In-Depth Look at Cait and Vi's Non-Verbal Relationship | Arcane Essay

[@aranthur]

The fact that people expected Vi to immediately go chasing after Jinx when Cait unlocked the cell is just silly. Chase after her WHERE??? The enforcers spent literal months searching for Jinx and never found her or her hideout. Ekko is only able to find it in the finale because Powder showed him where it was in the alternate timeline. Vi would've just been running in circles in the street while everybody else was prepping for war Also, wow, guess who only just realized the symbolism of Cait in act 3 getting rid of the gun she used as Commander, the gun she used to hurt Vi, and having Jayce replace it with a new one that doesn't even use bullets. Even though doing so actually puts her at a disadvantage against Ambessa, with her magic-blocking runes

[@lgtp273]

I also came across an interesting perspective: In the intimate scene in EP8, Caitlyn first takes off her top and displays confidence and pride. This echoes what Vi told her in S1, "If you really want people to talk to you, you have to let them think you have what they want." Caitlyn's confident expression seems to convey, "I want you, and I've given you what I have. Have I learned well?"

[@StopMeOh]

Ohhh nice one!!

[@PERCHERON-C13]

Oooh, nice

[@PERCHERON-C13]

I have noticed in multiple scenes Cait opens her mouth some, but ends up closing it, and initiating further physical contact. Like when on the bridge, when they hug Cait opens her mouth, but ends up closing it and nestling her head deeper into Vi's neck. Like Cait is trying to put words to her feelings, like trying to say "I love you, Vi," but ending up just touching her, or getting deeper into the physical contact.

[@cattievogelsong96]

Caitlyn is less verbally emotionally expressive. In general and in comparison to vi. I really like this because it is stereotype breaking. Usually the more feminine characters in a relationship is more emotionally expressive. That is not the case for vi and Caitlyn.

[@keishagibbs3195]

I love that you mentioned Cait is always the one to initiate with Vi. I love the contrast because Vi jumps in head first, always leads with her fists, and punches first and asks questions later. Cait is always calculated and at a distance, yet she never hesitates when it comes to Vi. Even in the jail scene from season 2, Cait was the one who orchestrated the whole rendezvous.

[@cattievogelsong96]

It is a really nuanced detail. Makes them feel like real people . I also like that Caitlyn is more willing to take a risk in intimate relationships. But almost nothing else and bi is happy to take risks in general but is not driven to put herself out there and seek romantic relationships. To be honest i am one of the people with the head cannon that vi is still a virgin when her and caitlyn…. Do stuff in that one episode. If not i feel like she was still a virgin when she left prison.

[@momogoes3329]

I love when Caitlyn says "you can't be here" when they meet up again in season two. It's like she's saying "shit's about to go down and I don't want you to get mixed up in it" because she's still being proactive over Vi. It's been pointed out by others but I love that Caitlyn added a chair to the room with the fireplace. She's showing that she's accepted Vi into her life and thinks she's there to stay. Also, she changed the draperies in her bedroom from green to violet.😊 10:44 30:08

[@nicolewashington6069]

I have always said their love language is physical touch. We see them touching each in moments of comfort, support and at moments when you think they should say I love you they do with a physical touch to the face. I took also noticed that the first person Vi asked for when she woke from her injury is Caitlyn, not Jinx. I also noticed that while Caitlyn is talking to Jinx she realizes that if she wants a 2nd chance from Vi, she needs to give that 2nd chance to Jinx. In the end Caitlyn chose love over revenge. Once Vi see Caitlyn chose her (which in her life has not happened much) she in turn chose her 🧁 her Cait.

[@BoyDugo02]

The best example of "show not tell" in their story is that not even once did they say "I love you" or similar things to each other.

