Arcane 2x6 Reaction & Discussion: "The Message Hidden Within The Pattern"

[@ajgdude]

You can watch my reaction to the next episode RIGHT NOW on Patreon here (5$+), or the Full Length reaction (10$+): www.patreon.com/Aleczandxr To follow the readthroughs on stream, you can follow me on Twitch here: www.twitch.tv/Aleczandxr/ Link to AJ's Discord server: discord.gg/Ekhz7PNuJd CURRENT TWITCH SCHEDULE: Mondays @ 10am EST: A Blind Playthrough of Resident Evil 2 (Sometimes gaming streams are Tuesdays too, check Discord) Wednesdays @ 10am EST: Bleach Readthrough Fridays @ 10:30am EST: SOME FRIDAYS, I do full One Piece discussion streams as well. Check Discord for updates/details. Sundays @ 11am EST: One Piece + Hunter x Hunter chapter reads (When applicable)

[@zothOne]

Seeing you predict with a high degree of specificity the arcs you haven't yet seen really puts into perspective how amazing you are at deeply understanding these stories. Watching you cover these pieces of fiction that I've always admired without being able to explain why I admire them (Naruto, HxH, Arcane etc.) has been a wonderful experience. Your ability to explain why a story matters and the inherent themes, parallels and thought is something I completely lack, but I've been able to experience by proxy due to listening to you. It's as if I cannot see color, but I can intellectualize what color must exist through someone else's explanation. All of this to say that watching you has been an amazing way for me to experience stories as I've never been able to, and possibly develop in me the ability to more and more be able to understand why they matter to me so much.

[@joaopldomingues]

Whole-heartedly agree and share the overarching sentiment. The last paragraph is specially true - while it could be quite easy to be enchanted with the "special abilities" in display in this reaction series and just think "yeah, I'd never", let us take this as inspiration to better ourselves in what is, ultimately, a great tool to further increase our enjoyment of whatever piece of art we come across. Alec's work in this series is stellar also because he makes us willing to tap into his mindset when approaching something like Arcane. To put it simply, this specific reaction series is the Arcane of this type of content on KZbin. Bravo.

[@ajgdude]

This feels like far more than I deserve, but thank you so much! Both of you!

[@lockekappa500]

@@ajgdude Don't underestimate just how much you can impact those around you. It's reactors like you who have allowed me to see media from such a different level, and I dont know how I'll ever see the world differently again.

[@bradens.3125]

i'm 2 weeks late but i like doing this, better late than never. finished vacation with my boyfriend (he said yes!!) but i'm finally getting back into the normal, so here are details from this episode: -ambessa telling caitlyn not to forget about "lava in your veins" might be foreshadowing for what happens to vander at the end -all of the plant life in the commune is very similar to how it was when affected by shimmer/the arcane, but in a way that thrives -in the beautiful water paint flashback, felicia greets powder with the little bunny ears that we've seen her do a few times -the line that singed reads to his daughter that viktor sees is very emblematic of many characters in the series (including singed). "His quest led him astray of any trodden path. His own shadow dissolved to darkness. Now the only course was forward. The only warmth, a dream of her waltz" -viktor being referred to as a "machine herald" is a reference to league, as that is his title -viktor's iconic line from league, "glorious evolution!" is also referenced in this episode too -rictus's gaze at caitlyn when she enters the tent alreadys hows his suspicion, but ambessa returns her gaze from rictus to caitlyn, showing her trust -vi is very surprised at caitlyn's force when she was punched, and caitlyn's shrug is hilarious. very much goes to show how effective ambessa's training has been -the device that vi uses to incapacitate ambessa is caitlyn's ultimate in league -rictus uses jinx's long ponytails to pull her, vi did the same in episode 5. they're clearly a hindrance but she still keeps them, almost as a last connection to silco -jayce's betrayal of viktor seems to be an allusion to judas's betrayal of jesus. the way they look at each other is haunting -the tendrils connecting everyone in the commune to viktor resembles spores. a fungus colony is one large organism (the largest on earth) all interconnected, the mushrooms being just a visible part to help spread more spores -the shot of vander as lava pours out from his eyes and he struggles to stand up is a reference to warwick's main render from league -the spot vi gets sliced is the same that sevika stabbed, that caitlyn helped heal. it's also the same spot that caitlyn jabbed in s2e3 -the amount of hextech gems that isha uses is the same that powder used in s1e3, which is three -the flashbacks of isha and jinx are animated in a crayon like style, the same utensil that jinx and isha used to create art -in the flashback, when isha and jinx are dancing, jinx's eyes flash blue -when jinx calls out to isha, her eyes are blue instead of purple -isha's song is about looking past the inherent darkness of humanity and seeing the inherent beauty in it. there are also some specific lyrics i want to point out: "Be a carefree flying bird" "Blow away the dark clouds with that blue in my heart" -everytime we see the scene of the dual-sided gear roll, it is different -viktor's character flaw is on full display in this episode, in that he takes away the wrong lesson from everything. he blames his loneliness on his disability, instead of his reclusiveness. he blames his disability for being unable to chase his ambitions, rather than the system of oppression. he blames humanity and emotions for the failure in the commune, instead of its flimsy foundations. also, i agree with basically all of your critiques of this season so far, especially the song inserts, which i feel not enough people criticize. even within act 1 i thought they were too common finally, some memes/jokes around this episode: -people making fun of caitlyn and jayce for being very gay. especially with how caitlyn immediately went against ambessa simply because she got called cupcake by her ex -one post i saw said "If Ekko saves Isha then I will download League. A soul for a soul" -one was about how isha, jinx, vi, and vander were the "woke nuclear family" -pictures of viktor within a (probably fake) wikidpedia artcile with tabs labeled "Life, Serving Cunt, Death, Resurrection, Serving Cunt 2.0, Death 2.0" -while this one was more about caitlyn's design in episode 5, i still want to say it because i think it's hilarious. the nickname that stook for caitlyn was "count f*gula" -people joking that arcane ended halfway through episode 6 and how much of a happy ending it was

