Meanwhile Jinx has inadvertantly adopted a gremlin of her own and has likely inadvertantly started a cult following with that final large display against Piltover. So basically everyone is suffering except for Jinx.
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The dirt under your nails - ARCANE
- Thread starter Eventua
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jwolfe_beta
Semi Genre-Savvy Overlord
- Location
- Canada
That girl is cracked in the head so suffering/not suffering can be debatable.
TellTaleTypist
Dune your mom
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I guarantee there isn't a single soul in Zaun who hasn't dreamed of blowing up the council and striking back against Piltover the way Jinx has, so it's not the least bit surprising that she's becoming a symbol of revolt. Pretty much every problem in the series can be traced back to Piltover's complacency, this is just reaping what they've sown. I'm not sure anything can stop what's coming now.
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Complete Noxus takeover.
A monster tearing everything apart with fang and claw.
BOTH sides blowing up and/or rotting away.
jwolfe_beta
Semi Genre-Savvy Overlord
- Location
- Canada
I don't think Ambessa has the forces to pull off a 'conventional' takeover. From the hints we've gotten, she's still powerful/has forces but has taken a good number of recent hits and is on the backfoot/low-grade desperate.
Ambessa is one option, sure.
The other is the machinations of The Black Rose.
If Noxus, be it Ambessa or LeBlanc, manage to get control of Hextech then they won't exactly need a large army.
Crossposting my thoughts on the 3 episodes we have now, and my thoughts on season 1. Long posts ahead, be warned.
Bummed we won't have a season 3. On one hand, okay, quality over quantity. They have a vision and are bringing that vision to life, needlessly extending it would dillute the experience. But on the other hand, no season 3, so sad.
Just started Arcane, haven't watched it yet, and holy shit.
The characters are superb, the animation is godly, and the story is amazing.
Just finished Ep 3, you know the one. Holy emotional rollercoaster. I liked this episode a lot, the fight between Vi and Powder at the end was heartbreaking. Her thinking that her sister truly left her to fend for herself is just... it brings this episode up - this was the best episode so far. And the song at the end was also very appropriate.
All of the elements of the show are fantastic. The voice acting is also god-tier, the feelings and emotions of the characters are portrayed masterfully by the VAs. What a show.
When will we see the repercussions of the Enforcer Lady, and other Enforcers dying in the underground with only the annoying guy surviving?
(P.S. We never really did see her death brought up outside Marcus going to visit her grave once...)
Episode 4 (Season 1)
Holy, the Last Drop has changed. I don't think Vander would approve of this Club, lmao.
Looks like Silco has built a real relationship with Jinx, as something of a father figure in the absence of Vander.
Still a tiny piece of light inside you, old boy. Couldn't resist taking care of the last of Vander's family.
Ooooooo, also looks like Viktor's been pretty much overlooked. If it wasn't for him the whole Hextech thing wouldn't even have been possible. This has some real-world parallels.
Okay... blowing up a random building with Enforcers in it... holy shit. That's uhhhh... not a good guy move.
Caitlyn, no! Don't go down the rabbit hole! Do not become a conspiracy theorist! Don't create a map with strings, and cards with 'The Truth' written on them! Noooooo...
Oh, shit! Why is Vi in prison? Did she assault the big guy?
Episode 5 (Season 1)
This episode started strong, I love it. Can't wait to see Vi and Jinx's reunion.
Silco's got a tight grip on the underworld. Huge shadowy influence.
Does Jinx have PTSD? Regarding the night she used the Hextech orb thingies.
Holy parkour, Vi!
I like Jerico, the not-above-board food guy! Would have a beer with that guy any day.
Bye bye Jinx, uhhh... I meanPowder, Hello, Harley Quinn! The underground is so vibrant and alive, it's crazy, how did they manage to create such an atmosphere.
Episode 6 (Season 1)
That reunion was a lot more peaceful than I imagined. I thought there would be harsh words, and a lot of bullets and fists before we got to the hugging it out part.
This whole separating the sisters, kidnapping, arrest, what the fuck is this, this isn't some Chinese novel from 2010, the "they get separated so the main character has to advance/ascend/search and find the person" trope has been dead for about 5-10 years at this point.
Hopefully, this is the last time this happens.
Episode 7 (Season 1)
Oh, I thought for a second the opening song changed, but no, false alarm.
Silco reversed the Hongmen Banquet, what a spectacle! If we don't speak to his methods, Silco's dedication and focus have never wavered since the beginning. Experiencing betrayal by his closest friend, his brother, did not temper his burning desire to see the underground flourish.
I truly believe that Silco believes the whole "we're a family, everyone else betrays us". Sure, he's using it to manipulate Jinx, but he also believes it himself. It's a kill-two-birds-with-one-stone approach.
Jayce, Jayce... tsk tsk tsk... fell for the oldest trick in the book... I can't believe how easily she manipulates and directs him to do whatever she wants. Holy.
