Jinx: How Arcane Wrote Psychosis

[@AFlyingWalrus]

My intention of this video is not to diagnose Jinx. Whether she has BPD, DID, schizophrenia, PTSD, or any combination of mental trauma. Is beyond the scope of my intelligence, as i am not a trained professional. I have watched and been close to people who have had forms of psychosis and that experience is where im drawing from. I'm glad you are all are enjoying the video and I hope I was able to help some people understand psychosis better, and expand your knowledge of visual storytelling structures. Be kind to yourself.

[@roguetrick4590]

Honestly believe you did the subject matter justice...u should consider making a video about vi and silco n their experience of attempting to do right by jinx

[@circleofcats]

As someone who has a few friends suffering from DID and studying the illness for over 2 years now, I'm pretty sure jinx does not have DID. Yes she has 2 personalities but the main symptoms of DID is that your personalities actively are with you influencing your life. Jinx was created AFTER Powder got broken. But Powder isn't actively there anymore. She is the one in flashbacks, the one sane little girl Jinx remembers but- she's not a separate personality. It's a transition, like said in the video. But they're never there at the same time.

[@lbgherkin]

Yeah, it's a slippery slope diagnosing anyone from afar, especially when they're a fictional character. But you've done an admirable job of identifying the specific traumas (exacerbated by wilful manipulation by Silco) that have come to shape Jinx/Powder. When people criticize her tantrum in ep 3 as over the top, I don't think they're taking into account the fact that this is already a profoundly damaged child. She lost her parents to violence, which left her terrified of abandonment by her only remaining nurturer, Vi. It makes her obsessed with proving her worth to the others in her adopted family, trying to demonstrate that she deserves to belong -- something a normal kid would just take for granted. When Vi doesn't allow her to accompany them on their rescue mission, it triggers her worst fears, of being useless and therefore left behind. It's not surprising she'd undergo a full-blown panic reaction afterwards. I also appreciate that you pointed out the closeup that always kills me after Silco draws his last breath -- the way Powder/Jinx's eyes go from being full of anguished emotion to just being completely dead. I agree -- it's in this moment that Jinx is finally fully in charge, and it's not a moment of gleeful triumph. It's pure resignation.

[@lye_solution]

@@circleofcats true, jinx and powder are not alters so much as jinx is a persona that powder adopts as she separates herself into pieces. it isn't a subconscious compartmentalisation of personalities into amnesia-separated people, it's an almost intentional choice to separate her from herself.

[@circleofcats]

@@lye_solution yup exactly

[@SparklerBlack]

"its important to note that love alone is not enough to make something healthy" this hits so hard...

[@AFlyingWalrus]

Something I had to learn from experience. But unfortunately I think you can only learn it that way

[@tonydanatop4912]

@@AFlyingWalrus like how you cant bake a cake with JUST flower despite it being the main ingredient

[@mistushipper]

TRUUUTH

[@mistushipper]

speak ur truth

[@tonydanatop4912]

@@mistushipper Illaoi?

[@bennh3181]

Regarding Powder's panic scene making people feel uncomfortable...it should. As someone with a panic disorder, that is the most realistic depiction of a panic attack I have EVER seen on screen. THAT is what it can looks and feel like. Granted, everyone's panics look different, but if we never see how bad it can really get, it's easy to be dismissive of panic attacks and anxiety disorders.

[@YuugaoMegami]

Seriously, for me during that scene, the only thing missing was her getting physically sick and throwing up. Otherwise it's an exact copy of how my panic attacks happen. It's fucking awful and it's meant to be uncomfortable; idk why people think scenes like that should be less intense or whatever.

[@UnbreakableTaco]

I've only stumbled onto the scene through this video, as I've not watched Arcane yet, but speaking from experience, my worst panic attacks stemming from my anxiety disorder line up pretty distressingly well. To the point that it brought up old memories of reactions to situations long past. The scene perfectly encapsulates that 'cornered animal' feeling I get when I've been hit particularly bad by panic. Anxiety and panic are derided by so many people as "something you just need to grow up to get out of." That idea is outright bullshit, and I think more media needs to approach mental health issues with the same intent as Arcane seems to. Perhaps then, people like us might start being treated like real people, like adults, and less like "spoiled children" or whatever the popular justification is for stomping us into the dirt today.

[@navisakura7374]

I really resonated with when they showed her hitting her head and breaking her inventions in frustration; that kind of self loathing that can show itself during a panic attack is all to real to me. I remember ripping and marking up my drawings in pure distress, when normally my art is one of the most sacred things I own.

[@REChronic54]

I’ve watched several yt reactions of that scene and quite a bit of people responded to the effect of “wow she’s crazy” or “what’s wrong with you”. I know she’s just a fictional character but it truly makes me wonder how the people around me would respond if I were to have a panic attack like that. Would they just look at me like I’m a weirdo? Kind of sad.

[@yukiandkanamekuran]

SAME. It's so real. I felt that in my heart. And like, just dissociating afterwards by seeing the crystal, it's fucking wild.

[@Kalepsis]

Agreed. Jinx is written so well; less the Hollywood cliché "Sexy Psycho", and more "heartbreaking reality of mental trauma". What a masterpiece.

[@rustkarl]

It’s why I feel pity and sympathy for her rather. Crazy isn’t sexy, it’s not hot or glamorous to lose control of yourself. It’s terrifying on both sides. It’s quite painful as well because it will screw up your life.

[@hahayuck2169]

Really hate it when Movies make a mental illness “quirky” or “sexy” Sorry but it just doesn’t sit well with me :/

[@Iyana]

I loathe the whole "sexy psycho" trend. So many people sexualize serious mental illness and think its cute or quirky. I'm glad they didn't do this with Jinx. They even improved her character design, in my opinion. It looks less like a marketing team dressed her and more like she dressed herself.

[@kinda_cold_in_the_closet]

@@hahayuck2169 no need to say sorry it's the truth

[@Tystolfo]

@@hahayuck2169 I mean it's not just movies that are to blame... It's a popular trend on social media to wear mental illnesses as if they were badges to collect.

[@melissakimbrell447]

It’s surprisingly accurate how she never talks around people but talks when she’s alone. I suffer from psychosis and mild hallucinations, and I only ever speak when around VERY close friends or when I’m having auditory hallucinations

[@khomikoow5994]

You speak with people that you trust are “on your side”. Am I correct?

[@khomikoow5994]

You speak with people that you trust are “on your side”. Am I correct?

[@melissakimbrell447]

@@khomikoow5994 yeah pretty much

[@theone-eyedwitch900]

As an autist with cptsd, it’s extremely relatable

[@kreiskhaos8516]

Yeah, when the hallucinations are going strong, I just shut down verbally. People who care about me and know me well can slowly pull me out of it, but people I barely know trying to talk to me will usually get a shrug or indifferent sound. I've started using hand signals when it gets bad since talking is so hard. Doesn't help that it makes me stutter and lose concentration more easily.

[@SkinnyPaninis]

Another interesting thing that my partner pointed out to me about a lot of Jinx's psychosis scenes is that there's usually a violin playing in the background. Not sure what the significance of that is, but it's something that I found fascinating after looking into it.

[@AFlyingWalrus]

I'm kind of slapping myself in the forehead right now. Violins in classical music usually represents fragility, sadness, sympathy and joy. Which makes perfect sense

[@unknown_individual7050]

@Jinx Powder I've seen your comments and posts all over Arcane media and let me tell you, I'm in the same boat. I can't escape.

[@SkinnyPaninis]

@@AFlyingWalrus Right, that does make a lot of sense. I should've caught onto that, lol.

[@SanguinaryBlade]

Violins are great at making quick, sharp, almost erratic sounds, so it's natural it really fits with quick cuts and the scratchy sketched look to many of the halucinations

[@mostlyoddnumbers6274]

And in 'What Could Have Been' the violins are the star of the show and it builds up to that really harrowing violin solo Thank you for this honestly, I can't believe there are still details I missed. Its just so well thought out its crazy

[@SanguinaryBlade]

I will never cease to be impressed by how they made Jinx, who is more or less a harley quinn knockoff in the game, into a deeply sympathetic character with a sense of inevitable tragedy to her, and yet still keeping the very recognizable 'crazy' quirks game Jinx have, just in a manner that's much more grounded. I love how you get the feeling she never really had a chance, that every action she takes to try to do good, ends horribly. She blows up her family while trying to save them, she kills her father in a panic reaction and/or in trying to protect her sister. It took me a second viewing for it to sink in that -that- was why she accepted she was a Jinx. If every time she tries to do good, she kills those she loves, why fight the inevitable? That sort of self destructive self hatred and nihilism is... terribly relatable. Add onto all the trauma she's endured, whatever plethora of mental illnesses has been compounded or brought on by it all, and then being absolutely dosed up to the eyeballs (Literally, they're freaking pink) on shimmer? It's really no wonder she feels so inevitable, and yet the show manages to make you wish for her to somehow escape that. AND all at once, while making her sympathetic, tragic, relatable and likable... It NEVER shies away from the horrors she comits, really plays them down or makes excuses for her. It really is a remarkable accomplishment.

[@RonniV2]

The shimmer thing is also an example of her trying to do good. She tried to sacrifice herself on the bridge to end the chaos she's brought onto everyone, only to be "revived" by Singed and Silco with a crap-ton of shimmer.

[@bloodbrothers6556]

@@RonniV2 the cruel world bringing her back even when she tried to die at her happiest.

[@greenlantern7959]

Jinx can’t even die on her own terms. Vi turns away in the arms of an enforcer, Ekko defeats her but sees that she’s still there, she meant to die on that bridge. Now she’s pumped full of shimmer, her sister is terrified of her, and she kills the one person who lover her for who she is. She can’t even die without being a jinx after death

[@danii7584]

@@RonniV2 lol what? no. no offense but that's utter nonsense. she failed to get back her sister after apparently being replaced, and then is defeated by a childhood friend turned enemy. I don't know where you get the idea that she is trying to set things right. the way I see it she has failed after "everyone" turned against her, leading to her having nothing left and therefore blowing herself up, realizing she can't win.

[@crazybabuskaman3923]

Jinx is much more realistic than Harley. Harley is great nonetheless, but Jinx has gone through a much more real traumatic experience. Her story is tragic asf, and puts Harleys to shame.

[@inferiorinferno8859]

As someone who actually had a psychotic depression in her teenage years due to PTSD, I can actually tell you she felt relatable. I can see bits of how it felt for me when watching her arc in Arcane, and whilst I'm still mapping out the kinks of the idea, I actually have been thinking of making a Jinx edit solely out of those relatable scenes to showcase how psychosis stemmed from trauma feels like as someone who's actually been there.

[@AFlyingWalrus]

I'm sorry you went through that. I've know and been close to people that have suffered various forms of psychosis. It's not something that I think anyone should take lightly. Be kind to yourself.