[@gamerule18]

5:33 "You would die for the cause, but you won't fight for it."

[@quigsthevicious]

It's totally possible to be disappointed in this season and still love it. I miss the complexity of Silco and Marcus compared to the new characters this season but it still sticks in my head and plays with my feeling more than anything else from '24.

[@lockekappa500]

I love how you put focus on just how much love is poured into this show, and despite its imperfections, the chaotic stream of thought that FAITHFULLY follows these themes, sometimes through multiple characters is just so impressive and exciting. I'm so glad that you picked up on all of these recurring themes that are incarnating themselves through different characters this season, and you can see what the writers were attempting.

[@jonahwilliams1331]

I really love how Isha’s actions parallel Jinx’s own actions at the end of Season One Act One. Both children making an act that wasn’t asked of them; Jinx going to fight when her family said she didn’t need to and Isha sacrificing herself when all Jinx wanted was for her to live. Both their actions resulting in the breaking of their respective families. Also amazing job pointing out how the two situations differ.

[@imaginebreaker2770]

Great reaction and analysis as always! Man I cannot wait for the 2x7 and 2x9 reactions cuz there is so much to talk about with those episodes. Keep up the good work AJ!

[@ajgdude]

Thank you! I can’t wait to share 2x7 hehe

[@SunDave447]

Another turbo banger reaction and discussion! I definitely agree this part of the story is a bit more chaotic than what we saw in Acts 1-3 , I think due in part to what's happening conceptually (bit of a leap to go from organized crime with a sprinkle of sci-fi to werewolf Vander and secret mage organizations), but I love every second of it. Bit of a JRPG in it's progression of scope when it comes to the main plot. xD I definitely see where you’re coming from with the Caitlyn turn. For me, the defining moment for it was last episode where Ambessa recruits Singed and like two scenes later Caitlyn is appalled at his role in basically destroying the undercity with Shimmer. In S1 we see how much it affects her to be able to see firsthand just how bad things are down there. I think bringing Singed in between both her an Ambessa was great for highlighting the difference in how they view the people of Zaun and setting up that they are definitely incompatible as leaders of Piltover. Also, I really appreciate your more positive outlook on Isha’s sacrifice in regards to what Jinx needs to take away from it. Personally I viewed it as Jinx truly becoming a jinx in a sense, not because her life is destined to go wrong, but because of the position that she’s ended up in as a symbol of heroism and revolution for Zaun. As we saw in Act 5, she doesn’t really want to be that symbol. Yes, she ends up realizing how much she’s appreciated, but it also ends up inspiring children like Isha to take up a fight that they shouldn’t have to fight. Moments like Isha handing Jinx the gun suggesting to take action and lighting up the flare at the rally take on more of a tragic sense. Much like little Vi and Powder in Act 1 S1, nothing good can come out of children trying to become heroes of the undercity. It’s what Vander was trying to protect them from and I believe the issue rears its head once more here. I thought it was great how something like becoming an unifying figure for the undercity can be something negative for Jinx, especially due to the role she unfortunately played in making Zaun the way it is under Silco’s control.

