I fell in love with Lest's character instantly. I hope we see more of her somehow.

I had a theory that Lest was potentially one of LeBlanc’s avatars, as we know LeBlanc can appear as anyone in multiple different nations simultaneously, and does so in order to manipulate and gain control over them. Maybe we’ll get a reveal down the line that several background character were really LeBlanc in disguise just manipulating things (e.g. Lest, the Hexcore/Sky in Viktor’s mind, etc.). This would also tie in to why Lest is associated with theatres, as it is all just a show and “costume” for LeBlanc, as well as her manipulations of Mel specifically, since (MINOR LOL SPOILERS AHEAD) LeBlanc is the shadowy sorceress and leader of the Black Rose who we saw in Season 2 manipulating Mel, and is the overarching antagonist of Arcane as a whole.

I absolutely adore Mel as I started the series. She’s cunning and smart, yet at the same time vulnerable! She’s a great manipulator because that’s what she was taught as a Noxian. As we progressed throughout the season, we get to see cracks of what she truly is, and that’s why she’s amazing. If Riot plans to focus on the Noxus region of their next series, they better pull Mel out of the box because her whole story is so, so tragic and we wanted to see her dealing it

Under 1 minute gang

Loved this video a lot! Though, I noticed you didn't really talk about Mel's empath magic, described by LeBlance as being 'attuned to the ethereal' and 'able to sense others' inner selves and bend their magic.' There was an early hint that she always had this power as she gazes at the child mage for a moment and declares with certainty that she won't cause any problems for them. It's reaffirmed in the blurb of the currently unreleased 'Chosen of the Wolf' novel: 'Ambessa's daughter, Mel, can deftly break through the walls around anyone's heart, and she'll put her talents to use for her mother.' We also know from Blood, Sweat, and Tears music video that Mel had her magical powers since she was a baby in the womb, protecting her mother from Kindred and sparking Ambessa's obsession with the Wolf and gaining the throne of Noxus for her family. Does knowing that Mel had always been using her empath abilities (unknowingly, of course) as a political tool change anything about the way you interpret her relationships with others? Also, regarding the text onscreen at 18:19 I don't think that is Jayce's house given you can see the Medarda logo on the floor which I strongly doubt Jayce would have. Additionally, in S2E3 at 11 mins in you can see the theatre is within a Medarda building, which is also where their first hookup happens. It does seem to be a different room to their second hookup in S1E8, but Mel probably has access to many rooms in her estate.

36:30 Mel’s VA says that Mel likes Viktor yeah

also to add about Jayce's trauma, Jayce, among all the characters in arcane, hasn't really had a hard life compared to them. the hardest thing he went through was the snowstorm when he was little. that's legit why he throws up when seeing the death on the bridge while mel doesn't react that way. so for jayce to be suddenly plummeted into a AU where it's just him, he's forced to basically go through what viktor went through in a span of a few months, his mental state returning is wholly understandable.

Please do a Vi, Caitlyn and Jinx character analysis!

mel is my favorite character in arcane and i absolutely loved this analysis!! you picked up on so many little details and nuances to her character that completely flew over my head oh my gosh

You know what? I really do not care about LoL and wasn't planning on watching the Arcane movie. But, I can see you really worked hard on this video, so I will give this a try 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽 Ok Done! Now, I will give you some advise: when talking or showing about copyrighted material, limit yourself to a very few stills of said material. Otherwise, YT gonna nuke your video and channel with strikes or even takedowns. Great video other then that. 🎉🎉🎉

YOUVE PUT ME ON MEL X STEB LMAO…………….

Mel's relationship with Jayce always intrigued me. Jayce is Mel's investment before someone she can use until she became vulnerable with him and I think there's more potential on their relationship but yeah... The distant

Jayce and Mel's relationship is honestly my favourite in season one and I think its nuance is so underrated!! You encapsulated it perfectly in this video! They help each other grow beyond their own narrow worldviews by opening up to each other and being vulnerable. Thank you for the time and care you put into giving Mel such a great analysis video! <3

I love everything about this breakdown!!! Thank you so much for speaking positively and with such depth about an awesome character who I hope we see more of

This is so good! Feeding me for like a month with the amount you served here. Edit: The Steb bit😭 girlllll. I never caught that Mel sheilded him. Thats such a good detail. Its giving crackship but im not mad.

