I'm still a MESS over *ARCANE* (S1 - part two)

[@xXAkirhaXx]

I hope you're prepared for these last 3, each one of them could be used as the core of study at an animation school.

[@kappa-k7599]

hard agree, what a masterpiece

[@steffanhymer1285]

I have already seen videos of animation students breaking down those videos. So yes. They can be and in some cases already are.

[@AngeloBarovierSD]

This series will be an animation benchmark for a long time. Instant classic.

[@Ben-rz9cf]

Animation, writing, acting, its really a masterclass in how to get everything right. And that sting song still gives me goosebumps every time

[@wirelesmike73]

@@Ben-rz9cf Same here. The entire soundtrack is amazing. Yes, even the Imagine Dragons song. lol

[@nahlannentrela5376]

"Are you real?" is the most heartbreaking line I've ever heard.

[@KangaJanga]

For me, it is "Dont cry... you're perfect." 😢

[@VinniePaul91]

@@KangaJanga *spoilers?* are we...? Still? Sisters? That entire scene is a masterclass in voice acting.

[@therealneal3034]

Ever? Or just in Arcane? Cuz if it’s ever, I’d have to throw “What is grief, if not love persevering?” - Vision

[@TheRawrnstuff]

"Things changed after you left - I changed" hits me harder. It's the first line she tells Vi to let her know Powder's gone.

[@Vizible21]

@@therealneal3034 nothing beats... "it's morbin time" -one of the movies ever.

[@AncientJerks]

Imagine Dragons and League of Legends go way back, they've made several songs for them made for the world championship and have always had a close relationship with Riot Games. Having them as a cameo in the show was kind of a tribute to that relationship.

[@gman7497]

Riot is a serious collaborator with musical artists, they've done a ton of promotional music videos for League seasons and character skins. Alot of people joke that Riot is a music company that just happens to make games on the side, lol

[@noqualityassured5171]

I wish they weren’t, the only song I don’t like on the soundtrack is the Imagine Dragons one

[@cubdumpster5422]

I know their history well but this particular choice was still...jarring to have in the show. There are other ways they could've handled/edited/executed that, and, well, they already have the intro song.

[@DayyHughes]

They are also massive fans of the game, apparently (this is according to them!) they were late for their own gig once because they were playing a game of League lol

[@cubdumpster5422]

@@RedTyrant That's the thing. I even knew the connection and still cringed hard. It's one of the VERY few things in this show that I can confidently say was a bad choice.

[@kingofbudokai]

It's not that Jinx "likes monkeys" It's that the MONKEY bomb is what killed her friends and separated her from her sister in episode 3. In essence, that monkey symbol is what defines her as "jinx" and not "powder", because it is a reminder of the moment that sent her life in that direction. Since she has willfully adopted the "jinx" personality, she uses that monkey face as her signature.

[@DBT1007]

Ye. She just generally love to doodle silly animal.

[@skylaralley2465]

Jinx has trauma induced psychosis, hearing the voices of Claggor and mainly Milo and seeing them both. She can’t distinguish reality from hallucinations, that plus flashbacks that has been twisted by hallucinations. She also has delusions of people betraying her when they’re not and intense paranoia

[@titaniumcommandrig]

And Vander as well as shown in episode 9 but Mylo shows up the most

[@WolfODonnelfan]

Most likely suffering from schizophrenia or BPD considering that those two disorders are well known for giving people psychotic symptoms.

[@mavielor7394]

nah jinx is a shimmer addict

[@Mega2chan]

she already had some symptoms before episode 4 though

[@WolfODonnelfan]

@@mavielor7394 Interesting argument considering that up until this point she has literally no shimmer in her body. Does shimmer have retroactive time-travelling powers?

[@Quantum_Bluntz]

Arcane is Amazing.

[@silver9wolf6]

💯 😁

[@evindgard]

Hot take right there

[@Quantum_Bluntz]

@@evindgard not really. It’s actually pretty lukewarm lol

[@Hugo74390]

I was so shocked when it came out, you really don't expect that level of quality from a video game adaptation, especially considering LoL doesn't have a real story and its lore is kind of a mess, mixing western heroic fantasy, steampunk, science fiction, Asian mythology, etc... What Fortiche and Riot managed to do with Arcane is amazing, both visually and in terms of story / themes explored, etc...

[@The_Wild_Healer]

@@Hugo74390 I find that the lore being so vague and underdeveloped is exactly why this worked. They actually turned these people into characters and did what they wanted with the lore because the source material kinda can't be failed. It was the perfect storm for Riot

[@F1rstWorldNomaD]

Viktor is not actually driven by selfinterest. He is very much what he claims to be, "for the people" it just so happens that the tech theyre developing ALSO benefits him. Its alot like the saying "To help other, first help yourself". He cant be a benefit to society if hes dead. Granted, staying alive is obviously in his own interest. All characters in Arcane are so very complex and eerily realistic. this is the main reason why this is probably the best show ever made. Or at least one of them.

[@gamerbear84]

Basically like if someone with cancer cures cancer. They sure wanted to live, but that's gonna help a lot of people too.

