When the hero is a side character

[@JakCC]

Jayce went through hell but Ekko gave up paradise

[@Saberthepirate]

Yup the true sacrifice

[@chrixdigit]

As well put. Jayce had to live hell and Ekko had to leave Heaven

[@kleinezeugs4719]

Jayce was harder tho.

[@breadnyan4930]

@@kleinezeugs4719 yeah there's no denying that

[@nalurodriigues]

@@kleinezeugs4719 lol?

[@NeteriXX]

"Who the hell is this guy? Did he just dodge my entire army and threw time shattering singularity at my face?"

[@the_infinexos]

Ekko was a force to be reckoned with. He predicts the move of an entire robot army like he knows what's coming and then throws a goddamn hexcore at your face (you're supposed to have the only one in existence)

[@kilyohearts]

arcane if it was good

[@tobijadoll1641]

"That device can't be" is just a fancy way of saying "What the fuck?"

[@caffeinatedpossum]

I honestly was expecting a 50/50 of "Politely saying WTF" or "Saying WTF" And of course Viktor went the Polite route lol

[@lukyluk_py]

Also that device literally can't be because it shouldn't be possible in that universe since it was created in an alternative universe

[@guilhermeteodosio40]

Ekko is the most selfless mf in fiction, bro didn't let the bitterness of Zaun vs Piltover conflict take away his altruism and didn't turn his back on Silco ex-agents entering his camp because he knew they didn't had any other choice but working for him, when he's offered the perfect life he breaks the laws of physics to turn down paradise and save his people AGAIN cus he's a goddam HERO

[@kino_ryousuke]

Except.. the bitterness of Zaun vs Piltover (in the long run previously) did make him give up... on what could have been of Zaun, and on Jinx. He said so himself to AU Powder "somewhere I got consumed by all the ways it wasn't. I gave up on it. I gave up on you". But yeah, the way he 'took a leap faith' on trusting Zaunites when teaming up against Noxians should be given more exposure :(

[@zachanikwano]

@@kino_ryousuke You gotta hand it to Ekko tho, his "giving up" still includes him fighting for people and for what's right.

[@guilhermeteodosio40]

@@kino_ryousuke we needed the scene where he convinced Jinx to become a symbol of Zaun, we lost their bonding moment painting each other body (and possibly something else) so we could have the reveal at the final battle and honestly we needed that moment

[@cauazion1551]

🤨​@@guilhermeteodosio40

[@bigjen8238]

"Offered the perfect life". He basically put the original Ekko of that timeline into a coma, he might've even permanently killed him, they didn't know. He would have to be an absolute psychopath to continue living that skin-walker life. How are you folks not disgusted that he basically stole some other mans girlfriend, without her knowing his identity. Jinx would've been horrified if she knew what was going on. Shipping culture is ruining media

[@flingza1798]

Victor be like: "did this kid just throw a time machine at me!!!"

[@curstinw6420]

"all i want to talk about is ekko" literally everyone after finishing arcane 😂😂😂

[@FictionalLover2726]

He makes me wanna cry 😭😭 💔💔💔

[@knowhere9140]

In the alternate universe, I think it wasn't that Vi and Jayce died in the hextech explosion. I believe that it was only Vi that died but because one of Jayce's unstable experiments caused a child's death he was locked away and not released like he was in the usual act one (Heimer and Viktor pulled some strings to get him out of the normal timeline's jail). This means that hextech was not developed and Heimerdinger worked to bring Zaun and Piltover together with his new knowledge.

[@Szystedt]

No, I think we can be pretty certain that Jayce died, too. Both Heimerdinger and Ekko went to that reality, yet Jayce alone was sent somewhere else. Heimerdinger also made a vague comment regarding this, hinting about his death. He was fairly certain that Jayce hadn't and wouldn't come to that world, after all.

[@rakurobot]

​@@Szystedtby your logic, Jayce wouldn't have been able to get sent to the bad universe because he also already died there. The "him" from that reality got assimilated by Viktor, getting rid of his soul.

