Why Does Powder Vomit a FIRELIGHT? | 1min Analysis

#Netflix #LeagueOfLegends #ImagineDragons
(CROWS Pt. 2.5) In the music video for ENEMY, Powder regurgitates a firelight. That particular insect carries heavy symbolism, even in story, as the namesake of Ekko's faction. They appear throughout his scenes, but also seem to represent him personally during his bridge fight with Jinx. If this is Ekko's symbol, why are we seeing it with Powder? Why was it inside her and why did she bring it out of herself? How does it relate to the themes of Arcane intro's music video? And finally, is there a connection with the Crows that represent Jinx?
If you missed the CROW SYMBOLISM shorts from last week, watch them here!
Pt 1 - JINX & Crows - • JINX & CROWS - Part 1 ...
Pt 2 - Why Does JINX Kill a Random Crow? - • Why Did Jinx KILL a Ra...
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[@TheRibottoStudios]

"Jinx is there to protect Powder." Great I didn't need to be happy today anyways.

[@T0YCHEST]

Fr

[@K-J-A]

I loved this idea that if she had become a firefly, she would probably have died. For whenever we think about "what could have been", we almost always end up ignoring or denying that other possibilities could be tragically worse.

[@T0YCHEST]

@@K-J-A if she became the fire fly, Claggor, Vander and Mylo wouldnt be dead and neither would she, because she wouldnt of come to help them, she is the opposite of ekko, Ekko chose to stay put when Benzo died, so he ended up having a positive life because he didnt chase revenge(she was trying to help revenge sounds harsh buts its technically what it is) like Powder, thats why Ekko said i should of came when him and Vi were in the firelight head quarters.

[@K-J-A]

@@T0YCHEST You really don't understand, do you? Her death could be after that event where she made that double kill (Vander does not count)... She could die then on some mission for the fireflies... Probably because of a mistake on her own and luckily not taking her entire team with her. Like "maybe there's a possibility" that Jinx is the reason Powder is still alive somehow. Uk That's because that event was the watershed that made her abandon teamwork and focus more on herself. 🤔

[@T0YCHEST]

@@K-J-A there is always a possibility, but its a show its pretty linear for as good as the story telling is, claggor, vander, milo and vi were all going to escape. they broke a hole in a wall, uncuffed vander, locked the door with about 30 seconds to spare to run away from the shimmer goblin. The reason i say powder would be fine if she never came is cause her story is the exact opposite of ekko, she is the past he is the future, she tries to do good but it has bad resulte, ekko does bad but has good results, ekkos symbolism is life, powders symbolism is death.

[@runwords_]

You can see Powder turn to Jinx for a single frame after the firelight leaves her mouth

[@ireki4017]

holy shit i never noticed that

[@J1ntu]

Same! Goddamn they're good

[@LilyShimizu]

Good catch! In this clip it’s so brief!!

[@omerlan100]

and here when i thought i saw everything

[@hamodmj5631]

the amount of details in this work and this show is scary! Good Good catch...

[@I.Simmonds]

I simply assumed it symbolizes hope leaving Powder.

[@twentyonetortas5921]

I mean based on how the firelight is related to the bridge scene since she made explosives resembling them it could be about her losing hope, especially during the ending part of her and Ekko’s fight. I made a separate comment on this too feel free to give it a read.

[@RowanBuchananroabie]

This is true. Happiness, Hope, Freedom, Friendship, Family. It symbolized all of it. I wouldn't say you were off the mark tbh.

[@Gryphon_2006]

I mean shit, you're pretty damn close with that one lol

[@spotliker123]

bugs can also symbolize rot and decay, and i think her spitting up a bug could represent the “death” of powder, the decay of that identity. the death of her past self & inner child.

[@sabrina0013]

tbh I legit thought it was just the MV being weird because Jinx is weird and I was 100% okay with that. but holy shit they put actual meaning into it? mind blown

[@isabelleliu995]

Honestly really impressive how much conscious detail the animators for Arcane put into their work in cinematography, quality, and writing. The show is really becoming one of the best series I've come to see in the years to come.

[@imp6799]

Honestly I think he's just making this shit up. It's like those idiots in a art museum saying how each painting has a "MEANING" but the real meaning behind that painting was that the artist thought it looked cool.

[@isabelleliu995]

​@@imp6799 While I do agree that sometimes people can overanalyze things for "content" or because you can get carried away, I do think that considering the producers and animators' level of planning into each episode, that such a quirky detail shouldn't be overlooked but not overly mulled over. Because ngl a firefly or firelight coming out of Jinx's mouth is kinda a jittery thing to animate

[@brandonbetsy6171]

@@imp6799 and even if it is all bullshit it's really interesting just how much meaning can be attributed to such minor detaild

[@largocharles8729]

@@imp6799 not when after the firelight comes out of powder a single image of jinx shows up, which is literally the intended meaning of the sequence and is backed up by the whole arcae series and the enemy mv. I dont think a animated show thats literally planned for more than 2 years wont have such meticulous detials hidden in it.