[@Neko141212]

Jayce was kinda right in the council meeting. Heimerdinger literally founded the city and made the council. Yet nothing has been done for the Undercity - that is definitely on him for creating a place, where that was allowed. He's never even bothered to check out the Undercity, but just sits around enjoying opera. Honestly, Jayce getting him kicked off the council was great for him. He was clearly in need of a wake up call.

[@CrazeeAdam]

Yeah, like, I know Jayce gets A LOT of hate for that decision.. because he has other motives too, and Heimerdinger is a really nice guy.. but it's just like, he's not wrong on any level. Humans, no one lives as long as Heimerdinger, who thinks that people can just wait forever and ever, and things will eventually get fixed in like 100s of years. It's just not how things work for people.

[@n4ira..]

I agree and disagree. I think Jayce didn't have that thought in mind when he wanted to remove Heimerdinger from the council, he just wanted to have his invention successful since he later shows that he doesn't care about the subfery either

[@dkev001]

There's a psychologist on you tube that breaks down everything about Jinx from a mental health prospective. After watching it, you realize just how well written Jinx is and all the little details in her animation.

[@dkev001]

@@thatHARVguy That’s the one.

[@ferni0307]

@@thatHARVguy love her sm

[@LeoPelozo]

Also The Truth Doctor Show kzbin.info/aero/PL4p3cMUbzLGve_3UKN8dXk_rdXX5pMsqT

[@christopherkaiser9576]

@@thatHARVguy love her videos.

[@UmamiDeBoi]

There was a good video contrasting Jinx’s “madness” to Daenerys’. Basically breaking it down to Dany being inexplicably “mad”, without an understandable progression or anything. While Jinx was already a troubled and emotional kid, who got put through unbelievable trauma, coupled with the fact that she and seemingly Vi blamed her for it. Enough trauma to induce psychosis, and then having Silco there to manipulate her, instead of trying to actually help her or get her help.

[@DarkKnightBatman420]

To remember how Vi's pronunciation works, I noticed her name is Violet. Now it's easy.

[@WhatKindOfNameNow]

Vi stands for violence.

[@RenaissanceK]

@@WhatKindOfNameNow sure but her name is also literally violet

[@WhatKindOfNameNow]

@@RenaissanceK Sure, but I can also jokingly quote one of Vi's lines from League.

[@chrishaven1489]

@@WhatKindOfNameNow "Vi stands for stupid"

[@WhatKindOfNameNow]

@@chrishaven1489 "I'm over here fat hands!"

[@TheParagade]

The thing with Heimerdinger is that he didn't say give it a few years, he said give it a few more decades. It's not just about Viktor, ALL the people that they want to help will be long dead by the time Heimerdinger thinks they're ready.

[@ShaunRF]

Heimerdinger did bring some of this on himself. He never realized how much his own immortality causes him to be out of touch with the concerns of humans with limited lifespans. It caused him to be unintentionally more distant and somewhat uncaring. Or at least unaware.

[@Angrenost02]

Indeed. In this show, no one is always right.

[@Ben-rz9cf]

Yeah heimerdinger is really at fault for trying to control technology instead of letting the masses make use of it. Because it easily could have been the salve that stopped the war that was brewing and even if it was weaponized they would have had time to prepare for it. His cautiousness only ensured that it ended up only in the wrong hands a la the "only outlaws have guns" effect and that no one was prepared for that kind of technology to be used. I'm glad that ekko is basically showing him the value of free and open source technology to improve peoples lives, if he had met him sooner both cities would have been better for it.

[@ShaunRF]

@@Ben-rz9cf I think its more that they generally ignored the problems of the undercity and basically exploited them. This is a big part of the reason he later ventures down there to finally see what life is like for the people who live there.

[@Ben-rz9cf]

@@ShaunRF true. His approach was surprisingly ignorant and sheltered for someone supposedly so wise and experienced. Thats why he had unrealistic expectations on how a technology like this could even be controlled or how desperate things had gotten. If he had any idea how bad things had gotten with shimmer dependence even unregulated hextech would have seemed like a preferable option.

[@UmamiDeBoi]

Yeah, he based his decisions too much on his own personal experiences, not considering others. It’s an interesting parallel to the way that the other council members generally don’t show consideration for the people who have no money; the currency they have an abundance of is money, and for Heimerdinger, it’s time.

[@RayMcElroy50]

Fun fact: Caitlyn is voiced by Katie Leung, aka Cho Chang from the HARRY POTTER movies

[@charliefarmer4365]

Really? Wow!

[@AhsokaTanoTheWhite]

@@charliefarmer4365 Yup, one of my favourite Scottish actresses.

[@DanielOliveira-pn1rg]

And Vi is voiced by Hailee Steinfeld

[@kiarya7939]

Additional fun fact: Jayce is voiced by Kevin Alejandro, aka Detective Dan (Detective “Do**he”) from Lucifer ^_^

[@kuivia]

@@kiarya7939 Omg how could I not have remembered this 🤣🤣 I guess I was too busy stan¨ing Hailee Steinfeld and Jinx/Cait

[@TheJokerAkaCirque]

On the off chance you didn't pick up on it yet, the scientist who mentored Victor in the caves is also Silco's partner who created Shimmer in the first couple episodes (the one who fed the cat to the rat). Powder's big explosion in episode 3 is why he's all burnt up now.

