Arcane: Analysing a Masterpiece - Part 3

[@BeeLockinYorDoor]

"I've been looking forward to this." Saruman, 19 BBY

[@Crimsin19937]

"In our pursuit of great, we failed to do good." This is, in my subjectivity objective opinion, the best line in this show!

[@TheWickedWizardOfOz1]

I'll go with "Here's to the new us."

[@Egurius3]

I'll add "Is there anything so undoing, as a daughter?"

[@Crimsin19937]

"Nature has made us intolerant to change. Fortunately we have the capacity to change our nature!" Second best line in the show!

[@ninjatoriumnova2483]

@@Crimsin19937 The only problem with that is that humans are actually insanely adaptable, but it's still a badass line.

[@eppinizer]

I know it's lame to admit, but I still get the chills sometimes just seeing some of these scenes flashing by for 2 seconds. The artistry involved is just so top tier on all fronts. This really is one of those "Every frame a painting" shows. Not only from the high caliber visuals, but the story and characters behind every frame as well. This is one of the few shows that I watched with no distractions. No second monitor, no playing games on my phone, no listening while I'm cleaning or folding laundry, just a dark room with good headphones. Praying season 2 is at least half as good.

[@wowledgend]

It is not lame to feel things so deeply for something well crafted nor is it lame to admit. If investment is lame then I wish to be the lamest in the world. Especially having ADHD, if im invested it means the world to me. To nerd is to live.

[@Anton_Jermakoŭ]

lame? why? bruh, whoever told you it is lame to enjoy art is wrong

[@jakobos93]

Ekko won his duel with Jinx because he did the same movements he did during their playfight but fixed the flaw that made him get hit back then, using his memory of the time it took him. Kid Ekko dodged under the first bullet, which prompted Powder to shoot him essentially in the face. The only way for Kid Ekko to maintain his speed was to try and jump straight over the bullet. Poweder knew this, which is why Kid Ekko had no choice but to jump into her shots. Ekko remembers this, which is why he dodges under the first bullet, expecting Jinx to aim for his head again so he jumps in it. Instead, he rolls in the air, reducing his lateral body size enough that his lower body wont get hit as he jumps over the bullets. This move was only possible because Ekko used his experience and his knowledge of time passed. He learned from his mistake. Instead of rewinding time literally, he rewound it from back when he was a kid to gain the advantage.

[@sobiedv]

I saw this other video that was like "every character's greatest strength is their greatest weakness" so not only does Ekko's knowledge of the past help him win the fight, it also loses him the fight :'(

[@sladewilson2753]

Reminds me of the duel between Ben Kenobi and Maul in Star Wars Rebels. I have my problems with Rebels (lots of them tbh) but the duel between those two was perfect.

[@jakobos93]

@@sladewilson2753 done in an instant, *chefs kiss*

[@awilk418]

I think that Silco’s relationship with betrayal could be talked about more. Vander’s betrayal destroyed him and he is fully convinced that he cannot trust anyone EXCEPT Jinx because he sees that same feeling in her. This is reinforced by his lieutenants trying to betray him in the show as well. Even with Sevika, he is clearly terrified that she IS betraying him and then after she doesn’t, she still doesn’t reassure him. Instead of swearing her complete loyalty, she simply says that she wouldn’t do it for a worm like Finn. Suddenly Vi shows up (betrayal by Marcus) and he realizes that, actually, Jinx wasn’t betrayed. The foundation of their relationship is built on a lie, and you see him start to lose it. His statement “everyone betrays us” is a desperate plea to Jinx despite him knowing otherwise. I think he is lying to himself as much as he is lying to Jinx with that statement.

[@n0bleonline222]

this

[@sleepchasers08]

Oh, finally! We were all waiting for this review series’ finale! Glad to see you finally got this vid out. These have been my favorite of all of your reviews. Hope season 2 is worth the wait too, at the end of the day…

[@Leo.23232]

I think one thing that could have been brought up about the scene where jinx is stapling herself is every time she staples herself, she looks in the mirror and watches her own reaction to the pain, then every next staple tries harder and harder to not react to the pain in an effort to convince herself that shes strong. At first shes unable to not react and gets frustrated at herself for this, until she tries laughing to cover up her reaction to the pain which is what works.

[@mere7583]

Thank you! Critiques of bad shows are fun, but critiques of good shows are inspiring.

[@BaldorfBreakdowns]

Ekko vs. Jinx might be the most effective use of animation to tell a purely visual story ever.

[@Goodheartless]

What’s extra insane about this is how they effectively portrayed Ekko’s ultimate from the game. Like, how the FUCK were they this creative to somehow implement that?!

[@TheNoonish]

The soundtrack really helps. Ekko's watch sets down a beat that then blends into the music, and you get an upbeat, fun little rap sequence on the flashback visual; the fun vibe of the song matches the tone of kids playing a game. Then the rewind happens and all the music cuts out and it's just the sounds of the fight, which is very real, fast, brutal, and decided NOT fun.

[@petriew2018]

@@TheNoonish Arcane does the gut punch better than any show i've seen in a long time that way. They do such a great job of setting you up with the use of visuals, music and sound cues You get this beautiful dream like sequence of two kids playing to remind you of who they used to be, before getting snapped back to the reality of what they've become in the most jarring, unpleasant way possible. It's as subtle as a brick to the face, but it's brilliantly done.

[@MistbornTaylor]

My favorite part of the Sevika/Finn conversation is it's a great parallel to act 2 where he's confronted by Marcus with the "firelight" bomb. He is 100% confident Marcus will not kill both of them. And with Sevika he plays the same way but when that blade misses him obviously scared shitless. He did not know where Sevika's blade would go and it's so good.

[@sc2_Nightmare]

There is no amount of praise for Arcane that would make me say "Okay, that's too much." This series has made me appreciate the show even more than I already did and I thank you for that.