The sequence with Ekko and Jinx was awesome, but damn Vi, read the fucking room, clearly, your sister has abandonment issues, and now you are 'abandoning' her again, like, it can't be that hard to think it over and see how it would be perceived.
Episode 8 (Season 1)
One of the greatest things this show does is, if I can describe it in the words of the mighty writer, winner of the Nebula Award C.W. Longbottom: "Backstory!"
We find out every single one of the main cast's motivations, and what led them to have these motivations. I love it.
I knew it, I knew old Silco's heart wasn't fully dead! That wasn't fake sympathy! He was genuinely concerned for Jinx. Ah...
Viktor's old mentor seems a little... hmm... the classic mad scientist with no morals. Experimenting with biological matter and beings... He reminds me too much of a man from Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. If you know, you know. Very painful to be reminded of that man.
Finn did not learn his lesson. Silco's not gonna like that.
What the fuck. Quivering lips animation? Since when? Holy shit. I definitely noticed that.
Oh shit! Is Jinx like a wraith now or something, what's going on. Did she escape from the mad scientist's lab or did he let her go... so many questions.
Episode 9 (Season 1)
Alrighty then, beginning of episode, fuck. Silco was a lot worse than I thought.
Oh shit, oh damn, oh fuck! Nation of Zaun for Jinx! If he betrays her, he basically betrays himself. If Silco gives up Jinx for Zaun, it would be the total surrender of himself, the betrayal of his ideals.
She heard him, she heard him... shit. Man, I am so invested in this, lmao.
"I never would have given you to them. You are my daughter."
Silco got what he deserved, absolutely, but for me, the best part of the entire show was their father-daughter dynamic.
Episode 9. The best episode.
Every relationship is crafted almost to perfection, the animations are godly, the voice acting is supreme, and the story is beyond engaging. I could go on and on, but I'll end it here.
11/10 - Supreme Excellency. And yes, I am most certainly biased.
Will be starting season 2 tomorrow. Peace is not an option, let's see what happens.
The characters are superb, the animation is godly, and the story is amazing.
Just finished Ep 3, you know the one. Holy emotional rollercoaster. I liked this episode a lot, the fight between Vi and Powder at the end was heartbreaking. Her thinking that her sister truly left her to fend for herself is just... it brings this episode up - this was the best episode so far. And the song at the end was also very appropriate.
All of the elements of the show are fantastic. The voice acting is also god-tier, the feelings and emotions of the characters are portrayed masterfully by the VAs. What a show.
When will we see the repercussions of the Enforcer Lady, and other Enforcers dying in the underground with only the annoying guy surviving?
(P.S. We never really did see her death brought up outside Marcus going to visit her grave once...)
Episode 4 (Season 1)
Holy, the Last Drop has changed. I don't think Vander would approve of this Club, lmao.
Looks like Silco has built a real relationship with Jinx, as something of a father figure in the absence of Vander.
Still a tiny piece of light inside you, old boy. Couldn't resist taking care of the last of Vander's family.
Ooooooo, also looks like Viktor's been pretty much overlooked. If it wasn't for him the whole Hextech thing wouldn't even have been possible. This has some real-world parallels.
Okay... blowing up a random building with Enforcers in it... holy shit. That's uhhhh... not a good guy move.
Caitlyn, no! Don't go down the rabbit hole! Do not become a conspiracy theorist! Don't create a map with strings, and cards with 'The Truth' written on them! Noooooo...
Oh, shit! Why is Vi in prison? Did she assault the big guy?
Episode 5 (Season 1)
This episode started strong, I love it. Can't wait to see Vi and Jinx's reunion.
Silco's got a tight grip on the underworld. Huge shadowy influence.
Does Jinx have PTSD? Regarding the night she used the Hextech orb thingies.
Holy parkour, Vi!
I like Jerico, the not-above-board food guy! Would have a beer with that guy any day.
Bye bye Jinx, uhhh... I mean
Episode 6 (Season 1)
That reunion was a lot more peaceful than I imagined. I thought there would be harsh words, and a lot of bullets and fists before we got to the hugging it out part.
This whole separating the sisters, kidnapping, arrest, what the fuck is this, this isn't some Chinese novel from 2010, the "they get separated so the main character has to advance/ascend/search and find the person" trope has been dead for about 5-10 years at this point.
Hopefully, this is the last time this happens.
Episode 7 (Season 1)
Oh, I thought for a second the opening song changed, but no, false alarm.
Silco reversed the Hongmen Banquet, what a spectacle! If we don't speak to his methods, Silco's dedication and focus have never wavered since the beginning. Experiencing betrayal by his closest friend, his brother, did not temper his burning desire to see the underground flourish.
I truly believe that Silco believes the whole "we're a family, everyone else betrays us". Sure, he's using it to manipulate Jinx, but he also believes it himself. It's a kill-two-birds-with-one-stone approach.
