medarda and as a result have full reign to do as he pleases? it’s possible and likely probable; he is only after a “cure” to death for his daughter, after all. perhaps with him being able to work without fear of persecution he believes he will get ever-closer to said cure. also also, when he was left alone with Vander he, out of sight (after the killing of Viktor), injected his newest solution made specifically to “inhibit” Viktor’s work on Vander… was this the plan all along as well? the cells and essence that Singed was referring to in his conversation with Viktor to keep him going and unable to perish… was he to one day kill his creation and his offer to Viktor was empty and really just for his daughter? i’m onboard to believe this is such the case. hell, even Viktor saw his true intentions in that convo were solely for his daughter. what he is doing now after the end of this episode is anyone’s guess given that Vander may be no more (tbd).

Vander. in such a short 3 episodes and 3 episode teases in act 1… he was brought back in the most barbaric of ways just to be destroyed by Isha. now, we’ve seen him regenerate nigh-instantly but i don’t know if he survived this kind of explosion but we shall see. speaking of what we see… during the montage with Viktor working day after day on Vander’s recovery and the return of his psyche we get glimpses of his past to beautiful, emotional music. we also see more of Vi and Powder from before the first episode of the show with their parents 💔. for Vander to be privy to some scenes he literally wasn’t present for (as some of the flashback scenes were not from his perspective), Felicia and/or Connel had to have had a close and meaningful relationship with Vander to share such memories with him. it’s sad… that these memories are some of the happiest we see the characters *ever* but lines up with the narrative of the show. i was rather nervous when Cait tried to raise Vander from slumber (?) because i was worried he may lash out and maim or harm her but thankfully, due to Viktor’s influence, that didn’t take place. and for the fight between Rictus and Jinx to not influence him either UNTIL Jinx’s life is in peril does he involve himself—in a human way, speaking his first and only sentence since he told Vi to take care of Powder. but it’s all for not, it seems. in a depiction of absolute agony, profusely leaking what looks to be literal lava, he wails and is clearly in pain. in this state he takes out Rictus—likely knowing that if he died again that Rictus still wouldn’t give up on trying to hurt his family. so he makes sure that doesn’t happen. oh but for him to go out again in such a short time in the manner than took place… :(.

Caitlyn. she kind of took a backseat during this episode despite having a change take place and change the convergence of the plot. we have started to see her stand against Ambessa rather than with her a few times since episode 4 so her change was expected—just was a matter of when. her trading words on different virtues(?) of combat, “too much force exposes you to risk,” was foreshadowing it was going to take place in this episode. upon seeing Vi, she kind of reverts back to the person she was when she was with Vi before the occupation of Zaun, especially when hearing “cupcake” as her pet name again. she still possesses her elite detective skills tho. just from Vi being in the same place as the destination of the beast they’re seeking + Vi saying she’s there to try and save her dad you can see it on her face that she recognizes that the beast and Vi’s dad are one and the same. and saving a parent (especially with Cait losing one of hers still very recently) is definitely something Caitlyn can get behind. so she does. gives Vi the lay of Ambessa’s operation, devises a plan with Cait + doesn’t tell her Jinx is involved, and even helps Vi fool Ambessa despite knowing how utterly capable she is in all manners of combat and war. as of the end this episode i’m certain their partnership is no more and there will be consequences. how Piltover may hear about or see this is to be seen.

Ambessa (and Rictus). Rictus is always by her side, nearly just as capable, and would die for her. and he does just that. his fight scene with Jinx was brief but memorable and revealing. he suspected Caitlyn’s deceit (and Ambessa probably did too tbh) and nearly foiled the counter-plans in motion but no. Ambessa lists out specific core principles that Noxians hold in high regard to all else. specifically referring to strength and a new, most impressive one: sacrifice. when she brings up sacrifice i imagine knowing that Caitlyn doesn’t fully trust her that she’s trying to say that if Caitlyn doesn’t throw *everything she is* into finding Jinx and restoring peace then all will be lost. at least that’s the subtext i picked up on. speaking of subtext, on the opposite side of the coin is the obvious and most obtrusive: Ambessa’s desire (and honestly, likely lust) for war. arriving at the commune she plants a staff/spear in the ground, resolute in getting what she wants here in this scene and she wants the monster, wants the meet the herald (and possibly acquire or supersede his power), and wants to find Jinx because once she’s found and “justice” is served, the war will be over and she can make use of Hextech in her own feats again Black Rose. not only did she not expect more anticipate Cait’s defection, she also didn’t see her siding with Vi until the moment was too late. Rictus, though, doesn’t get her out of the electric net she’s restrained in (because he followersd Cait out of the tent) so it leads me to wonder how she got out. it isn’t important to the overall narrative though—likely a Noxiaj solider went into the tent at some point (because Ambessa said “ready our forces for tonight” and wanted to let her know they were ready to head out, i suppose). Rictus slams into Cait after she incapacitates Singed and chokes her out, making it clear they action + dialogue that he intends to end her life in that moment. Jinx !! of all people saves her !! but it was part of Vi’s plan and a certainly the part she was talking about with Jinx when referring to the fact that she wasn’t going to like it. Vander saves Jinx and as they embrace and Vi walks in to the greenhouse. Cait, a vessel of rage and empathy, doesn’t take the moment to try and kill Jinx but doesn’t hide her disdain either. once a disintegrating Vander mauls Rictus, Caitlyn knows all hell is about to break loose and she looks at Ambessa as she launches her army into attack. during Viktor’s short monologue, we see Ambessa angry and hate-filled over Rictus’s body. i’ve omitted this in other reviews but it’s increasingly likely that these two had something intimate going on of *some* nature, whatever it was. guess we shall see to what degree if significant enough in the next act.