[@cadencornobi5796]

Agreed. You could say "Arcane is the best show ever made" and id totally get why you say that. You could take any character archetype present or any trope or the art style or literally anything that this show does and say "that is the best that thing has ever been done" and id totally get why you say that. Id most likely agree with these as well. Its one of those things that is so incredible in every single regard that you can praise anything you want about it with the highest possible praise and it wouldn't be a stretch.

[@MrPopo-nn7kp]

It sucks ass. Npcs like it tho.

[@matt-tb6gt]

@@MrPopo-nn7kp nice ragebait

[@izanagiorochi6324]

@@MrPopo-nn7kp I don't think it sucks ass. I finally watched it yesterday after avoiding it because I thought it was overhyped simply because it wasn't outright garbage. After watching it I think I was right, it's not a masterpiece like everyone claims and it's far from being trash, it's mediocre and in this day and age mediocre things get mistaken for masterpieces simply because we have so much trash coming out. For me it's the Andor vs everything else Disney wars has produced, simply because it's not trash it's labeled a masterpiece. The entire time I watched Arcane I looked for reasons people would label it a masterpiece and I think I've already laid out why. It's a masterpiece to most people because it's not trash and we've been getting nothing but trash for years.

[@TheWickedWizardOfOz1]

@@izanagiorochi6324 What faults do you see, if I may ask? It certainly has faults - some that are not addressed by this essay series, as well - but with both Andor and Arcane I consider them to be far better than any other American show ever... Because I have a very low opinion of American television as a whole, so anything that is genuinely good is beyond shocking to me. But Arcane is very, very good, and I'm curious what parts of it don't work for you.

[@erhardsteinhauer3242]

We do know a little bit more about Sky: she was one of the undercity children in Viktor's flashback. Which might indicate that her life trajectory is reminiscent of Viktor's: a kid from undercity who managed to graduate from Piltover Academy of Science and become an assistant of one of a prominent scientists. That's not a small feat to pull of.

[@mudkip4ever]

She isn't from the undercity? In the flashback Viktor is seen playing in the polluted-water area, what we see is Sky (as a child) in the clean fresh water, playing with other kids and briefly she spots Viktor down alone where the water / sewage run off meets. Why do you think she is from the undercity?

[@mikulover493]

@@mudkip4ever yep, and sky has a last name (a house just like jayce *talis*) which most undercity folk don't have. viktor refer to her as miss young

[@komando6640]

2:22:30 ingame we have 5 runes, at episode4-5 we see hexcore with 4 runes so viktor missing last rune and it is Sky's last word 'inspiration'. viktor will work on Sky's notes and discover inspiration rune and complete hexcore. this show is insane

[@gdaxolotl8510]

Or maybe sky will manifest into the hexcore as it absorbed her life or essence. In her notes she said that she's very inspired by Viktor so She might as well be the missing component that you said was inspiration.

[@joshuadempsey5281]

Video essays of this caliber make me sure that the internet wasn't entirely a mistake. Phenomenal breakdown my friend.

[@silverswordsmith5424]

This is honestly one of my favorite channels on KZbin right now. Your analyses videos have given me a much more well developed understanding of storytelling, world building, and character development, and has allowed me to appreciate the good stuff all the more than I already did. I hope to see more of you taking a look at good stuff to help balance out all the trash we have to tear to shreds as well.

[@Alpha23TV]

46:41 Jinx feels betrayed even more by this moment, because she felt VI did not come back to “rescue” her. So seeing VI (for any reason) run to help Kaitlin hurts even more.

[@Morgothik]

I second this thought process.

[@brodybaumstark900]

As to why Jinx is so triggered by Vi running back; I took it as Vi never came back for her all those years back which confirms she cares more for her than she did Powder.

[@TheNoonish]

Exactly my thoughts.

[@roywalker2485]

@@brodybaumstark900 this is my read as well. "SHE ABANDONED ME BUT RAN BACK FOR AN ENFORCER?" Incredibly triggering.

[@DLxxx]

Except, Jinx knows Vi didn't come back because she was arrested and knows that Marcus was responsible (Silco had even confirmed it by that point). She has no basis for believing this means anything, other than she doesn't want Caitlyn to die.

[@brodybaumstark900]

@@DLxxx Fair point, however: I know Jinx knows that Marcus is ultimately why she went missing, but cant know that it's why she didn't come back in the moments directly following their last interaction before she went missing. Also Jinx can hardly be considered a fully rational actor, she'll have emotional outbursts without fully considering all the facts

[@TheNoonish]

@@DLxxx There’s knowing it, and then there’s still the feeling of injustice. Jinx isn’t in control of her emotions and her reaction isn’t meant to be fair.

[@Hepheat75]

I think my favorite thing about this show is Jinx and Silco. Their dynamic and arc are so well done and when Silco told Jinx she was perfect before dying, I almost shed a tear.

[@cadencornobi5796]

The first time i saw it i was so shocked and awestruck by the beauty of the show that i couldnt muster any other emotions. Now im on like my 40th rewatch and i want to cry just thinking about that moment. Jinx's reaction especially, the way she tilts her head along with his, and when he dies, her eyes just go dead. Her expression changes to that of a completely crushed and destroyed person who has absolutely nothing left in them. It is perfect.

[@TheNoonish]

My favorite scene is still the lighting of the flare in episode 6. There’s something beautiful about a message being sent years after the fact, and Vi still managing to follow through with her promise to find Powder. It’s Powder hitting a crisis point and issuing a cry for help, and surprised to find that her sister actually IS there for her. But I was thinking about that end scene with Silco and something occurred to me. VI’s big problem in the end is that she nothing to offer Jinx. Silco gave her a home and a mission, and has the life experience to teach her, in his own twisted way. He gives her a life. Vi can only offer the promise of running away to somewhere else and starting over. She hasn’t built anything up, she doesn’t have a home or a mission other than finding Powder. It’s part of who Vi is, she hammers things down but doesn’t create. It’s why Jinx has to become Jinx in the end, because that’s the life where she has a mission and a purpose.