[@Andrei2patrU]

Thank you for your video. Just a passing mention of the end of episode 6 when Vi got her stomach cut and Caitlyn didn't care 1 bit about jinx running past her, her gaze was fixed only on Vi. She was so in shock that she only came out of it after jinx gave herself up

[@biosignature1087]

A few thoughts about Cait and Vi. As far as I can tell no one other than Vi, except Jayce treats Cait as her own person, instead treating her as a Kirramann, which the entirety of season one Cait is trying to get away from and define her own life. We also see her in season 2 fall completely into the Kirramann role when Vi is gone. As for 107 with Vi calling out to Cait, chances are she is looking backing and sees a gun pointed at the face of her cupcake so understandable to be fair. In 205 im not sure i would give Cait credit for Vi's spiral alone. Vi is a geadstrong, driven fight, who is honestly alil simple at times, but she is also a traumatised and depressed young woman, so when there is nothing left to fight for she just sinks. Importantly she doesnt actively try to end herself and combine that with the fact that last time she saw Jinx in this mood, 208, Jinx shot a balistic missil at the council, it's not unreasonable that Vi's first thought isn't suicide at that moment. I do find it alil scary how easily people hate on Vi and Cait who are essentially good people doing bad things, compared to Jinx, who shows no sign of remours for the acts of terrorism she has commited. I love Jinx, but she is clearly not one of thr good guys

[@la_ky]

Really great and touching video. Congratulations. I just want to point out a couple of things: When Caitlyn and Vi have their first kiss, Caitlyn has a sad face because she knows she has changed and can't really promise Vi to be the same person she was before. And anyway, Vi asked her something impossible. Second point. In my opinion, in your video you should have mentioned the speech that Ambessa gives to Vi in episode 6. Vi, after having gone through her self-destruction phase also because of Caitlyn, is no longer sure of anything. Ambessa indirectly does her a favor. She confirms Caitlyn's love for Vi, a love so strong that it forces Ambessa to kill her. And probably in the cell scene when Vi says that she didn't care about the fact that Caitlyn had been with someone else, it's precisely because she is 100% sure of her love for her and that it is reciprocated

[@technewsfortechnoobs]

The way Cait pulled herself into Vi closer on the bridge still brings me to tears...because it just reminds me of what is missing in my own life. Someone who would be my own version of Cait.

[@RynCarmelith]

I love how you still have not moved on from arcane like some of us 😅 from the bottom of my hollow heart and brain 🧠 rott from arcane I thank you for these essays 💙

[@SenturosGaviannus]

1 does not simply move on from arcane... Because there is nothing out there like it... Nothing. What do you do when you find something so fucking good? You hold on... Even if you know you shouldnt.

[@jamakaya1332]

@@SenturosGaviannus Amen. Plus, there's no "shouldn't" with Arcane.

[@SenturosGaviannus]

@@jamakaya1332 there is... The show is way to dam brutal. I was happy before this... Now its all i ever think about.

[@michelleketterling2609]

Vi definitely cried when her parents died. They show it and powder comforts her.

[@aljmayr4826]

the season six cupcake thing is my favorite thing. both bc of how it activated cait like a lesbian sleeper agent and bc that whole episode is about vi and her giant marshmallow heart still loving her people even though they've done monstrous things. vander, jinx, now caitlyn, who has been so cold and lonely and angry and vengeful all season. right up until vi deliberately calls her a nickname they've established verbally means she thinks cait is sweet. like damn i'd crumble too.

[@selahdasher9765]

Also one thing i wanted to point out was in the sesbian lex scene although a part of one of her arms is bandaged her hands are not . While it was there to show the cuts on her hand from punching the wall, but i thought it also served as a great way to show how Vi doesnt need them to be around cait (as well as jinx) and it shows how she is able to be vulnerable around the people she loves. VI's hands are also unwrapped in the scene when Cait, her, Mel, and jayce are deciding what to do about viktor and cait hold her hand, this again just shows her ability to be vulnerable in front of cait even if it is something small

[@bloppyzefish6932]

Cait and Vi are so much show don't tell some people are upset that they don't spell out their apologies , regrets and love to each other. But that would totally not be in character, we already saw how they communicate non verbally in S1 so why should it suddenly be different? If anything they communicated more verbally than ever. But I guess it didn't fit the fanfiction standard of spelling out everything💀