[@darthdarth4297]

I’ve had ptsd from being bullied as a kid. I didn’t recognize it as ptsd for a long time because I always associated it with “real trauma” like being a veteran, rape victim, or a car crash. Seeing jinx helped me realize I got ptsd

[@inferiorinferno8859]

​@@AFlyingWalrus Precisely, it shouldn't. One of the events that are responsible for my PTSD, actually has to do with an issue that specifically happened in my country where victims are finally opening up about the damage it's done, and that is how I got the idea for using Jinx for an edit in an attempt to convey how I felt when I was her age. In the Netherlands, there was a huge shortage at mental health clinics for juvenile patients a while back. I needed help for depression from an earlier traumatic event. I, and plenty of other kids, would be taken to juvie for the mentally ill instead without a criminal record or anything. Like Vi, I got locked up without a criminal sentence or trial or anything, in the worst juvie my country has. I was 14. My mom got me out after a month because there was no sentence keeping me there, but my inmates had broken my already fragile and traumatized mind into pieces in that month. I know another girl who went through the same thing. I'll never forget what prison felt like. Some memories, will haunt you forever. That feeling of being haunted, is one of the things I relate to the most when it comes to Jinx' pyschosis and why I personally believe it simply stems from trauma and not schizophrenia. It always just stays with her, driving her mad at the slightest remembrance. Even after giving it all a place, I still can burst out in tears regularly when I'm even thinking of an idea like such an edit, but I do want people to know what it feels like to be traumatized to the point it literally drives you insane, and to make my own stance in the situation in my country clear because this should NEVER happen again.

[@yeontanseyebrows5588]

@@inferiorinferno8859 please tell if you post the edit somewhere, I would absolutely love to watch it if you finish it

[@kurt3790]

I have schizophrenia and i get paranoid for no reason when im off meds

[@LacrosseAlmighty]

Will always wish there was a scene of lil Ekko and Powder interacting. It's easy to infer their friendship but we never actually see it on screen, only in the enemy music video

[@AFlyingWalrus]

That really is my only nit pick of season 1. I understand they had to cut scenes to due time constraints, but I still wished it could have happened.

[@chiefpurrfect8389]

I believe they will delve into that in the future. One of the writers confirmed that they had actually written a scene between them after Vi "left" Powder- which did not make the cut in this season- that ties in with Jinx's "oh look who it is, the boy savior!" line on the bridge. Though it's no confirmation that it WILL be included it tells us that there's a story there, and one that the writers made an effort to explore to the point of actually putting pen on paper. I believe we will be given more context on their relationship when it becomes a more focal point of the story in the future, probably in the form of a flashback. S1 was mostly focused on Powder & Vi/Jinx & Silco.

[@TheAutisticBrewer]

@@chiefpurrfect8389 omg if they do this it will be amazing

[@meleewulf]

That’s partially true; We do get to see a glimpse into their friendship with the entirety of the Dynasties and Dystopia Bridge scene. Ekko takes advantage of his and Powder’s childhood memories to predict Jinx’s bullet projectories by reminding Jinx of the game they used to play. I do wish they had more than just that scene alone, there’s lots to explore there.

[@Kwisbyfwy223]

And kind of their fight scene too. I agree though

[@caiuscosades362]

At their reunion, when Jinx asks "who's she?" she's not asking because she wants to know who Cait is, she clearly remembers her from progress day and instantly recognizes her as an enforcer disguise or not. She is asking who she is in relation to Vi, when Vi says she's a friend the trust between them is severed.

[@Alice-si8uz]

Its also a point that enforces killed their family and were part of why life was/is so hard for them. Saying an enforcer is a "friend" is saying Vi is siding with the enforcers and top siders. Vi might as way have been labeling herself a traitor in Powders mind. Note; I dont like calling Powder Jinx during most of season 1 as the name is a part of her trauma and while yes she accepts the name at the end it was used to insult her in the past. Its in essence a way to put blame on her for something which is something that may not fully be her fault.

[@caiuscosades362]

@@Alice-si8uz Yes, since the day their parents died, whenever powder sees an enforcer they are depicted with horns in her visions, they are the devil themselves to Jinx and they all deserve to die.

[@VinVin_31]

@@Alice-si8uz Using the name jinx in a logical sense would be better, it would be odd to call her a name she’s isn’t comfortable with especially with the panic issues…. She’s obviously a show character tho, so whatever.

[@DLxxx]

They literally fight back to back. The trust between them wasn't "severed" just because Jinx was momentarily paranoid.

[@caiuscosades362]

@@DLxxx But in the following episode Jinx hears Milo's voice, and it makes her feel conflicted. This is because Milo is Jinx's voice of reason, Jinx's true thoughts. Jinx took vi's words "milo was right" to heart.

[@axthxrn]

9:53 tbh anyone who thought this was "too much" probably hasn't experienced that level of panic attack before. As someone who's had panic attacks at that level before, arcane managed to capture it perfectly. The loud messy crying, the yelling, the throwing things out of anger, her hitting her head, it's all so well done and so realistic

[@hanarem]

I agree with you, I've had a panic attack before and it was as bad as that one.

[@MassimoMerolla-mm4rf]

I don't think he's saying "too much" in terms of it being glorified. I agree they did a fantastic job depicting it and that's what's meant by too much. For me personally as someone who was in that state for 2 months, I can watch those scenes and think "yeah those were rough times". My parents however, on the outside would absolutely hate those scenes, it's too much for them. I really like the character because when I'm making new friends, IF for some reason I feel the need to share my past I feel I'll be a bit more understood.

[@ericjohnson6120]

Not sure if the symbolism or whatever is on purpose, but i just noticed that the hair colors of Jinx, Vi, and Caitlyn could be foreshadowing. Vi has red/pink hair, Powder/Jinx has blue hair, adn Citlyn has violet/purple hair. In the color spectrum purple separates red and blue.

[@rotwang2000]

Arcane is filled to the brim with so many references. Vi and Caitlyn seem different, but then you notice they are both muscular, Vi obviously more than Caitlyn, but it also reflects their mental strength and also shows they do have things in common. Very layered and designed to reward multiple viewings.

[@Silly_Sulky_Seli]

Caitlyn's hair being a purplish blue works as Jinx both thinks she wants to separate Vi from her (purple) and also replace her (being a new blue)

[@katkittykat1592]

YOOOOOO

[@mayatorres3635]

Aren’t violet and purple the same colors but with different shades?

[@Slinky0205]

There are also a lot of details where the color blue is next to the color red/pink, resembling the relationship between Powder and Vi. It could also mean that a better relationship between Jinx and Vi might still be possible in season 2.

[@kismetfolly4954]

As someone with BPD who's also suffered severe Psychosis. watching arcane made something visceral react in me. Especially growing up very poor she felt like an extension of me

[@sarawalten7949]

same here

[@kinda_cold_in_the_closet]

i never had psychosis or any mental disorder except severe anxiety and slight odc. with jinx, i _felt_ her emotions, her toil, her trauma, and it's so beautiful. i now understand psychosis, something glorified, through the eyes of jinx.

[@habeo_nomen]

Same

[@lilgh0stttt]

yes, it’s very relatable

[@vanitrix]

Yes. I also suffer from bpd and I feel so close to what Jinx feels like in a lot of scenes. She is truly amazingly written.

[@SandyTheDesertFox]

As a person with severe mental illness i had to stop watching Arcane for a few days after the first scene portraying Jinx's psychosis. It was triggering to me not just due to mental illness being portrayed, but how close to home it came, as i realised the scribbles representing Jinx's 'demons' looked exactly like mine back in the psych ward.

[@SandyTheDesertFox]

Although of course, mine didn't take the shape of Mylo or Claggor. Mine were typically scratchy wolves with scratched out eyes. But still the same style. It became disturbingly personal and had to contact a friend to calm me down That being sad, i don't fault Arcane for anything. I actually found it a sign of an incredible art piece that it was so 'real' to me

[@meegle.teedle]

This was me with the Sumi and Taka scene in Castlevania season 3. It hit too hard as someone with CPTSD. I can't watch that season anymore, and haven't since it came out. Other seasons are fine, just not that one.

[@greserden8591]

Kinda funny. Schizophrenia is what I personally suffer from and the exact same thing happened with me; I had to stop watching for a little while when the psychosis scenes kicked in. It felt all too real somehow and triggering to an extent. Just goes to show how great of a job they did with Arcane/Jinx specifically regarding mental illness. I wish you all the best

[@yc2877]

I love when shows portray my mental illness correctly it gets me hooked on the show. I break down but almost in a happy way

[@jackskellington4198]

I had to also take a break from Arcane. It was getting to me at times because I have a history of hallicunating talking/sounds, as well as shadow people and seeing a woman that wasn't really there. My mom was sympathetic about it, but not so much my dad since he'd be irritated for me sleeping in their room or just being scared in general. He was one of those people who could sleep soundly after watching any horror movie. I've dealt with this on and off as a kid and a lot throughout high school and college years. It was one of the main causes for my plummeting grades in college besides depression and I was also dealing with other shit too. That's besides the point though. Even though I haven't done anything as detrimental as Jinx, her character was getting way too relatable for me. Still is. Not only the hallicunations but the paranoia. I get way more paranoid now then hallicunate things. I can get way too much into my head and then explode. Learning/going through hard shit lately hasn't helped, but my whole family and myself are just trying to heal and take it day by day.... I can't imagine how other people feel/has gone through. Not just personally, but all the outside shit goin on on top of that. I'm very grateful and we are at a much better spot now mentally and situation wise, but I still struggle to find any motivation and I still have a lot of fear and uncertainty inside of me, as well as trust. I only hallicunate sometimes now, but it's still a part of me that I can't completely shake off. I still get scared at night and deal with anxiety. I hope things have improved for you too and I just felt like responding since I really relate to this despite never being diagonsed with anything and feeling like a freak for a long time before accepting it more as a part of me. I do want to talk to a therapist, I just don't feel ready yet. I'm not going to self-diagnose myself in any way. I do recongize when I experience depression or moreso anxiety since it's pretty common and I've dealt with it for a long time. I just don't want to assume I had schizophrenia or some type of attention disorder like ADHD. Either way, I'm super sorry this is so long, but wanted to share my experiences and thoughts on the matter since I know others can relate too. 💕

[@lightfractals]

the scenes with her breaking down are so good it almost feels like it's written by people who went through it

[@cynthiasoolihua2410]

Exactly. Every time she had one it sounded looked and felt like every time I’ve had one of my own

[@LittleSparklingStars]

Smoll french studio that works for rito doing the state of the art here.

[@RejectedInch]

wich is most likely what happened. You cannot portray faithfully the gasping for hair while wanting to throw up your soul ( the panic attack/psycotic crises) unless you went through it

[@cellowhite314]

As someone who struggles with mental illness and a severe fear of abandonment, powders breakdowns seriously messed me up. The especially the *"WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME?!"* . That. was way too real for me

[@cynthiasoolihua2410]

100% agreed. Every one of her meltdowns I’ve had my own version of too. It hit incredibly close to home.

[@SethHMG]

Just reading that sentence sent a shiver through me.

[@saorisaya3329]

I mean, I cried with her 😂

[@Angi3_6]

As someone with Schizo affective disorder (among other diagnosis), I had to take breaks while watching Arcane because of how realistic and accurate her break down were. I also had to take breaks while watching this video too. Both have great writing. I’m genuinely worried that people will try to mimick her behavior so they can be “quirky” and “cool” like Jinx. Mental illness is not “quirky” or “cool”. I also really like how Jinx was never viewed as attractive for her mental illness, unlike Harley Quinn. Even though she is the character exposing the most skin, she never falls into the male gaze. I feel like she doesn’t glorify mental illness, unlike Harley Quinn.