[@thelastcrow5660]

We're really coming full circle with both you and T B Skyen releasing part 3 of your Arcane analysis videos and Season 2 coming out in just a couple weeks. You love to see it.

[@terrablaze3387]

I’m now curious if there’s an invisible embargo somewhere from riot

[@TheKillianKanVT]

@@terrablaze3387 Positive videos tend to do worse, than negative. Bashing something being bad tends to gather more views and clicks. Rings of power was a hot topic, as well as rebel moon. So it took a while to rewatch and edit everything, on top of pushing whole season 2 RoP that fast. There is no invisible embargo, but probably just a work load and priorities.

[@terrablaze3387]

@@TheKillianKanVT Fair enough

[@charlestonjew7587]

Honestly, I thought we were going to have to wait another week. "A surprise to be sure but a welcome one." Over the last few weeks, I've probably rewatched/listened to Parts 1 and 2 of your analysis 4 o 5 times getting hyped for Part 3 and as Season 2 is just around the corner. Cheers!

[@megahobbit5972]

Honestly seeing this format in praise works soooo well especially with such a competent show like Arcane. Great job with this Rando there is so much to love about it even with its flaws

[@happynihilist2573]

If this doesn't contain a gag about Caitlyn using a *minecraft enchanting table* to put *blast protection 3* on her equipment I'll be very disappointed

[@terrablaze3387]

MC plot armor

[@nodot17]

Caitlyn is actually secretly a lvl 7 rogue and takes halve damage from explosions

[@Neo2266.]

Victor's enchanting his entire body like that

[@bertimusprime7900]

Having surgery today, and this will be perfect for my recovery!

[@AnvilPictures]

I hope you recover quickly and stronger💪

[@3timeszero]

Recover quickly. Cheers.

[@richardblum3516]

Dude, they show the scene with jayce in his forge in order to show you exactly how he got so buff. Clearly his method for making hextech gadgets involves a lot of intensive weight lifting-style exercise and he has a naturally athletic build with broad shoulders to boot. His physique entirely checks out. As for the fighting abilities... those came from nowhere. Still cool, though.

[@3timeszero]

I mean, these lat pull-downs should add some meat to his back.

[@TalenkauenTV]

I've got a feeling that season two is not going to get a masterpiece analysis video...

[@sobiedv]

Me opening my phone to this notification: NOW THATS WHAT IVE BEEN WAITING FOR

[@SerOtter]

Just a little note about Viktor not knowing where to lay Sky’s ashes, but the place he went to was where they met when they were kids. In the flashback with the boat, the little girl that looks down at Viktor is Sky.

[@dragonmcmx]

Fantastic analysis, as usual. I wanna highlight a few points I disagree with/have further thoughts on. 1. Sevika failing to light the cigar, an object that in Arcane is often symbolically associated with leadership or power, is meant to show us that she could never become the leader of the undercity herself as you speculate. She's a henchwoman, she's constantly looking for a worthy leader to follow, and now that she's alone in Silco's office, failing to light the cigar that she so often lit for him just shows us that she's inherently uncomfortable in that position. 2. When Marcus, utters his last words, I think Cailtyn's reaction implies that she absolutely realizes the truth of why he was doing Silco's bidding. 3. There is absolutely zero chance that Mel has "moles" in the undercity keeping an eye on Silco and Jinx. It would require her to know that Silco is the primary figure behind the criminal operations in the undercity, as well as who has the gemstone and where. Perhaps more importantly, it would require her to act against her own interest by keeping this incredibly vital information from Jayce and the council for no discernible reason. Remember, no one on the council knows who has the gemstone or that Silco is their antagonist until Vi and Caitlyn present this information to them. 4. I'm not sure that Jayce and Viktor's final conversation in Season 1 implies at all that they're going to destroy all of Hextech; just the Hexcore, and with it any hope of saving Viktor from his fate. Your read is an unreasonable extrapolation to make in my opinion. In fact, I don't think they feasibly _could_ destroy all of Hextech if they wanted to. The Hexgates for instance are massive structures, they could not just take them down, and any efforts to get them decommissioned would be met with complete and absolute opposition from the council and probably every influential house in Piltover. 5. Sky is the child we see showing an interest in Viktor during his flashback with the toy boat. Viktor didn't just take her to a place he often visits, he took her to the only other place he could think of that bears some significance to their relationship: the place where they first met as children. 6. In your discussion on plot armor, I'm surprised you mentioned Vi & Caitlyn surviving the collapse of the water tower and not Silco surviving the same thing, one of the heavier and more readily apparent instances of plot armor in my opinion. 7. Viktor's enhancements no longer work after the Hexcore zapped him. He is back to using his crutch in all later scenes, and this is not something he does for appearances, as in the scene where he attempts to kill himself (and thinks he is alone), he very clearly struggles to even stand up with his crutch. So I don't think he will be able to save Jayce or anyone in the council from the explosion. 8. I'm baffled that in all your speculation about the fate of the council, you neglect to mention Mel's magic glowing back. Unlike a hypothetical portable shield device they could retcon Jayce to have been wearing, this is something that is actually clearly and intentionally focused on, and I strongly suspect it will be the mechanism by which the primary characters in the council chamber survive. As to what it is and how this will happen is anyone's guess. Mine would be that it's some kind of ancestral device or implant that Mel or potentially all Medardas have, and it will either shield them from the explosion or teleport them away. Thank you for all the hard work you put into these videos! I am positively stoked for Season 2, and although I know you're taking a very justified break right now, I do hope to one day hear your thoughts on it as well!

