Arcane 1x07 "The Boy Savior" Reaction

[@Addam_]

Jinx walking across the same bridge and humming the same song from the opening scene of ep1 while killing the wounded enforcers; is one of the best moments of the show.

[@lockekappa500]

Agreed. I think it's the ultimate duality in a show full of absolutely incredible dualities. Scenes like this is why subconsciously we sympathize with Jinx, no matter what she does, because there's always this concept in the back of our mind that the atrocities she's committed, were committed to her first, and ultimately molded her.

[@davididiart5934]

On top of that, the music playing in the background sounds more like the theme for a horror movie monster than a sad, broken woman. It's spooky.

[@Naesala119]

Also, she executes a wounded soldier just like a soldier executed a wounded person from the Undercity in the first episode in that same moment. Such an amazing show!

[@Dannydarko27]

Everybody says Jinx or Vi must feel really guilty but nobody thinks about Ekko. He was the one who gave the kids the info about Jayce, which lead to this whole ordeal. He must be suffering in silence while staying strong for the Firelights

[@matchapaws7336]

That SCREAM when Ekko showed up LMAO that was amazing!!

[@MeiTanteixX]

That scream during Ekko savior moment was priceless xD

[@PorusHorus]

And almost every reactor I've seen does it, I love it

[@blackshard641]

The shriek when Ekko flew in on the bridge is a whole mood.

[@morlock2012]

"I can't wait to watch more arcane" "Oh, OK, everything's bad and I hate it" *just shrieking* Welcome to the Arcane Experience.

[@danh8804]

That ending just breaks my heart so badly. Jinx doesn't see and understand things the way they truly are all the time, and other times she sees and understands just fine but just wants different things than are 'good' or healthy or just. As Silco's surrogate daughter that's kind of the deal. But the reality is right or wrong, seeing Vi "replace" her with Caitlyn broke her heart, and I think when Ekko saw Powder in her, she was looking back and seeing Little Man for a moment in him and realized just how much more broken, lost, and far away all those things were (much as he did). So I don't see her let off that grenade like she's some brilliant and clever Skeletor type villain trying to escape the hero at risk to herself - I think she just did it to die

[@morlock2012]

I mean, one consistent theme in Powder/Jinx's life it's finding herself in fights that are bigger than she can comfortably handle. And her reacting by reaching for a bigger weapon, which only pushes her into the next, bigger fight. So wouldn't surprise me at all if a part of her just wants it all to be over.

[@joshgreiner2599]

Sesska: I refuse to cry! Episodes 8/9: Hold my Trauma

[@Khay-77]

You should really check out the Imagine Dragons Enemy music video. It gives a little background into Powder and Ekko's relationship showing they were always together. In the game he has some dialogue about her “I had a crush… until you started talking to the gun.” and “man… I miss you so much,”. Gives a little context to them squaring up at the end.

[@christophercorbin9387]

This, 100x this.

[@calvinstreeting1173]

Yep

[@hectorftraducciones2785]

Nah, imagine dragons is not that important.

[@Khay-77]

@@hectorftraducciones2785 For non-gamers it helps to give context to Ekko and Jinx's relationship...

[@hectorftraducciones2785]

@@Khay-77 You don't need to be a 'gamer' to understand these series. Just common sense.

[@dylanshields7106]

This show continues to be amazing,and that fight at the end was so good. As well as the look on jinx’s face at the end, seeing a glimpse of powder is still in there.

[@Flex8187]

Your discussion after the episodes are really impressive and a joy to listen to.

[@shamsham1229]

The bridge fight with Ekko is literally the most badass thing I have seen in all my years of watching TV.

[@ten_0199]

The official Enemy music video shows that Powder and Ekko were very close friends back then. When Jinx said "Look who it is, the boy savior" there was a lot of irritation in her voice. I wouldn't be surprised he once tried to save her, but failed. A lot of hidden details about Marcus are shown in the background in episode 5. When he's at his desk, he's fulminating when looking at the bomb he has to report as being made by the firelights. Then, he looked at a drawing from his daughter sitting at the end of his desk. On it, there is him and his daughter holding hands in a field. In the sky, there is a woman floating there which suggest the mother died. If he does something, his daughter will probably become an orphan. He messed up really bad in his past but he's stuck in that loop now. He'll chose his daughter over anything else.

