Arcane Video Essay - Silco Was Innocent

[@liaml.e.5964]

Hardly innocent, but definitely justified.

[@TheGamingAbyss]

Silco has the idea and the capability to create a nation. No one else understands the sacrifices required in order to make this a reality. He was right. And was right for everything he did.

[@shivan9119]

Silco is the best character of the entire show, a person who deserves a "thank you" and not a bullet in the lung I am always surprised by the writing of this character, how he skillfully tells everyone that he is an evil thief, but in fact he saves and covers everyone he can, without feeling sorry for himself, every time it is sad and fun to look at his torn pants) a man who has increased his fortune under his rule, they are called a terrible, evil thief who captured Zaun, cannot afford new clothes, very ironic) nice video, thank you for your work❤

[@L.G.127]

Innocent-no, having the right motives and reason-yep

[@etelgal3519]

I wouldn’t exactly call him „Innocent”. Just so you know, I mostly agree with everything you’ve said in the video however I don’t think the term “innocent” is correct here. Silco is a perfect example of a so called “anti-villain”. It’s a character who’s goal or mission could universally be seen as noble yet the way they achieve it isn’t morally correct. Was he in the right? I’d argue that he was but calling him “innocent” is like calling the French revolution one of the greatest and the most noble acts in history.

[@parthernnixxart4623]

Agreed

[@Xoracious]

Exactly, Silco is not doubt an anti-villain. An extremist.

[@Flowery1991]

I think "innocent" isn't a good word to describe Silco, but I agree that the show runners make it clear and understandable why he is who he is and why he behaves certain ways. When I watched the show, I also supported the undercity's fight for independence, even when it was violent, which is not just to blame on Silco & the undercity but on Piltover & the Council as well. Piltover's Council neglected the downtown people for decades (or more), so it's really no surprise that it came to war. Silco is just the "product" of the city's development and history. If he hadn't started the revolution, another one would had. For example we know that Vander was part of it as well when he was younger.

[@3Kefka6Palazzo9]

I would like to make the argument and PLEASE counter me after you read this if you disagree that Silco and Jinx are not Villains but anti-heroes instead. If any one of us were treated the way Silco was, would we ever trust the surface? The pain and suffering, he HAD to be ruthless in order to fight his war, his truth, for liberation of the underground because the surface NEVER listened. If still following I appreciate your logic,Jinx is next. Jinx Lost Vi because of a corrupt surface dweller, thus she THOUGHT she lost her sister, had nobody but SILCO took her into his arms, because he truly cared for her plight. He didn't use her, he saw HIMSELF in her!! Still with me? Thank you! Jinx and Silco are the SAME type of DAMAGED being, misunderstood, taken advantage of and once SET IN MOTION a man like Silco CANNOT stop. He's NOT a villain, he is history, the person with nothing against the EVERYTHING and I at least....admit,as an autistic individual, I would have been just like him, singly focused on one goal.........FREEDOM....still with me? I thank you...truly! To conclude my friends, Silco is an uncompromising freedom fighter willing to sacrfice everyone and everything........except the DAUGHTER that found HIM in his same image. The tragedy is Jinx killed him, that's the truth story of Arcane! It's all about the struggle of Jinx and Silco....if you're still here you get it!! Silco is not....NOT....a villain.....he's what all powerful groups label a villain.....namely a FREEDOM FIGHTER at ALL costs...except Jinx....He told her in his last dying breathe....I NEVER...would have given YOU....UP.......in other words a true father that so few of us ever had, yet Jinx understood, even though she accidentally killed him......I NEVER...would have given............RIP SILCO I UNDERSTAND....Hope everyone else does too........

[@ArcaneMelodies82]

Silco, who had an Anti-Villain to Doting Father figure journey believed in a "Do anything to achieve" philosophy, that all changed with Jinx. When Jayce gave Silco everything He and Vander ever dreamed of, with just one condition. Giving up Jinx,his daughter. He Can't. Silco even offers himself up to go to StillWater Prison instead. Silco desired Jinx's safety over the dream of a Free Zaun. Vander gave up that dream when he saw the cost of his rebellion, leaving Vi & Powder orphans and felt he must atone for his sins. I think Silco was right, his goal was a noble one even if the means were questionable.

[@ShockArcl1te]

Excellent. I agree. Topside saw Silco as an "Industrialist" but given the way trade worked between topside and bottom, and the fact that the counsel was the only governing body over all of it, there's a very good chance that even the most successful chem baron wouldn't see as much success as the lower houses of Piltover. It's not enough to be successful, you also have to keep the little guy from becoming competitive. Then you have true control of the market, and judging by the fact that Piltover had looked that good for around 200 years, it's easy to see that they intentionally manipulated things to their advantage. Statistically speaking someone was bound to have produced amazing innovations in the Undercity during that time, something even the councel admitted had happened, but we still see the Undercity being a wreck and topside doing fine. The game was rigged from the beginning. So if you can't build an legitimate business to fight back by legal means, you have to settle for an illegitimate and illegal one. That means bribery, extortion and a whole list of other horrible practices just to keep things running in a cutthroat environment.

[@govind.m86]

More "Right" than "Innocent".

[@ArasRud]

Not innocent, but "right".

[@DarkKing009]

Silco is my favorite fictional Narco Terrorist

[@jakubsramek2127]

I have this idea of "sacrifice of one's own morality". The gist is traditional hero willing to sacrifice even their own life is definitely making one of highest sacrifices, but is there a sacrifice even grander than that? What does a dead hero still possesess which could still be sacrificed? Only three possibilities - reputation of being a self-sacrificing hero, dying with certainty of those we hold close being safe, and lastly our own self-image and self-percetion. To lose the ability to call ourselves good people. To give up our own goodness. Of course such an idea can be oh so easily misused to hide weakness and personal failing as it requires strictest adherence to our values which should be altruistic in nature, it's simply very difficult to pull off, but hey, that's the benefit of fiction. We can make the impossible into reality.