[@M1ManOwaR]

That has been a concern of mine for a very long time, the glorification and "fad" of mental illness. I've seen too much of it in those I care for to see the coolness factor. It is painful to see someone I care for suffer and be utterly powerless to help them. I often tell people that I do not like HQ, and you put into exact words what I have not.

[@VenhedisKaffas]

I wholeheartedly agree with what you said about Silco. Like, this is no hate against him. He's such a good character and I fully believe he loved Jinx as a daughter and wanted the best for her. However, he's basing it all on his own traumatic experiences. Which he hasn't dealt with either. Jinx even mentions something like it herself before the tea party scene. She mentions his "hard-won lessons" and "thinking everything was the same as when Vander left him". Which it's not. He projects his vision of Vander onto Vi and his vision of himself onto Powder. He tries to make her follow the same road he followed because it made him strong. However, the situation is not the same. Powder is clearly not doing okay, the situation she experienced was different and instead, he gave her a gun and sent her to his enemies. I get that it's also important to keep in mind what setting we're in. Silco really was the only option, as the Undercity isn't exactly the best place for a kid to grow up in the first place and everyone around Powder died or wasn't around. Just saying, Silco tried but he was far from a perfect father.

[@AFlyingWalrus]

And this is exactly my point with Silco. He tried, but he didn't know how to succeed, causing further harm and manipulation.

[@xCoatlicuex]

People often forgets something basic of good made characters, they are good because are relatable, they can make mistakes and have flaws. They try to white wash the image of Silco to make him some kind of "good parent" when the reality is he was pretty bad at raising Powder and made her the tikebomb Jinx is. Of course he loved her, but at his way who wasn't a sane one.

[@laurens.6940]

In reality, no one is good or evil. People can try and love to their fullest extent and still do awful things with the people they care about. Silco's not a good parent or a good person, but he's not evil either. I love how Arcane forces this concept on the viewer.

[@sababezhashvili598]

@@laurens.6940 Idk mate, I'd take "truly loved Jinx but just pushed her down the wrong path out of not knowing" Silco over "Really only manipulated and knowingly pushed her down the crazy kamikaze-style bomb to use" Silco.

[@laurens.6940]

@@sababezhashvili598 I don't think either of those are a fair characterization. He clearly wanted to turn her towards his own ends rather than ever allowing her to be her own person. And his own ends constantly put her in harms way, into the reach of death, and involved hurting and killing other people. Even if he thinks the ends justify the means, that isn't an excuse to bring your daughter into it. Doesn't make sense to paint him as the well-meaning father who just didn't quite get it right.

[@HK-gm8pe]

wow, finally someone brings this topic up, I have bipolar with psychotic features which means that I have hallucinations and delusions at times but hankfully mostly thanks to medications I have them (mostly) under control , I also have social phobia, I feel physically sick when I am around of punch of people and also my paranoia and delusions kick out , some of the scenes with Jinx were soo well done that I actuallyfelt even a little triggered....but even more I felt Jinxs pain when I was later reading the comments and for my disappointment many,many people didnt understand whats happening with her at all ....mental issues are still sooo misunderstood in our society. Great video btw :)

[@AFlyingWalrus]

Thank you for the comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I'm sorry you have had to go through that in your life, to then see people misrepresent or misunderstand what you've gone through. I've know people and close to people with forms of Psychosis which is where I pulled a lot of information from for this video. As well as myself to a lesser extent. (CPTSD) unfortunately not all positive feed back as people don't like me talking negatively about Silco, or think that I misdiagnosed Jinx. But hey, you do what you can you know? Please be kind to yourself.

[@HK-gm8pe]

@@AFlyingWalrus I think your video was brilliant ,about Silco... yeah relationship was toxic ofcourse but I also think that jinx never had a chance anyway...because there doesnt seem to be psychatrists or therapists in Zaun....instead the pumped her full of Shimmer that made her even more unstable, maybe if she would have born in Piltover , she really went trough soo much pain and suffering and whats worse...she was all alone in this, I have very lucky that I have husband who is by my side, amazing psychatrist and medications really do help....I cant even imagine living with my illness untreated, it would be like hell , but yes, in my opinion you explained her situation very,very well and whats happening in her head . Keep making videos :)

[@sportenapfeltorten2095]

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience. You have all my empathy. I just watched a video from a creator called Oakwyrm, partially on the same topics as dicussed in this one. Oakwyrm's video is all about representation of disabilities in arcane, and they come to a drasticly different conclusion about the quality of this representation than Flying Walrus. One of their main critiques of Jinx is, as I understand, that the the trope of "scizophrenia leads to people becoming murderers" is harmfull. (this critique makes sense to me) The video is called: "Arcane, Disability, and More" I myself do not have a mental illnes, so I would be interested what you think about that take on the topic of Jinx and (representation of) mental illnes. Only if you like to, and it doesnt couse any trouble or harm. Please do not feel pressured in any way. My aim is also not to say all people with some kind of mental illnes have to think about this topic the same way, I just want to leran mor about a topic I do not have much insight in. Especially because I liked arcane very much and now I don't really know what to think. Im am not a native speaker, so please excuse any grammar or orthography mistakes. If I said anything weird or harmfull I am sorry and please tell me so I can do better. I wish you all the best in any way possible. (is this an adequate thing to say?)

[@mossripalextechno6450]

@@sportenapfeltorten2095 i saw that vid too.

[@sportenapfeltorten2095]

@@mossripalextechno6450 Ah nice! I was kind of sad because i like arcane so much and I dont want to hear anything bad about it, but I think Oakwyrm is actually right in the points he makes. Although in this comment-section there are some people that actually quite like the depiction of Jinx mental problems, I think the underlying narrativ is still harmfull. Which is extra sad because I especially like Jinx. Well what do you think? Please tell me (If you like) :o)

[@rainbowwigglecactus6605]

Silco and Jinx's relationship is ABSOLUTELY toxic and I understood that perfectly when watching the show, even after hearing people glorify their relationship. Yes, they love and care about each other, but it's STILL toxic and manipulative

[@OReily08080]

I'm tired of people glorifying their relationship. It is just complex and toxic

[@Sorrowdusk]

@@OReily08080 It's "drama" . People love "drama" in stories .

[@OReily08080]

@@Sorrowdusk Yeah, me too. And? There are people who find it interesting, and there are people that glorify it in a way that completely disregard or justify Silco's toxicity. Your point?

[@OReily08080]

@@Sorrowdusk and why did you put quotations

[@rainbowwigglecactus6605]

@@OReily08080 probably because they meant other people don't grasp the severity of the abuse and interpret it as drama

[@eternal7912]

Jinx has got to be one of my all time favorite characters (maybe even number 1 for me). They did such an amazing job depicting her in Arcane that she is somehow badass, adorable, scary and heartbreaking within very little screen time. Every scene with Jinx has you on edge because she is so unstable and has been twisted into a mass murdering psychopath. She's terrifying and does terrible things, and yet you feel bad for her because inside she's just a scared little girl, tormented by hallucinations caused by guilt and abandonment, who only wants to be loved... and as wild a character as she is, Jinx is incredibly relatable.

[@AFlyingWalrus]

I love her because yes, she is a villain that does horrible things. But it's because she's a victim. She doesn't fully understand what's she's doing. She broken, hurting, and unsure of what to do. We can emphasize with her because we see how heartbreaking her story is. It really is remarkable.

[@devxro]

Jinx isn't psychopathic - she has real emotions and can empathize with people on a personal level - much more than any psychopath is physically capable of doing. She became so close to Silco because she empathized with him, and her emotions clearly clouded her judgment of him. Silco? He's a certified psychopath - everything he does is for himself and he only tries to sympathize with people to gain their trust. But yes, she was indeed twisted into a murderer, a villain in regards to the story. It's still heartbreaking to see someone with so much potential to do good become the way she is now - it's why we empathize with her so strongly.

[@eternal7912]

@@devxro Psychopaths can feign empathy, which could be what Powder did in the very first scene, as all the death that surrounded them didn't actually seem to bother her. However she's got attachment issues, so she may have feigned being sad out of survival and approval of the guardian she was attached to. When she killed Silco, those tears very well could have been more for her own loss then actually for the person she hurt. Is Jinx actually a psychopath? I'm not 100% sure, but its possible and it would explain why she seems to have absolutely no empathy for 99% of the many people she kills.

[@Roach_Dogg_JR]

@@devxro I would say Silco certainly has feelings. Maybe in the first 3 episodes he did not, but but it the end he was clearly struggling with the idea to turn jinx in in return for Zaunian independence. If he was a true psychopath he would have no problem giving her up to get to his ultimate goal. I think it's likely that he meant it when he said he would never give jinx up.

[@laurens.6940]

@@eternal7912 soldiers are a little bit different from the other shades of humanity, and I would argue that's what Vi and Jinx were both trained to be: something like soldiers. In order to do what is required of you, you learn to cut off your empathy at a certain point from those beyond your immediate, relevant circle. It's more of a defense mechanism than actual psychopathy. Doubtful she would have acted this way if she were raised in a stable, safe environment.

[@reydragonclaw1128]

The hearts over Powder's eyes in one of the flashbacks stabs me every time, I get such "You were toxic and I was so stupid to love you" vibes from that, and it _chills me_

[@Whywhy_56]

This isn't completely on topic but I find the depiction of Powder's abandonment and plead for Vi really hard to watch. The way she was laying helpless, and distraught really brought me back to a certain memory that i had repressed and my god, her expressions were so heartbreaking. It was a very powerful scence to me with almost brought me to tears. The writting in this show is outstanding.

[@aspen2098]

As someone with BPD and extremely intense psychosis as a symptom of it, Jinx is one of the ONLY characters I've ever truly seen myself in. The ONLY time that I've seen a character express pain the same way I do. I cant tell you how important Jinx as a character is to me. Bless the people behind her writing.

[@m1zumisaki]

have u seen Infinity Train? u might like Simon :,)

[@hexlart8481]

Its worth noting as well that at the end, Jinx's last lines are "I thought maybe you could love me like you used to. Even though I'm... different." Its a pretty potent encapsulation of a very real pain that people with any kind of mental illness, neurodivergence, or disorder go through. Rejection over your perceived "brokenness", a desire to fix rather than understand, a desire to reclaim what was lost even if that doesn't actually exist. Schizophrenia is typically a disorder that develops relatively late in life, late teens to early adulthood. Like 16-27 I think. So if Jinx is schizophrenic it could quite literally be that she's yearning to be loved even while being different, but not finding that love in anyone except Silco. Vi wants to "fix" her and get Powder back but the truth of the matter is that schizophrenia, like many mental conditions, never goes away. You have to learn to live with it. That fundamental misunderstanding, held by just about every character in the show, is what actually isolates Jinx. Its not Silco, or not _just_ Silco, its also the fact that everyone, even her old friends, refuse to try and understand her as she is today. And to build on that point, the ending perfectly encapsulates this. Not only have Vi and everyone in her life at that point rejected her with the sole exception of Silco, but the system has too. Cast out onto the streets, not offered the support she needs, and living in poverty resulting in a life of crime, Jinx is branded as a psychopath who deserves the hell of prison rather than a person shaped by her environment and deserving of compassion. Irl our support systems for mental health are woefully incompetent and often only available to people who are well off, meaning the vast majority of people with mental health issues live in poverty and many end up in prison. Mental institutions are often seen as worse than prison, even in a world that has moved on from asylums and a lot of the most harmful "treatments" for mental health. It is important not to see people as broken. Not to try to "fix" where it doesn't apply. Empathy and understanding are key, and with them you can move forward. Schizophrenia, PTSD, or any other disorder are manageable, but only if surrounded by people who understand and support you. Only when living in a society where you have access to the support you need. The ending of Arcane didn't need to happen, but even to the end the people in power refused to try and understand. Even as they brokered peace, it was built on the incarceration of Jinx. In the end, Jinx is the monster they created, not the monster her illness created.