[@bowwing333]

Is there anything more undoing as a daughter

[@n0bleonline222]

It's literally the choice of every single character in the series. To protect their daughter, to put their daughter above everything else. Valid for each adult character

[@n0bleonline222]

Those who hate Marcuc in the first 3 episodes don't care about his story or don't want to see anything about him. They put him directly in the diagnosis of the character I hate the most. But those who impartially review the characters win my heart.

[@pbg2025]

Having watched this show through more times than any other it becomes so clear how damaged Powder is. From the clinging to Vi, to making dolls of her family members, to the panic attack. There's a lot and people often focus on the trauma of adults and kids just kind of have to deal with it. Powder was already deranged prior to killing Claggor and Mylo and ultimately Vander, but Vis abandonment as she perceived it was actually the nail in the coffin for her. Ekko is the last attachment of something from Powder but they found themselves on opposing sides as adults. I'm sure Ekko tried over and over again to help save Jinx but eventually gave up thinking it hopeless. That last call and challenge to Jinx with the game was a gambit which brought Powder back out from the noise. Ekko did it to gain an advantage against her but after he sees her as she was again those emotions came flooding back. I'm quite sure Jinx wasn't trying to kill him. She was trying to kill herself. She just wanted to die on her own terms while the voices of her own torment were quiet. She wanted to die while being seen as the Powder she knows she can never go back to.

[@acereporter73]

We all adopted Ekko. That's our boy right there.

[@turquoise839]

He could have had more screen time... he was kind of tossed aside after this episode. I guess season 2 is coming to the rescue though.

[@billthecanuck]

this is by far my favourite episode, idk what it is about that fight scene of jinx v ekko but it gets me every time, just the way she looks up as he stops punching you can kind of see powder there for just a brief moment as she sees her old friend holding back. i think she wants that grenade to end it then and there for her, while at least 1 person is seeing her as powder. . just amazing

[@saiyasha848]

That is always how I interpreted. This is very clearly a suicide attempt and it is extremely significant that it comes at a moment where she is closer to being "Powder" Then she probably has been in a long time. It tells you that part of her misses being Powder. Misses not being afarid or angry or hearng voices. Misses her Sisiter, misses her friends and If she can end it on a moment were she nearly had that again, then she could go peacefully.

[@turquoise839]

I couldn't pick a favorite episode. I have many favorite scenes, each episode having at least one. Ekko v Jinx is surely a standout.

[@Shax22132]

"I feel so sorry for everyone" and "Everything is bad" pretty much sums up the show. ;) What Ekko was silently saying, when he pulled out the pocket watch and started swinging it: "Let's play our old game again...one last time..." And as other commenters have said: Ekko was ready to kill Jinx; he wasn't ready to kill Powder.

[@blackshard641]

"I don't know what I'm supposed to say to that." --cut-- "Oh, goodness, I have a lot to say." 🤣🤣🤣

[@renascienza.bazarclub]

Initial commentary is on point: there is two ways to an episode of Arcane to finish, after act 1... You heart can be broken a lot, or just a little. In the moment you're having fun, beware: you are about to be kicked on the face.

[@TurokRevolution]

I really wish Arcane would have shown more interactions between Powder and Ekko in Act 1, at least the Enemy music video has more scenes of both of them. There was supposed to be a flashback scene in Episode 7 that showed Ekko trying to reach out to Powder after what happened after Episode 3, but it was cut for some reason. I really hope they will show that in Season 2. Ekko and Powder were definitely close, in the game Ekko even says that he had a crush on her.

[@tuanthanhnguyen7488]

Showrunner said he wanted to add a scene where Ekko reach out to Powder after Act 1 but they had to cut it, maybe it was replaced by the ep 7 music video intro.