[@3timeszero]

4. When Viktor tells Jayce "You have to destroy it", Jayce looks at his hammer first. Meaning, as i guess, that hextech weaponry must be destroyed. This explains the surprise on Jayce's face when Viktor mentions hexcore.

[@TheNoonish]

@@3timeszeroJayce agreed, but given that Viktor was referring to something else, I’m not sure if Jayce was going to follow through on his plan to deweaponize Hextech. After the way the first season ended, no freaking way will he stop weapons production now. He’s in an arms race.

[@TheWickedWizardOfOz1]

In to the DVD featurettes, the golden stuff on Mel is always referred to as "tattoos." Mind you, I always found them to be way too shiny to be tattoos, so that may be that one person (I believe it was writer Miranda Overton) mistaking them for tattoos instead of some sort metal.

[@mullworm]

@@TheWickedWizardOfOz1 I'm surprised. Because Mako referred in his making-of of the music to this last scene to these golden "tattoos" as "Mels armour". And people knowing of the game are drawing a connection to a very powerful defensive Solari item because of her sun-like decor on her chest and her ring.

[@TheWickedWizardOfOz1]

@@mullworm Yeah, I think it was likely someone misunderstanding and bringing that forward in their interviews

[@karalyzel3177]

I figured the Firelights' base is in an abandoned chimney or a chemical or waste silo, the latter would explain how a seed would get in there, and it'd make sense why it would be looked over as it's supposed to be filled with something nobody wants anymore. It'd line up great with it being something Piltover left behind if just for the symbolism, and if they produce as much waste as it'd take to turn Zaun into what it is, there's no shortage of dumping zones.

[@3timeszero]

I guess Jinx's hideout is related to one of these too.

[@porkadobo2444]

I believe the gems have an anti-gravity effect. For example, when Jayce demonstrates the gauntlet, he can't lift it until he powers it with a gem. Similarly, during Vi's fight with Sevika, Sevika destroys the gauntlet, causing it to power down and leaving Vi unable to lift it. In episode 3, Viktor and Jayce are floating in the air due to the gems' power. This also explains why Powder didn’t fall to her death after the explosion-she was enveloped by the gems' area of effect.

[@PotatoIsMe6660]

That's one of their powers, but I believe they're just magic in general and the gravity reduction is jsut a way to show it

[@TheNoonish]

@@PotatoIsMe6660 Or a specific type of magic. In Jayce's flashback, he and his mother were weightless before they were teleported. Given that Jayce has been trying to replicate THAT specific magic his whole life (and succeeding through the HexGates), I think it's tied into all of the gemstones he's worked with.

[@3timeszero]

> Similarly, during Vi's fight with Sevika, Sevika destroys the gauntlet, causing it to power down and leaving Vi unable to lift it. And then we see how Jinx uses both gauntlets, even though one is completely broken. Which shows the strength she gained after Singed's therapy session.

[@AdmiralNesence]

Another explanation for Jinx waiting at the bridge, one that i think is somewhat supported, shes there to kill Marcus. In her scene with Silco he fingers Marcus as the one who lied about Vi and Jinx has specifically created tiny flying bombs, which would be used, logically, to kill large numbers of people. It seems reasonable that she would be waiting to confirm Marcus is at the blockade before her attack, confirmation she only receives when Marcus comes out to attack Kaitlyn Vi and Echo. Thus her attack coinciding with the group being present on the bridge makes some sense. Perhaps not the strongest but it works in my mind.

[@loudsoup9185]

"...creative, effective, and beautiful to look at." - understatement of the year, said with, presumably, a straight face.

[@TheRyderShotgunn]

the funniest part about jinx kidnapping caitlyn to me is that she kidnapped her in the shower, but between then and the table, jinx had presumably dressed an unconscious caitlyn in the same home she knocked her out in, or otherwise took the clothes and an unconscious caitlyn through piltover and the undercity to the old factory building where she then dressed her. or maybe she did a pit stop somewhere in the undercity and dressed her, point is that while not having a naked caitlyn at the table is perfectly understandable, the thought that jinx had to dress her while she was unconscious is a funny thought.

[@mullworm]

The writers actually took a lot of freedom to themselves when it came to what Jinx had all been doing for the last few hours.

[@loltaunt]

To be slightly more charitable to Jayce’s fight in episode 8, the shimmer berserkers appear to be in metal suits and are heavily affected by shimmer, both of which would, plausibly, drastically reduce the effectiveness of the types of small arms fire that enforcers use. The blunt force provided by a hammer and metal gauntlets would likely be more effective than said firearms, especially given that both are enhanced by hextech, meaning that yes, despite his lack of training, the weapon choice would make up for the lack of training. That said, Jayce absolutely should’ve been more damaged from the fight as lack of training would make him more susceptible to getting hit, and the single cut on his cheek doesn’t alleviate this.

[@BobMcBobJr]

Or they could have given him a forcefield that slowly cracks as the fight continues.

[@IshanDeston]

2:39:00 Wait, i feel like you are forgetting the Raid on the Airship here. Not only do we know that Silko's Organisation used airships to smuggle things, had Guards on their payroll and Jinx has been doing this for years at this point... it is not unreasonable to assume she knows ways in and out of the city that ain't just the bridge. This is further compounded by the fact that we see the Fireflies come out of some Sewer System, and i believe to remember Jinx also sits in some Sewer Tunnel when she observes her Sisters Goodbye hug, which means aside from the regular ways into the City there are likely going to be a number of "maintenance" tunnels. I get that one has to infer a lot for this explanation, but not to the degree you suggest here, and you have given similar leeways earlier in this video to other things happening. All Jinx really needs is an airship, like they one they smuggled on, and a guard that knows to look the other way when they see that ship. All of which we have seen happening earlier in the show.