[@doro626]

I thought that guy died and this was a separate guy. Thanks for that clarification. Question. There is a league of legends animatic that has a female sniper dressed in fancy Victorian garb and a red head with giant fists. Do you know if that is the characters from this show, or are teh show characters completely original?

[@TheJokerAkaCirque]

@@doro626 i don't know anything about actual League, only the stuff that's in the show, sorry

[@solisargregory5609]

@@doro626 Arcane is based on League of Legends, the main characters here are playable champions in the game, like Caitlyn and VI who are the same as the characters you saw in the video called wariors.

[@AnarchyShogun]

@@doro626 Those are the same characters. The show somewhat reworks their backstories, although League has revamped it's lore so many times I don't know anymore. t's been years since I played.

[@jdksdj11]

@@AnarchyShogun Arcane right now is alternative universe. Every skin line in lol is alternative universe (Star Guardians, PROJECT, KDA and True Damage etc.)

[@blanktip1]

17:39 To be fair, that is a genuine prosthesis. She lost her arm in the blast when Powder tried to save everyone all those years ago.

[@jonasquinn7977]

I think something to keep in mind with Himerdinger is that while taking time with an invention is sensible he arguably takes it too far the other direction because of how long he lives for, he asked them to delay unveiling a revolutionary and potentially life saving new technology an entire decade or more not because there’s anything wrong with it but just to spend that entire time dealing with smaller faults

[@viniciuspedrosa2405]

And the people of the undercity get sick and day every single day because he didn't move a muscle to help them in 300 years. If he wasn't such a perfecionist maybe viktor wouldn't have so many health issues. I hate that people feel bad for him because he is small and cute

[@newsiesmario2242]

I’m not gonna lie, I thought the editing choice was a little strange in this one. Feels like we completely skipped all the Vi/Caitlyn scenes. Their partnership is one of the most important things in the show in my opinion. But I’m glad to see you’re still enjoying it! This show is so good!

[@SirXcalibur]

Completely agree. Amazing everything, but completely ignored this bit? Maybe she will revisit after the part 3?

[@chelz7373]

Same here; I found myself rewinding the video at times bc I was checking to see if I accidentally missed them

[@toamszkozak8822]

Yeah I was dissapointed With how she edited VI and caitlyn scenes

[@Tangowastaken]

Yea a really really strange omission

[@matthewlayo9561]

Its not strange. She wants you to pay for patron to see full reactions so you can see the best scenes. Not looking forward to the edits of the final arc, especially the finale.

[@theocrass2067]

I think the show does something that is very clever. It uses Heimerdinger, who is in many ways a well worn archetype, to fool you into thinking yeah he's the big good, he's the wise old man who has all the answers. But he doesn't! He's very unintentionally callous when comforting Viktor over his mortality and everything going on between Zaun and Piltover has developed under his watch. Jayce's criticisms are absolutely true, no matter there may be merit to Heimer's position on the seed. Heimerdinger is the founder of the city and he doesn't get to absolve himself for the current state of it, nor the terrible conditions in Zaun that created Silco.

[@TaRatTinCan]

21:31 Not sure if you picked this, but silco was looking in hand mirror in previous scene and in this one his scars are mostly hidden. He uses makeup to cover them up when going to Piltover, but in the underground he wears them openly. I love the crazy attention to details in this show

[@notlol]

As a therapist that works with kids, this show is on an entirely different level in its representation of trauma and other related mental health issues. Absolutely brilliant.

[@charliefarmer4365]

Keep up the good work!😊👍

[@ShoreFell]

The perfect thing that I love about the Imagine Dragons is that it’s the theme of the show, but it’s Jinx’s theme as well. The lyrics practically put you in Jinx’s mind, and how she sees the world. It’s so good and I know it got overplayed but for this show it’s genuinely so good

[@Ashaira]

People fail to understand that the council was right about Heimer. He belongs to a race that is functionally immortal. Ironically enough they are tied to a magic plane. Heimer has a different perspective on time. For him its worth leaving people helpless for hundreds of years to avoid another historical calamity that might come in a few thousands years. And Jayce was right. Heimer has been on the council the longest yet he did nothing to improve the undercity. Not even after the rebellion we see in the first episode. Jayce and Viktor even made sure that the hexstones were virtually indestructible before using them but that still wasn't enough for Heimer. Heimer only looks at this utopian world were there is some magical way to control all advancements or where no one wants to do harm. His argument for the hexstones doesn't even make sense. There is no way to make them safer or unable to be used as weapons. Whatever measure they would take can be undone. And of course Viktor is rushing when no one but Jayce has even shown him any support in his research. All they ever got from Heimer is ok but do it better or slower or safer. Heimer never even tries to give any actual feedback.