[@linarinna]

I love your brain, this was truly enjoyable to read

[@Heartz4horror]

As a schizophrenic, she was a breath of fresh air for me. I’m sick of psychotic female characters being sexy while covered in blood and blowing things up, the fact that she’s a tragic character who has a personality is so refreshing. A lot of her mannerisms match mine so I was happy to see her being portrayed well

[@tysyrie]

In Jinx’s diary you can see her outlook on death. She thinks that they go to a better place and the afterlife is much better. (In mental terms, life is bad and she knows it) so in that scene, you’re met with her outlook on death. She says in her diary, (not word for word) “Why are they sad” I think it uses duckies in it. And refers them going. To a better place- therefore I think she’s not afraid of death but rather is welcome to it and it’s another reason as to why she chose to out herself when Ekko beat her, she thinks she’ll go to a better place

[@tysyrie]

That’s my own personal outlook though! You made some wonderful points in the video!

[@AnotherJenn42]

Jinx isn’t my favorite character (there are so many brilliant, well written characters), but she does carry the most weight and has a ton of impact on the story. I love that the seeds of her mental illness are planted in the opening scene. She was always going to go crazy, but becoming a mass murderer was not a foregone conclusion. A good example of nature vs nurture. I’ve been recommending Arcane since I first watched it, but so many people are put off by the animation and the ‘based on a video game’ legacy. It’s so frustrating because the animation is what makes it so visually stunning and the video game ... well, if you don’t know, it doesn’t matter.

[@danielbilodeau9045]

"well, if you don’t know, it doesn’t matter." This encapsulates one of Arcane's greatest strengths. Unlike many other adaptations , it doesn't rely on _being an adaptation_ to tell its story.

[@javascriptsophie4958]

You'll love Azula from Avatar the Last Airbender

[@karolinakuc4783]

It's argueable if she is the most impactful folk in Arcane season one. Jayce despite his good intentions screwed just as much with his bad political decisions and so did Heimer over 300 years. Still story is focused on Jinx and her complex character.

[@AnotherJenn42]

@@karolinakuc4783 That’s what makes Arcane so brilliant! No character is isolated, their decisions and actions directly impact each other and the story. I still say Powder/Jinx has the most impact on the story. She is the direct cause of the explosion on the apartment which brought Jayce and Viktor together. She caused the explosion that killed her adopted family, got Vi arrested, and brought her under the influence of Silco. She blew up the building, killing the enforcers and stealing the gemstone, that motivated Caitlyn resulting in the liberation of Vi and woke up the council, bringing on the crackdown of the under city. And of course, she killed Silco and nuked Piltover. Jayce’s most impactful political decisions result from Jinx’s actions. He’s motivated to act after the explosion and realizes the system is corrupt. As for Heimerdinger (I usually refer to him as Hoomerdoomer just for fun), he’s almost a passive character. He is resistant to change and is always advising caution which gets him kicked off the council. Even when he ventures into the under city, he has no plan. He claims no one wanted his help, but he doesn’t do anything or even try to talk to anyone. (Yes, he makes the toy for the child, but he doesn’t approach her. She comes to him.) He was instrumental in the creation of Piltover, but that happened before the series. The character we see is one of complaisance. One could argue that if Jayce hadn’t gone shopping in the under city or had the stones in his possession, the story wouldn’t have happened at all, but these actions are still passive. He never would have cracked the arcane without Viktor and the explosion brought them together. I love this show.

[@contentstarved991]

I think Vi carries more weight than jinx. She gave Powder so much love and Jinx took it for granted and passed her own burdens onto her.

[@marcelineabadeer8380]

I really love Jinx and was really blown away at how well Arcane built and created a story this fantastic and incredibly well laid out. You really feel and comprehend the turmoil and struggles Jinx goes through both mentally and emotionally she’s someone who just wants to be loved but horrible tragedy and circumstances sent her down a path that progressively consumes and overwhelms her mind. All the guilt and misery she felt from Vander’s death and Vi pushing her away her relationship with Silco that while loving ultimately was a very unhealthy one that instilled even more conflicting and unstable feelings in Jinx. I really love how Jinx is likable funny exciting and compelling but they story makes you perfectly understand she is really tragic and the path that lead to her becoming who she is in the present is a horrifying and emotionally excruciating one.

[@DarkErrant]

Just to mention something about the dinning scene. The shot that almost hits VI comes from Silco, who is trying to stop Vi from hurting Jinx further more. I believe he understand that those memories, as you said, are no longer happy memories for Jinx, as they are for Vi. So he tries to stop Vi by shooting at her which triggers what you already mention on Jinx.

[@danii7584]

also one might consider that they might have never been happy memories for jinx, but only to vi, and that vi in this regard does the same thing that silko does, which is to project his own struggle and views onto jinx.

[@_thyshj2435]

Yeeah fair enough but Vi was in a life threathening situation...not only was her life at stake but also Caitlyns ...its not like she had the time to think it through...the only reason she was there, in a very dangerous situation, is because Jinx kidnapped her. Its not an easy thing to comfort your kidnaper and potential murderur, i would imagine.

[@Alice-si8uz]

Yeah Silco while a character who does a lot of horrible things does care for Powder/Jinx. Vi has only been back in her life for maybe 2-3 days and doesnt understand where her mind is at. Silco however knows full well how unstable Powder/Jinx is and that Vi is hurting her and how dangerous the situation is...

[@hallecute2]

@@Alice-si8uzto me it seemed like Silco was trying to win the situation, protect himself, and regain control, not that he trying to protect Jinx from harm at all

[@amaraw9893]

I dont think Vi ever abandoned Powder. From Jinx's perspective that's what happened but Vi literally just wanted to take a breather cuz she lost everybody too. It's so sad cuz I don't think Vi could ever really understand what all that did to Jinx. And shows because Vi didnt even think she made a direct impact on her which in turn MADE Jinx. She blamed it all on Silco. The storytelling is so good. I could talk about Arcane all day😭

[@Oneasianpersuasion]

I agree, it's a shame Marcus stopped her and arrested her. Vi would've come back and you even saw that once she saw Silco approaching Powder. Vi just needed to feel angry and she was young, too and lost everybody and actually saw the damage it did. 🥺

[@BaobhanloreArt]

Though I don't have any psychotic or hallucinative disorder, I have to say the scene where Powder is having an anxious breakdown felt so real to me. She's screaming and breaking things, as tears and saliva cover her face. She's moving impulsively, seemingly aggravated by the things around her. It's not overkill or mellow dramatic. It's raw and real. I have anxiety and depression, so that kind of thing has been a common occurrence in my life. That topped off with my autism and tourettes causing stimulative stress, and everything comes crashing down just like Powder was portrayed. And how the minute she realises she can be useful, she calms down so fast. Like when I feel a burst of creativity and start drawing even though I was falling apart a few seconds ago. That scene was one that immediately stuck out to me. It was what registered in my mind that mental illness was there and only getting worse. In that one scene, I felt heard and understood.

[@bloop6111]

My interpretation of the table scene was not that she was trying to force Vi into choosing whether or not to save Caitlin, but that Jinx was testing Vi. Jinx can never be Powder again, and so it’s actually Vi who is in need of character growth for not being able to accept that. You don’t get to just snap your fingers and not have trauma and mental illness anymore. Jinx knows that, and she wanted to see if Vi truly cares about her, or only cares about a person who no longer exists and can never exist again. It was heartbreaking to see Vi hang on to Powder when Jinx, who is so in need of love and support, was standing right in front of her, only to be denied by the person she cares about most. If Vi truly cares about her, she has to accept her for who she is now. I hope that is the route that the show will take, and not just have Jinx magically heal because she *decides to be Powder again*

[@yukiandkanamekuran]

THIIIIS!!!!!! I love this theory/interpretation. She's no longer the little girl. But I also think it's like "I'll be better for you, just so you don't leave me" as well. She has lost so many people in her life and it must be painful.

[@Zephirite.]

Wow, beautifully phrased! And true-VI’s projecting as much as Silco by assuming Jinx is Powder. There’s a line between accepting Jinx, and excusing the murdering she’s done. Part of what’s tricky is Jinx isn’t harmless like Powder was, but she still needs help and love. It’s a lose-lose situation. And it’s not VI’s fault that Jinx chose to nuke Piltover (that was mainly Piltover’s doing).

[@bennyton2560]

@@Zephirite. powder wasn't harmless either

[@Zephirite.]

@@bennyton2560 true, but she wasn’t trying to kill people. Jinx is, and is better at it.

[@markm5927]

Great comment. I don't think she really wants to be Jinx either, but she knows she can't be Powder, and she needs Vi to know that. But Vi's been locked up, she still can't really accept that her sister isn't who she knew any more, or that she played a part in that.

[@ceviche4life951]

Something I never understood was the depiction of Jinx/Powder’s relationship with Silko. Tumblr and Instagram accounts portrayed it as “broody but soft father -w-“ and “FUN QUIRKY DAUGHTER!! 0w0!!”, so when I first saw the show for what it was, my instinct on the actual relationship was true and reinforced. It’s not only sinister, it’s toxic: unhealthy, uncomfortable, based in manipulation and Silko’s ideals influencing a traumatized child. I really do hate the internet culture that undermines a lot of more serious or complex topics in media

[@OReily08080]

It's uncomfy. They either glorify or romanticize their relationship

[@caylin9033]

Something I loved about the spray paint idea is the way that Ekko uses spray paint in his world in comparison to how Jinx does. Ekko actively tries to keep an accurate image of the people he loves and has lost, and keeps them preserved on the mural for all to see and remember, while Jinx tries to hide everything behind the paint.

[@StarlitGamesPft]

9:54 Okay but like here's the thing, as someone who had mental breakdowns A LOT as a kid over the smallest things - and I mean full on smashing my door to bits when I was 8 all because I can't find something I need or smn - this scene is literally what happens. It was the exact same thing with me and if people think it's "too far," they clearly just aren't comfortable knowing that stuff like this happens. Y'know, the trying to trick yourself into thinking you're happy when you're crying your eyes out; hitting yourself due to shame when you make a mistake out of anger; screaming as loud as you can; and just straight up throwing and breaking everything. It doesn't matter if people don't like the intensity of the scenes, this stuff actually happens and you can't block it out from reality. This is the kind of stuff people experience when they're in extreme emotional distress. (Especially children, since their ability to regulate emotion is iffy)

[@imapseudonym6198]

The thing that gets me about Jinx's episodes is the way that, every time her inner darkness starts whispering in her ear, she angrily denies it at first. Every single time. On some level she knows that her inner demons are full of it, or at least wants to believe that. But, once the seed of doubt is planted...