[@lyrebirb83]

I absolutely adore your reactions. And no one really focuses on what ekko did. He's truly the very best person we see in arcane. He's just doing good. Helping people. Trying to core with his trauma. When he insists powder is gone and later in the fight realizes he's wrong... he gets caught off his guard. Regarding their history, we know they've fought before because in episode 4 some of the grunt firelights saw her symbolism and freaked out. But I also recommend at this point to watch the music video for imagine dragons enemy. The video has unique scenes that really build up your boy. I'd honestly love a shorter reaction as irs only 4 minutes of content not 45. But it's so jam packed you'd love it.

[@lockekappa500]

And as much as I've seen others criticize his characterization that he's a Gary Stu and the Firelights are one dimensional, I think they mistake the fact that he's just as lost in the past as Jinx is. His hate for the topsiders is rooted in him not being able to let go of the past. That's what's so tragic about his disdain for Jinx, they're both still unable to let go of their pain, and even though Ekko has forged his pain into something a bit more productive (ok a lot) he still has that "us against everyone" mentality that she has. Hopefully a certain someone can help him break out of that mentality.

[@lyrebirb83]

@@lockekappa500 not a lot I can really say on this without spoilers beyond what you've said.

[@lockekappa500]

@@lyrebirb83 Haha, exactly why I kept it vague, pick the discussion up in the Ep 9 comments ;)

[@lyrebirb83]

@@lockekappa500 see ya there

[@chuckmanion1128]

Don't feel like you have to hold back the tears. A genuine emotional reaction is appreciated. As for Ekko and Jinx's history, some of that is filled in if you watch the imagine dragons "Enemy" music video. It adds so much weight to the fight at the end of this episode. I'd highly recommend watching it. Also in the game Ekko's line to Jinx is "I had a crush till you started talking to your guns". Additionally the show creators have said one of the deleted scenes (which I think was replaced by the Firelight intro in ep 7) was rewinding in time to show young Ekko seeking out Powder after the events of ep 3 when he first established the firelights.

[@averagejoereads7271]

Ekko became my fav character in one episode, that fight is a masterpiece

[@nvxf5123]

2:48 It' ridiculous how much deep they add to Sevika's character with just that line.

[@n0bleonline222]

In fact, there is not a very affectionate attitude under what Sevika wants to say there. She just wants his boss to stick with the cause and move on. We can see that he is more willing to find jinxi than Silco case. In a way, now the case jinx

[@halloweenbloodfrost]

Omg I LOVE YOUR DRIP!!

[@vizh]

Jayce ramped up the pressure on himself with his guilt over forcing out Heimerdinger. If his mentor had to go because he didn't have a plan on how to fix things, then surely Jayce is obligated to come up with the right course of action now that he's in charge of security. Waiting was Heimerdinger's failing, and so he feels pushed to act even when he doesn't clearly know the best path forward, or else he's just a hypocrite who stabbed his mentor in the back.

[@chadbailey7038]

Great reaction! And something great that I didn’t see the first time around, if you watch the music video with them, that came out before the series- Ekko has a crush on Powder as kids, which add so much more subtext to their relationship! Such an amazing show 🤩

[@carbuneskinny5797]

Act 3 starting strong !! thanks for the reaction :)

[@grubinthe1st549]

Great episode! These last three are fantastic watching!

[@neoalphon]

11:03 put in 0.25x. You can see the anger mixture with fear and all other emotions together. and 12:22 as well.

[@Caraxes_RoguePrince]

Ekko actually had a crush on powder when they was younger as well that’s another reason why it’s so sad. Also from practicing as kids then to actually go in to fight her to the death was so sad. Also remember first time we seen ekko again ep 4 and powder killed the pink hair girl that was in his group…powder killed many of his friends. Jinx remembered when they were kids when ekko brought out the clock but she for sure tried to kill him lol she wasn’t holding back but it tells you a lot imo that she remembered and went through the old routine.