Jayce, Jayce... tsk tsk tsk... fell for the oldest trick in the book... I can't believe how easily she manipulates and directs him to do whatever she wants. Holy.
The sequence with Ekko and Jinx was awesome, but damn Vi, read the fucking room, clearly, your sister has abandonment issues, and now you are 'abandoning' her again, like, it can't be that hard to think it over and see how it would be perceived.
Episode 8 (Season 1)
One of the greatest things this show does is, if I can describe it in the words of the mighty writer, winner of the Nebula Award C.W. Longbottom: "Backstory!"
We find out every single one of the main cast's motivations, and what led them to have these motivations. I love it.
I knew it, I knew old Silco's heart wasn't fully dead! That wasn't fake sympathy! He was genuinely concerned for Jinx. Ah...
Viktor's old mentor seems a little... hmm... the classic mad scientist with no morals. Experimenting with biological matter and beings... He reminds me too much of a man from Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. If you know, you know. Very painful to be reminded of that man.
Finn did not learn his lesson. Silco's not gonna like that.
What the fuck. Quivering lips animation? Since when? Holy shit. I definitely noticed that.
Oh shit! Is Jinx like a wraith now or something, what's going on. Did she escape from the mad scientist's lab or did he let her go... so many questions.
Episode 9 (Season 1)
Alrighty then, beginning of episode, fuck. Silco was a lot worse than I thought.
Oh shit, oh damn, oh fuck! Nation of Zaun for Jinx! If he betrays her, he basically betrays himself. If Silco gives up Jinx for Zaun, it would be the total surrender of himself, the betrayal of his ideals.
She heard him, she heard him... shit. Man, I am so invested in this, lmao.
"I never would have given you to them. You are my daughter."
Silco got what he deserved, absolutely, but for me, the best part of the entire show was their father-daughter dynamic.
Episode 9. The best episode.
Every relationship is crafted almost to perfection, the animations are godly, the voice acting is supreme, and the story is beyond engaging. I could go on and on, but I'll end it here.
11/10 - Supreme Excellency. And yes, I am most certainly biased.
Will be starting season 2 tomorrow. Peace is not an option, let's see what happens.
Episode 1
What the fuck is Jayce doing, Viktor told him to destroy the Hexcore, and instead he's using it. It's so fucking tragic.
Also another great thing to note about the show is its emotional maturity. Meaning, it doesn't overexplain to the audience what they need to feel or think, basically showing instead of telling, and leaving to the people watching to reach their own conclusions.
This is a very big thing, because I feel like it's become so rare for a show to not assume the people watching are dumb and need everything explained to them.
Man, the more the show goes on, the bigger my list of great things about it grows, heh. Sad we won't have Season 3, but I hope that we'll see characters from this show in other shows in the future, or even live action movies.
"Hextech may keep us alive Jayce, but it's not what will save us." - Caitlyn. Holy shit, girl. Where is this wisdom coming from, eh. Looks like she's matured a lot since the attack, I like that. (P.S. Where did the girl who said this go? Because right now at the end of Episode 3, that's not the Caitlyn we have.)
Why did the undersiders announce themselves instead of just going for the kill? That was not a wise move.
I think that Noxus is getting a little too 'involved' in the internal politics of Piltover, and that isn't good at all.
They are wolves, as Mel's mother stated last season, and "Wolves show no mercy". I'm sure there's something of a 'hostile takeover' planned in the future, to seize control of Hextech and more territory.
Vi taking up the badge... I can't believe it. What I can't believe more is how low Jayce is willing to go, how many promises he breaks, to 'save everyone'. Viktor told him to destroy the Hexcore, he didn't do it, and even (possibly) made it stronger. (I don't know any League lore, so...)
They made a pact for Hextech to be used in creation, and the betterment of life, not in destruction and the taking of it.
Jayce broke that pact, too. The man is spiraling further and further.
Episode 2
Yeah, Silco went out just as his grand plan was coming to fruition. I don't know what play he could've done to circumvent having to betray Jinx for the plan to succeed, but I'm sure he would've found a way. That's just the kind of man heis. was.
I'll say, right now I'm hungry for a story to cover an alternate universe where he doesn't die, what would've happened? I really want to see more of the father-daughter relationship he had with Jinx.
Oh, the opening animation now shows Vi wiping off her 'VI' face tattoo. Does that represent her now giving up on Jinx, and casting off her former family? Starting anew with a new family?
Maybe Silco was right, they only had each other. Now that he's gone, and Vi changed by a new relationship, Jinx has no one. Perhaps Ekko, but Ekko has responsibilities, and the care of a whole community now, and they're not exactly on speaking terms either, what with him believing that 'Powder is gone' and only Jinx is left. But I feel like if Jinx went to him and asked for help, or is on the verge of death, he'd help her.
She is definitely going to feel even more betrayed when she sees her sister fighting as one of the people who killed their parents.