[@maadtee6281]

Thing is Jayce lost in the previous timeline also ​@@Szystedt

[@collecter343]

@@rakurobot Well in the "bad" universe his eyes were moving when Celestial Viktor touched him so a horrifying thought would be that he's still alive in that statue form.

[@fernandezepindi5186]

​@@collecter343Nah, that's because Victor is reviving Jayce for a short while. I mean, the souls are together within Victor. He most definitely can give the souls back temporarily. Or he just controlling the vessel without any of that souls stuff.

[@laurocoman]

One of the most heroic aspects of this timeline is that Ekko has to actively seek a way back and earn it. It's not like he is given a choice, as far a he knows, he is stuck there forever. He is already part of a different timeline and has to go above and beyond to exit it. It takes a lot to put that much effort to make your life harder for the sake of others.

[@jackcrook6330]

It will never not be funny to me that Viktor and Jayce never considered inverting runes, yet its one of the first things Ekko tries and he builds a time machine. Truly the difference between very smart and genius.

[@joyc.e.7511]

Oddly enough, I think Viktor and Jayce are geniuses. Inventing hextech, finding a way to manipulate magic through technology is insane. But just like how Jayce needed Viktor to actually crack hextech, Ekko was needed to invent the time machine (with Heim and Powder). This is why collaboration is so important. Jinx herself is a genius, figuring out Hextech with no formal training. Makes me wonder about an AU where Piltover incorporated an exchange program for Zaunites with Jinx and Ekko attending. And then Jayce and Viktor become their mentors. Ok, wishful rant over😅

[@RioDelTiempo24]

@@joyc.e.7511 no actually let him cook

[@kakashi6957]

I'm pretty sure if that were the case we be seeing Wolfenstein level tech. I mean jinx in her own right made two weapons with the power of the hextech without really much knowledge outside jayce's notes I could only imagine the things they could make has jayce and Viktor retrospectively found ekko and jinx

[@emiliohinojosa5671]

One subtle thing I noticed is that in s1 Heimerdinger refers to Jayce and Viktor as boys but to Ekko in s2 calls him lad even though he is the youngest of them all. It makes me think that Heimer either learned the dangers of infantilezing his students/partners, or he actually sees something in Ekko that neither of his academy colleagues had.

[@orabijuu8550]

​@@emiliohinojosa5671the first one Bec he ulted ekko's ult

[@cyfertea8707]

What I love about this show is.... almost every character is an mc material. From Vi's struggle to get her family back, to Caitlyn's crusade against Jinx, to Jinx tragic story, to Ekko's attempt to protect Zaun, to Jayce's dream to help piltover, to Mel's struggle in political and personal affairs, to Viktor's attempt to cure himself, and heck even Ambessa's struggle against the Black Rose. All of their characters are so intriguing and well written that any of them can be an MC and it kinda works.

[@ziks4103]

why is nobody talking bout heimer though? he didnt just gave up a different reality. he gave his life so ekko has the opportunity to go back and save his people

[@VoidlingGeneral]

yordles dont die tho

[@argy7526]

did he really die though? i am pretty sure if it was a death scene they would have given it more attention he will prob show up in some later project

[@VoidlingGeneral]

@@argy7526 nope, yordles dont die, they just respawn in bandle city, this is one of the reasons why vex is depressed since shes forced to live and cant end herself

[@LifesDeath]

@@VoidlingGeneral He sure as hell died when they were testing the limits of the time loop.

[@maximumoverdrive2676]

Heimers sacrifice goes crazy hard if you remember the Stanwick scene from season 1. Heimer talks about this old guy Stanwick who realized that he couldn’t compare to his students and sacrificed everything for them and the future, then Heimer does the same here.

[@NovaaTheGreat]

2:27 Ekko also fell back in love with powder in another way. The Alternative universe ekko was already in love with alternative universe powder. so when our ekko went into the other ekko's body, he fell in love with powder all over again, even tho other ekko already was in love with powder.

[@alisiaraissa3687]

01:31 That Miles to Ekko transition will not go unnoticed- Great job!

