#will we see a link between hextech and shimmer?

[viktorthemachineherald]

The mutation must survive

[monophobix]

INITIAL THOUGHTS ON ARCANE SEASON 2 ACT 1 (EPISODES 1-3)

(i’m not good at putting my thoughts into words so feel free to give your own opinions, i rlly wanna hear them)

SPOILERS AHEAD///

ok so my biggest critique is the pacing. everything is very quick very fast and a lot is going on. i understand that this is immediately after a large event which of course caused a reaction however it was just very intense and a lot to keep up with especially considering the amount of new and confusing things introduced throughout the three episodes with minimal slow down. it was alittle difficult to keep up. the timeline of the show is confusing and i have no idea how long it has been between scenes. viktor was barely in that weird healing chamber for a few scenes before he was emerging as someone new. caitlyn and vi were going from loving to fighting to understanding to fighting again very quickly with little time to develop independently, their kiss and divorce weren’t even 30 minutes apart from each other. also, who the fuck is this kid hanging around with jinx?? why is she following her, why doesn’t she talk, what’s her name, how long has she been with her?? this lack of time to let things develop has caused these episodes to feel rushed.

with this introduction of many new things some have left me with a lot of questions. my biggest issue revolves around the arcane. i literally do not recall it being mentioned or being an important topic in s1 but all of a sudden jayce knows a fuck ton about it as well as heimerdinger? when did he learn this? i assume it’s from viktors notes and research but that still fails to cover the amount of knowledge jayce now possesses.

HOWEVER THE ARCANE IS VERY COOL AND IM VERY VERY INVESTED. i absolutely love the changes to viktor, his weird apathy and changes are definitely rushed but so interesting to see, his design and behaviour are so very compelling and im very excited to see the development. additionally, this group dynamic between jayce, ekko and heimerdinger is soooooo fun. it offers a break from the intensity with some silliness i think is desperately needed, plus it’s super satisfying to see the trio bounce off each other. that final scene of them in ep3 was visually incredible and i loved seeing the effects upon the hextech weapons during the jinx, sevika vs vi, caitlyn fight. the scene of viktor amongst the shimmer infected was very interesting and it was so cool to truly see the severe effects of shimmer and the inhumanity of viktor is making a clear route towards his glorious evolution which is am keen to watch.

that ambessa reveal at the end was INCREDIBLE. i genuinely didn’t see it coming and it made my jaw DROP. the quiet, smart suspicion from mel is always incredible to see, her political mind and morals conflicting is so very engaging and she’s really developing into herself in these episodes which was a joy to witness. the mystery of her brother is compelling and links well through s1 and s2 to make the storyline fun to follow. i also simply must compliment the designs revolving around the noxians and animal-esque (sorry idk what they’re called) people. the absolute variety and inspiration from real life cultures is beautiful to see. i am incredibly confused about the magic and that one lady (amara?) but i assume that’ll be answered in later episodes.

jinx is not looking good lmao. i love her design being so corpse-like and deathly, it really fits well and really embraces the differences between powder and jinx. but i do wish we saw more of her. i see her actions but i lack understanding for some of them, primarily revolving around the child (isha?) and why the kids even there but the newfound bond between sevika and jinx is refreshing to see. the scene of them in silcos old office brought a smile to my face and the design of that fucking arm is soooo cool i love the clownish purely jinx vibe to it.

caitlyn is probably the stand out character so far (plus maybe viktor). her absolute grief and seeing her facade break down throughout the episodes was heartbreaking, the tentative yet conflicting moments of softness with vi were beautiful yet had that perfect undercurrent of tragedy that arcane masters so well. her rage and break up with vi was easy to see coming yet so incredibly jarring to watch, that harsh and merciless behaviour is so different from s1, the development is well done and a morbid pleasure to see. and that final episode. oh my. the shock to acceptance of darkness was fantastic, ambessa truly is a master at manipulating weakness in even the strongest of people and seeing this duo is going to be so soul crushing that i’m itching for more.

vi felt very rushed to me and alittle dry? idk why tho i can’t really explain it. i understand her choices but it felt like something was missing until that final scene with cait. that was an absolute masterpiece. seeing her realising that the horrors of war is corrupting everyone around her and pleading for it to please not happen is so so SO fucking sad and my heart was breaking. i loved seeing her moral strength and solidity to her values which has always been a key part of her character so i appreciate the consistency. idk why something about her was just… different.

the opening scene was incredible. the absolute horror of it was so clear and i was literally shaking the entire time. 10/10 opening.

overall, i hope things slow down alittle but i greatly enjoyed season 2 and im very excited to see the characters develop and to see even more of this beautiful world.

[mimomentomori]

Thoughts/Theories for Arcane Season 2 Act 2: Jayvik centered

Potential spoilers so read under the cut if you've watched Act 1!