Jason Spisak did an absolutely perfect job voicing Silco, bringing a gravitas to the character.
The visuals are also crazy powerful, the poow after Jinx used the gun, the music and her walking past the chaos that is society underground, also how the Shimmer, heh, shimmers in the air when the rat guy was talking.
LMAO Ol' Heimerdinger role-playing a spy in his own tunnels is not a thing I would've put on my bingo card, but I suppose when you're this old you have to have fun somehow as to not be a pretentious prick.
So... Jinx had a clear shot at Vi, but didn't take it. Let's see when/if the opposite happens, what Vi would choose to do.
(P.S. She hesitated, her resolve to kill Jinx wavered. I'd like to think that when she saw the kid protecting Jinx, she saw herself in Jinx, protecting Powder back then, and Powder constantly trying to prove herself and make herself useful. It could be that she just didn't want to risk the shot missing, but I'm leaning more towards my interpretation.)
Viktor can heal people now? Is he a 'vessel' for the Hexcore, corrupted, or become a magic user? League experts, what is this?
Said it before, I'll say it again - Viktor's mentor - the mad scientist guy, is bad news. We don't know what he's trying to do, but as sure as hell it won't be good.
Episode 3
What is Vi's plan when Caitlyn tries to kill Jinx on sight, exactly? Because, from what we've seen with the little club they had, where she shot a target practice resembling Jinx, Caitlyn has a lot of rage inside her. Or is Vi okay with allowing her sister to be killed by her new 'friend'? That would certainly prove Silco right again.
I see. You're abandoning her again, Vi. Every. Single. Time. She certainly is okay with her new girlfriend killing her sister. I'm not surprised, but I am disappointed. I suppose that's Jinx's feelings on the matter too. She's been betrayed enough as to expect it again.
The saddest thing about it is that her sister Powder does still exist in Jinx (Otherwise Jinx would've killed her when they first came for her), Vi just gave up before trying to reach her hard enough, and also let opportunities for that slip through her fingers.
(P.S. Yeah, I'm thinking that she pieced together that Powder is still in there somewhere, so she hesitated and made excuses to not kill her. The tear falling down on the glasses, she knows that Powder hides in the roofs from when they were little, and she definitely knows that meant that she had a clear shot and didn't take it.)
I also like how they're doing a whole Star Wars reference here. Vi saying "My sister is dead, you killed her." It's the same as "Your father is dead, Darth Vader killed him.", and even further, how there is still good inside Jinx, it's just that at this point after so many betrayals, and missed opportunities, it's a tiny spark. But we all know what that tiny spark did in Star Wars, so perhaps, there's hope for fixing things here, too.
I'm skeptical, of course, this show has a lot of tragedy in it, and it ending tragically is an option, but I'll hope for a good ending as well.
That thing in the Main Hex Hub Backup-thingy that focuses energy I assume is a corruption or a virus of some sort.
Okay, I've been a bit too harsh on Vi, not that she doesn't deserve it, but in all fairness, I can see where she's coming from. It's just that her reasons and morals have degraded, and the methods she and Caitlyn are using aren't good guy methods. I hope she understands, now that Caitlyn left her there on the ground sobbing - what Powder felt when she was left, crying next to Vander's body, and if it wasn't for Silco taking her in and caring for her, it probably would've ended a lot sooner for her.
Caitlyn is fully embracing the extreme (With a bit or more manipulation from Mel's mother), and the mad scientist looks like a zombie.
A lot of spiraling this episode. Those are my ending thoughts of episode 3. Tune in next time on EX+, where we will continue to discuss Arcane! (lmao.)
What the fuck is Jayce doing, Viktor told him to destroy the Hexcore, and instead he's using it. It's so fucking tragic.
Also another great thing to note about the show is its emotional maturity. Meaning, it doesn't overexplain to the audience what they need to feel or think, basically showing instead of telling, and leaving to the people watching to reach their own conclusions.
This is a very big thing, because I feel like it's become so rare for a show to not assume the people watching are dumb and need everything explained to them.
Man, the more the show goes on, the bigger my list of great things about it grows, heh. Sad we won't have Season 3, but I hope that we'll see characters from this show in other shows in the future, or even live action movies.
"Hextech may keep us alive Jayce, but it's not what will save us." - Caitlyn. Holy shit, girl. Where is this wisdom coming from, eh. Looks like she's matured a lot since the attack, I like that. (P.S. Where did the girl who said this go? Because right now at the end of Episode 3, that's not the Caitlyn we have.)
Why did the undersiders announce themselves instead of just going for the kill? That was not a wise move.
I think that Noxus is getting a little too 'involved' in the internal politics of Piltover, and that isn't good at all.
They are wolves, as Mel's mother stated last season, and "Wolves show no mercy". I'm sure there's something of a 'hostile takeover' planned in the future, to seize control of Hextech and more territory.