[@frag_rj]

years and years of watching films, shows, analyzing them, read hundreds of books, all those stories and relationships never made me feel this ways, the way Arcane made me. It felt way too personal, specially the love story, I never really figure it out what it is, maybe the organic nature of it, maybe it's flawed not just rainbows and sunshine, but actual people, though it's animated, but my brain is like they are real right?!! Am I gonna ever recover from this? Every now n then watching people talking about how Cait did bad things, Vi did not acknowledge her traumas, but my aching heart wanna scream and tell them, "they are still young people, way too young maybe to bear those responsibility that circumstances throw at them". Jinx was too young to really understand the weight of consequences, Vi was too young to carry every guilt her shoulder, Cait was too young too handle the extreme emotion and leadership at the same time. But time taught them, war changed them as a person, Vi is not the same Vi that just wanna reunited with Powder, Cait is not that naive person who is gonna trust anyone easily, she grown up too. Mel now understand the weight of being a warrior. It's so flawed, imperfect, and that's make it so humane so real. Going to miss them so much until the next project.

[@masterofpuppets7586]

I 100 % agree on everything you wrote here. No show should have such an impact on it's audience as Arcane had - no HAS - on me, but I would never wanna miss this.🥹🧡 These are not just fictional characters. It goes far beyond...

[@harrietnafula3746]

Lets goo someone who gets my hate on maddie "a bed maddie was never in" comedy gold good work like fr good work😂😂 29:43

[@jamakaya1332]

Terrific video essay and great comments too. Thanks, everyone!

[@PricefieldPunk]

Omg a 40 mins CaitVi video! I do think Vi did not jump after Jinx to try and save her because she didn't want to leave Caitlyn alone in the world.

[@deltarios010]

Im so so excited, I love your character analysis and CaitVi needs some more love. Thankyou so much for these videos, they are very helpful and its so exciting to see someone just as passionate about these two lol. Sending lots of thanks and love ❤ 😊

[@Wazzaaap]

36:33 Good catch! I never thought to interpret that injury as “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” 👍🏼

[@MarcusVCPrado]

Wow...another great video...another great analysis...I totally agree when you say in its final that "they're not only an example of exquisite writting a masterful narration with all the pieces fitting, but also probably the best representation of a queer romance that's ever been written in a show" - the way their relationship was constructed and developed specially in season 1 is so beautiful, so tender and delicate that makes people fall in love for them the same way they felt in love for each other, and because of that, their return will certainly occur in a few years. P.S.: some people are theorizing that CaitVi is an explicit case of chinese mythology "Red String Theory", it means, they are destinated to be together - that's why they are both dead in Season 2 Episode 7...I love this theory...CaitVi forever.💟❤

[@TubaKolton_3208]

God I love these two so much. Thank you for making this in depth analysis of their relationship! They really do deserve each other and I am glad that the show ended with them getting a (somewhat) happy ending and them living together. However, since Christian Linke teased the possibility of Vi and Caitlyn returning in the future, I wonder how the arcane team will find new ways to develop Vi and Cait’s relationship now that they are actually together now, it’ll probably have something to do with Cait having the delema of weather or not to tell Vi that she knows Jinx is alive, but hey, I guess we’ll find out in like, 10 years max (since I don’t think we’ll be seeing them again for a LONG time 😂).

[@theplayer8725]

Thank God you're here to explain all this to us. There aren't many videos of the writers/directors explaining the characters' actions in detail. However, I have my own interpretation of the final scene and why Vi calls her Cupcake. Caitlyn is seen leaning worriedly and looking for reassurance on Vi's shoulder, asking her if everything is ok. Violet thinks about it. She calls her Cupcake and not Caitlyn because she is ironically communicating to her that she is hurting and that he needs her. She leans on his shoulder (like when she was in Vander's arms as a child) as a clear sign that she is the one who needs protection. It's as if she's telling her "I'll be with you BUT I'm hurt, I'm in pain and I need you to help me heal now, I need your care" thanks for your videos. I'm waiting for Caitlyn's pants video

[@elsabeaulieu]