[@mrgreenpickuptruck]

When they first released Arcane and I heard that Jinx was going to be a main character, even without being a WOW player I was worried they were going to Manic Pixie Dreamgirl her. But they went as far away from that as possible. The Jinx/Powder dichotomy at the centre of this show and ALL of its conflicts is astounding. Silco changing his wording from "Jinx is perfect" to "you're perfect" being a simple but amazing way to show Powder slowly embodying Jinx more and more. I forgot about the entire manic pixie notion once act two started. I didn't even compare Jinx to Harley Quinn, one of my favorite DC characters until I saw videos on it. Jinx is tangibly real in a way so many characters aren't in even the best stories. It's her brokenness that grounds the entire story. Although I'm not entirely sure why you got flack for calling Jinx and Silco's relationship toxic. The writers said they intended for it to be uncomfortable and crossing some lines.

[@Dice-Z]

Jinx is from League of Legends, not World of Warcraft lol.

[@mrgreenpickuptruck]

@@Dice-Z proof I don't play the game she's from xD

[@SaiyanHeretic]

Great video, just one small point of correction: Jinx's hallucinations are done in chalk/crayon just like how Powder decorated her gadgets, as well as her childhood drawings in their old home. (Spray paint is Ekko's motif.)

[@avatardm]

6:40 I so much disagree with you here! Please excuse me, but I strongly believe you misunderstood this part of Jinx's monologue - same way as Vi misunderstood it. Here she explains to Vi that Jinx was persona created not from trauma of abandonment, but as a way to deal with it. And Jinx is who she is not because it's what Silco wanted her to be, but because that is what Powder believed Vi would want - person who is unrelating, who is strong, who is brave, who is so much different from a shy, silent, somehow closed Powder. Powder is/was misguided in it, but Jinx was actually shaped by what she believed was Vi's image of her strong, surviving one. She vocalizes here her confidence that 'what makes you different makes you strong', that Jinx is not her fall, but positive force in her life. Powder feared voices in her head, Jinx argues with them bluntly. She does not blame Vi for Jinx, contrary, she praises Vi for guiding her (unintentionally) into creating Jinx. And it's not that Silco had nothing to do with it, Silco put conflicts and challenges in front of Powder, but Jinx - inspired by what Powder thought was Vi's guidance - was how she overcame these challenges. That is, I believe, the true meaning of 'Silco did not make Jinx. You did.' monologue. Btw, love your video. But I had to vocalize my disagreement with this point.

[@curelynn]

exactly my thoughts! beautifully written analysis btw. loved it

[@bzzzzzzzzzz2075]

Agreed. It's, in essence, a thank you to Vi. She's saying "you saved me. I couldn't have made it without you." That's why she's so hurt; vi had been her guiding light, but now she has to face that Vi doesn't like what she became

[@Oneasianpersuasion]

​@@bzzzzzzzzzz2075 I'd like to think that Vi herself needs time to process everything, she did get out of prison only a few days in terms of story. She hasn't seen her sister since and she wants to rescue her. I think she also has a lot of guilt on her shoulders for not being in her life even though it wasn't her fault. She was gonna come back for Powder, but was interrupted. I think once she realizes this, Vi will continue to love her sister regardless of who she has become. At the party, she was under a lot of stress. But I think the next season, she'll recognize that her sister is Jinx now and she will choose to love her. That's what I hope at least. 😅

[@_finalburaian_1094]

Honestly, the scene where powder is screaming,crying,sobbing and freaking out is a scarily accurate depiction of a mental breakdown.It looks over the top because during a mental breakdown or freakout thoughts or actions would be irrational so itlooks over the top to us.It doesnt look pretty but then again were these types of things ever supposed to be pretty? Once again well done arcane that scene was amazing-

[@josepablolunasanchez1283]

Psychosis is when a person disconnects from reality, unable to distinguish between reality and fiction. There are antipsychotic medicines. What people call "a psycho" is not someone with psychosis. It belongs to the realm of criminology. Mental health and criminology are different.

[@DMrKunst2]

Isn't it fucking annoying when people just throw the word around

[@Jadedquinn]

@@DMrKunst2 absolutely

[@khomikoow5994]

People often use the word “psychotic” to describe someone as out of control, when actuality it means someone is in a psychosis.

[@DMrKunst2]

@@khomikoow5994 exactly

[@devxro]

Typically, the word "psycho" in criminology is shorthand for "psychopath." Psychotic would be a more apt term for someone experiencing psychosis, especially when they become unhinged due to that psychosis. However, the parallel use of the shorthand is due to the glorified portrayal of psychopaths and psychosis within movies and T.V. shows. That's exactly why people throw the word around in the way that they do.

[@shinkurasha8061]

The fact that people like us, who suffer from severe trauma and in need of assistance to overcome them, can see ourselves in Jinx is enough for me. Every time Jinx was on the screen all I could think of is how that could've been some of us had no intervention happened.

[@Spontaneousresolve]

The scenes you say were "Too Much" (like the one where Powder is crying and distraught) I think are perfect. Being someone who has experienced mental health issues... I can relate to that feeling. its a great display of someone loosing control.

[@VentiLator7]

Watching Powders breakdown/crying in episode 3 right after she was told to stay behind because she wasn't ready, the way that was shown, animated and portrayed in general was the first time in anything I have ever watched or seen that made me go "Whoa, this feels *real* . This is what it actually looks like." The entire show nails this really but especially EP 3 caught me in ways like this that I have never seen before.

[@theflickchick9850]

I definitely have personal issues that made me seriously connect to her in that scene. Like, I could feel that emotion of "everything is hell, everything will always BE hell, and I can't fix it" because I have BEEN there. It's so real.

[@Metalpipe]

I'm glad you greatly explained Jinx and what she goes through! When I first played League yeeeears ago when she first was announced I was just like "Oh so she's just crazy?" Since at that time of first reveal there wasn't much lore to her I know Arcane isn't really canon to the game universe of League but it's animated so well. When Powder had her first breakdown it hurt my heart. Then seeing her beg for Vi to stay hurt more. When it shows her older, and seeing how they portrayed her mental illnesses I was stunned (In a good way!) I don't have auditory or visual hallucinations like she does but... Everything else hit so close to home with what she goes through. I was just in tears while explaining to my boyfriend and friends that it was represented how I feel and what I suffer from I have PTSD, BPD, Anxiety, amongst other things. Even episodes of Psychosis and paranoia which is hard... I'm going through therapy and trying medicine to see what can help. I want to be better and not be stuck in a loop like Jinx. But man they did such a good job and represented things so well

[@snowbird7254]

what makes you say its not canon to the "game universe" ?

[@Metalpipe]

@@snowbird7254 Her mental disorders you mean? Iirc Arcane isn't fully canon persay but Jinx could have these issues in the game universe! I moreso meant her "craziness" wasn't explained when she first came out. She just came off as almost like Harley Quinn but with no personality besides "This girl talks to guns and acts wacky"

[@ЕкатеринаБадыгова-р8ы]

As someone, who love Silco\Jinx relationship I just wanna say - I completely respect your opinion. It is an understandable perspective. In fact, Arcane called is art precisely because it allowed for many perspectives. I, for example, just see two really traumatazed people living in a very unfair, harsh world. People love their relationships because Silcos lessons are not coming from the place of malice. Its important. Intent is important. And the most tragic part for me is that Silco could have been AN AMAZING parent, if his mindset and values were different. He has patience, he know how to get her to listen - she is actively using his lessons when facing a problem (the whole episode with boxing machine after her failed attemp to work with the hexgem), she is willing to share with him her problems, he give her a lot of freedom to make her own choises and he successfully lead her towards the path he believed was right - and all of this though nurture and care. I know a lot of people think that he cant control her, but I do believe that he can - he just choose not to. She is not his underling, who needs to be controlled, she is his traumatazed kid, who needs to be guaided with gentle and care. He treat her with patience and understanding. This is exaclty what Vander did with Vi - our hound was never able to fully control his kid either. Plus Silco never even flinch when she show signs of her mental illnes and treat her like normal, while staying perfectly aware of the fact that she is not entirely okay - in a world, where she cant get any professional help, it is important. And he guaided her towards a very dark path. This is very tragic. And at the same time her gadgets are amazing, she wont let anyone to walk over her, she is willing to try again after a failure, she has a big room where she can do whatever she wants - decorate as she wants, experiment as she wants. He clearly make sure her to hone her talants to the max. To be honest, I dont know is any real life relationships are entirely healthy. Parents always manipulate. Often do a wrong things. All perspective are valid, we can choose the ones we believe in the most. But there is one thing I am confident of - we should not say - "Hey, I am right and you are wrong." I dont understand how people could blame you for having a different perspective on a very complex relationships. Power of the internet, I guess. Anyway, yeah, the way creators showed her mental illnes is amazing.

[@cassandravonpohl942]

I really like the way you put this. You said exactly what I've felt about their relationship way better than I've ever been able to explain it. Did you by chance watch Georgia Dow's break down of their relationship? It's extraordinarily good.

[@ЕкатеринаБадыгова-р8ы]

@@cassandravonpohl942 I did! It was a beautifull analysis! Yeah, and I was really dissapointed, when at the last episode I realized Silco and Jinx interacted like... five times, not counting Teaparty.

[@lavenderhuman]

Yeah, I don’t agree Silco actively tries to manipulate her or has Ill intentions but his trauma gets in the way of being a good parent. In Silco’s mind, telling Jinx that she can’t trust anyone but him isn’t him trying to make sure he can control her, it’s what he actually believes. For him, Everyone else in the world is a traitor, he and Jinx only have each other

[@DMrKunst2]

THANK YOU Thank so much for this. I understand that he is still really bad dude in a lot of ways, but I feel like the silko and Jinx dynamic is incredibly misunderstood and he's portrayed in a way by a lot of people that is not really that accurate. You hit the nail on the head with this

[@ЕкатеринаБадыгова-р8ы]

​@@DMrKunst2 thank you for your kind words! On reddit, unfortunately, I definetly wont dare to post something like this now heh. I believe that problem with misunderstanding is that Accane is very much "show dont tell", and people view things differently. Sometimes interpretations puzzles me. "Jinx sits on his lap, such an inappropriate behavior" - she never sits on his lap. Not as a sign of affection anyway. She sits on his table. She come closer to give him his medicine and then pull back after. And the sheer fact that she gets in people personal space, when she want to make them uncomfortable, shows that she actually KNOW boundries, otherwise she would not use it. "She is rude with him and never listen to him" - I mean, in Act 2 she is very much listen to him, he is the one who control their dynamic. He says the last word in every conversation (well, exept with the whole gemstone scene), and she more or less obey (she does not push him when he tell her to take a time off). If he believes she has to do something - he make sure she does it (Jinx wanted to give to on working with the gemstone, be basicly said - no, you have to confront your fear), so yeah, she does listen to him and he has control. Yes, she could be your typical snarky teenager, but nothing serious, because she still follows his lead. I personally think that during the river scene she was scared and try in a way to provoke him, but he just continues his rant, and she shut ups, realizing that she has to listen. But thats just me. Personally I do not take her comments as a sign of a serious desrespect. Jist a teenage thing. They have their problems for sure, but thats why their dynamic so intresting.