Vi taking up the badge... I can't believe it. What I can't believe more is how low Jayce is willing to go, how many promises he breaks, to 'save everyone'. Viktor told him to destroy the Hexcore, he didn't do it, and even (possibly) made it stronger. (I don't know any League lore, so...)
They made a pact for Hextech to be used in creation, and the betterment of life, not in destruction and the taking of it.
Jayce broke that pact, too. The man is spiraling further and further.
Episode 2
Yeah, Silco went out just as his grand plan was coming to fruition. I don't know what play he could've done to circumvent having to betray Jinx for the plan to succeed, but I'm sure he would've found a way. That's just the kind of man he
I'll say, right now I'm hungry for a story to cover an alternate universe where he doesn't die, what would've happened? I really want to see more of the father-daughter relationship he had with Jinx.
Oh, the opening animation now shows Vi wiping off her 'VI' face tattoo. Does that represent her now giving up on Jinx, and casting off her former family? Starting anew with a new family?
Maybe Silco was right, they only had each other. Now that he's gone, and Vi changed by a new relationship, Jinx has no one. Perhaps Ekko, but Ekko has responsibilities, and the care of a whole community now, and they're not exactly on speaking terms either, what with him believing that 'Powder is gone' and only Jinx is left. But I feel like if Jinx went to him and asked for help, or is on the verge of death, he'd help her.
She is definitely going to feel even more betrayed when she sees her sister fighting as one of the people who killed their parents.
Jason Spisak did an absolutely perfect job voicing Silco, bringing a gravitas to the character.
The visuals are also crazy powerful, the poow after Jinx used the gun, the music and her walking past the chaos that is society underground, also how the Shimmer, heh, shimmers in the air when the rat guy was talking.
LMAO Ol' Heimerdinger role-playing a spy in his own tunnels is not a thing I would've put on my bingo card, but I suppose when you're this old you have to have fun somehow as to not be a pretentious prick.
So... Jinx had a clear shot at Vi, but didn't take it. Let's see when/if the opposite happens, what Vi would choose to do.
(P.S. She hesitated, her resolve to kill Jinx wavered. I'd like to think that when she saw the kid protecting Jinx, she saw herself in Jinx, protecting Powder back then, and Powder constantly trying to prove herself and make herself useful. It could be that she just didn't want to risk the shot missing, but I'm leaning more towards my interpretation.)
Viktor can heal people now? Is he a 'vessel' for the Hexcore, corrupted, or become a magic user? League experts, what is this?
Said it before, I'll say it again - Viktor's mentor - the mad scientist guy, is bad news. We don't know what he's trying to do, but as sure as hell it won't be good.
Episode 3
What is Vi's plan when Caitlyn tries to kill Jinx on sight, exactly? Because, from what we've seen with the little club they had, where she shot a target practice resembling Jinx, Caitlyn has a lot of rage inside her. Or is Vi okay with allowing her sister to be killed by her new 'friend'? That would certainly prove Silco right again.
I see. You're abandoning her again, Vi. Every. Single. Time. She certainly is okay with her new girlfriend killing her sister. I'm not surprised, but I am disappointed. I suppose that's Jinx's feelings on the matter too. She's been betrayed enough as to expect it again.
The saddest thing about it is that her sister Powder does still exist in Jinx (Otherwise Jinx would've killed her when they first came for her), Vi just gave up before trying to reach her hard enough, and also let opportunities for that slip through her fingers.
(P.S. Yeah, I'm thinking that she pieced together that Powder is still in there somewhere, so she hesitated and made excuses to not kill her. The tear falling down on the glasses, she knows that Powder hides in the roofs from when they were little, and she definitely knows that meant that she had a clear shot and didn't take it.)
I also like how they're doing a whole Star Wars reference here. Vi saying "My sister is dead, you killed her." It's the same as "Your father is dead, Darth Vader killed him.", and even further, how there is still good inside Jinx, it's just that at this point after so many betrayals, and missed opportunities, it's a tiny spark. But we all know what that tiny spark did in Star Wars, so perhaps, there's hope for fixing things here, too.
I'm skeptical, of course, this show has a lot of tragedy in it, and it ending tragically is an option, but I'll hope for a good ending as well.
That thing in the Main Hex Hub Backup-thingy that focuses energy I assume is a corruption or a virus of some sort.
Okay, I've been a bit too harsh on Vi, not that she doesn't deserve it, but in all fairness, I can see where she's coming from. It's just that her reasons and morals have degraded, and the methods she and Caitlyn are using aren't good guy methods. I hope she understands, now that Caitlyn left her there on the ground sobbing - what Powder felt when she was left, crying next to Vander's body, and if it wasn't for Silco taking her in and caring for her, it probably would've ended a lot sooner for her.
Caitlyn is fully embracing the extreme (With a bit or more manipulation from Mel's mother), and the mad scientist looks like a zombie.
A lot of spiraling this episode. Those are my ending thoughts of episode 3. Tune in next time on EX+, where we will continue to discuss Arcane! (lmao.)