[@troikas3353]

Yep, Heimer’s literally the status quo personified. He has all the wealth, power, comfort, safety and privilege one could ever want so he just leaves himself, at best, willfully ignorant to the struggles of anyone else less fortunate than himself. Even when he finds out Viktor is terminally ill as a direct result of the horrific living conditions in UC, Heimer has absolutely nothing to offer him but platitudes that amount to little more than “tough luck”. He’s a character whose ostensibly benevolent apathy is it’s own kind of banal evil. But because his design is cute and his voice is kindly, most who watch the show just seem to take what he says at complete face value- treating him as the typical wise-old-mentor trope that’s almost always portrayed as completely correct in fantasy.

[@Lexyvil]

I'm still in awe in terms of how good this show turned out to be.

[@ragnarian]

Everyone was Video game adaptations have a very poor reputation, at best we expected it to be ok or tolerable But, riot lives up to the stereotype: They're good at absolutely everything they do Except league of legends

[@Tangowastaken]

'I think the show will rely on her (Jinx) making the right descision in the end' Oh Natalie.

[@Twigpi]

Bahaha I love fake spoilers.

[@DulceReposa]

Careful with that implication there

[@koji6745]

@@Twigpi terrible job

[@FulcanMal]

What? We skipped "You're hot cupcake"???

[@MilkT0ast]

Jinx and Silcos relationship is so well done.

[@DoremiFasolatido1979]

Yeah, not really sure about all the weirdos who can apparently only see them as pseudo-lovers. I can only conclude that some of them have a secret desire for such a forbidden relationship, while others were or are the victims of the abuse they now see in everything.

[@MilkT0ast]

@@DoremiFasolatido1979 lovers? I always saw it as a father/ daughter relationship.

[@TnTCinematics2012]

@@DoremiFasolatido1979 I did get a little scared when Silco leaned in during the baptism scene, looked for a sec like he was gonna kiss her

[@yp6614]

@@TnTCinematics2012 lmao yes

[@christopherkaiser9576]

And it isn't just silcos personal space she invades. Chuck, Vi, Sevika, Jinx doesn't understand personal space. I think they show this quite well. But some people just get so stuck on the 2 scenes with silco.

[@EatSleepRepeat1988]

Can't wait for the 3rd installment. It's absolutely terrific - probably the best three connected episodes I have seen of any show - ever.

[@TechnoBris]

That and 4x19, 4x20 and 4x21 from AoT

[@Vin_Venture896]

Honestly one of the coolest things about Arcane is that all of the music (including every song with lyrics) was made specifically for Arcane.

[@klanmasterio]

Damn all of cait and vi was cut from episode 5 im so fucking sad

[@xavmanisdabestest]

There wasn't much of a reaction to it. It's in her patreon if you do want to see it tho

[@puffy1700]

"Can we ask Jayce what he wants to do?!" So damn right. I know many viewers put a lot of blame on Jayce for what happens in this part and the next of the show but maaaaaaan the guy very clearly did NOT want to be a Councilor. It was written all over his face.

[@LiaaaaaaaaAAAAAHH]

Sad to miss the Vi/Caitlyn scenes. My little sapphic heart soars during those 😊

[@djlow9915]

The "previously on" text at the start, switching to the scribbly text like Jinx's inner demons, was an awesome touch Cameron 😮 ha ha The scream when you saw Vi revealed Nat, and Koda's reaction "Mom, keep it down" 😂

[@efrat394]

If you remember, sevika lost her arm in "the explosion". Also, Sky has been interested in Viktor since they were kids. She the one that spies on him and his little boat.

[@RedGamer155]

While I understand caution, Heimerdinger is too cautious. He has the privilege's of living for centuries and can afford to take things slow. Because of this the poverty and unruly nature of the undercity has gotten out of hand, when he directly could have helped. Meanwhile Hextech could save victor and thousands of others lives and he says no. I'm actually very surprised Natalie chose Heimerdingers side over the dying Victor wanting to do good. I was still sad to see Heim get kicked out of the council tho, poor guy.

[@Mirikal]

Natalie: "I think the show will hinge on her making the right decision and being a good person in the end. That's just my guess." I'm so glad I wasn't drinking something when she said that.

[@Dilligff]

The statement is still 100% accurate.

[@StupidWeb]

@@Dilligff It definitely does hinge on that

[@nezfromhki]

The timing of this! I was literally just today checking your channel to see if I had missed you uploading part two of these reactions. Can't wait to watch this! :D

[@KingApeiron]

Natalie absolutely dragging Mel in Ep4 is the take I needed from this reaction. Thank you Nat.

[@096MaxikinG096]

The professor who the young Viktor meets in the cave with the cute animal is Singed, the same professor who worked with the rat - shimmer experiment in the first part and the one who saved Jinx's life with shimmer. Ohh, and the little furry hamster which roams with Prof Heimerdinger is a poro.

[@dlweiss]

Great reactions and discussions as always! Though I'll admit, I was hoping to see your thoughts/reactions to Vi and Caitlyn's one-on-one interactions a tad more. It's so much fun watching them getting to know each other. :)

[@C.V.Q]

I watched her patreon reactions and she starts making more comments about them in ep 7-9. But she mostly just enjoys their chemistry silently with puppy dog eyes

[@lilycvbed]

Imagine Dragons had a cameo in episode 5 because they've been involved with League of Legends for a long time now, they did the first ever theme song for Worlds 2014, and they've said in interviews before they've been a few minutes late for shows before because they were finishing games of League. So the cameo scene, while a bit much, was sort of a thank you from the league team to the band for being involved with the game and the community for so long

[@UmamiDeBoi]

I can respect that tbh. I don’t care for Imagine Dragons, and the scene was just barely bordering on cheesy for me, but I like the idea of them risking having a semi-corny moment for the sake of showing love to a long-time friendship.