[@MeliDMR93]

Ekko and Jinx/Powder have me on CHOKEHOLD since last week, I get you

[@dkkanofkash8798]

It's rare when it happens, but it's always fitting for side characters to turn out as the heroes of the story because, like in real life, true heroes are often overlooked.

[@theepic1944]

Not every main character is a good.

[@NatalieLovesxo]

I didn't even think about how the universe Ekko jumped into, that Jayce may be dead, which may have played into a part as to why Jayce didn't end up there, since Ekko took on that Ekko's universe's body.

[@dzibanart8521]

I think he illed himself because it's a universe where Viktor doesn't exist, Viktor prevented Jayce frome jumping off. If there is no Viktor maybe singed couldn't keep the lizard thing alive and never got to create shimer, so Silco got the chance to find the letter and forgive Vander.

[@gabigusi5815]

he was dead in the other universe too, but i like ur thinking. I think it was viktor that teleported jayce there

[@BoxStudioExecutive]

"You're beyond help" -- the first words Powder says to Ekko "You're beyond help" -- what Ekko used to think about Jinx

[@falnica]

That feeling when you need to talk about something to stop thinking about it, that seems to be the origin of creativity for me, and apparently for you

[@swyft1872]

The Zdrive not rewinding Ekko is poetic. For a guy so selfless like Ekko, taking all the wounds and pain for the perfect present is a easy choice

[@aaalekseev]

Jayce is speedrunning all Miyazaki games while Ekko and Heimer just the chill guys lmao

[@The_Pepperoni]

1:29 nah, this transition is so smooth and satisfying. 🔥

[@oliverdavid4568]

Ekko act3 has to be studied. Its in the same league as greats like the 73-9 warriors, the 2016 Cavs Finals Run. The 2019 Kawhi run. Super Bowl LI comeback run. Legendary run, with Clutch moments. And with his ending being pretty sad especially from the viewers side. Knowing what he went through and sitting at the ledge, burning the paper. He easely got the MVP. Also they stole away the conversation between Ekko and Jinx before the fight. They had to cut in to make the episode shorter. Such a sad thing to know.

[@majesticparrot7053]

FR, they should release it

[@NovaaTheGreat]

The creators said that the last episode was apparently "Super long". even tho it was 50 minutes instead of the usual 40. I was really expecting, and now wish, that it had been atleast 2 hours. It wouldve helped tied up everything and shown the conversation between ekko and jinx.

[@h2o848]

@@majesticparrot7053 While it was probably written and planned, Arcane was on a time crunch on the animation side, so there isn't really anything for us to see. I'm sure that they wanted to make the last episode movie-length, but deadlines be like that :(

[@majesticparrot7053]

@@h2o848 Dammit man. Thx for the info.

[@guildwarrior3232]

@@h2o848 augh! thanks, Netflix! *grumbles about profit-driven corpo-decisions neutering art*

[@Huginn_13]

Viktor thoughts must have been like: Deam this random kid is pretty fast, why can't I hi- IS THAT A FUCKING TIME MACHINE!?!?!?!?

[@TI.SEDESDH]

Ekko says 'I'm trying to keep an old friend to blow US up', then Jinx jumps and pulls the pin.

[@Oceanworker]

Hey they were all hero's in there way, just ekko just didnt get anything for saving the day not even the girl.

[@blobs819901]

He saved his people, that was a reward enough for him.

[@Wolltazar]

Well some heroes don’t wear the cape, Ekko doesn’t do it for wealth, fame and power. Nor does he do it because it’s the right thing to do I think, because he’s not affraid to get the blood on his hands. Ekko does what he does because he feels responsible for those that rely on his help. Also, that’s how the world works, you don’t get good things happen to you just because you’re a good person, but without good people, everything would be worse. That’s how Ekko most probably sees it and it. He never expected any form of reward other than knowing that he did all that he could

[@CaptainKillroy]

Just the idea that Ekko decided to throw the time machine at Vitcors FACE! is so badass to me. And Victor's just stunned sentence (and the fact he didn't move at all) also shows how unexpected it was to him as well