[@DTcorn77]

I think you can see how deranged Jinx is in that leadup to firing. The last scratchy image, Vi is completely scratched out. She's not even there as far as jinx is concerned at that moment. Also, cute insight into cait's character, if you watch it slowed down when Jinx opens fire she tries to shield vi with her body, and Vi has to push her out of the way.

[@turquoise839]

I totally missed it on my first watch. They could have made that a few frames longer - a handful of shots in the show were held just a bit too short to be able to comprehend them IMO, like in this instance why they're flying apart and how Cait tries to shield Vi (which is a moving and important bit).

[@lockekappa500]

One could also see it as a way to rationalize shooting in that direction. Without my sister there it's ok if I shoot. Also in reply to a couple shots being too short. Well there's a couple ways of looking at it. If you could get everything on the first watch, this show wouldn't be as satisfying to watch on repeat viewings if there weren't subtle, hidden gems like that. Seeing Cait hold Vi and trying to shield her, and Vi being more practical and (and strong enough) to push them away perfectly encapsulates both their characters so well in a single frame.

[@turquoise839]

@@lockekappa500 Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate that there are many hidden gems to be discovered on rewatches. In very few key scenes I would have preferred just a hair bit longer cuts, when it would help establish what is actually happening, is all.

[@lockekappa500]

@@turquoise839 No I agree, things like the Vi mix up at the beginning of Episode 4 I think just creates unnecessary confusion, as opposed to adding to the show. This show is so jam packed with information I can imagine they were constantly fighting to keep things in, and cut things they didnt want to.

[@axelvonelern8081]

Ekko was ready to kill Jinx, but he wasn't ready to kill Powder.

[@turquoise839]

The Ekko v. Jinx fight scene in itself created a new genre - the 'tragicool'.

[@legacian4039]

Waiting a week for your new episodes is roooough. I'm so glad you've been enjoying this show.

[@ariochiv]

You may want to watch Riot's music video for ENEMY; it's all original animation by the same studio, and it includes a lot of sequences of Ekko and Powder as kids... I think Ekko has more screen time in it than he does in the first six episodes of the series. There aren't any spoilers in it, though the scenes are a little bit heartbreaking given what we know about how things went wrong in later years. When you're through with the series, there are also numerous other videos featuring Ekko. They're older, and you can see that some of the elements have changed, but the core of the character is still the same.

[@jeffkoenig7402]

Can we take a minute to appreciate that the music video and the World's Opening, which were released before the show, managed to tease and set up the show without really giving anything away (in part by using misdirection), *and* add a depth to the show that deepens our appreciation after the season ended? Like, the complexity for those two promotional materials in the decisions of what to show, how to show it, when to add to the story viewers would have seen a month later, and when to spend time and money animating "alternative" depictions of events that DO happen in the show (that somehow don't feel wrong even after you've seen them the "real" way in the actual episodes)... I mean, man. It's insane how well they pulled it off. MUSIC VIDEO SPOILER: For example - Vi being thrown against the fence by enforcers and arrested in the music video perfectly sets up a major conflict in the show without giving away the shocking moment when Marcus pulls Vi away as Silco approaches Powder in ep 3. Similarly, Vi tracking down Jinx in the arcade in World's 2021 opening gives us SO MUCH to look forward to, and yet their actual reunion in ep 6 is like a million times more powerful.

[@Luzarioth]

"League of Legends: Arcane"... or "How to emotionally Damage your Audience"... same thing really

[@Lakuza]

Enjoying your reactions to this show a lot. Your assesment on the story and characters have been great so far! Looking forward to seeing your reaction to the next 2 eps.

[@Mangaverse]

The creators of the show had said there was a scene cut in this ep, where we could see Ekko creating the Firelights and trying to "save" Jinx from Silco. Scene cut because the ep would have been too long...

[@pbg2025]

I think it's good they didn't include that. The show does an excellent job of not shoving exposition down the audiences throat. It should be understood that Ekko would have tried to help his friend and filling it in in my mind is absolutely a rich story mentally which is great.

[@saiyasha848]

Even before I found that out, i suspected it. Jinx' "The Boy saviour" - line is so full of bitterness and it felt very personal. He couldn't save _her_ and maybe she is angry at him for not trying harder.