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jwolfe_beta
Semi Genre-Savvy Overlord
- Location
- Canada
Of course considering how badly the Hextech started freaking out when Jayce interacted with the thing in the Hexgate core (along with whatever realization Jayce had); Hextech might be just a little less safe to use in the long run than people think.
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Also Riot is posting parts of the soundtrack on youtube.
I need the 'Heavy is the Crown' cover they made in my playlist.
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Vi is NOT ALRIGHT WITH KILLING HER. It's just that Vi can't see any other way to stop this madness at the moment. Her sister chose Jinx at that dinner party. Jinx fired a rocket at the council building. The longer this madness goes on, the more innocent lives on both sides grows, the more familys on both sides that are ripped apart by the bloodshed. Vi's entire body language in the Abandoned Temple of Janna before the fist fight started was Vi steeling herself for this decision. Narratively this is basically Vander trying to drown Silco. Vi does not like this, does not want this, but as it stands Caitlyn is the only bit of stability Vi has left. That is why stood with Caitlyn after the Memorial Attack. This is why Vi pleaded with Cait in the tunnels to not change. Vi has a good heart, but at this point it is filled with so many holes.
Now, as for the Hexcore, if you recall season 1, Shimmer was involved in Viktor's expiraments with it. Those people down in the tent city? Filled with Shimmer. Magic, as far as I can tell, balances in the end. For every action, a reaction. I think there is an old theory that Magic and or The Void (a twisted dimension in the lore of the League of Legends universe) are involved in Shimmer. So, if anything, Viktor is essentially correcting the damage done to the shimmer addicts and "evolving" them into something better. Thus begins the "Glorious Evolution" that Viktor in the game is known for as he slowly comes to be "The Machine Herald".
Now, as for the Hexcore, if you recall season 1, Shimmer was involved in Viktor's expiraments with it. Those people down in the tent city? Filled with Shimmer. Magic, as far as I can tell, balances in the end. For every action, a reaction. I think there is an old theory that Magic and or The Void (a twisted dimension in the lore of the League of Legends universe) are involved in Shimmer. So, if anything, Viktor is essentially correcting the damage done to the shimmer addicts and "evolving" them into something better. Thus begins the "Glorious Evolution" that Viktor in the game is known for as he slowly comes to be "The Machine Herald".
That is literally being alright with it. Letting it happen. She basically entrusts Caitlyn to kill Jinx, because she's unsure if she can do it herself. Why did Jinx sit at the 'Jinx' seat at the dinner table? I'm putting blame here on Vi, and her mistakes leading up to this decision. I agree that Vi has a good heart, but she was unable to truly see how vulnerable Jinx was at that moment, because she didn't know how broken she was. I think that there was a choice, and Jinx could have sat on the 'Powder' seat, and maybe begin to heal mentally, but Vi's actions leading up to it were damaging. Sure, Vi doesn't carry all the blame for it, but we must take into account Jinx's mental state, her abandonment issues and so on, and recognize that there was little Jinx could do to change the outcome if Vi didn't basically stabilize her from the ground up mentally. Vi should have seen this, even with all of the rushing along, that's my reasoning.
I agree that she doesn't like this, but she allows it to happen, which to me is being alright with it. I feel like they could have explored other options, such as life in prison, or something less severe than death, but they don't make the effort to. Here I feel Caitlyn shoulders some blame, because of the relationship she's built with Vi, she has some influence on her, and basically strings her along for the more extreme option.
Thank you for this explanation, I totally forgot about the Shimmer in Viktor's experiments. Shimmer is used a lot, for a lot of things, so it seems. This Black Rose I presume has some connection to the Void.
Same. From the first episode of season 1, to now, and most certainly to the end of season 2, the show has the best songs to match with the story themes and animations. These songs fit perfectly.
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The Black Rose is actually not connected to The Void. BR is actually part of Noxus. It is an ancient magic order ran by a character known as LaBlanc. She is figure that has exised in the shadows of Noxus' history for ages. She is an illusionist, mage, and known as The Pale Woman. Her an the order's main goal is to keep a being known as Mordekaiser sealed, and barring that have any means neccesarry to put him back down in the event he does get out. From the wars with Demacia, the invasion of Ionia, the deals with Bilgewater, the conquests of Shurima, the campains into the Freljord, the expirements with the bodies of young mages, the deaths of leaders of Noxus and other regions, the Black Rose's actions spread far and wide in part thanks to LeBlancs abilities as well as the Noxus War Machine itself.
While you might see it that way, just because someone let's something happen doesn't mean they are alright with it.
While you might see it that way, just because someone let's something happen doesn't mean they are alright with it.
jwolfe_beta
Semi Genre-Savvy Overlord
- Location
- Canada
And now we're all on tenterhooks waiting for the next three episodes (and the absolute insanity they will bring).