[@aria5614]

And they EARNED the time travel with everything going awful in episode 6

[@Boomy-]

3:23 one thing i also think is funny is that victor basically sees ekko throw a second wild rune at him

[@thearcanamodernau8130]

The reason Ekko has so little screen time compared to the main characters is that he would easily eclipse them all if he was granted more protagonism. He's the most compelling

[@DXDragon38]

Ekko truly was an unexpected star of the show, even from his first appearances in Season 1

[@matthewhungerford1861]

i like that the Z drive was made by jinx, hiem, and ekko, i think having one character make it would be a bit much (just time travel plot devices need to be handled with extreme care), as it shows how smart each character is without starting the argument in who is smarter. the majority of the character's of arcane are human and humans aren't saints and don't choose logical options.

[@solidsmoqesvods]

Viktor be like: is that wannabe mles morales trhowin a cannister sized delorean at me or that shimmer thing got me high?

[@joestar.d.seba27]

Wait, when the video was ending and I realized this is your first one, it blew my mind. Very well crafted, and great to hear your thoughts about this character and amazing series. Hope to see more! 🥳

[@kyloben8537]

seeing Ekko be actually HAPPY was such a blessing. seeing him have to give that up was devastating. he's a better man than most, a better one than I am for sure, because I would not have been able to leave a perfect paradise like that

[@deniedprosperity4144]

DAMN BRO I forgot that Jinx was LITERALLY trying to kill Ekko back in season 1 episode 4, like Ekko is THAT forgiving, shows more much kindness is in him.

[@lolcommander2447]

The Powder & Ekko Arc was my favorite. They really made something Special with how similar the fight scene from s.1 and the Dance scene from s.2 are.

[@guanjah8186]

my least favorite.. for me ist got s8. Arcane for me is without S2 E7

[@ieatgrass108]

Ekko, -the boy who shattered time- the boy who lost everything for others

[@gabigusi5815]

Ekko went from a rly cool side character to one of the best fictional heros. I dont think there is anyone that dont like Ekko, hes just perfect

[@guanjah8186]

i hate him

[@gabigusi5815]

@guanjah8186 i hate u

[@leoki4804]

Perfect? He started the whole mess, got everyone in danger.

[@oatchia]

if there was a full show of just ekkos story i'd 100% watch it

[@nsaviolis]

Every time it cut to Jayce just STRUGGLING I laughed my ass off lmao

[@shalimj]

Master class in how to write a cool character (shout out schnee on his ekko video essay), was in the show way less than 50 percent of the show, and completely stole the whole show (twice) I love ekko, arcane got me drawing again after so long

[@Zeer0042]

Put some RESPECT on Ekko's name RAHHHH ⌛⏳

[@guanjah8186]

just hate.

[@Smoses_senpai]

I didn't really think about it but you are totally right Ekko is THE hero of the show.

[@wallywallace2184]

This was a good video. Went to your channel to find more and this was the only one. Hope you make more, so long as you enjoy it!

[@ChrisPauX]

I can never be as brave as Ekko. I could never let go of happiness.

[@WhimsyGalore]

Dude! I cried so much during this show. I was like is something happening with me????

[@Red-lq8hi]

Bro this is your only and first video, but you just made a absolute cinema here

[@shanon8020]

to be the first video, its really well constructed

[@scitimas12]

Forget just the side characters, even the characters who ARENT EVEN NAMED are interesting to unpack

[@noturmum7967]

I'll happily be your 101st subscriber You broke things down so well for me.

[@noturmum7967]

I'd also love some advice for my other channel if I can DM

[@pakthecube]

How is your first video SO GOOD?

[@the-boy-who-lived]

Meanwhile Heimedinger chose something even more heroic, that even Ekko would hesitate to do.

[@ywo8cd]

I love to think about the impact of every single thing Ekko did. The community he built from nothing, making the final move, saving Jinx' life, so much more. I love the idea that no matter how "small" a player he was, the impact of his selflessness reverberates throughout his world.