[@Elenea__21]

Why is it even corny bruh people these days…

[@Ar17778]

Don’t get how it effects people so much😭 it was fine ffs

[@DrWatson4]

Jinx/Powder is such an interesting character because she really is just so unhinged but so intelligent as well

[@jezzluck]

The only thing that's preventing Marcus to detonate the bomb in Silco's office is his daughter. Doing so, he would leave her alone, since apparently her mother isn't around anymore.

[@cubablue602]

So good to see someone understanding Jayce haha. He seems to get a bad rap for some reason. Mind you, opinions on characters change with this series in very subtle ways. Btw: notice all the little details that tell a story without announcing one - the little gifts and trinkets made for Silco by Jinx on his desk, objects in Caitlen's room. VI's tattoos. Notice Victor now uses a crutch instead of a simple cane. This series is a masterclass of 'show don't tell'.

[@charliefarmer4365]

Heimerdinger is a wonderfully written character. A good person who’s lived so long he sees time differently, and doesn’t realise that he does things too slowly. Hopefully we see some development in season 2! He could have helped with the poverty rampant through the lanes, but decided to be cautious - which by everyone else’s standards would be decades, even centuries.

[@viniciuspedrosa2405]

I have no empathy for him lol, he watched everything for 300 years and did barely nothing, he is the personification of the word privilege. He is right about the hexcore but i think humans have the right to make that choice, is not up to him

[@charliefarmer4365]

@@viniciuspedrosa2405 It’s not that he doesn’t care. It’s just that he takes things too slowly. When you live for hundreds of years, time runs differently for you. A year could be a month. To him, a couple of years progress would be too quick, feeling like two months.

[@shumatsuplaran7251]

@@charliefarmer4365 Not just time. So far as I can tell by the lore of the source material overall, his memory there is of a war involving ancient pieces of power that as far more powerful than hextech even approaches. We're talking, in lore, power to rival deities. He Fears magic overall because of something more powerful than simple magic. He lets his fear rule him. He's wrong in that aspect. It isn't just viewing time differently. It's like saying that all technology is bad just because nukes exist.

[@charliefarmer4365]

@@shumatsuplaran7251 true, but we don’t exactly know a lot of what happened in the rune war, particularly to him. For all we know, he might only have seen bad magic. Personally, I think he may have PTSD. Just a theory. I’m Probably wrong in that aspect.

[@shumatsuplaran7251]

@@charliefarmer4365 I mean. I imagine that most people that see an entire civilization reduced to a crater might have some issues coping with that.

[@DanJMW]

The musical dissonance is on purpose. Piltover's Topside has soaring classical music (opera being seen as the music of the upper classes) and the Undercity has pop, dance and hip-hop music. Once you have finished the series, I recommend checking out the excellent youtube video by Cell-Shaded Music Theory on this subject. The music in this series, just like the writing, animation, artwork, voice acting and character design, is all amazing. Top tier work by everyone involved.

[@amandaloubelle]

I was so excited to watch through this reaction but seeing you skip over nearly all of the scenes between Caitlyn and Vi has completely killed the vibe for me 😭

[@brittvaughn9447]

Right? Other than Guns for Hire, that's pretty much the most important thing I want to see in reacts.

[@aliceadler5825]

Same. I was really looking forward to the reaction of those scenes ( u_u) A little disappointing ngl

[@9.b_javaspradiparamadhani382]

I would recommend reactsbynight, he reacts about cartoons like gumball adventure time ect, but he doesn't skip anything and puts the full episode unedited

[@bottomerenjaeger]

right, it was giving very homophobic actually… pissed me off cause their bond development is so important

[@Ar17778]

This editing is awful ngl, skips so many important and impactful scenes

[@Zombiesnyder13]

This is where I started to really like this show I love the steampunk genre It's so unique and underused

[@sdal_yt]

Imgaine dragons cameo was dope! I'll die on that hill.

[@NoGoodDirtyRicer]

You gotta remember Heimerdinger is one of the founders of Piltover and over the 200+ years he’s been governing over it, the Undercity has become what it is. He’s had a long time to make serious strides to change how they’re living.

[@danielsieber4809]

This show does a great job of showing both sides of the coin when it comes to change. Slow and steady may be safer for the status quo but for people who can't afford that time it's potentially less dangerous than just continuing living your life. Also the quandary of who decides who has access to power

[@marinak9317]

aww I really thought we would see the Caitlyn / Vi scenes in episode 5 !! loved the vid tho

[@brycebitetti1402]

What I love about Hiemerdinger is the fact that while he is wise, he's also very ignorant. He's a brilliant scientist, and an idealist who genuinely wants the best for everyone, but he's also completely blind to the problems in his own city. The opera scene showcases this perfectly. He's not compromised on his morals in that he doesn't participate in the shady dealings of the other council members, but he's also entirely ignorant to the corruption happening right under his nose. He also doesn't weigh the value of life enough due to his immortality, and while making sure that technology is safe to be used before being unleashed onto the masses is admirable, it does nothing to help the people suffering right now. He's such an interesting subversion of the wise old mentor archetype by still being a good person, but one with realistic flaws.

