Call it wishful, milquetoast writing on Arcane's part if you want, that's a whole different discussion that I'm not interested in having because I don't have the energy for it and I don't think it'd be healthy for the thread
But the idea that there isn't anyone on Piltover's side who could ever take sympathetic action on Zaun's behalf no matter what and the only solution that could ever exist is force of arms just isn't true
If it were then the story wouldn't have been a tragedy
It's not that there's nobody from Piltover who's nice. On the contrary, I'm certain there's
plenty among the lower ranks who would be perfectly happy to help Zaun if they understood the struggle.
As you yourself pointed out, there's likely a fairly large contingent of non-rich, non-ruling topsiders who do the every day work. Common grocers, messengers, etc. (I still contend there's probably a lot of menial Zaunite labour for factories and such, but this doesn't preclude the existence of a Piltoverian middle-class). These people aren't doing much but living their lives, and likely don't have much to do with Zaun either way (They aren't the ones owning the mines, for example).
Im certain many of them only know Zaun by reputation, and would be rightfully horrified to learn what actually goes on down there.
But those people don't make decisions.
As far as I can tell the council works entirely on a system of those who are already in the council deciding as a group who else can join, and who gets kicked out.
The
effect of this is that the rich upper class Piltover house members pick other rich upper class Piltover house members, and those they form a mutually beneficial relationship with, such as Heimerdinger.
For the reasons I laid out, these people, our named cast members
unfortunately included, proceed to use that position of power to benefit themselves, and maintain the status quo. No matter how much Zaun suffers. They have all the power, they make the decisions, they know exactly what is going on.
They choose to change nothing. Because they don't
want it to change. They prioritize the profit they get from it over the wellbeing of an entire population under their rule. That's not an accident, or a mistake, or a slip of the mind. That's a very deliberate, and very evil choice.
Every time we see positive change in the government of Piltover, or even just the potential for a good decision, it's
never because one of its supposedly good members
wanted anything to change. It's because of very intense pressure due to outside factors and changing circumstances, and it is always begrudging at best.
Im sorry, it fucking sucks, but the people who willingly and knowingly prop up the system keeping us down will never be our allies. They cant by definition. If they wanted to do anything other than evil, they would have done so long before S1E1.
And the
Good people of Piltover, who could be be genuine allies, unfortunately, they dont have the power to do anything.
Save perhaps were we to organize some sort of massive campaign to get the entire public on our side to pressure the council, but our chances of winning that uphill battle are nil with the council working against us.
I'm asking for examples because it seems Zaun is everyman for themselves. We see Silcos and Vanders people care but the average person on the street not so much. Give me an episode or a scene.
There's a very consistent pattern of Piltover's control over Zaun, and the local resistance to it.
Literally, the opening scene of the first episode is of a mass revolt on the bridge and its bloody fallout. Tons of people dont throw themselves at a line of armoured gun-toting police goons with little more than their fists and grit unless they genuinely believe in what they are fighting for.
Later, when Jayce closes the bridge, there are Mass protests. Again, the kind of thing that happens due to popular support.
Piltover is at it's leisure to send squads of enforcers down to the undercity on a manhunt for some kids. Were it not in control of Zaun, it would not be its prerogative to do so. The locals respond to the enforcers negatively, because, just like IRL cops, enforcers are all bastards who love to abuse their power (Marcus smashing up the last drop being a good example).
It is
repeatedly noted that Piltover has
literal legal dominion over Zaun, there would be no point in independence otherwise. Zaun is not at liberty to set any of it's own policy or conduct diplomacy with foreign powers, or set its own laws.
It is clear that Zaun generates profit for the rich houses of Piltover, at least via the fissure mines, and I would argue probably through labor as well. Regardless of the method, it is clear there is at least some
ongoing level of profit extraction. If there werent, the houses would have allowed a completely independent Zaun. They have to be getting
something out of the relationship, otherwise they wouldnt bother keeping it around. The introduction of Hextech and the opportunities it provide
changes this dynamic, providing a new, far more lucrative source of revenue, with Zaun therefore becoming less important to their coffers. This goes part of the way to explaining why they were willing to let it go (Still, begrudgingly) when Jayce tries to make a deal with Silco.
Piltover directly dumps tons of toxic waste directly into Zaun. See: Viktor.
While show skips many specifics to focus on it's plot, it goes to great length to illustrate the
general nature of the relationship between the two cities, and the narrative intent is
very clearly one of power imbalance and class divide. It's a really important pillar of the entire setting.
jayce and hediemer are not polaticans which is kinda obivious from their first meeting one is to guilable and the other sees things only in the long term and ignores the current like he legit says oh I went down there 300 years ago and everything was fine like it was last tuesday
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA_E57ePSR4