My guess is that eps 4-6 are going to mostly be about the Noxus/Piltover clash and whatever Arcane/Hextech mess Jayce has found (along with potentially a side of Viktor).
We know from the clip that Vi is hitting rock bottom over a time skip+dying her hair. And in the trailers we see her rescuing enforcer, fighting with the Firelights and dodging what appear to be Noxus spear while the dye in her hair appears to be wearing off. That likely means she got dragged back into the fight by Ekko/Jayce/Heimerdinger in fairly short order.
The question is what do they find that gets Vi actually willing to fight again? Because by this point she's not going to get motivated by Zaun, Piltover, Noxus, Hextech or anything like that. Presumably whatever larger issue they find will relate to Caitlyn somehow.
We know from the clip that Vi is hitting rock bottom over a time skip+dying her hair. And in the trailers we see her rescuing enforcer, fighting with the Firelights and dodging what appear to be Noxus spear while the dye in her hair appears to be wearing off. That likely means she got dragged back into the fight by Ekko/Jayce/Heimerdinger in fairly short order.
The question is what do they find that gets Vi actually willing to fight again? Because by this point she's not going to get motivated by Zaun, Piltover, Noxus, Hextech or anything like that. Presumably whatever larger issue they find will relate to Caitlyn somehow.
Don't forget about Singe's "little" expirament.
As for Vi working with the Firelights and dodging Noxus spears, my guess is that that would be the final act actually.
My guess is that Act 2 will focusing on Caitlyn, Vi and Jinx and how they are each handling things (Caitlyn in her General duty, Vi hitting rockbottom, and Jinx being a revolutionary figure).
As for Vi working with the Firelights and dodging Noxus spears, my guess is that that would be the final act actually.
My guess is that Act 2 will focusing on Caitlyn, Vi and Jinx and how they are each handling things (Caitlyn in her General duty, Vi hitting rockbottom, and Jinx being a revolutionary figure).
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I'd expect that Vi will be motivated by the same things Ekko is already fighting for. He's presiding over the one real oasis in the undercity (and taking in refugees from the gang wars well before Caitlyn's incursion). Meanwhile I'd assume Caitlyn will find Ambessa driving her toward a line she can't let herself cross, or actually across one, and that's her next big turn moment cue a makeup love scene fir to level mountains
- Location
- Sydney
This basically has a 'keep watching to find out' answer because the version of it in Arcane is already so fundamentally different to how it was originally written that nobody knows.
In the original telling, Viktor is an embittered scientist who mechanises himself out of a desire to do away with human moral/psychological weaknesses and imperfections, and the Hex core is just a piece of evil super science he concocted at some point to power himself with. Viktor created and is in complete control of the core and there's nothing special or sentient about it. It is nothing more than a power source that he incrementally upgrades as part of his glorious evolution, a stepping stone on the path to turning everyone into a perfect machine.
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Triggerhappy
Stick with Trigger and You'll Make it Through
- Location
- SoCal
Pet theory - Either the kid hanging off of Jinx is killed or they become 'Jinx II' after original Jinx is dealt with. Thus explaining the continued existed of A Jinx. Since Powder Jinx really doesn't seem to have a path out of this where she's still alive and free save, MAYBE, exile. And I don't see Jinx going for that, especially as she seems to have a death wish.
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Liquid Ink
Contains Sleep Deprived Rambling
Can't help but worry that the mega hexcore resonance is going to do to terrible things to Viktor and his converts, considering how dramatically it warps reality around other hextech, even at range. I suppose it's possible the use of shimmer might help insulate them from the effects, as it's what would directly set them apart from regular hextech, but given the underground facility was demonstrating the same warping patterns as on Viktor and Huck's skin...
Yeah. I suspect worry is appropriate. I wonder if Viktor's glorious revolution will come about as a steam/chem/cyberpunk transhuman necessity in order to undo or overcome hextech's reality corruption.
It's not every scene, but the strength in S1 is that every character responded vigorously and fervently to their circumstances where in S2 they don't. A part of that lies in the characters being exhausted and broken down by events and no longer being in control of the situation, but they way they're written now presents them as much more passive/subservient to the narrative than they felt prior.
Focusing on just the Hexcore trio for the moment:
Ekko's presence by the end of the arc is reasonable, because he is worried about his community, but his contributions to dialogue along with his actions have him mostly following others, swept up in the narrative pull.
Jayce, perhaps the most impassioned speaker in the show after Jinx, has no strong emotional follow through after Victor leaves, only while he's leaving. It's a good scene, but what follows doesn't quite match. How long has it been? How is Jayce handling the rejection? These are important emotional beats, and the story knows it enough to include the beginning of them but hasn't the room/time to explore the character impact at all yet. Possibly ever, considering how it's all going.
Heimerdinger seeing the pod and saying "Oh no. Where's Victor?" goes emotionally unresolved and forgotten. The next episode the topic abruptly rewinds entirely to focus on the undercity tree corruption. We don't learn what Heimerdinger thinks about Viktor, we don't know what Jayce has told him, we don't know the emotional resolution of that scene because it doesn't exist, it was just... skipped over.