Jayce. he has gone THROUGH IT, fr. and we haven’t even seen a glimpse or gotten much of a tease of what his path was between episode 3 and the end of the last episode. there isn’t much i want to talk about here with him except this: ; (nearly) every time Jayce encounters someone with whom Viktor has touched and healed with the arcane, he gets a vision, an abstract insight into whatever “true form” these people have or posses now. something that those who have not touched the Arcane can tell or experience or even fathom. i found myself pausing consistently throughout the episode and to give a description in my own words… these… “people” he’s seeing are more akin to statues or mannequins than those of the flesh. they are rock or stone-like, with heads that appear hollow but bridge into a crown atop what would be a cranium. they also posses no eyes or other human features besides that their overall form is based on humans and bipedal. what Jayce is seeing, whatever the wild rune put him through, and his guilt too, honestly (and commitment we hear as echoes in his mind) lead him to take out Viktor in an explosive beam/burst of Arcand energy and thus hopefully end Hextech. we don’t know what happens with Jayce after but he has seemingly succeeded. so far.

Viktor. we finally, FINALLY get the definitive proof here in this episode that Sky is somewhat, somehow “alive” as a literal part and/or integration of Viktor as a result of his fusion with the Arcane. which means Sky became a part of the Hexcore in episode 7 or 8 of last season, never truly “died.” since then, she has been guiding him in all that he hoped to achieve. however we also know Viktor’s personality and mind/souk changed after his fusion—i wonder if Viktor and Sky are even the same people they were before. narratively speaking, it probably does not matter but am curious nonetheless. at the beginning of this episode both of them are entranced and excited by a singularity that has the trait of chaos. i have no doubt that this part, intentionally included here (right before the portal closed/because a black hole could be thought of as a portal and theoretically contains a singularity at its core) is important and will play a part in the next act, despite Viktor/Sky “dying.” even if they are dead, the Arcane definitely is not. no way.

Vi and Jinx. together (but not… kinda). in this episode they do all they can to help Vander, even bring him to a “metal fortune cookie” (Jinx’s words lol) despite in the hope that this long-heard about healer can do his work on him. Isha, of course, is in tow and after Vi gets Jinx’s lukewarm consent Viktor takes care of Vander. but… to think that something literally naturally impossible, Vander being brought back, is what brought them together. enough for Vi to get Jinx’s opinion, perspective, and thoughts on something so significant. this commune, a place of healing is also the site adjacent to their old childhood home—or what’s left of it. the girls bond over their obvious shared history before Vi suggests what would’ve been unthinkable episodes ago: maybe that they should stay, help rebuild and help with the commune that’s helping their father. Jinx considers it but the scene cuts away before we hear more (if there is a “more.”). one thing i really want to talk about here is that since Jinx’s reunion with Vi at the beginning of last episode Vi has decisively *not* called Jinx by her name, whatsoever. it’s fascinating because as they are slowly acting like distant-to-closer sisters again… Vi won’t even acknowledge Jinx through her current namesake. i don’t really need to go into why she doesn’t as i feel that’s obvious but it’s very clear that she’s making the choice to avoid saying it. Jinx isn’t seemingly bothered by this fact, interesting enough. one final thing about them both: we see at the end that when Isha causes the explosion with the hex crystals that Vi shields Jinx from the explosion with her body. they were both far enough away that neither was going to be permanently injured but it’s such a nice and tragic touch, really. and how this tragedy… this little girl and her action that cost her own life is going to affect Jinx going toward is hard to calculate but it’s clear that it’s going to be more than significant. because… because Isha was happy. she did what she did because it was the most right thing that only she could do, in that moment. thru the flashbacks were shown that Jinx provided a life of high contentment, peace, compassion, and playfulness for them both. Isha got to experience a happiness most characters or even real life people will never get to and it’s so beautiful and so very sad. but she ended her life on her terms, at her happiest because she could. because she wanted to give back to Jinx in the best way that she could. but while Jinx was Isha’s guardian, her safe and happy place… Isha was Jinx’s. Isha was Jinx’s rock, her stability. she hasn’t been seeing things or hearing voices this whole period of time except for two moments (when Isha got arrested and subsequently taken to prison, and the very brief moment when Viktor called Jinx, Powder). Isha was Jinx’s everything as she was hers. it used to be that way with Vi and Powder. maybe the show is hinting at that being a possibility again in this next coming act, who knows. but i do know that is episode was tragic, powerful, necessary, important, and more than anything it contained tales of love and the lengths we’d go for it.

lastly just want to touch on this; the music in not only this episode but this entire show has been fucking incredible. the choices, the cuts, the array and variety of different artists etc, it’s all so amazing and inspiring as well as emotional. all the kudos and credit goes to the team that worked on this show. my next arcane review post will be my final one, for now as i will be reviewing the final act of this show as one viewing. thank you to everyone who reads my reviews and thanks for watching this show.

i am ready for the end, with tears, and blisters and bedrock. 🩷💙🩷💙