[@mikkoojala4580]

Thank you again for making these videos on Arcane! I somehow missed the whole show when it first came out but thanks to your analyses I watched this masterpiece of a story. Your look on the series made me appreciate it all the more and your insights and study of the story and characters deepened my understanding of the story and its nuances. These days it is really wonderful (and rare) to get to watch a TV series that is this smart and well made and most of all doesn't underestimate its viewers, doesn't push messages but just wants to tell a good, compelling story with interesting multilayered characters. Depth and clarity indeed.

[@predatorasap5040]

Silco talking to Vander's statue is my personal favorite sense like of all time It's just so wonderfully done and beautiful brings tears to my eyes everytime

[@TheNoonish]

Is there anything so undoing as a daughter?

[@t.i.5528]

If Season 2 is even 80% as good as Season 1, I'll be happy.

[@jr-qf8dg]

Nope not even close lol 😢

[@t.i.5528]

@@jr-qf8dg Shame

[@eliahdayton3448]

Thank you for taking the time to break this down. My appreciation for arcane has grown significantly as well.

[@TheWickedWizardOfOz1]

This information regarding Ekko is from a creator interview on the season 1 DVD: Originally, episode 7 was supposed to begin with a flashback of young Ekko learning that Powder had been captured by Silco. He goes to rescue her and she refuses, saying that she's Jinx now. When he attempts to take her by force, she punches him in the face in a mirror of Vi punching Powder in episode 3. Ekko is forced to leave alone. According to the interview, this was cut because the episode 7 fight scene communicates this without any need for overt exposition. The relationship between the two was made clear via the fight, and there was no need for explicit backstory details. Not important information in any way, just an insight into the writing process of the show

[@fearlessfailure2848]

I do wish it was included but at the same time I don't know what would've been cut so I am also glad it wasn't lol Still, Ekko needed more scenes.

[@rdchristley]

Ekko’s biggest crime and reasoning for being in the lower/est tier was that the show and characters are too well written for the protagonist ofthe best scene so far to hold enough weight to bring him to the top. I freaking love this show

[@evenmogenslangseth1613]

I just love how your videos shines light on every aspect of the movies/series you break down. It makes me love what I love more, and the fact you allow yourself to critique a masterpiece makes your good points all the more credible. Thanks fot this series man, both the show and your videos. Love from Norway!

[@Quicksmick]

The time and research you put into these videos is crazy. Such in depth analysis

[@The_Rage_Kage]

Yes please do this for Season 2. I love seeing well done analytical videos about things that are good/someone actually likes. It's easy to trash on something bad or that you don't like, but I feel that we don't see much of the other. And when we do a good chunk of the time it's just cringey "this part is so awesome guys" kinda stuff. Keep up the great work my dude.

[@bailysawyer804]

I loved the death scene of the friends as it came out of nowhere and felt so sudden that you didn’t have time to process. These characters you explored the world in made you feel like part of the crew and in the blink of an eye taken away. Shook me to my core on my first viewing

[@charlestonjew7587]

43:35 An alternative explanation as to why Jinx was on the bridge is perhaps she planned to take out Marcus and just so happened to see Vi, Caitlyn and Ekko making their way into Piltover. She learned Vi had been arrested and deduced Marcus was the one. She knows Silco lied to her, if not about Vi being dead, at least hiding that he also found out that Vi was alive and didn't tell Jinx.

[@The_shady_puffer]

Good to see you have returned "from the dead" after RoP. I think you need a well deserved break after this. Also as much as I love really long videos, five hours might have been a bit over the top so I'm also glad I will be able to watch this one on the premiere

[@Surethien]

Thoroughly enjoyed your breakdown of this show. Thank you, it must've been a lot of work. Here's hoping for a good S2!

[@clintbeastwood5116]

The greatest tragedy of this show is just how many people celebrated Marcus' death because "He was just a corrupt cop."

[@shanehudson3995]

You should see the tism that resulted from people learning what Vi's arc is based on LoLs.

[@MistbornTaylor]

I remember watching it for the first time and hating Marcus. Then at his dead I was surprisingly sad. I was confused why I was sad at his death for a character I really didn’t like. Then as I watched the season over, I realized how much had been built for such a small character. Even if I wasn’t aware of it, the show was influencing how I felt about this really minor character. I gained such an appreciation not only for Marcus, but the show as a whole.

[@toxiball45]

This is the most hyped I've ever been for a video

[@silviencalaithe]

💛💛 YESSSSS!!!!!!!! You couldn’t have made me happier!!!!!!!! 💛💛

[@JTFIghter6969]

I watched this series after I initially found your RoP series, and my god what a treat both the series and these videos. Fantastic work of analysis.

[@steveedmunds4949]

Perfect timing, I'm late to the party and only finished watching part 2 yesterday! 😅

[@EnjoyVoid]

Finaly, this is what I''ve been waiting for. I can' t wait

[@matt-tb6gt]

great analysis as always. i now have two reasons to look forward to season 2. i hope the algorithm is nice to this video

[@LaylaSession]

I've been thinking that the actual reason Jinx is on the bridge is to get rid of Marcus and the other enforcers, as revenge for keeping her sister away from her (she immediately connects the dots when meeting with Vi in episode 6 and Silco later does confirm Marcus' involvement in throwing Vi in prison). Of course she could also be bidding her time in the hope of finding Caitlyn and/or the gemstone but so far I think this is the best explanation and would also explain why she had such a big number of firelights bombs prepared (to kill dozens of enforcers at once).