You are the best. This essay is wonderful, and I think your choice of angle (focusing on how their story has been written visually) is more than a pretext to talk about Vi and Caitlyn. It does translate into a narrative (through your own telling of their story) which magnifies and develops the beauty of Arcane's storytelling style. One of the things I love so much about your essay (and all your Arcane essays, really), is the tenderness with which it is done. Magnifying the compassion for the human condition, and the love for the humans in the story which is the beating heart of the show, even with all its implacable showing of the character's mistakes and of their flaws and their violence. I agree that this is one of the best representations of queer/lesbian romance. Your work brings forth its value, and upholds this high standard of depth, nuance, complexity and beauty. I also love your touch of humour :-) On another note, I am wondering about an interpretation of the final scene which I came accross: that there is something ambiguous about Vi's response to Cait's question. That every time Vi had called Cait cupcake, there was a tension and that the nickname expressed something left unsaid. And that Cait knows that, and when she hears Vi reply in that way, it leaves her with an uncertain, bittersweet feeling. And that this is shown through the sadness in Cait's final expression. What do you think of that interpretation?

[@StopMeOh]

Thank you so much for all the kinds words, I really appreciate it :) Now interestingly enough I also got some comments about that and also thought of it myself - that's why I'll be making a video about that and all the other times "cupcake" was mentioned, how it usually meant to cover something up which seems to be (not sure yet) not coherent with the final use of that word which felt pretty straight forward.

[@toutankill]

I have to say it, this is your best essay so far. I loved every minute of it ❤

[@elahehkeshtkar7627]

I love them😭❤️ thank you for this video❤️

[@whoisthisperson8454]

Can’t wait! Although it saddens me that I’m already seeing videos of people calling Caitvi a “bad ship” and grossly mischaracterizing both Caitlyn and Vi

[@StopMeOh]

@@whoisthisperson8454 this video is for sure the opposite, I can promise you that

[@masterofpuppets7586]

This channel really is a safe place on this account. Overall very nice comments! We all share the same feelings in here I guess..😉

[@Fionalah]

Awesome as always Ola! Your Arcane essays are all amazing, but the Cait/Violet ones are a real labour of love

[@carlospaz264]

Hola. Siempre sigo tus vídeos. Adoro Caitvi, por favor, no dejes de hacer videos sobre ellas. Saludos desde Venezuela y de nuevo: GRACIAS POR UN VIDEO DE 40 MINUTOS HABLANDO DE ELLAS ❤

[@Victoria-el3kr]

Absolutely amazing video! I love watching all of your arcane analyses and its so amazing how much insight, creativity, and care you put into your videos! Thank you so much for all your hard work. Youre shining a light on all of the details that arcane wants us to notice and think about. Much love✨

[@lrkeisager236]

Again, a great video! I love how you explained all the small details, touches, eyes etc. You can really feel that you are a fan of Cait and Vi - and so am I ❤ Thank you for keeping them and their touching love story alive 😘 love your videos!

[@michaelcarlson1208]

Just wanted to say I loved this. Again I can't really add anything. 40 minutes is just amazing and thank you for the time, effort, and work. 💯

[@takrendracus5563]

This essay is wonderful, and so precious to me. Caitlyn and Vi are a good representation of the human nature in a variety of ways. All Arcane is about that, about how the human can be the best for love and the worts when the hate and wrath devours within. Is like the Victor's speech says, its all about humanity, the things we hold within us. Caitlyn and Vi choose love over hate, forgive over rage, union over discrepancies, they choose the things that makes more equals than the things that makes them different and choose over all the mistakes and conflicts each other, i think that is this what many people came from when they critizes them, that as humans we ever can choose the best but that needs much more efforts of action than words.

[@AuraGamingYTTV]

Cant wait! Caitvi has so much going for them and its sad that were laking in analysis for them- thank you for making this, excited to see it! ❤

[@masterofpuppets7586]

This was nothing less than amazing. So touching and on point. What a great story we were allowed to witness. But still.... I NEED MORE!!! ❤❤ Thank you Ola, you outdid yourself with this..

[@gaiamarini4395]

I love your videos, please don’t die

[@StopMeOh]

ahah, thanks, don't intend to anytime soon xD

[@michaelcarlson1208]

I second this, please don't die lol.

[@makkusu29]

40 minutes! You’re damn right I’m watching the whole thing. 😎

[@lucasgillopez2112]

Whoa, Your explanations are brilliant! You speak very well, thanks for this. It's a great experience listening to your videos. I love how you sumarize their journeys, how they start with hate and finish with love

[@slabozkurt4016]

Thank you so much for CaitVivideos of yours. ❤❤❤I love them so much that I can watch your videos every day over and over again. I hope there are more.💙💙💙

[@SenturosGaviannus]

Man i dont think im still ready for this vid. TIME TO FUCKING CRI!