Thank you for this amazing analysis and really acknowledging what an amazingly well written character she is. However, I do still love her with Jayce. I can’t help it 😅.

я так заинтересованно смотрела, будто понимаю каждое слово

I'm so happy that someone did such a wonderful analysis of are darling queen. ^^ Also i agree with the love elements. How its beautiful to relate to that part of her. ^^

I absolutely love this analysis, THANK YOU for making this video!! Mel is my favorite character and I love she’s getting more appreciation. 10:10 - I never picked up on this! Gives the final shot of her ships even more depth. 15:30 - This is so true. People forget Jayce is a grown man capable of making decisions! 16:53 - Tbf to Mel we’ve seen Jayce isn’t above skirting the rules to achieve a goal (illegal experiments, breaking into a lab, attacking the factory) 17:41 - Yes! Their relationship was always built on aligned goals and ideologies 21:06 - Mel arguably has the best understanding of human psychology on the show, I love that her strengths aren’t physical (pre S2) but are just as powerful!

Thank you so much for this break down, people see what they want to see and to many people only want to see a Beautiful, Dark skinned feminine, intelligent woman, Season two felt the need to make Mel masculine. I agree with you 100% New subscriber here and yes Mel deserves a relationship, with Jayce or another Man, as do any Black woman who wants that. All to often people only want to see Black women gay or and masculine.

This is such a good analysis! It’s refreshing to see a video that truly highlights the intricacies of Mel’s character, and what makes her so well written. Great video!

What an amazing video, I can really see the love you have for the character, which is what she needs the most both in fiction and in real life haha. I think I might disagree a little with the "supposed breakup" part between Mel and Jayce. Maybe I interpreted wrong, but maybe you take it as a breakup, which is understandable, but I don't think it was well done or I don't feel like there was proper preparation for it. I don't mind them breaking up but I expect a better deconstruction even though I liked the first 5 seconds and the last 10 of the meeting between the two. As for manipulation, what I see from several is that they take the relationship as a whole in a "manipulation" framework when in reality at least for me the relationship was a business one that slowly evolved into a more intimate and personal one. As for relationships, totally get it , I have some mutuals on Twitter who do the same or have the same perspective as you. My problem (it's completely my problem) is how I framed MelJay as an endgame (silly of me maybe lol), maybe the reason I like it so much is that feels very real, I don't believe in the idea of ​​soulmates, I believe in two people making small leaps of faith to trust. They are both visionaries and feel like they can honestly talk about what's going on with them, which I think ended up surprising Mel for the better because she ended up letting her defenses down. I know the ship thing is something I'll have to let go of for Mel's sake but it's kind of hard lol Very interested to see what they do for Mel's future, I really liked the relationship with Ambessa another awesome character, hopefully we get to see more of the family especially her father and that they don't retcon her relationship with Jayce Again incredible video sorry that I made it long

This analysis is so amazing!!! Mel is such an underrated character and I barely see people talking about her, so this was a treat :)

I've been searching for videos analysing Mel's character, especially after season 2 and this one is exactly what i wanted. Amazing video and character analysis keep them coming ❤❤

so glad to see a thoroughly thought out assessment of Mel’s character! so many people sum up her character as just a manipulator playing the political game. yes, that is a huge part of her character, but that’s also such a surface-level analysis. i remember thinking Mel was going to be Piltover’s “bad guy” in season 1, someone morally corrupt and just out for power. this changed after the scene with Jayce finding her painting, when i realized she was so much more than just a politician. she’s lower on my list of favorites character now bc i feel like she didn’t get as much in season 2, but that doesn’t change the fact that i still think she’s written wonderfully! Mel and Caitlyn’s battle against Ambessa may just be my favorite scene in the entire show, and none of them are even in my top 5 favorite characters. it just goes to show the emotional weight each of these people carry throughout their arcs, making scenes that would otherwise be used for spectacle in a lesser show into heavy, character-driven scenes to serve their wider arcs. i swear i could talk about this show and it’s characters for the rest of my life and never get bored💛 also i totally see Mel and Lest being a cute couple. something about their personalities just works for me, ya know? also elegant women in sapphic relationships is just >>>

Really appreciated your art analysis in this video.