[@ajgdude]

Glad you enjoyed! I agree re: Caitlyn - like I said, it was definitely in-character for her to come back and retract herself from Ambessa’s clutches. It was always the narrative decision to make it happen when and how it did, with the lake of narrative weight of the decision, that was the source of my problem. In-universe is absolutely makes sense, for sure. And regarding the Isha sacrifice yeah I view it quite positively, especially contrasting it with Powder in terms of complexion and what it displays to Jinx about revolution, change, sacrifice and agency. The aesthetic similarity to young Powder makes the contrasts stick out that much more, and as sad as it is that children need to die in this world for progress, that world is already too far gone and requiring of that sort of thing at times to bear the torch. So to me her sacrifice is a celebration of a new lease on life given to her by Jinx as she willingly parts with it for change with gratitude, and obviously I won’t spoil my discussions to future episodes but I think the rest of the story follows through with that idea through how Jinx ultimately lands in her psychology.

[@Blackhawk211]

I've been anticipating this episode reaction since I first saw the episode when it came out. Tied with the next one it's my favourite episode in Arcane. Agghhh this show is peak fiction

[@Blackhawk211]

Symbolically, Powder died with Vander twice. In episode 3 and here with Isha

[@Shallabais100]

Totally agree on Caitlyn, would be a near perfect episode otherwise, love hearing your thoughts on Arcane as always!

[@ChIMeRaTeX]

People often try to call Isha a "cheap plot device", while that is pretty much true, I don't see why that matters here. Her character WORKED, and flawlessly so. My entire watchparty sobbed like nothing else after this episode despite seeing the writing on the wall far in advance. The amount of characterization and contextualization Isha managed to convey in just a few episodes with rather little screentime and her emotional impact in this short timeframe needs to be studied, for real.

[@lockekappa500]

I never get that take, because it's not like they're being shy about this being Powder 2.0. I think people assume that a show telegraphing what it intends on doing is always a bad thing.

[@C4DNerd]

I actually completed Persona 5 Royal a month before Arcane Season 2 came out and the timing ended up being pretty uncanny cause I could see SO many parallels between Maruki's arc and Viktor's arc, both of which I really love. Curious to see if your thoughts on the season overall change, but the overall thoughts you shared here very much echo how I feel about it. Season 1 was perfectly polished and a 10/10 while Season 2 is fantastic and has some of the show's best moments, but is overall a little messier and not as perfectly crafted. I think even just one more episode would've made a world of difference, but even as it is, I really love and it's still better than the best seasons of many other shows.

[@javilepero]

Isha you will always be remembered, and Riot, I will never forgive you

[@Marcos750418]

I really think this episode alone has enough content to fill two episodes, but alas, it was still beautiful.

[@cara3566]

Absolutely love your reactions and discussion! Thank you!

[@ajgdude]

You’re very welcome!

[@CrimsonCharan]

Knowing how S2 ends, I still wish we got to see Cait feel the full weight of her actions before switching sides here. Sorta like Eren from AoT, but where he pushed forward in spite of it, Cait would bounce back because of it. Cause as it is, I do still love that Cait lets go of things. Just wanted to see a little bit more, so her decision would feel that much more impactful. Easier said than done, I realize. But hey. A guy can dream.

[@lockekappa500]

In the defense of the writers, when you go back and rewatch the season. You realize EVERY scene we have (except maybe one, right after Warwick has attacked in Ep5) is Caitlyn second guessing everything she's doing and has done, and she only continues because of Jinx. Cait IS feeling the full weight of her actions in almost every scene. The scene with Maddie in the bedroom. The scene with Ambessa in her house with Ambessa stoking the fire. Her mourning her mother while Ambessa is torturing a Zaunite. Her realizing that someone from Piltover is responsible for Shimmer. Her seemingly trying to take a shot at Ambessa during the training scene. I dunno...can you name a scene where she ISNT feeling the full weight of her actions?