[@Addam_]

See I read that completely differently, to me it felt like she was mocking him, not "you didn't save me" but rather "you thought I needed to be saved?" and since he is adamant that she *chooses* to work for Silco, I suspect she had a chance to at one point to go with Ekko and 100% chose Silco over going with him.

[@lockekappa500]

@@Addam_ I'd imagine its a bit of a double entendre. On the surface I think she thinks she doesnt need to be saved, but I also think she's kind of offended that Ekko choose to save so many others, and yet continues to be at odds with someone who was supposedly his best friend.

[@Addam_]

@@lockekappa500 On that, I'd actually wondered if maybe she didn't flip it and try to get him to join her with Silco.

[@TukaihaHithlec]

This time on *_Everybody Loves Ekko_*

[@TwistedKitsuna]

God, I love that fight scene between Jinx/Power & Ekko, I think it was done perfectly. Great reaction!

[@turquoise839]

What the writers, artists, animators, directors, cast etc. brought to life in Arcane is just breathtaking. It must have been very rewarding for the writing room to be able to know that what they put out will be pushed beyond even what live actors could produce on a better day in the hands of Fortiche, and do so with sensitivity, care, creativity, precision. Also important is that the teams had the time to do it right (which is usually a luxury). I really hope that season 2 is getting the same treatment and I'm optimistic that it will also be a gold mine of emotionally and visually powerful scenes.

[@aworkinprogress4387]

Loved the scream during Echo's big moment. This is such a great show. Somehow every episode just gets better and better.

[@GikePeterson]

Your scream😂

[@dead_cea5430]

In the Enemy video clip you can see that friendship that the two of them had. There is a lot of footage there that was not seen in the series and it is like a kind of preamble...

[@kadetade6575]

Ekko vs Jinx on bridge was masterpiece. Love all of your reactions

[@YubelMalevolent]

Me and my group finished this last night I can't wait to see how you react to the rest :D

[@sirdromos2769]

A NEW MEMBER TO EKKO'S FANDOM 🙌🏽

[@ashenfang]

I'm certain it's been recommended, but you need to watch and react to the official video for Imagine Dragons Enemy, it's done by the same studio that did Arcane and shows scenes not available in the actual show. some of those Ekko and Powder interactions you might be interested in..

[@thomasstevens2746]

Been exited for this one

[@wuastwais]

❤❤❤

[@AndrewKendall71]

Ekko's just one of the best human beings in fiction. What a show! And I'm with you - I think Jinx was connecting with their past in a way that could have been a doorway to Powder. But, she's sooo broken... she just wasn't pulled free of he psychosis enough. Though, I think he could do it at least as well as Vi, he just doesn't believe it's possible, considering how he's seen her murder people he cares about just like Silco had people killed.

[@blakartist2000]

I suggest that you should check out Imagine Dragon's music video Enemy which give you a little snapshot of Ekko and Powder actually spending time with each other which they never show in the series.

[@lalalalasmith4903]

Please consider watching “Attack on Titan”. After seeing your “Game of Thrones” reactions and your “Arcane” reactions, I really feel like you would love it. Between all the amazing characters, the action and the twists and turns in the story, I really think you would love it.

[@gorrarz5760]

watch the music video to "enemy - imagine dragons". you get some background knowledge of jinx and ekko relationship when they were kids.

[@renascienza.bazarclub]

To understand better Ekko and Powder relationship, do a look on the original Imagine Dragons Videoclip of "My Enemy", Arcane theme

[@jermainesneed1002]

Echo is awesome

[@Manaphy0882]

I still wonder how would the fight look if Jinx didn't agree to that childhood game recreation. Anyway, one of the saddest episodes but the whole show is tragic and amazing!