To recap, at the end of Act 1 we see Jayce, Heimer and Ekko all get messed around with by the Wild Rune, causing anything linked to the Arcane to glitch out and malfunction. Based on the visuals and what we know about the characters it's likely those three will be scattered across time and space to different degrees;

Ekko will be gone long enough to be considered dead by the Firelights but return with his time powers to deal with the final confrontation with Noxus.

Heimer may be tossed back in time to confront his past trauma and be key in getting he and Ekko back to their correct time.

Jayce... He's gonna have the hardest time. He attacked the Wild Rune with the hammer which caused a massive reaction, so as a result he may be the one separated and lost in the Arcane dimension the longest. Based on the new Arcane Survivor Skin preview and the sneak peaks we got in both the newest teaser for Act 2, he'll most likely be stuck in this dimension for an undetermined amount of time, enough that it will affect his hammer directly and fuse the arcane shard in his cuff to his skin. The question is, how does he get out?

I think Viktor will be the key to his escape. Viktor, as we saw in his last scene in Act 1, is now inherently connected to the Arcane and by extension the Void given that he was fused with the Shimmer-tainted Hexcore. His continued use of the Arcane to heal his new followers will continue to destabilise the barrier between the realm of the Arcane and the material plane, but it could also potentially save Jayce.

If we're sticking with the Jesus/religious leader angle, Viktor was already shown to be having visions since he first coughed blood down into the matrix leading to the Hexcore's creation. After being fused with the Hexcore and by extension granted direct connection to the Arcane, he's been shown to be guided by 'Sky,' or at least a memory/fraction of her that now currently exists within the Hexcore and the Arcane.

My theory is, the more he settles into his new role and newfound connection to the Arcane, I think he'll start having visions of Jayce in the Arcane dimension and endeavour to get him out. While 'affection kept them together,' I think it's more than that now. They built hextech and the gates together, and with Jayce now directly affected and trapped by the Arcane they have a mystic connection to each other through the Hexcore. Despite their abrupt and bitter parting, I think seeing the main object of his affection trapped in such a state and clearly not yet fused to it like Sky is, he'll extend his power to get Jayce out.

Inevitably, this would lead to a potential clash/confrontation over both men's involvement of destabilising the Arcane in Zaun and Piltover... But I think in the end they will always do what they feel is right to save eachother.

I also want to add real quick that Ekko's criticism of how the Hexgates were built to send all runoff and potential fall out to the Undercity is valid and a gross oversight on Jayce's part, Viktor being from the Underground would have had to have a say in its design too so he will have possibly overlooked or felt confident this detail would be unlikely as well. Jayce and Viktor were partners on the project despite Jayce being the face of it; i.e. they're both responsible for what happened with the corruption and the Wild Rune.

With time being a key theme being shown in both the opening credits and how Ekko operates, it's looking like the theory that Viktor is the mage that saves young Jayve and Zimmena may be more likely than we think. But at the same time, even though we see in Viktor's new poster that he is able to thrive for some time, the plants that they experimented in did eventually wither and this may be a problem for Viktor as the next two acts progress.

Whether this means Viktor accepts or defies this rot to be in line with League Lore... I'm putting my faith in the writers on that one.

Let me know your thoughts!

[hastyprovocateur]

(SPOILERS FOR ARCANE S1 AND PREDICTIONS FOR S2)

Now yeah yeah, I know what they say about Jinx being a shimmer-fueled, feral, quick-draw who's totalled Caitlyn Kiramman once but I'd like to bring your attention to the fact that Caitlyn was hindered by Vi's hopes that Powder was still inside Jinx somewhere as well as her own hesitation regarding killing as she's never killed before. But that changes when her failure to take the shot results in the death of many more, including her own mother. This is a huge gateway into the psychology of the Caitlyn we know. The larger possibility for season 2 I want to explore is how Cassandra Kiramann's veritable death is going to affect Cait because Cait so far has been pragmatic with little to no skin in the game but with her mom gone, she becomes the new heir to the Kiramman throne and essentially the next Council superpower who is faced with an undoubted, violent terrorist attack that can greenlight war. In the case of the older Council being obliterated, I do not doubt that aside from Vi's undying hopes of "changing" Jinx, Caitlyn will gain complete surety of Jinx's capacities for evil and lose faith in rehabilitating Powder and by extension Vi's attempts to reach to her little sister. Whether Vi chooses Cait's side or not.

Contrary to the calm, reasonable, open to learn and slow-to-react Caitlyn in Season 1, the new, Season 2 Cait could be a) Fueled by her beloved mother's assassination b) a fresh (possible) break from Vi (Depending on who's side Vi takes after the Council is destroyed) her lover and closest link to the Undercity who is partially the reason she couldn't neutralise Jinx in time, allowing her to shoot up the Council building using the Hex crystal powered Fishbones shot c) If radicalised, Cait has access to any and all resources through her family to declare war and participate actively in it to kill Jinx. Not to mention access to all sorts of Hextech weapons she can put her hands on. d) unlike Jinx, Caitlyn is not easily distracted by mind games and isn't self-destructive. With her focus and obsession to do the right thing, shooting prowess, and quick thinking, like Vi said "And I thought Powder could get obsessed" they are a combat match made in heaven. With everything we've seen before, we know that Jinx can easily be outleveled, by Vi, and Ekko, at least in her non-shimmer state. The only thing cushioning her is the memory of Powder for both Vi and Ekko.