[@Ferox2121]

I really adore how great the nonverbal expressions between Caitlyn an Vi were made. The artists behind Arcane are incredibly talented. The relationship between these two women is so believable that it easily tops many real life actors attempts to play believable relationships. And i still keep saying: You could easily take every second frame of Arcane and turn it into a great picture / poster for your wall.

[@LightningInRealLife]

Oh, sweet! I can't wait. I'll take this as a birthday present. 🎁 😆

[@StopMeOh]

@@LightningInRealLife ohhh happy birthday!!

[@LightningInRealLife]

@StopMeOh thank you 😊

[@masterofpuppets7586]

Happy Birthday!

[@LightningInRealLife]

@masterofpuppets7586 Thank you :)

[@michaelcarlson1208]

Happy birthday 🎂

[@icps86]

love your videos!! thank you for such deep insights!

[@07yato]

Thank u, very complete analysis and understand of caitvi relationship, I too want to see more of them❤

[@Sakura-ce1nz]

Can't wait😁❤

[@technewsfortechnoobs]

I did like how in the opening of Season 2 though, all the colors Cait sees....are Violet. The everything around her everything is Violet...and then there IS Violet.

[@07yato]

Thanks For your videos I saw all of them, greetings

[@gottacreatechannelstocomme858]

Soo stoked!!

[@BoredInMyBackyard]

Amazing analysis

[@mrsschwester27]

Love this❤❤❤❤

[@mkraulis]

I don't agree with every interpretation in this video, but good job as usual. When Caitlyn hits Vi with the rifle butt, episode 3, that scene is essentially the same as the one in S2 E3, when Vi hit Powder. Vi is left with nothing and no one (spirals into self destructive habits). Caitlyn instantly regrets the hit, leaves to deal with her own emotions, and later has regrets for her behavior. I think Caitlyn "switchin' sides when Vi called her cupcake is the moment Caitlyn realized she loved Vi more than she hated Jinx, and she needed to feel that love in her life.

[@takrendracus5563]

We need more of these two in your words

[@texn7526]

What a essay! That was so well written and thought out thank so much Ola🥰 26:03 🤣😂Oh, is that all?! Doesn't seem so bad really😉🤭 Next stop Pants essay🤣

[@tutunepan492]

I can't believe sometimes surpassed the Marcus hate meter: Maddie.... To think I loved that name in Euphoria 🥴

[@harrietnafula3746]

Omg ur just ngl soo relatable omg😂😂 32:17

[@tonneau6876]

Great video ! However if I had to say one thing is that we don't see a lot of Caitlyn regrets. I mean, we see some as you mentioned in the video but not enough. It would've been great to see Caitlyn more in doubt or being lost without Vi. For a lot of people they didn't see the redemption of Caitlyn and I think that's the problem in season 2. Wether it's the redemption of Caitlyn or the way Cait and Vi build up their relationship again, we are not shown enough of it. I agree it's better to show than telling but come on, we were not shown enough to see the proper evolution. If you want to show you have to let more time of it to convince the audience. Not 2 or 3 scenes to prove that "yeah they're back loving each other" or "yeah she betrays Ambessa, so everything she did is forgiven". Their relation is well written, nevertheless if we have had more time or more scenes to see it gradually rise again I think it would have been a lot better. (But being a fan of them I'm really glad they're together in the end :) ) (sorry if I've made some mistakes, I'm not fluent :/ )

[@masterofpuppets7586]