[@zhadasar]

This series really set the bar for animated series. Art, music, writing - head and shoulders above most of what has been churned out lately by Disney and others.

[@FullMetalB]

Especially head and shoulders above the most overrated show in history: avatar.

[@rosskl]

Everyone time I see these episodes, either rewatching or with reactors, I still get chills. This is a masterpiece. Every frame is like a beautiful painting. I can't wait for part 3 to see your reaction to the best episodes!

[@tarinindell8217]

I cant wait for Season 2. Btw if anyone else loves this show and wants to see how crazy the making of the show was, check out "Bridging the Rift"

[@j.f.fisher5318]

I move Bridging The Rift. So inspiring!

[@newsiesmario2242]

Bridging the Rift was so good. I’ve watched it twice!

[@brothersofthewolves]

"its her! pink hair! FISTS!" So cute to hear how you link things :DD

[@wirelesmike73]

I can't say enough good things about this show. Every aspect of it is amazing. It is, IMO, not only one of the best-animated productions ever created, it's also one of the best-written and produced shows ever made. The depiction of Jinx's trauma and psychosis is so devastating, and very realistic for a fictional fantasy character. I have a hard time even watching clips of the show without having to fight back tears. It really drives home the importance of mental health and how poverty and abandonment can affect a young developing mind. It's heartbreaking. I feel for children in the real world who've lived without the love or care of a parent or siblings, and live their lives without the affection of someone who cares for them. It's no wonder that there are so many people who seemingly have no conscience or empathy out there. So many kids have, and continue to, grow up in a loveless environment, for whatever reason. Psychopathy and narcissism are 2 of the only mental health issues that can be (for lack of better words) beaten into someone who would otherwise be normal and healthy.😞 As much as I love this show, I find it hard to wtch, sometimes. Otherwise, the animation is incredible and beautiful. Keep in mind, there is no motion capture in any of it. Every aspect of it was hand-animated, and the lighting effects were literally painted in, by hand, frame by frame. Just because it was done in CG, doesn't mean that the work wasn't actually hand-crafted to create what you see on screen. It took years to animate, and I only hope that the same care and attention to craft and detail are put into the second season. I'm willing to wait for them to take as long as they need to make it, as long as it's as well done as this masterpiece.

[@UmamiDeBoi]

The animations, in particular the facial animations, are mind blowing. I can’t recall the last animation i saw with that level of emotion in the faces, 3D or 2D. While watching I kept thinking to myself “Wow, this character animation is *so* detailed, I wonder if they used much motion or performance capture for it?” but concluded that they probably didn’t; while the animation is perfect, it’s also very stylized, so mocap/performance capture wouldn’t have worked. At least that’s my professional opinion, since I work in motion and performance capture. i haven’t looked into any behind-the-scenes, but I trust your comment is correct.

[@wirelesmike73]

@@UmamiDeBoi As I understand it, they utilized the traditional animation practice of using video reference, but no roto, mocap, or performance capture. And, Yes, the micro-expressions are what really make the characters feel alive. Also, the lighting and shading on the characters weren't achieved with any kind of 3D lighting rigs or rendered lighting effects. It is digitally painted by hand by the artists and animators to get the dramatic effect they wanted. If they wanted there to be a highlight on the face, or hair, or clothing, They went and painted it in, frame by frame. It's really astounding work. If you're interested, Corridor Crew did a deep dive with a professional animator who went into how some of it was made. It's even more impressive when you hear him talk about the studio that produced it. The video is called: "Animators React to ARCANE Bad & Great Cartoons".

[@doro626]

Speaking of Shohreh Aghdashloo ( Grayson) Natalie, you REALLY should watch the Expanse. Some of the best modern sci-fi on television in the last decade.

[@donkeydarko77]

Expanse was great...except for the final season, which was garbage.

[@doro626]

@@donkeydarko77 The show was unfinished, like an anime that needs filler seasons. They said they MIGHT do a movie to wrap it all up. I will admit that even teh final book didnt do it for me. Not teh ending I envisioned. Hopefully they will go the Alien Nation route adn we get two or three expanse movies on Amazon to finish the story.

[@donkeydarko77]

@@doro626 I was so disappointed in it, that I'm going to find it difficult to renew my passion for watching the series if it continues.

[@doro626]

@@donkeydarko77 That is very understandable. I had a similar feeling with how Game of thrones ended.

[@Shythalia]

It's not sponsored by Imagine Dragons. Riot asked them to make a song for their show.

[@rgractor]

13:53 This show is unreal. I’ve watched it maybe 10 times and this is the first time I saw the white scribbles that represent Jinx’s trauma are the letters VI.

[@newsoulsam3889]

Thanks for pointing that out! For as many times as I've seen this show I hadn't caught this either. That's heartbreaking.