[@jmjackson2041]

Tbf one of the themes of the show is how the upper class from Piltover never have to deal with any consequences for the stuff they do. It's totally on brand for Cait to commit actual war crimes, change her mind and nothing happen to her because of it other than her own pangs of guilt. Meanwhile Isha is left is in a warriors grave next to Rictus. Maddie also foreshadows Caits turn when she says that Cait would take on Noxus itself if she had Vi on her side. Until she meets Vi again Cait is completely alone vs someone for whom commiting genocide is the average tuesday afternoon and her army.

[@CrimsonCharan]

​@jmjackson2041 When did Maddie say that?

[@s8tansbitch_92]

I’m so excited to watch! Been looking forward to this

[@tophatgeo]

I know this is likely going to get covered in the episode 7 reaction, but do you think that the buildup and release of how Ekko and Heimerdinger's absence then subsequent focus was well done? Whilst it was clearly an intentional choice by the writers to have us more excited to see these characters again I do think that their absence was almost too noticable if that makes sense

[@ajgdude]

Yeah I wouldn't change a single thing about 2x7 but I do think that its placement in the narrative is contributory to some of S2's messy structure and somewhat uneven feel at times. I just think things were a bit more balanced, defined and well-prioritized in S1 in comparison, even if Ekko had a similar absense there as well

[@jonahwilliams1331]

Definitely agree on Caitlyn’s turn here being rushed although given how I view her arc and the message of her story, I think that it works fine. But for this episode in particular, I like how it foils Viktor placing all the blame on humanity purely for the actions of one individual in Jayce. Caitlyn had turned on Ambessa, Jinx trusted Vi’s plan to work with Caitlyn, Isha makes a sacrifice for Jinx. Humanity can be blamed for so much wrong but humanity also allows for love to do wonderful things.

[@SaguntoYT]

This episode serves to remind us that the only reason arcane becomes a tragedy is because of Jinx's existence. She is indeed the personification of an ominous crow, condemned to a life of eternal grief and suffering. The fact that Jinx found in Isha someone who could bring Powder back makes everything all the more heartbreaking...😢 *"That which inspires us to our greatest good is also the cause of our greatest evil."*

[@redroseibarahime8755]

" not only will he(Singed) not be successfull. I am pretty sure he won't" - keep that in mind for the finale ;) fyi - the creator "Schnee" made an absolutely banger spot-on video about that topic of the final episode - it is called "Singed's Ending Makes NO SENSE..." :D Also there are 2 cinematics I highly recommend for you to watch after S2 concluded - on or off camera. Both are in Arcane style and about/with Arcane characters. - Blood Sweat & Tears ft. Sheryl Lee Ralph | official music video - League of Legends This is about Ambessa's background(past) -please read the video description to better understand the artistic of it / this one is about young Ambessa and the topic "Chosen of the Wolf" which is also the name of the Arcane Novel about Ambessa (and Noxus/Shurima), release is on 18th of february - Welcome to Noxus - Bite Marks (mit TEYA) | 2025 Season I cinematic - League of Legends This is the seasonal cinematic for this league gaming year (seeminingly the first one of 3 this time) and a continuation to Arcane S2 which leads us to Noxus. For context: the black rose holds a masque ball atm. This video shows very well what kind of content to expect for the next show.

[@ajgdude]

I’ve seen both cinematics! I mentioned the Ambessa one in this video IIRC, but I guess you missed it. Also just so you’re aware it didn’t matter here because I had already finished the series, but the first sentence of this is definitely spoiler territory, in case you weren’t aware!