[@emilyaguirre8949]

As someone with schizoaffective I would’ve been mad if they held their punches with this illness. I wish we had more stories where we can depict real people that aren’t twisted and want to hurt people (sure jinx kills people but it doesn’t come across as “this is the villain you need to fear them because their brain isn’t…. I don’t know)

[@midnighthope6029]

she's a villain who is psychotic, but doesnt comes across as though she's a villain *because* she's psychotic ?

[@Raven_Black_252]

Finally, why did it took so long for someone to make a video specifically about jinx's psychosis? I'm not talking about psychological breakdowns about her or other characters' childhood or choices they make and traumas they go through in the story. Psychosis specifically. Thank you Flying Walrus.

[@AFlyingWalrus]

You are most welcome

[@mepollack]

I think you really captured the subtleties that make the journey to Jinx so... well, there's a lot of words for what they are. Real, spine-tingling, raw, believable, and, simultaneous to all of that, incredible. There's so much of this that could easily have turned Jinx into a caricature, and not in the sense of Harley Quinn's portrayal in the first Suicide Squad movie (though it could have swung that way as well), but rather just using something for pure shock value. The jarring shifts in animation style that accompany her psychoses could have been a means to separate this character from the lived experiences of those watching, and in a way they are, but they are more than just demonstrations of how far her PTSD has led her to slide. They are more than just demonstrations of insanity, and though it is likely that no one experiences this exact form of it, the demons of the past that haunt her are accompanied by a dread that chilled me deeply and sticks in my memory. It dances on a thin line that allows us to both empathize with this character and see her progression for what it truly is while making it severely uncomfortable.

[@SproutScribblesArt]

What I think is interesting is that Vi mentions something to Caitlyn in an earlier scene that also draws back to the "spraypaint monster" scene at the tea party event - Vi recalls they used to do a game where they would lay in bed and make pretend monsters up. They would compete until Powder became too scared to continue, and Vi would have to help her fall asleep. I think this was mentioned in the episode to come back to this "spraypaint monster" scene because as Vi calls out the names of the family, they are created into monsters that surround her, (the multicolored monsters also being the family and friends mentioned) with large teeth and scary silhouettes. Those two things could be related, but I'm not sure... I don't know if the theory makes sense, what are your thoughts on this?

[@nananderson7259]

I didn't notice it until your video but the one time Mylor and Claggor aren't covered in graffiti and actually look as they would have looked when they died is when -Jinx- Powder is reaching out for Vi. When she's doing the opposite of what Silco told her to, instead of letting Powder die and killing the trauma, she actively confronts it and tries to reach out. For once in her mind, Mylo and Claggor aren't exaggerated demons and it's the time that she actively reaches out, in a way, for help.

[@jynx8875]

Im mentally Ill myself, and its even for me so difficult to put in words what is happening. I really appreciate and applaude the guys who wrote the whole arcane script, its the best thing ever and i never saw a more relatable and well portrait mentally ill character than Jinx. this show is a masterpiece.

[@aludenom9932]

I fully agree Jinx and Silco's relationship is toxic, but I disagree with how much intent you've put on Silco for Jinx's isolation. I personally think that came from Jinx herself, who seems to fixate on the one person who is basically her whole emotional world, and kinda ignore everybody else. Should it be on the parent-figure to push her to make friends and socialize instead of only fixating on him? Sure, but Silco sure af isn't healthy enough to do or even see that either. (Also, had to watch this at 1.25 speed, the slow pace was just too... melodramatic.) edit: I hate to be the kind of person that disagrees with those who agree with me, but I am purely arguing Silco didn't do it with intent. Because Jinx is absolutely isolated (socially and emotionally, not physically). I just don't think that was something he did on purpose and with intent, rather than an unhealthy coping mechanism she had and he let it happened, possibly not even aware of how unhealthy it is.

[@n0bleonline222]

++

[@DMrKunst2]

You're absolutely right, he did not isolate her in fact he seemed to give her more free reign to do what she wanted than she needed. Not only did she roam around in the bar around others like Chuck, but actively went on missions with others. Jinx learned to find solace in isolation, and we see that she is happy in her element when she is in her big room tinkering with things

[@ivans.5959]

Yeah. Silco didn't keep her in an isolated castle as he seems to think In fact, he let her do whatever she wanted and roam the city freely, and protected her no matter what she did

[@romanspiwak]

You're absolutely right. You mentioned, "he let it happened, possibly not even aware of how unhealthy it is," which I think is important. Silco has no friends or family. Sevika barely counts; she's a henchman, an employee. Silco has no one whom he is equal with, no one he likes or hangs out with. Silco is traumatized. I think it's something a lot of people just overlook, me too at first, because Silco is an adult, and we only see him as an adult. What right does he have to be traumatized? Funnily, this is something Jinx says, too, mocking him in his trauma about Vander even after she's complaining about Vi. But, Silco *is* traumatized; he says, "Everyone else will betray *us,* " not you, us. Silco trusts one person and only one person, Jinx. (The person who kills him, for the record.) I don't think Silco isolated Jinx. I think she isolated herself for the same reason Silco isolated himself; they're afraid, they're afraid they'll be betrayed again. So when Silco saw young Jinx, right after he adopted her, isolating herself, he did nothing to stop it because he thought it was normal. After all, it was how he coped.

[@vincentgeiszler3749]

Agreed. She’s isolated, definitely, but I honestly don’t think Silco had any sort of malicious intent in that, or frankly any real say in that at all. We see from the start of the show that Jinx has issues with codependency, those issues just shifted from Vi to Silco. And honestly, can we really expect Silco to have any idea of how to properly raise a child? I think it’s safe to say that he tried the best he could with what knowledge he had, which is likely not much. Also, side topic, very unnerved by people comparing their relationship to Joker and Harley- yes, it’s fucked up and toxic, but it’s a different dynamic entirely.

[@nickjordan3269]

Just had a realization about Jinx's tattoos. It's blue smoke: the product of burning 'powder'.

[@lilmissleepy]

The first time I watched arcane I automatically got attached to Jinx due to how much I can relate to her constantly suffering from PTSD unsure if I'm good enough or people will love me for my mistakes. The fear of being abandoned and not accepted for who I am and I still find myself as a child not the age I'm supposed to be due to not really having much of a happy childhood causing more problems for me. Although I don't have many hallucinations like Jinx nor no where close to her I can still imagine and feel what she feels. I suffer from PTSD and other things and can understand the voices she hears and the haunting memories and being mocked by voices. I was kind of at a dark time due to having strange things happening to me that didn't use to happen such as auditory hallucinations and one time having an actual visual hallucinations so watching Arcane did help a bit in feeling not alone even though it's fictional.

[@Rizzalert69]

hey, i just wanted to say that i deeply understand and you’re not alone and i hope you’re doing well

[@Maddiedesu]

Another really good example of writing psychosis accurately was Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. They made sure to actively interview people with psychosis multiple times, making sure to include any symptoms exactly as the people they interviewed explained them, and asking them to play through the game while in development to make sure it was as accurate as can be. If it wasn't right, they would go back and change it.

[@Oneasianpersuasion]

That game was so fun to watch and really deep. It was very interesting and a really good depiction. I agree with you !

[@45545videos]

Powder having the mental breakdown at around 10:00 really spoke to me. I had mental issues as a kid (and now of course) and had nobody, that snotty crying hitting yourself is exactly what I did

[@girlvoid]

I really feel for jinx. I cried during her breakdown scenes. It was so close to home for me, but some of them were also happy tears because it was validating. In those moments you feel so alone, and to see it portrayed so well onscreen definitely helped me realise there are others who experience these intense emotions. Brilliant show.

[@simplynott]

Im glad they hit that line a bit when Powder was a child cause as a child who had very bad mental health seeing those panic attacks that i myself a real person had at the age made me feel a little more seen

[@PestilencePending]

I am a 42 year old with schizophrenia and PTSD. I watch arcane weekly and cry every time, every episode. I have never related to something so well and I've never seen something portrayed so accurately. Most shows make it over the top or try to add too much to make it have a romantic hue. It's not. It's a struggle.

[@linarinna]

I think this video has my favorite comment section ever. I’ve just been reading almost every single comment. I recently finished Arcane a couple of weeks ago and honestly did not understand some things fully, so I’ve been watching lots of videos like this one just to truly understand this amazing ass show. Arcane is so well written, and has an amazing way at showing emotions and real life issues. I keep rewatching scenes looking for anything new I might notice, SO MANY CRAZY DETAILS. Anyways yeah can’t wait for season 2🎉

[@unfire]

I've watched this show at least a dozen times. And.....pain. So intense. Not even Jinx, but...all the characters.

[@Thulgore]

I'm addicted as well. This is the greatest show I have ever seen, for almost all of the wrong reasons. It's great because it is more "real" than anything I have seen. Also I have never had a show that fucked with me emotionally the more times I watched it. Ever. Not claiming the show is a negative for that either there exists so much positive that also fucks with me in a completely different way.

[@mrgamerstyler3015]

Yeah,i am glad that i have seen Arcane cuz one friend recommend it me and since yesterday i watched Arcane 2 times and i hope we are going to see in the next 1-3 months a trailer to the 2nd Season,cant wait already

[@Orthus100]

Missing the BPD angle is a huge gap in your analysis. So much of herself, even as a child, and her erratic actions makes perfect sense for her in that light. It also addresses a few of your criticisms with her and Silco, where you put her not having anyone else to rely on on Silco, when in all likelihood, she only seems to want her favorite person and has no reason to look elsewhere. The animation emotion point is exactly why screen acting and voice acting are different skillsets. Anyone who calls the scenes too much does it out of ignorance. Those of us who deal with these issues saw a very real depiction of a breakdown, at least from my own personal experience. Oh, also, hallucinations does not always equal schizophrenia, and in this case would definitely not.

[@blackthornss]

I will say on hallucinations =/= schizophrenia A) you are right but B) this is where her not having a diagnoses is great- I am unsure if I have bpd (it wouldn't be impossible, but I don't know how strongly I connect with it either, and I am yet to have a psychiatrist say they think it fits), but I am near certain I have schizophrenia (I have both positive and negative symptoms, it explains the life long symptoms I have had [before my psychotic break in 2017, psychiatrists had considered both adhd and autism for me, before ruling them out- post psychotic break, they are 'giving me time to see how the symptoms develop' because they think it could be bipolar. My gut says schizophrenia + cptsd are my main issues, but yanno, thats damn close to bpd. We shall see as I get further into my 20s though). As I stated, I also have cptsd, and so the entire.... everything of Jinx was relatable, except for yanno, the murderous elephant in the room. Anyways, I share this not to trauma dump on a stranger, but to instead say that its.... somewhat wonderful? I have seen so many schizo spec / psychotic people come together over her, as well as anyone with trauma / ptsd / cptsd, and just fully embrace her- even if most of us are not Just Like Her, theres a certain level of catharsis in seeing a powerful mentally ill character who, to some degree, doesn't have to reject those parts of herself. Considering most of us have to put on a Normal Mask and pretend to fit into society.