Mel is that fine line of Manipulation and Encouragement. Jayce WAS a good investment, she even let him and Viktor BREAK INTO the lab. Because she knew Jayce could do it. And as their plans for the future aligned, so did their ideals and their intimacy. There isn't a scene with Mel and Jayce where they arent spilling their guts and being vulnerable with each other. A manipulator never puts down those walls. Mel's love was obvious, but she was raised to be cunning in everything. Her words always kill two birds with one stone. But that's not a bad thing.

Wellp Screw JayVik I believe in MelJayVik supremacy now

11:29 Mel's basically saying "nah, imma do my own thing". this video is so beautifully done. I'm ashamed. i hated the writers for not writing her character well enough when they did! i was just listening too much to the fandom and not paying as much attention as i should've. this is so well done. this may be crazy, but i honestly hope Christian Linke and Amanda Overtone can watch your video!! because you did such a great analysis on such an underrated character by the fandom.

this was awesome, please do all the other characters, such a great analysis

I appreciate this video so much! Mel is one of my favorite characters, it makes me so happy to see such a thorough and nuanced analysis of her! I love the silver tongued type of character who can leverage soft power and manipulations, while also having genuine empathy and care. I love how her background and relationship with her mother deepens her beyond just Rich Sponsor; the difference between her playing the council like they're dolls, being arguably the most powerful person in Piltover, yet she struggles with inadequacy, her family legacy, and the violent reality of the city beyond her gilded walls. I was a little disappointed that her mage arc in season 2 eclipsed her already established strength of diplomacy, with her political and ideological conflicts with her mother being boiled down to the secret magical heritage and a physical standoff. Felt like s2 missed the point of her character a little, but she did look kickass so its a mixed bag. Despite the detour her story took in season 2, I'm still glad to see people reading more into her complexities and her inner world rather than purely villifying or ignoring her. This explored so many different aspects! I love the Meljay appreciation; I love Jayvik but I feel like people downplay the honesty and vulnerability that Mel and Jayce shared solely to prove Jayvik superior. It makes sense that they'd break up, but their bond is still compelling to me. Speaking of ships, I love the MelLest shoutout! I'm glad I'm not the only one that felt some type of way about their clandestine collab. Also Steb! I never considered a romance between those two before, but you make a good case! Anyways this was a whole ramble, but I'm really really glad for this video! Mel Medarda for the win, this is going on the favorites playlist. Thanks for sharing!

Do you think Jayce and Mel would still be together if he didn’t die?

27:57 honestly i love this message for Mel, a character full of traditionally feminine traits, usually on western shows they treat traditionally feminine characters, as weaker because of these traits, and usually only masculine traits are a example of strength

this analysis fails to acknowledge that narratively s2 has nothing to do with s1. a complex character of s1, full of goals and motivations, is replaced with generic "she needs to learn be vulnerable".

It cannot be stated enough how amazing this video is. I hate how so many conversations about mel start and end at “she’s a manipulator” without any other context/analysis, just go straight to demonization and thus dismissal. You do a really great job of explaining (w/o excusing) her actions and decisions, while focusing on the other aspects of her character that make her so compelling. She’s also my favorite character, so it’s really great to finally find a video that isnt entirely focused on mel in relation to jayce or woobifying jayce. Thank you !!!

Such a great deep dive, I appreciate how you don't ramble and everything you say has a point to it. You showed me a lot of things I had missed like Mel putting her hand on Viktor's cane. I'm happy to see people appreciate Mel and see that although she is cunning and knows how to manipulate, she is very caring for the people around her and absolutely loves Piltover and its people. But I also appreciate you calling out how she failed the people of Zaun. I love jayvik but Mel and Jayce had such a loving relationship despite it starting as more of an investment, they truly loved each other and were good to one another. It's very frustrating to see people boil her down to just "a manipulator" or a bad person just because she has been taught how to control social situations. It was such a shame that her story was so rushed in season 2 because I would've loved to see more of her, her grief and how she has been taught to surpress it, and also more interactions with Jayce after not seeing each other for so long. I hope they continue her story in Noxus and give her the time she deserves. Thanks for the awesome analysis! You even made me like Ambessa more.