[@steffenzimmermann7087]

It's hard to find issues in season 1, I'll try my best to find some. I'll name 2,5 things in the story I had an issue with. 1: I don't think Vis change in behavior is clear. Act 1 she's a girl that would fit very well as someone working for Silco. Hates topside, wants to fight them, wants to show them who's the boss. Then she experiences their abuse first hand, gets thrown in Prison for no reason for years, gets forgotten there, constantly gets beat down. I find her state in s1e5 after this experience a bit hard to believe. I don't think we get enough of a reason as to why she starts working with Caitlyn. There are some hints, Caitlyn has the symbol linked to her sister, maybe Vi is desperate to have anyone helping her, as she's all alone and she has a good reason for wanting to bring Silco down etc. but I find they could've shown this a bit better. Of course Vi gets freed from prison to get proof showing Silco is behind it all, but then it feels like her motivation is mostly finding her sister - so why does she keep Caitlyn around for that? Caitlyn is so useless at the start, that it feels like Vi is dragging around dead weight, and it doesn't make much sense to me. I'd want a stronger reason why Vi needs to tolerate Caitlyn. Like maybe Vi ditches Caitlyn, then Caitlyn saves her against Sevika and tends to her wounds and because of this experience they start getting to know each other and trust each other. 2: In episode 4 Victor and Jayce want to give Hextech to the common man. They present these tools they want to just give out and they barely decide against it. Later in the Episode one of their gemstones gets stolen and it's immediately portrayed as this huge security risk. If the wrong person gets a gemstone who knows what kinds of weapons they could build. That conflict with Heimerdinger feels a bit forced. It seems so obviously a bad idea to give these tools out to people in the city, it's not plausible they'd ever advocate for that idea. Unless the show is trying to tell us no one would be able to use the gemstone without also having the notes from the lab, but that seems far fetched. I'll also say in terms of worldbuilding, it seems weird to me that Piltover gets do develop this amazing new technology, for the longest time without any means of defending themselves, and the rest of the world just lets them be. Seeing what we see in s2, I'd expect a noxian battalion to invade at the first mention of Hextech. Or some forces who are against the idea of Hextech to infiltrate, to sabotage, to assassinate. There's such a discussion about whether or not the technology should be used to build weapons, but it seems obvious that they have to build weapons, because as soon as they become interesting to the rest of the world they will need means to defend themselves and their army without Hextech just doesn't stand a chance against anything. In s2e1 we can see the huge disparity in proficiency between Piltovers forces and Noxian trained soldiers. One last thing I'll mention is that I find the Visuals in s2 to be a step up. This seems a weird thing to say, because I couldn't even criticize s1 for this, even if I tried very hard. S1 visuals are amazing. I think in one of your previous discussions you said how s2 constantly gives us pictures that you could mount on your wall, and I find that fits perfectly. I didn't get as much of that in s1. S2 is just so beautiful.

[@ajgdude]

I don’t agree that any of these are flaws. Vi goes with Caitlyn because she wants to leave jail and see the outside world again and fight for her home and continues with her because she immediately sees something special and magnetic within her. And nothing about the Heimerdinger conflict is forced, it’s established very organically in episode 2 and only builds upon itself in natural ways until it reaches a breaking point. And immediately starting a conflict with an economic hub and global power for which a huge portion of Runeterra is dependent upon is straight up not something Noxus would do. They’re conquerors but they’re not reckless to the point of stupidity, doing that would needlessly create tons of new enemies for them due to uprooting the core basis upon which society functions. It would be a big risk and they were shown to be fighting their own battles during that time period anyway.

[@jmjackson2041]

Yeah, Jinx didn't kill Isha but let her live (and actually live not just exist) for months beyond the point where she'd have either died..... or worse. In EP2 the Chross gangsters who are chasing Isha are said to be expanding into prosititution by the other Chembarons, which gives a chilling aspect to them chasing Isha and explains why Isha is so keen on hanging around Jinx from the get go even though Jinx is clearly dangerous af to get close to and shows almost zero reciprocity at the start of their relationship. Isha was repaying Jinx. Incredible episode.

[@translateda]

Could you tell me what music you use in the background for these reactions. Like in this video around 46 minutes mark? Love the discussions btw. Very interesting takes.

[@thenamelessking375]

17:25 Very Bloodborne like

[@elshook09]