[@perilousblue8247]

As someone with bpd and all of these traits, it hits so hard

[@devxro]

I'd be more likely to believe that Jinx is schizophrenic and suffers from CPTSD, which worsens her schizophrenia as time goes on and worse things happen to her, as the symptoms often times do not show up until around the teenage or adult years. There's a term for people diagnosed with schizophrenia as an adult - a friend of mine was diagnosed with it when he began experiencing symptoms in his early adulthood after having no signs of it during childhood. Jinx's psychotic breaks could explain CPTSD, BPD, or Schizophrenia, or even a mixture of the two or three. we really just don't know because she's undiagnosed and it's doubtful that they'll ever put a "name" to it for the viewers to have concrete proof.

[@yukiandkanamekuran]

yeah, there's identity confusion, psychosis, fear of abandonment, tendency to get into toxic relationships, dissociation, all symptoms of BPD. But I do not wish to demonize people with BPD, I adore Jinx as a character, and two of my closest friends have BPD.

[@dungeonmaster217]

@@yukiandkanamekuran I cannot judge Jinx specifically because she has all signs of BPD. Unfortunately this is what might happen if you won't offer therapy, medication and healthy environment. Not nuking the government building, but cases of real violence.

[@isakhammerin6435]

Jinx is so broken to the bone and Riot as you said doesn't take advantage of that and use it in a "haha crazy girl" way. I also think that she has so many layers as a person but there is always this twisted, fragile character in her and yeah mental illness is a very difficult topic to take on. I am very excited to see what they do with her current state in season 2.

[@Sierra-Whiskey22]

Her versions of her dead friends are how they looked in their final moments. One died without knowing it was happening, hence the blank expression, the other saw it coming, so he has that pained screaming expression. Best animated show I've ever scene.

[@BlueDandyLyon]

I HAVENT WATCHED ALL THE VIDEO YET BUT THANK YOU FOR ACKOWLEDGING THAT SILCO AND JINX'S/POWDER'S RELATIONSHIP IS TOXIC LIKE ITS REALLY WELL PORTRAYED AND HE 100% DID WHAT HE THINK WAS BEST BUT IT'S STILL TOXIC AF AND IT MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN PEOPLE GLORIFY IT

[@redroseibarahime8755]

Hey, thank you for doing this video ! Arcane has a masterful visual display of psychosis and disorder that finally makes it more understandable for non-affected people and therefore, is able to raise awareness on a bigger scale without making it too graphic to watch (walking a perfect line of showing enough to make people understand and feel empathy but not showing too much to make people shy away). The discussions arising from this are just beautiful and even if you see there are people still not understanding, many are reaching out to further elaborate on it, sharing their experiences and contribute for a better understanding. Especially since on the internet/comment sections this is anonymus and people are willing to share more and therefore, give opportunities to a better understanding. I love this because I see here a better chance for understanding and coming together again - giving a better environment of healing for all! Many try to diagnose Jinx specifically - which is ok, because you want to understand here more about here and her disorders, but note that the key to the character's success here is not displaying a textbook character that can check all full conditions of a disorder but a real character which has overlapping, different conditions melting into one nuanced individual trauma infiused character that is so much closer to reality than many might think. It is rarely the case that you suffer from only one mental illness/trauma and even then, having all checksmarks to be 100% certain that, it is exactly THIS disorder, is rarely the case. Mental illnesses are incredibly nuanced, individual and difficult to diagnose, even if you can ask/"work with" the person. And Jinx is not supposed to be diagnosed, but to give a glimpse to the audience and especially to non-affected people of how horrifying and changing trauma and the after effects in form of psychosis and various elements of disorders can become if the person gets no proper help to deal with it. I just hope that further seasons will give us a proper conclusion on this character and not show us to just drop her because she is beyond help... And I think too, that Silco loves Jinx but their relationship is in fact very toxic - full of manipulation but with a lot of understanding for each others pain. A toxic relationship can only keep going as long as there is love or a heavy, unhealthy co-dependence(often confused with love). If there is nothing like that in the relationship - it just breaks up but since there is love and/or co-dependency, it gets toxic and goes on. It is hard to leave somebody you love because if you love somebody you still harbor hope for a better change of that person and if you are co-dependent on a person you feel like you are dying without that person because you fear nobody else will be able to accept you and being alone is equalling death for many people (see Jinx choosing that in ep7). That is why it is so hard for people to leave toxic relationships - they lack a different perspective : And why is that? Jinx shows us brilliantly the answer. Co-dependent people are often isolated (sometimes only in their minds because they just don't share) and without any other POV you can get so much easier pulled into such relationships and therefore have a hard time to push away later on. And imo Silco is not the one isolating her - it is Jinx herself ! And if you look closely, she is already (mentally) isolated in the first Act. I believe we will see more of that in S2. Powder always engaged with people because Vi pulled her into that environment but she was never able to forge or pursue a bond by herself - you can see that she never really engaged with Vander- she almost ignores him when Vi is not around. She was also friends with Ekko because Vi brought her there - she wanted to make Vi happy that is why she engages with Mylo, Claggor and Ekko but she is always only truly connected to Vi. And I believe this is the reason she didn't switch sides to the firelights within the time skip (and also tried to blow up Ekko in ep7) but we will see about that in S2. With Silco it is the same, he even sends her on missions with Sevica and co but she is never able to make connections there. If he isolated her, he would have sent her on single missions. Even though you are surrounded by people, you can still feel lonely and not understood at all - this is more like a co-worker relatonship - you "work with them"but you don't neccessarily connect with them on a deeper level. This loneliness is so common for heavily trauma infused people. They fear that they are not accepted - that no one can understand them and if they manage to find/choose one person that seemingly accepts them, they are content with that. They often "wish" for just one(!) person to accept them (because you are not greedy, right?") which results in this co-dependence, often crushing that person because they monopolize this person which can get unbearable (which Jinx does with Vi and you see her dropping Silco in the blink of an eye when she feels that she can have Vi back, but only if Vi is loving her and no one else; sadly this thought is even more fuelled by Sevika and Silco's lies). Ofc Jinx is pushed to the limits of acceptance (with blowing people up and stuff) in order to get the point across to the audience but as horrifying as it is, this is quite close to mental reality of affected people, too - just in different facettes and colors and "different" kinds of violence towards themselves and others... So, thanks a lot for raising further awareness and opening up another possibility for discussion here :)

[@AFlyingWalrus]

Thank you for the incredibly well-thought-out comment. It's refreshing to reading through. I'm glad you are also enjoying the discussions.

[@jinx9252]

I want to thank you for discussing Jinx’s psychosis with so much respect. I have BPD and am not diagnosed with schizophrenia but my brother had it and I have all the symptoms daily… Everything you said is 100% accurate for me as well. Jinx’s character portrayed my mental illness so breathtakingly accurately it boggles my mind… Thank you for educating others on such a stigmatized illness.

[@professional.lunatic]

As someone undergoing rather severe psychosis, Arcane changed me in both negative and positive ways. It made me feel less alone, in a way. But also seeing a visual depiction of similar problems in Jinx’s character was not easy to take.

[@joshfread1081]

When I was a junior in college when I had my first psychotic break. I watched my Mom die of cancer, my friends abandoned me because I was going off the deep end, my grades fell apart. I had no one. Then I heard the voices and saw the dark figures/demons around me. They were real to me, I could feel their touch and their voice would sunder my body. I would have full conversations with them. I was living in a reality apart from everyone else. The voices told me many different things and I did things that alienated me even more, they egged me on and gave me purpose, made me feel powerful, like I was in control. I would walk in front of cars believing I was invincible, that I could control the air and water, even curse those who slighted me in some way. Eventually I got the help I needed, but it was odd knowing that none of that was real, that they didn't exist. They were my companions. I feel for Jinx. I know what that feels like. It was chilling watching it because it dug up all of that again. I still sometimes see the images/beings and sometimes the voices when I am in situations that mirror some part of that year. I know that they aren't real, and I have to keep it that way.

[@Weirdo_Kai.]

My sister one days said, "Kai, I found this show, you need to watch it, you would really like it." So I watched it with her. And I was shocked by how realistic her mental breakdowns and panic/anxiety attacks were. I have genetic depression and anxiety disorders. I've had plenty of panic attacks and mental breakdowns. I know what it looks and feels like. Whoever made this incredible show, did it perfectly.

[@tabetha7703]

Bro Jinx’s story is so good that I have been sobbing just watching this break down video. The story of Jinx and Vi hits so hard and so deep and for too many people it feels all too familiar. Beautifully done show and great break down.

[@fyrewolf7805]

Everything about jinx is just so well written and pretty accurate.

[@tesladajira178]

I have depression and some people might think it's nothing to be compared with Jinx's problem, but I feel her. I feel how much she whats to cry, to scream, to destroy everything but at the same time she whats to be held and loved, she wants to rest but she is afraid of what hapens when she is alone with her thoughts

[@fruitsnacc4910]

I was diagnosed with trauma induced psychosis a few years ago, how they portray Jinx/Powder is scarily similar to what I felt and experienced on a daily basis. Genuinely hats off to a production company portraying trauma and psychosis as it is and feels - scary, shaky, and conflicting. Though I rarely experience the symptoms anymore because of my amazing psychiatrist, therapist, and doctors, it will always be something that feels borderline impossible to accurately describe to someone who hasn’t experienced it, or severe psychological trauma. Genuinely thank you to this series for accurately representing what my life was like for such a long time

[@captainofdisaster]

Writing insanity in any sense of the word is an incredible challenge, and I loved the way Arcane handled it. Delusions and/or hallucinations stemming from memories related to trauma get distorted over time, sometimes so extremely distorted that the original memory is barely there, if even at all (as the story progresses, Mylo loses all facial features in trade for the graffitied expressions). Sometimes it dissolves into just memories of the feelings (exaggerated tears on crying Powder, monstrous anger on lashing-out Vi), but it always haunts. Those hallucinations can come up at any time, and when they become as ingrained into someone's daily life in the way they are for Jinx/Powder, it's no wonder that the first time she sees Vi again, her first words to her are: "Are you real?"

[@greyworld6242]

Interesting that after silco’s last words are used the voices and sounds inside jinx’s head finally go silent.

[@ajackass5950]

Arcane content is like a hard drug I swear, always needing more. Thanks for the fix brother. Keep up the great work!

[@feigazitano5759]

I don't know how to word this in a way that keeps me from weird comments but also shows some semblance of understanding but watching this did something for me. Like it's the first time I've seen a truly well put together thought on this that wasn't my own. I might've paused a few times. As someone with a few trauma related disorders especially noting my dissociative disorder, it kind of helps to understand why my brain assigned my identity so easily. In some regard that hurts a little but at the same time this is so well worded that it doesn't spark anything potentially upsetting. From a DID standpoint, being understood in this manner from someone who doesn't have the professional capabilities and doesn't struggle with this themselves is relieving and also a little shocking in the same breath. This is really well done.