[@sarahtsounami]

I know this doesn't get you the most views comparatively, but thank you for making it anyway. I love this series and your analysis of it

[@pugisherpug4366]

With Jinx and sanity the thing with her is she's not necessary fully insane... at least yet. She undergoes some form of schizoaffective disorder mostly attributed to her fears of rejection and desire for acceptance. Jinx was born from that fear being and the product of the undercity where violence and strength are extremely valued. Vi is constantly talking about being ready when she was Powder, her bombs working one day, Silco pedestals Jinx as "strong now, just like you where always meant to be... Jinx is perfect". Every instance of her psychosis moments is related to reminders or moments of either her fear of inadequacy, rejection, her mistakes, and it also seems enforcers from the opening scene. The thing with Silco is he entirely validated her as herself and not just Jinx and we can hear the voices dissipate when he died. She from that moment is speaking and thinking more clearly and is no longer grasping to this concept of who Vi was. Not to say she'll be sane, but I think that they are going to look at her character after an arc that address her biggest triggers and that will likely leave her in a place more similar to episodes 4 and especially 5 where she has a 2 moments of ptsd hallucinations/psychosis but proceeds to try and talk it out with Silco and at that time is able to recognize it. She's not as crazy as some think and a lot of that was her doing what Silco told her to do and "be what they fear" and she was in a spiraling episode past E6.

[@shsnwksybdeb]

sky actually saw viktor for the first time in that river where he scattered the ashes, it was in the flashback where we see young viktor with his toy boat

[@3timeszero]

And when Heimerdinger speaks to Viktor, we see crystal clear water instead of polluted mess.

[@BigEasyH]

finally watching part 2&3 after the first 3 episodes of season 2 and im honestly super curious about Random's thoughts about the sudden changes in characters

[@trentonhoyal9329]

my god i love your content man. you are an analytical genius

[@Superibis.]

Good to know I’m not the only one enjoying the opening theme ^^ it was a pleasure to watch this trilogy of video! Can’t wait for the second season 😁

[@TheNoonish]

I liked it too. It works for me. The only exception is the time it becomes diegetic, when Vi starts fighting Sevika. Given that Vi is essentially the protagonist, it's like she's jamming to her own theme music in-universe, and it's entirely too on the nose in that scene. When it's applied to the opening as more of an abstract representation of her and Jinx's narrative arc it makes sense, but it doesn't belong in-universe.

[@Superibis.]

@@TheNoonish i guess it’s easier to accept the diegetic part when you don’t understand the lyrics (or don’t care to translate them while listening) as it’s the case for me ^^ but I can understand it sounds off when you do 🙂

[@Avg_FarronGreatsword_Enjoyer]

Right on time to fuel my hyperfixation before Season 2. Nice Timing Random

[@WiiSportsTwo]

I think it would still be a bit ridiculous, but I think it's worth suggesting that Singed could be self-medicating with shimmer and/or have clothing that is more resistant to fire/chemicals due to his line of work. Perhaps his eyes surviving more than his mouth could be argued with his hands covering right before.

[@fearlessfailure2848]

Shimmer might also burn fast and bright but may be kinda weak. Jinx was standing right in that stuff on the boat scene.

[@komando6640]

44:28 at underground boss meeting silco said 'jinx will deal with it' so thats why jinx is on the bridge, others show up randomly. and jinx didnt stop her bombs because she hates cait and ekko

[@oliverquinns8551]

43:30 I dont agree, episode 6, you saw ekko asking his mate not to kill Vi, Jinx saw it. We could deduce from this scene that she understood that the firelight's goal is not to kill Vi, but to take her away. We can guess while watching the fight Jinx vs Ekko that she knew the masked man from the firelight was Ekko.( "oh look who it is the boy savior" Jinx). She thought Vi team up with an enforcer( caitlynn) to retrive the gemstone from her(episode 6 "its that why you came, for this stupid stone?" Jinx). From her perspective, even if the gem is in Ekko's possession, they are going to convince him to "hand it over" and bring it back to his creator's hands( Jayce lab). To do that, they needed to cross the bridge between Piltover and Zaun. Thats why I find it reasonable and not as week as you said.

[@asafb1984]

Thank you. Greatness should be celebrated.

[@isaacsantos6200]

Thank you for helping to spread the appreciation of this masterpiece

[@BobMcBobJr]

I too was greatly distracted by the big tree that is somehow unknown in the undercity. The only explanation I can think of is that Silco and others DO know about the tree but that they don't know the ones living in and around it are the firelights, which itself is greatly undermined by them chanting "FIRELIGHTS!" at the top of their lungs. So, the amount of people on board with the firelights would have to be EVERYONE within a good distance of the tree and they would have to have adequate surveillance to know if someone who is not on board comes within their territory yet they can't refuse entry to those same people or else it would give away their position. A scene they could add later would be having a kid running up to Ekko or one of the other firelights and report to him that they have some visitors in the trading area followed by the firelights changing into regular attire. Another would be Ekko speaking for some reason with a (former) double agent for Silco that he had sending false reports to SIlco to hide their activities in the area, "yup, no firelights here. Just some totally normal people living in a tree house."

[@TheNoonish]