[@Elivan311]

We have been waiting over a year for season 2, please don't make us wait a month for the season finale Nat :')

[@DaddyDoom]

Best artwork, character design and writing I've ever seen in an animated series, ever.

[@rafaelmartinez4803]

"I think the show will hinge on her making the right decission and being a good person in the end". **cries**

[@lisaleyendekker8305]

I'm glad you got back into the series. We can all cry together

[@FullMetalB]

Got back into it?

[@LM-gm9yo]

About the pronunciation of Vi's name: just remember that Vi's full name is Violet! 😊

[@scottwallbank4794]

She can't get Caitlyn right either..

[@melissar1155]

It's starting to get to me how much she mispronounces Vi's name 🥲

[@TankInATree]

What is *really* important to understand in this show is that every single one of these characters has flaws. It is important to notice these flaws. I can say without spoiling anything, because it has been on display a few times, that Heimerdinger has a couple of major ones. It is not that he is not trying to do good and he is not bad... but he certainly has flaws. Edit (because it has already been shown and said in the show, I decided to add this): He is too passive. He likes to talk about pretty ideals and about holding people accountable. Meanwhile as the head of the council, he sits and enjoys music ignorant about the corruption that is happening literally in the same room. The undercity, shimmer, the dissatisfaction of people on the other side of the bridge; all goes unnoticed by him really. This is not *all* on him, but as the head, it is certainly a big failure on his part. Because he is immortal (or can get very, very old) he has no concept of how a decade is not just a "blink of an eye" and he cannot empathize with humans about that and because he has had it so well, listening to music and enjoying life being immortal, nor the fact that people are suffering in the fissures and other places, where they could probably use some help... so again he talks... then he leaves. He is supposedly very smart, but he never offers to help. He is nice and everything, but he just never *does* anything.

[@cardellkenith]

Viktor isnt just looking for himself. He was borned, raised and understands the undercity and he believed that Hextech would help the people that are dying down there. But now he sees they have made progress for years but the council is stopping them from being able to actually help the undercity and people that need it most. Its not just Viktor, but the children that VIktor once was one of, who have become terminally ill because of the living conditions or addicted to shimmer because the only alternatives provided are being provided by Silco and not the council. Progress can go too fast, but it can also unneccesarily postponed and the longer it takes to really help the undercity, the more they turn to crime bosses like Silco. The council just doesnt see that because they dont look at the undercity. The only one that really knows it is Viktor, and he's dying before he is able to help.

[@Shawn_M]

Arcane was seriously one of the best things I've watched in years. Great complex story and the animation was Next Level

[@dopelobo_3174]

I love how Nat is referencing ATLA way more now. We did it guys.

[@FullMetalB]

This show has almost certainly washed that nasty flavor out of her mouth by now. A truly incredible show to obsess over instead.

[@Ladco77]

4:00 It wasn't somebody who looks like Vi. When Jinx looked at her, she saw Vi.

[@Jungkith]

Jinx: I changed when you left. Vi: It’s Ok Jinx: *starts fighting Also Vi: WTF?!

[@PaddleboardingFL]

"pink hair! Fists! its her!" thats gotta be the funniest & most accurate way ive ever seen Vi described

[@deranged_dragon9471]

Very sad all the stuff with Caitlyn and Vi were skipped but its understandable I guess

[@lol-ot4pn]

i think she “skipped” it because it was not much of a reaction for those scenes that it would just be a waste of airtime for the show.

[@imbranc]

@@lol-ot4pn Yeah, someone else mentioned that in the Patreon reaction she doesn't really have any audible reactions to it

[@ferni0307]

@@imbranc oh :(

[@mierin802]

I have watched a few reactors who genuinely missed that there was anything to react to with the Cupcake scenes

[@hannansumading]

finallyy, cannot wait for the finale video also! love the art style and character designs so much. In need of season two!

[@Ben-rz9cf]

You think that heimerdinger is right but he's actually the sleeper villain of the series. None of the tragic events that happen next could have happened without heimerdinger trying to control the flow of progress and it easily could have been a great equalizer and a salve on the class tensions. But hoarding it only made sure it ended up in the wrong hands and no one could protect against it. And he learns his lesson by the end too by actually seeing what people down below use technology for. I'm looking forward to his character arc with ekko in season 2.

[@nurilnuril4372]

This was so fun to watch alongside you. I've seen it before, but to watch it again with someone unaware brought new meaning. I really loved it.

[@Kyrrial]

A small thing to help remind you whether Vi's name is "vee" or "vie" is that Vi is a nickname, short for Violet. The first syllable is pronounced the same way when shortened. Hopefully that helps.

[@Shythalia]

"Vi stands for Violence!" - Vi in the games lol

[@laurenceedward5910]

i love this part, Natalie, you are literally my spirit animal 6:25 - 7: 12 especially the eye rolls. I agree 100%

[@CrossOutBryce]

As an artist and a writer, after watching Arcane, I realized it's an excellent study of animation, worldbuilding, and storytelling. It was an amazing surprise at the end of 2021!