[@AFlyingWalrus]

I appreciate your vulnerability in typing out this comment. It's never easy to share experiences and even harder to open ones dark spaces of themselves to others for them to potentially criticise. (That could be taken other ways... Ah well) A bit about me. While I don't have any major traumas or disorders that I suffer from, I do carry C-PTSD and depression around with me. Again, it's nowhere near the level of those like yourself. And am in no way comparing or trying to be one of those, "I know how you feel" people. Because, yeah. But this as well as being close to people that have suffered and watching it tear them apart. Has left a mark on me. Jinx as a character allowed me to talk about all this as well as the importance of having well written representation that goes against the Harley Quinn trope. But now I'm rambling. I guess what I'm trying to say is I appreciate your comment. Thank you. You are seen. You are appreciated. You are enough. Don't know why I felt like that needed to be said. But it felt like it needed to be said.

[@I.Simmonds]

Addendum Jinx smithed her revolver (It had hammer) and the Minigun herself, as wel as her explosives. Silco had her trained/ apprenticed to someone, she was also trained to shoot, as well as punch and kick in hand to hand combat. That is alot of violence oriented training.

[@hinnyu7748]

Powder is already an excellent shot if you recall the 2nd episode.

[@I.Simmonds]

@@hinnyu7748 toys are not actual weapons, Powder shows excellent hand eye coordination and the toy/game unveiled her potential. But as a wooden sword play dose not make one a swordsman, nor rough hose a boxer, toy guns will not make one a marksman with an actual firearm.

[@sam_ugh]

I was diagnosed with PTSD a couple of years ago due to the large amount of trauma I suffered throughout my childhood. While watching this show, I saw so much of myself in Jinx. It’s been amazing how much healing I have done in the past year and a half compared to how I felt when I was first diagnosed, but seeing that one scene where Powder cries for Violet to the scenes where Jinx is battling against her trauma is such a powerful stuff. I really love this show, I think it’s a fantastic piece of media, and it shows how childhood trauma can really mess you up and how long it can stick with you. I’m not done with this video yet, but I’ve really enjoyed what I watched so far and thank you for making a video on this.

[@danikaclark7297]

Honestly, Powder's break down was one of the first times I actually thought media captured the anguish and heartwrenching breakdowns I experience every so often due to all the loss in my life. My heart ached and I sobed for her and for my young self in that scene because It felt so real and I felt so seen. When someone gets something right it's so devastatingly refreshing to experience.

[@Hadfield15]

A friend of mine and I are working on a thing, and one of our characters has psychosis. I figured watching video essays about Jinx might help give us a better understanding on how to write mental illness and stuff like that. I think I’m starting to get a good idea on how to properly write these kinds of characters. Awesome video, thank you

[@fireworksforme2]

Can't wait for this one! I love these Arcane videos! (obligatory first lol) Edit: Thank you for mentioning that Silco and Jinx's relationship IS toxic! People have trouble understanding that love does not make it healthy. They loved each other, yeah, but Silco did this to Jinx and feeds her a bad mindset.

[@AFlyingWalrus]

By keeping her in isolation and telling her to trust no one he basically threw water on a grease fire.

[@kurtri8649]

@@AFlyingWalrus I think the tragedy of him telling her that everyone will betray them is that *he truly believes it*. His untreated trauma is 100% clouding his way of being the healthiest person to Jinx and I think that's why people love the relationship, it's toxic not because Silco wants it to be toxic but because he isn't a mentally stable person and is just trying his best. Anyways thank you for making this video!

[@lavenderhuman]

@@kurtri8649 I completely agree! Silco was a good father in that he truly treated Jinx fairly and with love and compassion, but he was a bad father in that, believing it was good for her, he encouraged paranoia and unhealthy behavior

[@DMrKunst2]

@@AFlyingWalruswell I agree with much of what you said, but he doesn't keep her in isolation. She learned to find solace in her own isolation. She also goes on missions with others, and even Amanda Overton one of the writers has said that jinx actually does have friends and that we just haven't been told who they are yet. Jinx was actually given far more free reign than she should have had.

[@nicknackpaddywacks]

I don't have psychosis, but I do have PTSD and mental breakdowns, and have grown up emotionally and mentally stunted in a sheltered environment with no friends at the hands of my mother. I've never played League of Legends but seeing Powder having those attacks even as a child and suffering well into adulthood really spoke to me, this is an amazing video and I'm so glad that you made it 💖

[@Dimentioxx]

I would also say the music plays a HUGE part in setting the mood for the scenes (especially from Jinx's/Powder's perspective). Most notable is the ending song of "What Could Have Been" where Powder finally dies and Jinx comes to the stage.

[@alexmartineau1060]

I constantly say I don't have a mental illness but in reality I do, I am at least lucky to have a very "mild" case of this. I have not been "diagnosed" but I know for a fact from my character thought-out my life has changed significantly. Sadly, I cannot be myself only in certain situations. My PTSD is extremely mild but when it happens it is brutal, aka panic attack. The last time I had a panic attack was when I was drunk, but when I am sober and have a panic attack it is the most unbearable to deal with, take being drowned for 10 minutes where you only have one breathe to take every 1 minute, so 10 breathes over 10 minutes even though you are breathing way more then that it feels like those heavy breathes do nothing. THIS is why I love this film. It does trigger me but it also teaches me how to deal with my emotions. PLEASE, if you have issues find help, I found help but it took so much for me to try and, I still am working on this.

[@letsalllovelean478]

I really loved how they fixed Jinx's character in arcane. The original Jinx we all know and love was very "Harley Quinn"--esc where they kinda romanticized her psychosis. They designed her to be a bit fan-service like (as most games do) and had little depth. I understand that they can't focus on a character too much, due to the fact they have to design and write MANY characters, but come on, she plays a huge role! They overall made her struggle with her psychosis and showed that she could still be strong. It showed how she could be manipulated simply by silco and her lack of focus because of her condition. It's a great improvement and I hope they work on more characters because a good chunk of them aren't looking so sharp. COUGH COUGH seraphine COUGH COUGH.

[@hybridpsyche2286]

this video is actually beautiful. the way you wrote it and delivery, the care you took and the music choice. Really nice to listen to

[@1n5tant_Ar50n]

This was a really interesting and impactful video. I think an interesting future video may be one that compares Jayce and Jinx, as well as Viktor and Vi, regarding their respective struggles. Jinx and Jayce are both characters who repeatedly fail to do good, even when they try, but they both have very opposite attitudes. Jinx decides to accept that she will always mess things up, hence choosing the moniker of "Jinx" and deciding to stick with it after killing Silco. Jayce, alternatively, is blinded by naivety and idealism, and just keeps pushing to try and do good the only way he knows how, even when it continues to become corrupt and hurts the people around him. Which leads into Vi and Viktor. They both struggle with the outcomes of Jinx and Jayce's respective decisions, and they both start out by trying to tackle it alone. The difference between them is that Vi finds support in Caitlyn, whereas Viktor pushes to try and do everything alone, thus hurting, and killing the only support he had (Sky). And that kind of is interesting to show how important it is to have support when you are suffering (like you mentioned in this video). Anyway, I think there are some interesting parallels there, so might be cool to discuss in greater depth.

[@heartandhues]

The emotions are so beautiful in this show. They do such a good job of letting the moments land..the pain and extremeness of it. This feels real. It feels like life. As someone with diagnosed DID (and PTSD, depression, anxiety, adhd) the show absolutely captured so much of my my own feelings and experiences. The way it was depicted, the intrusive thoughts and voices with all the wildly different opinions. The panic and inability to handle big emotions and feelings as a child and then as an adult. And as an adult, alternating between feeling like a small girl and your current self (and not really understanding who that is). The desperation in trying to constantly push away the past and all the pain that came with it.. but never being able to because you're not really processing you're just pushing away or bottling up. And this just makes you sicker and sicker - but you don't care, because the alternative sounds more painful than you can tolerate. Sometimes you think you'd rather die than have to face all the pain again. It's a vicious cycle and a very lonely world. Even if you have friends, it's a lonely world because people don't understand. This show does an amazing job of showing people what that's like. My heart broke for Jinx.

[@paranidherc]

It speaks to the authors' credit that despite everybody knowing how the story would end, we all still wished that it didn't.

[@xenosbreed]

Thanks for this video. I have a hard time with emotion regulation, PTSD, and a hard time with severe intrusive thoughts. I've gotten help but it makes it impossible not to relate to Jinx and it makes it all the more tragic knowing that there is help for people like Jinx, but that help just literally doesn't exist in her world. It makes me hurt everytime I think of her story

[@kael4277]

I've been thinking this ever since my first viewing of the series, and it's good to see it in a video. It needs to be talked about more across more channels. Powder/Jinx is very relatable especially for those of us who legitimately struggle with mental illness. What I especially appreciated about Arcane was that it expresses how mental illnesses often begin with trauma in childhood, and the story makes an effort to portray the gradual evolution of the chaos inside her mind while not letting us forget where it originated from, leaving the audience unable to hate her. It even draws sympathy (or at least understanding) from the audience for her despite her total disregard for those around her. That's good character writing -- it avoids being black and white with the good vs evil crap and instead crafted characters that are layered and complex with varying degrees of strengths and weaknesses, and most importantly, took mental illness seriously. I would caution anyone from trying to diagnose Powder/Jinx, but I do think a fair bit of research was done when writing the character and I hope that translates to an audience becoming more aware and more curious about the truths and myths of mental health.

[@lennoxax929]

I never noticed that in the last few scenes Silko ztief to shoot Vi. I thougt he was aiming at Jinx after seeing that she was taken away from him. But seeing that he realized Vi's words torturing Jinx and he tried to stop Vi from hurting Jinx further was heartbreaking. He knew Jinx and tried to help her all the time

[@nightly._4779]

That scene where powder freaked the fuck out made me feel so related to, like "fuck, someone finally made a scene like this accurately" i didnt feel alone anymore in an isolating experience that I had

[@TukaihaHithlec]

Claggor deserves more credit. He doesn’t stand out as much as Vi, but they are very similar. We see him helping Powder on the rooftops, he defends her from Mylo, he fights two bullies so that she doesn’t have to fight (until they run off), he never blames her for anything, and he turns the lights off so that Marcus doesn’t find the crystals on her. The Enemy music video has even more, with Claggor and Powder dancing together, and him doing this older sibling smirk while she’s enjoying her food. I saw someone say that while Mylo embodies her negative thoughts, Claggor is her positive ones - Mylo makes her feel weak and paranoid, while Claggor tells her what she can do to fix it.

[@batfacts_are_cool]

I'm not gonna lie, I was wholly unable to finish Arcane. Not because I didn't enjoy it, but because it was so vivid that it had me absolutely riddled with anxiety for the characters. Everything was so in-depth and authentic that I would often find myself physically nauseous and shaking with worry. That said, I do think this series is phenomenal and worth a watch for those who can stomach the peril of it. Some of us just aren't built for serious attachment, whether fictional or not.

[@mr.plushmanthegamer3171]

"its important to note that love alone is not enough to make something healthy" i felt that