[@randompersonyoumightknow2118]

I think the character of Ekko kinda exists to show that Silco always had another way available to him, to build a prosperous, communal society that functions even in the undercity, making his choices understandable but not necessary to achieve progress.

[@shivan9119]

Ekko is just a little fool who built his hatred on things that literally gave Zaun a second life, the shimmer literally saved many lives, gave people new limbs, extended many lives, gave ordinary people a job, money for at least some kind of life Ekko literally collects not only the drug, but for the most part the liquid that saved the lives of Vi, Jinx and many other people

[@nopenopenopepikachu5206]

Damn, great video. I'm currently writing a script for a comic book right now and you have just opened my eyes to helping me flesh out the motivations of one of my characters

[@A.M.Cinematics]

I expect updates

[@I.Simmonds]

I suppose I like to compare Silco to the later Chembaron Renata Glasc. Silco's biggest flaw is not his resistance to piltover but his ideology. Renata is in many ways he game version of Silco, but she is a cynical philanthropist doing good things in Zaun to get close enough to piltover high sociaty to stick the knife in. While Silco is more of the people his monster tactics causes extra pain, and adds another level of exploitation to Zaun. While Renata exploits Zaunite labor, she also hands out breathers and medicinals for loyalty.

[@tytotech9498]

Silco is a sympathetic villain, but certainly not innocent or a good person. He had realistic motivations, but it doesn't mean he was in the right.

[@jessicachavez6980]

Nice video!!! ❤❤❤

[@jeanettemontoya4481]

Nice video!

[@thwip2965]

Great video! I have never watched this show but I am assuming this is objectively wrong

[@omega8851]

You have great points.

[@ritaerror7829]

Well, there's the thing. Like with this whole BLM. You have small group of people like Ekko, trying to do the right thing, starting with themselves. Then you have people like Silco, that think to rule with violence for others to have better lives, but does it really count, if they won't live long enough to see it (because of his actions). And there's the majority, which doesn't really try to change anything, just will become the monster others seems they as, and will do things for themselves. At least in the public eye. Because in reality, most of people from any group aren't interesting enough to anyone, just numbers to prove someones point and left to die forgotten.

[@ArinyaXoriGMVs]

Bad video. Pure clickbait. He was FAR from innocent. Idc how bad the conditions in the undercity are, you don't exploit children, the weak, the poor, etc., to get your way. He was 100% willing to murder children as well. Also, Viktor wasn't put down as much as you said. Jayce loves him like a brother, that's clear. I think for that moment when he says Zaunites are dangerous, he simply forgot that Viktor is from Zaun. He gets a look on his face like "Oh yeah. Oops." He called them dangerous because one of them had the Hextech orb and could easily use it to attack Piltover. Plus they HAD been attacking Piltover. They ALL HATE the uppercity and it's people so why wouldn't they hate Viktor as well? He's basically a Piltover citizen at this point, at least I'm sure this is how Jayce saw it.

[@A.M.Cinematics]

Hey Arinya! Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. However, I feel you may have misunderstood the video's premise. In terms of your point that he shouldn't have exploited others, or experimented on the child in episode 2, I agree that the actions themselves are wrong. My point is that the systemic inequality created by Piltover, and the use of the enforcers allowed for this to take place at all. The treatment of those from the Undercity by the residents of Piltover, and the overall mindset of the Undercity being "dangerous" is woven into the core of the show, with even Jayce, a progressive/Undercity sympathizer essentially comparing them to savages. Silco isn't innocent because of his individual immoral actions. I'm arguing he's justified because he's using the unjust circumstances created by Piltover to combat the systemic issues that created the atmosphere for someone like him to exist in the first place. As mentioned in the video, the reason the Undercity is incredibly poor, toxic, etc, isn't because of Silco. It's directly because of Piltovers corruption and actions/use of the enforcers. Drugs, a damaged environment, child labor, it all would have existed in the Undecity with or without Silco's presence. However, at least Silco is fighting for a better future. We see proof of this when Silco creates terms and meets with Jayce to officially start the process of a newer, healthier district of Zaun, already agreeing to the immediate cease of production in regards to shimmer. You claimed the video is clickbait, but I'd respectfully disagree and recommend that you try watching the video again in its entirety.

[@ArinyaXoriGMVs]

@@A.M.Cinematics The reason I called the video clickbait is because the title is "Silco is innocent" and then you explain how he's also not. Yeah, I agree that Piltover's terrible politics/politicians are very much responsible for the undercity's problems. Their hands are filthy. But Silco is not making anything better by building a criminal empire. The reason his shimmer production was halfway shut down is because Vi and Jayce were there at one of the mines, destroying it, thus shutting it down. Him implying he'll shut down the rest doesn't mean anything, we know he's a liar and a cheat. Also, he had children working in the mine under dangerous conditions. Vi even points out after Jayce accidentally kills that one kid, that Silco is the one responsible for it all. Silco basically tells that lady Chembaron that it's good that her son died cause he would've had him killed anyways for her betrayal. He was going to murder all of Vander's kids just because they were loose ends. You don't kill children and other innocents for the greater good, it doesn't make sense and it doesn't work. It's pure evil, no matter the circumstance. Also, I don't fully agree with Jayce for calling all the Zaunites "dangerous," but I can get where he's coming from.