[@troikas3353]

Silco's relationship with Jinx is one of manipulation and abuse. He's a deeply damaged person and even if on some level his care for her was genuine, his actions regarding her have been horrifically toxic throughout act 2. Which given their relationship started with him murdering her family.. I guess it's not surprising. Silco's attachment to Powder is as much driven by his own abandonment issues as anything else and most of his decision making regarding her is motivated more by "I can't let her go" rather than "what's best for her". He needs to possess her and, just as with his fight for Zaun, he approaches achieving that with an ends-justify-means mentality regardless of what that will cost her. Vi's likely the only person still living that could connect with Powder and Silco's first response to learning she's alive is to try and murder her secretly before Powder can ever find out, stripping Powder of any agency or choice regarding what she might want, then when that fails he lies to Powder to drive a wedge between the sisters and ensure he maintains a grip on her. Silco and Powder's dynamic is so well done, but it's so very disturbing to watch.

[@greywarden5513]

Such excellent taste! If I wasn’t already subscribed I would be! You definitely have to Watch Enemy music vid, it makes the bridge scene so tragic. You’re one of the few reactors to look at Ekko’s pain. On his own he lifted the entire undercity. The blacker the darkness (Jinx) the greater the light (Ekko)!!

[@ThomasCorp]

Here’s a bright idea, Viktor, why don’t you make sure what you’re about to do is relatively safe before you accidentally mutate the crap out of yourself.

[@babette5918]

Are you channeling Heimerdinger?

[@bridgethaines7127]

Safe is relative when you're dying with very little time left and desperate to finish your work.

[@ThomasCorp]

@@babette5918 Haha. Maybe.

[@ThomasCorp]

@@bridgethaines7127 True.

[@Kezmark]

Cause he doesn't have a lot of time, nor does he have a lot of shimmer to experiment. And with the lockdown and everything going to shit, it probably isn't likely he could go back to get more. Even less now that he's lost trust in Jayce.

[@jeffkoenig7402]

"I'm sure it's all going to go horribly wrong because it's this show..." Yes. And we love it for that.

[@1c3sly13]

Jinx always misses important things that lead her to make her bad decisions and Vi isn't the best communicator and everyone thinks it's too late to save Jinx, but it isn't.

[@Grimfaxe]

If you like Ekko and want a little bit more of his backstory relationship with Jinx / Powder, you should watch or react to Imagine Dragons - Enemy music video 👍🏻 it was released before the show and won't spoil episode 8 or 9 It will give their battle at the bridge a little more of a "punch" (excuse the pun)

[@Citizen88020120820]

Echo stole the show in this episode

[@TenebrousFilms]

I freely admit, I always skip to the fight at the end, in this one.

[@jamesliggins891]

so um...was the rest of Marcus's unit just gonna stand by while he shot a person on sight and was about to take out one of their own? lol. I guess he only brought the shadiest people from the department

[@dwnkaomwn3953]

Technically speaking, Caitlyn was fired from the Enforcers by Marcus at her parents' behest and Ekko is from the undercity, so I doubt they would care about him anyway.

[@pbg2025]

America, a whole Lotta gang shit. Seriously it's what happens in all sorts of police and military units.

[@christophercorbin9387]

@@dwnkaomwn3953 She is still the daughter of a councilor.

[@morlock2012]

Well, that's why Marcus was so freaked out, even before the bug bomb bots showed up. He could make up some self-defense story to cover shooting Ekko, and probably get away with it. Getting away with shooting Caitlyn *is* much harder, maybe impossible, but if he doesn't stop her crossing that bridge Silco will kill his daughter.

[@jamesliggins891]

@@dwnkaomwn3953 I'm pretty sure she was released from being a beat cop, she wasn't fired from the enforcers. they just wanted her to have a desk job instead. but even if that is the case, I mean...point still stands about them just standing by and letting him take her and Ekko out (especially as she is the daughter of a councilor...like...no one said anything?)

[@wraith1701]

Arcane: When an animated series has better writing, better acting and more HEART than 90% of the live-action shows being cranked out today.

[@verdantdruid]

Have you reacted to the music video for Enemy? It has a lot of footage that involves Ekko and Powder's relationship since they were of similar age. Also shows footage of all the kids pre. ep. 3. Check it out. It's often recommended to watch before ep. 7.