This was so well done. It's making its round on X and shared and discussed by avid Mel stans and those open to discuss all aspects of her and not just the manipulation part and make her out to be cartoonisg. So, thank you for touching all these bases of her character. Like even with the love interest aspect, even if it isn't quite who I'd go for, but I do see mkre vouching for Mel/Lest

Thank you for this analysis. It's always wonderful to see people approach Mel as a brilliant character in her own right and not part of noxious shipping discourse or to just flatten her into an evil villainess. In my opinion, she's one of the best characters in the entire show. Complex, nuanced, with so much cool potential. I love how she defied expectations - most people expected her to be some sort of evil femme fatale and heartless political operator but she's not. She's so much more. Her heart and her desire to paint the walls in gold (to do good) sets her apart from whatever archetypes people would want to place her in.

I, minding my own business, watching a top-notch Mel deep dive, WAS NOT expecting the last 7 minute to bring up a mention for Steb and Mel's potential shipping fuel! I threw my fists up in the air! My eyes legit got all watery! 😭 They mean so much to me! As one of the only 4 fans who have publicly made some sort of content for them, I now owe you my life, madam! 🥰 What a great video!

Hello everyone!! Waking up to such kind messages meant the world. Thank you for watching and I appreciate each comment. If you guys want to watch other analysis on arcane I have a playlist of shorts: kzbin.info/aero/PLxfoxrdwFk3-72NmFM6AcE-Z4tOZe6jN7&feature=shared Who’s bedroom is it theory: www.reddit.com/r/arcane/comments/tdyff5/spoilers_ep5_the_truth_behind_the_sextech_crime/ Also I’m sorry for the weird editing. The video was getting blcked so I had to re-edit it by placing my model in certain spots A couple comments brought up s2 and the frustrations with Mel’s arc not receiving the care it should, how in some ways it flips s1 on its head by showing to Mel that she did need to become the wolf and it got me thinking of Ambessa’a quote with the old regime girl “Unalive her and you won’t have to unalive 1000s.” It calls to Mel taking out her mother while Noxus soldiers stood around them (Mel not needing to fight them in that moment). I feel that more time could’ve been spent analyzing this ending and reading your comments really opened my eyes to things I found uncertainty in as well. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, it really warms my heart to see others who feel passionately about this character and her themes 11:59 - meant to say they have failed Zaun* this was the last thing I recorded my brain was so exhausted by this point lol I’d love to hear someone dissect jinx and Mel’s art tho!!!! I think it’d be such a cool analysis

Hi I’m new to this channel can someone explain why she is constantly changing the images of herself (3D thing) It’s really cool it just is a bit confusing

God, this show is such an emotional wrecking ball 🧡

This was such a well thought out analysis on Mel’s character. It feels like you understood her character so well. It is a shame it didn’t seem like she got as much nuance and care as she did in s1 :( But overall this was great!

Great analysis. Mel is so underappreciated, it's great to see her get the deep dive she deserves.

Great analysis. They bring in a strong black woman onto a show like Arcane and with the proper writing she is shown to be quite nuanced as well as layered. It's ironic that in season 2 they throw her character into a metaphorical trash can, then throw the relationship with Jayce away to boot. They proceed to turn her into the anti-thesis of her character by the time she's awkwardly shoved into the final act of the show. What a joke! Are the writers saying a woman has no power with her brain? Isn't that the whole point of her character? But she needs magic to solve all her problems now, huh? How stupid and racist. Mel's entire character contrasts beautifully with her Mother. Her Mom doesn't realize how many people she actually pisses off with war or violence (something that has consumed her family), whereas Mel is basically the social butterfly who keeps everyone happy with one another regardless of the cost- as long as the cost isn't MURDER. She's manipulative, cunning, but also shown to be a diplomat and a loving woman. She's a lover- not a fighter. There is no love in Ambessa, just looks at how she uses people while she's in Piltover in the first season.

Mel is a great character. And we know so little about her!

I love that there is also analysis of Jayce as Mel story is interwoven in his.

This is one of the best analysis I have seen of Mel, her philosophies, motivations and the people she cares about. Thank you. This review is like Christmas all over again.