[@Starxie_vidz]

0:57 actually, it was Caitlyn that died with Vi in that universe in the explosion. Jayce was either killed or arrested due to the death of innocent children in his home and his research. Vi and Cait don't exist in a world without the other

[@bobthet-rex2718]

Ekko quickly jumped up in how much I liked him with s2 ep7 alone, ep9 only helped solidify that love. While I had some issues with season two, and especially the final, Ekko was the biggest blessing of it and made it all worth it.

[@guanjah8186]

For me the only big issue was Ekko.

[@joyc.e.7511]

​@@guanjah8186how so? I think he fit perfectly into the plot

[@ashlynx1]

I love the line about how ekkos device is impossible because it also contains Jayces acceleration rune which viktor gave him

[@LevityRhodes]

I am so happy that you, too, put into perfect and succinct terms that Viktor had a time machine from another dimension lobbed at him. That is probably my favorite scene from the finale, too, just by the way he says "That device can't be" as his last words before being obliterated by it.

[@Voitan]

Despite all his godlike power, genius, and presumption he has seen all there is, he still gets blindsided by something he never conceived or thought of. Free will is worth everything. The minds of free people are capable of things we haven't even thought possible.

[@thewalrus45]

Ekko is a true JRPG protagonist, dude just wanted to save his tree and this led to him ending up inventing a fucking time machine and going on a KILL GOD quest.

[@Aethelbeorn]

3:16 'Saving Jayce' Cant throw that around. That implosion looked brutal.

[@bella_daze3092]

WHAT. THIS IS YOUR FIRST ONE??? THIS IS SO GOOD❤❤❤❤ Ekko is the best character

[@salvatore2119]

In the Parallel worlds; Jayce: Speedruns DarkSouls Ekko: Slice of Life Romance Anime

[@dapperdude1550]

THAT’S WHY HE’S THE SAVIOR THE BOY SAVIOOOOORRRRRRR

[@RobinWPrat]

yo merci bcp ! You have put words on everything i'm trying to explain to my friends ! Ill send them this vid cause ur wy better than me at this and the video editing is perfect ! mucho love

[@olisama6283]

Wait... THIS IS YOUR FIRST VIDEO?!?!?!!?!

[@Jjjkuzeee]

Ekko: *girlfriend simulator* Jayce: why are we still here, just to suffer

[@pither7759]

Good video man 🔥 I hope to see more of them in the future! :)

[@marar17]

1:30 THIS WHAS BEAUTY INCARNATE

[@RayGalactic]

Thank you for sharing these thoughts!

[@cluelessProgrammer1]

He's not the main character because HE'S HIM!!

[@ch-ev5ee]

The reason Ekko is a supporting Character is because the one who actually ended the glorious evolution is Viktor himself, with the arcane stone he given to past Jayce, to create a paradox that can end itself, the future viktor knew about ekko and herm. He might be the one sending them there for the special "variable" , which would end the cycle itself, Ekko opened Viktor's eyes with a barrel of pure science and magic for a second helped Jayce keeping his promise to Viktor himself.

[@yuzurudropa3956]

Ekko out here play ing life is strange while Jayce is playing eldenring

[@ameliabrittain3689]

We should have gotten way more Ekko and way more Viktor in season 1.

[@CoraMaria]

Yes I adored S2 E7 too! I did find the final two episodes to be far too rushed in their pacing and I think they should've had a third season to build up and pivot towards that finale, but I would not change a thing about E7. Ekko has been my fave since Season 1 and I was so happy to get an episode which really spoke volumes about his strength of character. Def my absolute fave character in Arcane by far!

[@guanjah8186]

i would eradicate S2 E7.

[@FictionalLover2726]

Cant stop thinking about how the Ekko he switched place with was probably just randomly thrown into the undercity with no context and suddenly his life is a mess

[@Lara-xk6gb]

really liked the vibes from the background music

[@Clau_Cast]

Talk about the love between victor and Jayce pleaseeeeeeee. I really loved your video ❤❤❤❤❤

[@kouleffects]

Ekko and Himerdinger living in paradise, while Jayce is speedrunning through Dark Souls 3 XD

[@fenric_hastur]

That transition was insane.