Caitlyn however, can bring Hextech to Chemtech just as easily and care nothing for Jinx/Powder outside of knowing that she's responsible for her mother's death and for the lives of many in the war ensuing. Big weights in the scales are both Vi and Ekko and it all depends on if they still stick by Jinx which I heavily doubt they will. Ekko already lost much faith in her, the remnants she killed on the bridge by blowing them both up. Not to mention the number of Firelights she's killed and also framed for her own actions. It's on Vi now... because I know Vander's voice is a big factor in her being attached to Powder and hope to unite them but I simply can't see her sticking up for her sister after she blew the Council up after killing Silco. She also saw her attack Caitlyn so consider that. If Vi sticks by Caitlyn and Ekko sticks by Piltover, Vi, and Caitlyn along with Heimerdinger AND CONSIDER Sevika and the Chem Barons turning against Jinx for crushing their dream to buy Zaun's freedom and killing The Industrialist who was at the forefront of Zaun's struggle for freedom... Jinx is going to be on the run for a long while with no one by her side unless she decides to surrender or give up the path she's currently on. Which is tough because with the blood on her hands, that's like a self-decreeing her death because the people against her, unlike Vi or Ekko, don't care if she changes. They just want her dead and out of the way.

This whole scenario changes only if between Zaun and Piltover comes a third party that threatens Vi's life in essence, because I can't see Jinx choosing to reconsider or defend anyone unless it's her sister. Even after Silco's death, she didn't lash out immediately at Vi when she could've killed her to avenge Silco and with how instinctively she killed Silco to protect her sister as well as firing away at the Council, I just know that atleast in that sense, the Powder who would do anything to protect her sister, is not dead and will most likely never die. It is the same for Vi. I'm just musing here but if any of this comes true I WARNED YOU!!

[thatringboy]

@adrialae you are so right omg

So right that I am actually gonna rant a little about how they’re different because I love my boys (forgive the formatting, I’m typing this on my phone)

I love the scene when Ekko takes Heimerdinger (spelling that first try is a celebration on its own) to the Firelight base and just watching the old man get blown away by everything is so incredible. This 300+ year old founder of Piltover who has spent all of season One trying to convince everyone to take time with progress (ironic in the city of progress) cannot comprehend how Ekko, a young man from Zaun who came from nothing, could cultivate such an outstanding place in only a few years until Ekko gives him an answer

Because it was a necessity.

Now let’s look at Viktor. He’s a disabled Zaunite who had risen to being Heimerdinger’s trusted assistant who goes behind the Dean’s back to completely change the world! He doesn’t make Hextech out of necessity or to protect his loved ones, he and Jayce create Hextech to further improve lives that would have remained the same without their inventions.

So while Viktor and Ekko have very same traits, there is one difference that sets the two apart: the ability to distinguish Need versus Want.

(Now, I know that Vikto needs the Hexcore to stay alive, but he wasn’t always dependent on it, not in the beginning)

Viktor creates Hextech because he wants to see progress unfold before his eyes. Ekko creates the Firelights because Zaun needs people to look out for it, especially after Vander’s death. Viktor designs new mining equipment because it would be nice to improve the economy a little bit. Ekko builds flying skateboards and sabotages Silco’s operations to keep Shimmer off the streets. They are not the same.

So I go back to another thing they have in common: Heimerdinger. The Professor, as we know, has had a difficult relationship with the Piltover Progress and Hextech and living proof that magic can be good… but he is absolutely blown away by the Firelights creating a small urban utopia out of metal scraps and a tree?

Heimerdinger can differentiate the difference between progress for the sake of progress and progress for the sake of survival, also known as evolution.

How ironic is it that Zaun’s glorious evolution is directly linked to Viktor and Jayce’s dream enlarging the divide between topside and undercity societies. As our beloved scientist said: “In the pursuit of great, we failed to do good.”

Ekko is the opposite of this quote: he does the good where he can so that the standard for greatness is lowered to the point of being feasible. He raises Zaunites up to that new standard so that no one else is ever left behind

Piltover didn’t need Hextech to continue commerce, but Zaun desperately needed people like Ekko and the Firelights to spread hope. In losing his family (Benzo, Vander, Vi and her gang) to Silco, Ekko stepped up to be Zaun’s watchful eye from the shadows, only noticeable by the green trail he leaves behind

So yes, Adri, you are 100% correct! Viktor and Ekko are very similar! I hope they meet in canon! But besides from their fundamental traits, they couldn’t be any more different

and everything I said above is why Ekko is one of my favorite characters

Favorite Arcane character?

Viktor and Ekko for sure