Everything is working toward various goals, but characters and scenes don't connect well, and emotional beats are teased and left hanging. It feels all rather slipshod.
Yeah. I suspect worry is appropriate. I wonder if Viktor's glorious revolution will come about as a steam/chem/cyberpunk transhuman necessity in order to undo or overcome hextech's reality corruption.
I don't know that I could call the dialogue of S1 weak exactly. It was clear and fairly efficient in purpose, and everything felt like a good payoff which is where I think S2 is somewhat failing. Seeing someone point out there's a problem with the dialogue has helped a lot of my own feelings about the first arc click into place. I think @Ragnar has a good measure of it: it feels like a rough or unpolished draft.
It's not every scene, but the strength in S1 is that every character responded vigorously and fervently to their circumstances where in S2 they don't. A part of that lies in the characters being exhausted and broken down by events and no longer being in control of the situation, but they way they're written now presents them as much more passive/subservient to the narrative than they felt prior.
Focusing on just the Hexcore trio for the moment:
Ekko's presence by the end of the arc is reasonable, because he is worried about his community, but his contributions to dialogue along with his actions have him mostly following others, swept up in the narrative pull.
Jayce, perhaps the most impassioned speaker in the show after Jinx, has no strong emotional follow through after Victor leaves, only while he's leaving. It's a good scene, but what follows doesn't quite match. How long has it been? How is Jayce handling the rejection? These are important emotional beats, and the story knows it enough to include the beginning of them but hasn't the room/time to explore the character impact at all yet. Possibly ever, considering how it's all going.
Heimerdinger seeing the pod and saying "Oh no. Where's Victor?" goes emotionally unresolved and forgotten. The next episode the topic abruptly rewinds entirely to focus on the undercity tree corruption. We don't learn what Heimerdinger thinks about Viktor, we don't know what Jayce has told him, we don't know the emotional resolution of that scene because it doesn't exist, it was just... skipped over.
Everything is working toward various goals, but characters and scenes don't connect well, and emotional beats are teased and left hanging. It feels all rather slipshod.
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Yeah now that you mention it, they really didn't continue that conversation about Viktor. I totally missed that. They could perhaps continue that conversation a bit later when they discuss what happened with the Backup Hexcore Facility, and what is the Hexcore's effect on Viktor, but I don't know, we'll have to see when the next episodes come out.
Liquid Ink
Contains Sleep Deprived Rambling
That's my hope.
There's a lot of ways they could take it but, as I said previously, there's a lot of plates in the air. I'm pretty confident that most of them will be beautiful or resonant with patience. It took an episode to awkwardly develop, but Viktor kneeling among the shimmer addicts freely dispensing his healing touch is such a great direct counterpoint to Silco standing, lording above them while and deigning to hand out corrupting addictive power. Fantastic mirroring in an awesome scene.
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Triggerhappy
Stick with Trigger and You'll Make it Through
- Location
- SoCal
I think caution is warranted given that Victor is clearly being influenced by the Hex Core. I don't think this influence is necessarily malicious, but that doesnt mean it isnt dangerous.
Liquid Ink
Contains Sleep Deprived Rambling
I think you may have misunderstood what I was talking about.
I specifically said above that I was talking about the Hexcore trio alone.
Not Viktor himself, not his scenes, and not about how the audience is kept informed about him.
Heimerdinger, whose deeper concerns (and fear) lie in the history of disasterous fallout from exploitation of the arcane, slowly approaches Viktor's former cocoon. Very creepy-sinister music plays and the camera zooms in on the cocoon as he approaches it, and he utters, with a budding dread, the words: "Oh no. Where's Victor?"
The detail and the purpose of the scene and the words used by the characters in it, are not there just to get the audience to say " I wonder where Vik's gotten himself to?" especially when that question is answered less than a few seconds later.
Where Viktor is almost irrelevant.
Why is the scene played for tension/suspense?
How did Jayce explain what happened?
What was Heimerdinger's response?
Why were none of these things carried over into the next relevant scene with all three of them?
If these things were unimportant, why was the scene framed the way it was?
Why did the writers choose to have Heimerdinger say "Oh no. Where's Viktor" instead of just "Where's Viktor"?
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jwolfe_beta
Semi Genre-Savvy Overlord
- Location
- Canada
Something I've wondered about in s2ep3 when Cait was looking at the family archives.
Because we know that the Undercity is multiple generations old, so I have to wonder if it was Cassandra Kiramman that commissioned that ventilation system or if it was one of her ancestors. Personally I feel it was the latter because if the vent system (that protects the Undercity from the Grey which they rightfully fear) was that recent (within the current generation or just before), the Kiramman name would have been known in the Underground. That, and Caitlyn would presumably have known at least something about it considering the sheer scale of the project.
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