I agree, in season 2 CaitVi suffered the most from the lack of time they had. Be it Vi's ultra short emo phase or Caitlyn's redemption arc. With the time given they still managed to accomplish a lot, but more would have been better. Not everyone watches this show 4+ times and in addition brilliant essays like this. Many surely haven't realiized that Cait gave her seat in the council to Sevika. This is a big thing and clearly shows Caitlyn taking responsibility for her actions. Pretty sure there was a scene showing this more specific that was cut out. We can still hope for a directors cut. I would also expect that we will see at some point that CaitVi build the new Wardens as a unit for Piltover AND Zaun with equal members from both regions. This is actually already accomplished in LoR. This would be a huge part in reuniting the cities. This could be easily accomplished with a few scenes at the start of the new show or spin off (Jinx - Bilgewater?). There are also whispers of a lore heavy single player rpg. Would be a great setup to start with as well.😉 Many people would surely love to explore P&Z in such a game. And it is also a fact imo that much of the hate comes from fans of the many champions that didn't get a "happy ending" at all ("Why CaitVi then?!). I can understand their frustration a little ngl... There is still hope 😉

[@takrendracus5563]

She hesitates very much, but not speak loud about it much. There is a scene with Ambessa where Caitlyn points out two things, first: there always have to be a reason for a detention and " why the peace is always the reason for violence" . In the training with Ambessa, in their encounter with Singed, in their arrive to the Victor's community, there's always hesitation.

[@gyudon370]

10/10

[@aranthur]

Your mention of the similarities between Cait pulling Vi to her feet in 105 and 201 made me wonder if this is the moment Vi realizes she and Cait have to go after Jinx together, even if it means putting on a badge Just like in 105, Vi is about to be stabbed by a Shimmer-powered opponent and only survives because of Caitlyn and her perfect aim, even on a MOVING BLADE being swung by an enemy with literal superspeed. Maybe if she had brought Cait with her back then instead of going after Sevika alone, she could've avoided getting stabbed at all And in turn, Cait also gets attacked by a Shimmer-powered enemy for the second time in 201 and, unlike in 108 when Vi ran off without her to attack the factory, she is actually there to protect her girl this time Time to learn from her mistakes

[@LightningInRealLife]

Caitlyn: "Sorry to say you've grown a bit predictable." Everyone: 🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️ 🤣🤣🤣

[@michaelcarlson1208]

😂😂😂

[@StopMeOh]

I said what I said hah

[@Shmiite]

Great video! Do you plan on reviewing or talking about LiS:DE at some point? I know the community as a whole is disappointed but I would love to hear your thoughts :)

[@StopMeOh]

Yes review is recorded! Just need to finish editing as this video took over all my free time I had for that haha- and thanks!

[@blindsaint07]

I'm afraid that past s2act1 the show went 'don't show, don't tell' considering how little time they had together.

[@graveyardsoil]

The wound sevika inflicted was on.vis right abdomen. I believe if l remembered correctly

[@deltarios010]

I wanted to know your opinion on 2 things, as you seem to have one of the most knowledgeable, detailed and enjoyable ones :). What was Vi's back up plan if Cait didn't follow through and do you think Vi in the time skip following Caitlyn hitting her with her gun, really despised her for what she did, or in a way do you think she understood because she did the same thing to Powder in a way.

[@freddykent8470]

I can't believe they have some people out here saying that vi chose jinx over caitlyn. She chose caitlyn over jinx. She almost killed Jinx for Caitlyn.

[@scarlettwisteria]

I feel like this is where people get it wrong. It was more for herself than it was for caitlyn. Vi constantly drowns in guilt and feels liable for everything that happens to her sister. Not only does she feel responsible for powder becoming jinx, she blames herself for the events that transpired at the end of season one because her love for jinx prevented her from allowing caitlyn to shoot her (leading to the council building being blown up and caitlyn’s mom dying) That’s more so why Vi decides she needs to put an end to jinx, she feels like it’s her responsibility to do so. It would benefit caitlyn sure, but it wasn’t solely just to appease her. In some ways she actually believed she WAS doing it for her sister, she says as much with the line “I won’t let you stain her memory anymore” Apart from that moment there are countless other times where vi priorities jinx, even more so than she does caitlyn. I don’t know why people say she always chose cait over her because it’s just objectively untrue

[@crisssstopher]

i'm sorry but there's no way to defend how dirty they made caitvi this season. they totally ruined their relationship.

[@takrendracus5563]

You haven't seen much stories at all had you? Because in all the stories there are dirty seasons in every relationship, that seems to ruin it just to show you how the human can fail even with -and sometimes especially- the people they love. This is a human story.