[@eclectic9071]

Loved your point of view, hope you keep sharing, thank you

[@lucasinatur]

I like your style, keep going!

[@AngelaQuintero-d7x]

ekko been a side character and the hero its brilliant.

[@leonidas9725]

you should really make more videos ur really fun 2 listen 2

[@pianistmuffin6882]

i have a lot of persona songs on my spotify playlist so i kept checking my spotify thinking i accidentally started my playlist

[@georgia5632]

im pretty sure ekko decided to go back to the other reality instead of staying because he probably feels like he is the cause of everything that ever happened, if he never gave vi the tip to go to jayce’s lab, claggor, mylo, vander, etc never would have been killed, so he feels as though it is his responsibility to “fix” everything.

[@bluegate4630]

my goat

[@Pronil07]

Jayce speedrunning dark souls 4

[@playerschoicegaming2723]

In a way it was kind of beautiful since, from a certain perspective, most to all of what happened started from his top that led Powder and the crew to Jayce's lab, so him dealing the final blow was kinda double satisfying when you look at it in that light.

[@GreySeashell-j3m]

Viktor saying "that device can't be" hit me more as "I couldn't conceive that device existing", so therefore it was an epiphany contradicting his then core belief that he, and only he, knows everything and what's correct. Ekko, _showed_ him the impossible in a way Viktor would accept. So he _didn't_ know everything actually. It's so simple and so concise. I fucking love that script.

[@9yearoldguy]

THAT TRANSITION THO 1:28

[@mohamedsadik5172]

Great video

[@Pengguie]

I can smell Death Battles creating Ekko VS Miles episode

[@kyloben8537]

EKKO MY GOAT FR

[@michaldrotar6452]

Nonono, hextech was atleast to some extend invented, Powder did get hexcrystals and we see them in the episode 7 I think at the very end where she has them in a little bag under the memorial for Vi. However since Vi died there, powder is too scared or just doesnt want to research hextech as it is a traumatic experience for her. If jayce is dead, hextech is not going to ever get developed in that universe unless powder decides to push through her fears.

[@joyc.e.7511]

Let's hope she doesn't. Or at the very least the Hexcore never comes into being. That shit is evil. Like ACTUALLY evil.

[@numanbemir7393]

vov thats a good video I glad to find a great channel

[@ChimeraLotietheBunny]

I always love this repetitive contrast of Jayce and Ekko. A blessing for being an Ekko fan

[@saiarom]

Who lost the most is Vander. Painfully die twice. He can't be just a Warwick. Ekko, he still gain some good experience from Powder. The way he sit on the rooftop not for Jink but remember of Powder&Heimerdinger. (We know he not die but Ekko don't). For Jink, she on new adventure already. And the last thing 2 City become 1 in the end.

[@CameronGreen-q1p]

what an awesome first video!

[@atlanta2076]

They say that the creators geared towards a runtime of the finale of 90mins, but Netflix only gave them 50. So a lot of scenes were shortened or cut out altogether. Some people complain (and to some extent rightfully so) that we should have gotten a scene inbetween Ekko saving Jinx and the two of them arriving on the battlefield. But I like that this scene does not exist, so we get to fill in the gaps ourselves with our imagination. After keeping Jinx from killing herself, she musta said something along the lines that all is lost anyway, because there is a war going on. A war Ekko knows nothing about yet, bc he got catapulted away before that conflict broke out. Ekko then asks Jinx if she doesn't have a few ideas or inventions left. She could have told him about that balloon thing, but add that it didn't properly work. And then Ekko manages to fix/complete the thing, and off we go! God, I LOVE this show!

[@weaver5995]

brother, at this point just start making reviews about this show and other this good. your really good at it

[@mikeyrocks4274]

If you think about it though, there would be timelines where Ekko does get stuck in the other world, the only reason he managed to get back was because of the acceleration rune