[@disodosid]

Loved the last set, loved this set; can't wait for the next set! Somebody probably already said it, but just in case it hasn't been brought up: Crows in the League Lore are associated with Fiddlesticks, the embodiment of fear itself; an ancient demon that feeds on trauma. So, when Jinx shot the crow, it could be symbolic of her facing/overcoming her fears/traumatic past.

[@LadyDoomsinger]

I don't think Victor's motivation with the Hextech was to save himself... originally. At first, he knew he was dying, and so just wanted to solidify his legacy by inventing technology that could help everyone, especially those in the Undercity who needed it. It was only when he realized it "reacts to organic matter" that he even got the idea that it might be able to save him.

[@SLAP1FACE]

for context: Heimerdinger's race, Yordle" is imortal, per se. they can die but they pop up again. they simply exist again. Also Imagine Dragons has a kind of a significant history with LoL. The little white fur ball "monster" is called a Poro.

[@ty_the_RetoVideo_guy5543r]

Jinx is legit my fav new character of the past decade, I absolutely adore her

[@XennialGeek]

Yeah, psychotic mass murderers are the best!

[@ty_the_RetoVideo_guy5543r]

@@XennialGeek yeah there is def no love for Harley Quinn either. Jinx is awesome cause of her complexity. Plus she is fictional and murdering fictional people

[@crimsonghoul8983]

6:56 Says the lady having Sponsors! Every invention requires money, and it's not like either of them were rich enough to fuel years, even decades of research in creating Hextech. I get where you are coming from, Nat, and I get that safety is more important than doing reckless things to come up with said inventions. That being said, investors still do factor in this whole thing.

[@NOWABO]

I'm still crying over Arcane, too, honestly.

[@rinner_senpai]

The ep6 scene with the insert song is glorious. I almost dropped the series until that part and I'm glad I didn't because it does get better on the last 3 episodes.

[@ryuhitsuya21]

Fun game: Take a shot everytime Nat says Vee instead of Vi

[@BubblyRainbows]

I don't wanna be dead from alcohol poisoning.

[@RizzleDaGod]

Or oh no lol

[@DataCab1e]

"Why can't I remember if it's 'vee' or 'vy?'" Because you're watching with subtitles on, so you've seen "Vi" written as an identifier more than you've heard it in dialogue.

[@leenalshobaki4147]

WHY DID YOU SKIP THE VI AND CAITLYN SCENES IM GONNA CRY

[@Martinbumms]

Man I love Arcane so so much! I watched it like 6 or 7 times by now The great thing about the Jace and Heimerdinger conflict is that both sides aren't wrong. Of course we should act with caution and take our time to do the right thing, but Jace also got a point by saying that humans live hundreds of years, so being to cautious will cost many lives. Jace is also right about Heimerdinger founding the city and let the Undercity become what it is today. Heimerdinger is so disconnected from the struggles of the people of the Lanes, he didn't do anything during the last hundreds of years, why should Jace believe that he does anything during the next? And yes Jace is emotionally invested, probably too much, he is no politician, he's a scientist and a craftsman, he doesn't have the patience. As I said, both aren't wrong, but neither of them is right. Watching how much thought everyone put into the mental health of those characters is amazing! As Natalie said, Powder got her problem before Silko. Losing a close person, in Powders case her parents at such a young age can cause attachment disorder and a irrational fear of losing someone again. Powder as a kid reacting that extreme to the mere thought of Vi leaving her is just right and a display of how much the creators care for their characters. Especially the reunion in episode 6 is heartbreaking! Vi does everything right, concentrating on the moment, no judgement, but also no denying of change and the shit that went down, showing affection through words and touch, it is so perfect, but even when she does everything just right, Jinx's mind isn't in a place of healing yet. DID I SAY THAT I LOVE THIS SHOW..... I guess I have to watch it again

[@theencryptedpartition4633]

The moment we’ve been waiting for: Emotional wreckage of Arcane experienced by none other than Natalie Gold. Welcome to depression society Nat

[@lilianaranea7892]

Heimerdinger has been around since the city's inception. Viktor, his friend and former assistant, was born and raised in the Undercity and suffers from a chronic sickness as a result of the living standards there, yet he remains ignorant. He only changes when he has no other option and no reason not to. He sucks so much!

[@Usernamedshah]

Vi stands for Violence! (Thats the way to remember it)

[@charliefarmer4365]

Fun fact: The animation was made with 3D models being painted over. Very perceptive of you to notice it looked like a painting, Natalie!

[@PoemJunkie]

Vi is short for Violet, with the same initial sound, if that helps you remember.

[@pallenda]

Yes! Was looking forward to you continuing with this amazing series!

[@alexanderk7894]

Nat: is it "Vee" or "Vai" Me, an intellectual: "6"

[@TheOtterBear61]

The show was animated using 3D animation and the textures used on the 3D models were hand painted. That's why they have that "painted" look. The combination gives the whole show a unique look.

[@gaara_of_the_desert1118]

Why did you skip every scene with cait and vi

[@beardlessdragon]

Imagine watching Arcane without crying. Could not be us I so greatly look forward to you finishing this series! The whole show is phenomenal through and through, but the last section of the story is just....wow