(spoilers up to s2e8) “The internal Viktor that seems like the Viktor we know and love” gets me every time. For LoL players it was like watching a Greek tragedy, the initial shock at being introduced to “human Viktor” and how endearing they made him, and then his inevitable corruption arc (not that non-human Viktor wasn’t liked, in fact his fanbase was considerably larger than Jayce’s). it’s pretty insane they were able to give something to everyone, like you wouldn’t be spoiled if you knew the character’s ultimate fate, you’d have an equally enjoyable but different experience. “Stunts his emotionality” I would say this predates the hex core shenanigans. Viktor has always been detached from his emotions, even suppressing them, because he is the rational one. He is focused, doesn’t fluctuate, and every choice he makes serves his ultimate goal. This is most evident in the scenes where he returns to Singed in S1 and in the moment when he decides not to tell Jayce about the shimmer. The one time he arguably made an emotional decision of using the hex core without shimmer led him to great suffering. Jayce is guided by emotions, his arguments appeal more to emotion than to reason, and he will pour his heart out to anyone who he thinks will listen. Thematically they are yin and yang and have been since the start. Jayce is the emotional half and Viktor is the rational half and they keep each other in check until they are separated, and in this imbalance we get to see the extremes of both sides. The herald Viktor’s calm restricted demeanor you speak of has been shown in S1 so maybe this is a more extreme and suppressed form, or maybe it’s a side effect of gaining wisdom or being at peace, I don’t think we get enough scenes or enough variety of situations like in S1 to really know. One last thing is where I think he stands before getting blasted was in this weird limbo of not accepting humanity but also not rejecting it. When Viktor first met Rio he saw beauty in her but Rio was made for a greater purpose, he couldn’t understand why that beauty had to be sacrificed for progress until he was the one about to die. But now that Viktor is no longer dying he walks back on that position thinking he can have both, he has made progress and can still have the beauty. But it’s too idealistic to only accept the good side, because keeping Rio’s beauty forever was never an option and I think Viktor knows this. While talking to Singed at the commune Viktor seemed like he believes in fate or a “destination”. And instead of being in conflict with our nature humanity can evolve their nature to be better, to evolve the ugly away, and that would be his “destination”, which is likely what he’s trying to do to his followers. He rejects the greater purpose proposed by Singed because it would mean sacrificing the beauty that he’s still holding on to, just like with Rio when he was a child. Singed indirectly warns him that this plan will not work when the ugly side catches up, and when it does he has to learn this lesson a second time. Rio was foreshadowing Viktor’s future and here he becomes Rio, even suspended in a vat with tubes Anyways I love that you also express your criticisms with the show, good stuff

[@ajgdude]

I definitely disagree that he’s always been detached from his emotions. I explain and express my opinion on the “humanity” dynamic with Jayce in a later episode discussion but I’d moreso just describe it as him being more rational and less emotional. But he’s always been heartfelt. The core of his ambition is emotional, his endeavors and sentiment are deeply human. I think back to his proclamation to Jayce about militarizing Hextech - “there’s always a choice.” He’s less emotional than Jayce, significantly so, but he’s never been detached until S2.

[@elshook09]

@@ajgdude The baseline for characters exhibiting humanity is pretty high so I wouldn’t say he started with no emotions or humanity, it wouldn’t be believable and it wouldn’t work with his character arc. What I mean is he’s detached from his emotions when decision making. When you see this in real people it is often a very conscious process. I would say the progression to being not outwardly expressive is a matter of the conscious behavior cementing itself in the subconscious

[@ajgdude]

That I agree with, just not the original way you expressed it. But yeah I gotcha!👍

[@Sturzfaktor2]

I loved the same things about episode 6 that you mentioned, especially the ending with the mix of stunning visuals and Viktor's off-screen comment. There are a number of small things about Caitlyn and Vi that don't completely add up for me. Firstly, it's convenient that general Caitlyn, the military leader of Piltover, is patrolling the camp and stumbles upon Vi (there could be valid reasons, we don't know them). Secondly, I'm not sure what their plan was trying to achieve. Vi is an absolute nobody to Ambessa: she belongs to no faction and has no power, neither in Zaun nor in Piltover. Granted, she's a former love interest of Caitlyn's. But why would Ambessa stay in her tent to question Vi instead of visiting the Herald as planned? Thirdly, Vi overpowers Ambessa which delays her for about 5 Minutes or so. Why even bother? It doesn't really matter too much to me, I just don't quite understand. Still a masterpiece.