Random has a slightly different read on Jayce than I do. One of Jayce's core traits is personal accountability-he is responsible for his own actions, choices, and the consequences of every decision. He will take advice, he will allow people to influence him, but he will not be manipulated. It's why he accepts Heimerdinger's suggestion to not reveal the Gemstones during the Progress Day speech even though people closer to Jayce want him to share it: he feels responsible for ensuring HexTech is entirely safe and that ultimately is why he agrees with Heimerdinger. This plays out when the Gemstone is stolen by Jinx-even though it's not his fault, Jayce still blames himself and feels personally responsible for the damage that was caused. And THIS is why he will not lash out at Mel for distracting him from Viktor-because Jayce takes full responsibility for it. He doesn't view Mel as distracting him at all, Jayce simply blames himself and takes personal accountability for all of his actions. This sense of personal accountability, the belief that only he is responsible for his actions, allows him open up with Me land rely on her for support without blaming her. He owns the fallout of his own decisions. This is perfectly in character for him. So it's perfectly consistent that he lashes out at Viktor. He's not concerned about his personal image, whether it makes him look like a hypocrite, but the fact that if Jayce is seen to make an exception, it undermines the blockade. The blockade seems less important if Jayce can just make exceptions based on personal connections. Notably, Jayce IMMEDIATELY apologizes to Viktor because in his anger, he says something unfair. This scene on the bridge further drives home Jayce's sense of personal responsibility as he's forced to confront the rioting that results from the blockade (which, we must assume is only worsened because a VIP was allowed to cross the bridge in front of the angry crowd). So the ultimate crisis for his character, one who carries the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, is when he kills a child. It's the absolute breaking point for him because he can't even properly make things right. "I don't even know where to take it." (indicating he absolutely would face the parents himself if he knew where to go) This is when his values crack and he lets Vi walk away with the Atlas Gauntlets, which only happens because he's at an all-time lowpoint and can't kill another Trencher. This is also probably my least favorite moment for Vi, as she obstinately refuses to return the gauntlets he generously lent to her and to which she is not entitled, and is ready to fight a man who wants to help her just to avoid handing him back something which he undeniably owns. But it's not the first time she's stolen things from Jayce, is it? (Hope this isn't a double-post because KZbin appeared to eat my prior comment.)

[@TheNoonish]

You know, Jayce is probably my favorite character and I feel he's a bit underrated. He has the moral conviction to do what he thinks is right. He demonstrates this in the first act when he defies Heimerdinger by passionately talking about his theories in front of the council. He defies the entire council and his family by harnessing the gem stones and proving his theories correct in Episode 3. He disagrees with Mel and Viktor during the Progress Day speech. He later goes against both of them by taking his hammer down to the Undercity to kick ass, and then defies the entire council by brokering a private deal with Silco. He carries so much on his shoulders and doesn't make excuses or ever blame anyone else for his personal failings. He doesn't accuse Vi of manipulating him into attacking the Shimmer factory. He doesn't blame Mel for getting him into politics. He doesn't accuse Heimerdinger of personally holding him back. When he deposes Heimerdinger, it's not about Heimerdinger being an obstacle for Jayce personally, it's making Heimerdinger face accountability for the failed policies which led to the current instability. And then Jayce waits to cast the very last vote to depose Heimerdinger as head of the council, taking that enormous weight onto himself. And he hesitates when he does it, letting himself feel the enormity of the decision even as he follows through with it.

[@TheNoonish]

Wow, not quite finished with season 2, and it seems the Arcane Season 2 writers didn't feel the same way about Jayce that I did. Looking back on this comment and then seeing his behavior (and lack of behavior) makes me wonder if the writers secretly hated him.

[@AudunRiksfjord]

Thank you for doing this. I assume this will not draw the same amount of views an likes as the other videos, but it ment quite a lot to me. Arcane is the best show/cinema I've watched probably since LotR.

[@kagetsu13]

I'm surprised you were able to get more content before season 2 after 10 hours of talking about the show already. I'm happily surprised that it's somehow 3 more hours. This is a good case of holding back and waiting for the right time instead of making little videos along the way. This is why I love this channel and other channels who handle long form content with actual focus and great execution.

[@kagetsu13]

I now realize that this was the fabled part 3 that we've been waiting for for eons. Still good timing I say.

[@raphaelschnoell2636]

Watching your video series on Arcane in the background convinced me halfway through the first analysis to finally check out Arcane and I loved it. Can't wait for Season 2 and great style of video essay. It's quite the treat to watch you praise the arcane series and shit on RoP.

[@silveratlas2706]

Silco is easily my favorite characters in a show where Jinx, Victor and Jayce exist and are already beyond exceptional. I hope season 2 will be reasonably on a similar level to season 1 but at least I'll always have him to look back to in the worst case. Hope it all goes well.

[@Onkele79]

I just finished all 3 parts in preparation for season 2. Thank you for making these videos, can't wait for your videos after season 2 ends!

[@axilleasalmanaider2858]

Finally making this video that late was in purpose, write???? So the the creators won't see it and correct any mistakes for season 2 😂😂😂 Thank you for your hard work!

[@p.c8281]

You know the show is fucking amazing when random gives possible explanations for certain situations, and you doubt them because you found other plausible explanations, but both remain possible and believable

[@saj-manthesonicfan1893]

Another subtle nod to Ekko's timey-wimey abilities in the game is his face tattoo. It's in the shape of an hourglass. I didn't notice this detail until you began to reveal the other subtle nods to his relationship with time, so thank you for helping me see this C: Edit: Something else you've made me notice! Markus's last line being incomplete adds to his characterization at the end. Because it is easy to assume that he would've said "Tell my daughter I _love her_ ", but because this is Arcane, he could've said pretty much anything that would change aspects of his core characterization fundamentally. - He could've said "Tell my daughter I' _m sorry_ ", expressing immense guilt and the fear of how his daughter will react when she is told who her father really was. - He could've said "Tell my daughter I _don't want her to defend me_ ", emphasizing his self hatred and desiring for his daughter to not waste her time grieving such a horrible person as he. That he has accepted how he will go down in history and not wishing her to resign herself to defend him or feel the need to respect or honor his memory. She should move on as unaffected by his choices as possible. - He could've said "Tell my daughter I _did it to protect her_ ", in an attempt to get in front of the revelation of his corruption and try to protect her perception of him. A desperate and selfish decision, but one that could secure his relationship with his daughter post-mortem. Any of these choices and more are on the table for his final line and I love that Arcane doesn't commit to any of them. Because of all the nuance and detail crammed into Markus's story, the viewer can use their own interpretation of the character to this point and write the final line, and the final read on this character, for themselves. Making it a unique and superb ending to a "tragically cut short" character arc. This show is as you've said, a masterpiece ^v^

[@chrisg6654]

It’s been interesting to compare my perspective, my girlfriend’s perspective, and your perspective. She absolutely hated any of the Jace, Mel, and Victor scenes where I couldn’t get enough. She empathized far more with powder than I ever could, and I immediately latched onto the firelight intro while she thought it was cringe despite the facet that I don’t like rap and hip hop where she does

[@lennynull-funf-zehn5416]

I've been as hyped for this video as I am for season 2!