[@ajgdude]

1) All stories are full of conveniences like this 2) Vi is a person of interest in the opposition with incredibly strong ties to her second in command and she was sneaking in and around their camp. She is not a nobody whatsoever in this scenario. 3) Vi didn’t intend for Ambessa to escape after 5 minutes

I am personally loved season 2 even tho i agree it was rushed ,esp the last 2 eps.I still feel there should have been a third season and end it there .My biggest issue is how like most series they resolved the political conflict with a supernatural -external threat ,rather than having piltover acknowledging their mistreatment of zaunites .Season 2 should have focused 1) on the political turmoil after jinx attack.2) the rivarly bw vi and Jinx .3) Vi's enternal conflict on being an enfocer.4) Cait's enternal conflict on becoming smth that she hates + the ambessa plotline.5) ending it with the warwick plot (basically ep 6 being ep 9 of season 2) . The third and final season should have focused on the hextech stuff.Jayce and Viktor conflict and class of ideals ,ekko's development ,mel facing ambessa ,jinx/ekko and cait/vi reconciliation and piltover taking acountability over the situation . I still love the series btw ,one of my faves ever, but there was definitely room for improvement. I still 100% recommend it tho .

[@lycheefanta]

Can you react to the new league of legends cinematic once you finish season 2? It's called Welcome to Noxus and hints at the new Noxus themed show coming out soon.

[@ajgdude]

There will only be reactions to episodes, sorry! I’ll likely be discussing that in my post-S2 discussion stream on Twitch though.

[@goose5996]

"you have to destroy it, the hex core, promise me" "I wont fail, I swear it"

[@pbtenchi]

At first the commune seems ideal, but look at Huck and Salo. Salo humbly running errands, Huck staring down an armed soldier without flinching. Victor lobotomised their flaws.

[@danylonazarov]

Or, due to being connected to Victor, they partially saw world how he sees it, and experience changed them

[@Isrialith]

The commune has massive cult vibes. I never saw it as anything close to idealistic.

[@chickenapproaching5698]

first?

[@ThanaxOfficial]

Nope. People from Patreon got here first, buddy 😂

[@robertwise2032]

In the mine, Vi and Jinx found a message left for Silco from Vander: “When SHE died, I lost my head.” I don’t think Vander was referring to Felicia. It was Singed’s daughter: Orianna. In his youth, I think Vander was in love with her. Singed described Vander as “victim of a great tragedy.” The scene of Vander, Felicia, and Silco together at the Last Drop was, in Viktor’s words, “a vision of what could have been.” Not a memory. Related theory: Jayce’s mother Ximena is Silco’s sister.

[@contemptman3646]

Out of curiosity, where at all in the show is this theory substantiated? And why wouldn't it be Felicia given that the show gives us that as a hugely important dynamic? Like it really just seems like you're ignoring the actual story for peripheral abstract headcanon that makes much less sense than the alternative.

[@robertwise2032]

@contemptman3646 To be fair, I acknowledge it’s a bit of a reach. However, Arcane has been so careful with every little detail, and there’s a few aberrations here. In the flashback of Vander drowning Silco in s1e3, Vander clearly has no beard. And his hair looks distinctly longer than what we see on the bridge in s1e1. If Felicia’s death is what drove him to kill Silco, then the drowning would have taken place after the bridge battle (Vander has a beard on the bridge). I suppose it’s possible that after carrying Vi and Powder away from their dead parents that he had a shave before drowning his best friend…but it’s an aberration. Additionally, if Felicia’s death is what drove a wedge between them, then Silco would have been around during Vi and Powder’s early childhood. But in s1e3, Vi doesn’t seem to recognize him, and Silco doesn’t seem to know Powder’s name: “hello…little girl. Where’s your sister?” The other two points that seem…curiously unanswered: Watch Vander’s face in s1e3 just before Benzo is killed; he seems to have some inkling of what Shimmer is before he sees Deckard. Benzo clearly had no idea, but Vander seemed to. As if he was realizing that Silco had carried on with what he and Singed had begun long ago. Also: when Silco and Jayce had their meeting in e9, it did not look like their first. Ximena looks a lot like Silco. I acknowledge that the writers had a lot of plot points to tie up in only 9 episodes, as well as staying within boundaries of the massive amount of runeterra lore; they have other stories they want to tell in other parts of the world (guessing that Noxus is probably next). What I am perceiving as inconsistencies in the Silco/Vander backstory could simply mean that the writers left some options open for themselves after season 1, and perhaps it took some trial and error in the writer’s room to tease out the will of the story for the final season. Nevertheless, I found it an interesting exercise to try to look for story explanations that accounted for these little aberrations.

[@lockekappa500]

I think you meant to write this on the episode 5 reaction.