[@Hayden-r8q]

As someone who has seen the leaks, man this show keeps the moment and it just gets better:)

[@witec83]

2:53:47 That was my take on what happened in that scene. She hurt and humiliated him in episode 1 and I got the impression that this wasn't the first time she'd done that or something similar, so it made sense that he would want to take his time and show her some fear before killing her. That said, I agree that, for example, having him say "VIIIIII" in a gargled tone while smiling sadistically would have made it better.

[@unicornwitchprincess1004]

You are amaziiiing, thank you for your incredible work on these recaps and autopsies!!

[@Skids0800]

Let’s Gooooooo. Perfect timing for season 2.

[@TheNoonish]

Very pumped for Season 2. And also slightly nervous because it seems like we can’t have good things.

[@DLxxx]

@@TheNoonish Your right to be nervous. While Season 2 will probably still be good television, it's hard to imagine it reaching the consistent, unbelievable level of quality in Season 1.

[@dain1557]

Can we just pretend that season 2 is gonna be absolutely horrible so if it turns out to be bad then we won't be disappointed?

[@helenline1790]

​@@dain1557 I've already accepted that lol

[@Rumige]

Been waiting a long time for this video, glad to see you finish this review and am excited to see what you do in the future.

[@TerribleHeresy]

I know that this is an Arcane video but I will offer a minor defence for the Aliens facehugger examples. The one emerging from the egg is literally a newborn and is still extracting itself from all the goop that incubated it and is moving its muscles for the first time. The other ones you show were the ones that had successfully grabbed a colonist but were removed before implantation. They had therefore managed some experience in their life function previous to that scene and when released by Burke they were effectively just waking back up rather than being born. They did come out of a stasis tank rather than an egg. The discrepancy I would point out would be between the egg opening in Alien vs Aliens, where in the first film there is no hesitation of the facehugger. I guess there I would say it's because the target was far more obvious in the first film, given he was hovering his face right over the opening. Anyway, back on track. Great video series about a great show. I'll be rewatching it before S2 to make sure it's fresh in my head.

[@kayne8222]

That scene with Ekko on the bridge is one of my favorite scenes of all time and its the one ive used to get other people into watching Arcane. Im very eager to see if S2 will give us anymore legendary moments, especially as a final season

[@0zRevolution]

Yeah, finally cant wait! Though i thoroughly enjoyed Rings of Power S02 analysis

[@jamez6398]

2:08:27 Yeah, you're definitely right about the whole "it is easier to write simpler stories well" thing. That's why if I made a movie it would just be a straightforward revenge movie.

[@bertimusprime7900]

Caitlin doesn't have plot armor, she's just immune to explosive damage, but clearly not shrapnel damage. It's well established by her exploding twice and only getting cut both times.

[@fearlessfailure2848]

If they are going to have a character have plot armor, I do appreciate it when it's consistent lol Like John Wick's shins when it comes to cars hitting him at full speed lol

[@someeejit]

Silco didn't break into Marcus's house, his daughter let Silco in

[@PainMan-hy3uq]

Thank you for the video, Ive been waiting for so long and it was worth it🎉🎉🎉

[@Serendipitous-Salamander]

Ah glorious, respite. I have a lasting hand shaped depression from face-palming the 2nd season of lotr:rop. 😂 Arcane season two is so close, I hope everyone is excited! Random my man, bless your resilient mind.

[@Nr4747]

Caitlyn actually *was* significantly further away from the explosion during her night shift than the other 6 enforcers. The other enforcers got lured into the tent/buildung by Jinx's voice-recorder bombs and Caitlyn tried to run towards them to warn them when she was blown away by the explosion. Thus, she was definitely further away than the other 6. I do agree that the show overplayed the drama by showing her being engulfed so much by the explosion and being blown away by it so violently (thus making it much less believable that she would have survived without any major injuries) but she definitely was significantly further away than the other 6.

[@АлинаКостылева-ф2ч]

For all we know firelights could be flying for 30 minutes on their hover boards through tunnels until they reach they hide out, that is somewhere on the far outskirts of Zaun and only accecible if you have flying vehicle

[@thepowerfulpaet4937]

I think the bomb with Ekko and Jinx, Echo just jumped away in time enough to not take fatal damage, and Jinx was already flat on the ground, the best way to avoid being killed by a grenade. My biggest plot contrivance, which I don't think was in the video but I could be wrong, is that the child Jayce killed just so happened to be the son of that chem baron. That was the only time I felt like I had to suspend my disbelief a little more than I would have liked. Edit: Oh also Jinx took a page from Portal 2 in the Ekko fight in that her gun appears to fire whole bullets, casings and all.

[@briwoot]

just came here after watching the other parts- excited to see how you break down the latest season!

[@terotcard]

Finally (ment with enthusiasm, not as an insult)

[@bdizzle1118]

Amazing work! Thank you for making a part 3!!😊

[@sowitapid]

One thing, that broke my suspension of disbelief was actually the scene, where vi and cate climb down to the lanes. i cant imagine vi would still be so good at parcouring after being confined to a 2m² metal box for the most part of up to eight years.

[@sowitapid]

@@FruitGumyGamer87you misunderstand me. i was talking about that scene exactly. she was just released from being confined in a 2m² metal box for up to 8 years and leaps over roofs and beams as agile as a cat? naaah man. i can get behind, that she got better at fighting in prison but i doubt they let her keep up with semi-acrobatic shit like parcour or freerunning.

[@sowitapid]

@@FruitGumyGamer87 visually stunning though, every still a wallpaper.