[@Annamoon_]

I read the title as "why does powder vomits *on* a firelight" and I was like "when did this happen"??? Lmaoo

[@BenchongDy]

Same. When did it happen?

[@mochamochee]

It happens in the Enemy music video

[@marcelacaroline6140]

@@mochamochee she never vomited on any firelight lol

[@mochamochee]

@@marcelacaroline6140 I didn't noticed the *on* 💀

[@day4162]

​@@mochamocheeI've gotta look that up. I've listened to the song probably 600 times, but I didn't even know there was a video! I probably should have guessed, though lol

[@purplekillingshadow8474]

I've always seen it as her rejecting the firelight ideas...

[@stuffynosepatrol]

Especially since she turns into Jinx right after she spits it out

[@purplekillingshadow8474]

@@stuffynosepatrol yeah like it's a violent reaction (which turning into jinx is)

[@K-J-A]

I've always interpreted it as an easter egg claiming that fireflies were only created because of Powder. As if it was her experience with Ekko and her path to perdition that led the little man to fight the problems of the undercity, by means other than weapons. By giving not only a reason to fight, but also a reason to live for his people.

[@purplekillingshadow8474]

@@K-J-A that's a beautiful idea! I also see it as powder rejecting that notion that no matter what she tries to do violence and the will to die for what she believes in is what matters which is also why I think she calls ekko the boy savior. He trying to have to both way while powder has only seen one way really works...

[@DerAltruist]

It's no act on her side, the firelight leaves her body. It's more like the firelight rejected her.

[@Quotheraving]

I always associated the Firelights with hope, symbolically a small light leading you on and that imagery as representing Powder losing hope and remaining in darkness. Also being tied to the gang of the same name (who are also working toward something hopeful) this could represent Powder's actions being the cause of Ekko founding the Firelights.

[@Vizible21]

Hi Schnee you've mentioned a lot of these random things already but I haven't heard you said anything about one of the most important things about Jinx that has existed and part of her eversince the conception of her design. The monkey.

[@meatboy5714]

I dont remember the monkey being prsent in act 2 or 3

[@clared5812]

It’s a classic children’s toy that she accidentally used to kill her whole family. A symbol of her innocence and simultaneously a symbol of how she lost her innocence

[@me-hv5pd]

honestly i wouldnt call any of these things random, arcane seems to do nothing on accident, every tiny thing has a deep meaning and i find thats really cool

[@amiri3276]

@@meatboy5714 Jinx painted the monkey symbol at both the sky ship and circus tent crime scenes

[@JohnSmith-hv6ks]

the monkey is actually from the MV of her release in LoL

[@theheron3404]

Gotta admit, it's one of the best music videos. I use it as a trailer for arcane as it's in the same animation style, with unwanted symbolism that adds to the show that isn't already in it, plus it spoils less than the actual trailers while still enticing the person to want to watch the show. Love this vid!

[@toxiczombiewolf5692]

@@queenbee9814 the show is called Arcane

[@brycebitetti1402]

@@toxiczombiewolf5692 I think he meant the music video.

[@DeadBore]

What’s the music video

[@crazybabuskaman3923]

@@DeadBore Enemy by Imagine Dragons. The song from the opening of the show.

[@hannnnahhahhahha]

That’s what I did unintentionally. I saw the music video then I had to watch the show.

[@ewbait]

So the assumption would be that Powder was not “destroyed” by Jinx, rather that Powder is pushed to the background by Jinx to protect her from the trauma of her past. Very interesting.

[@void-creature]

Well they are ultimately one and the same person. Even in the very first scene of the show you see the "Jinx-like" scratchy scribblings over the footage, showing you that that part of her was always there, trauma born from the oppression under Piltover.

[@miketacos9034]

How is every single second of this show so perfect.

[@audreyn.9394]

This has some serious "You should see me in a crown" vibe from Billie Eilish's clip

[@sirderp4925]

Eh

[@crazybabuskaman3923]

Didn't she vomit a Spider in that video? I'm a hardcore fan of her but I don't remeber.

[@corrupted_velma]

Ty now I'm gonna do an edit.

[@Apollo_G]

"their gross exterior" what are you talking about, those bugs are the cutest insects ever

[@pageachatter229]

This show is absolutely jam packed with symbolism and metaphors, and I love it.

[@pluto__5625]

woah people who made arcane know what theyre doin dayum. is this related to Ekko's music vid when a firelight comes out of the masks eye

[@zefanyaraysanevadalaput7371]

Bruh jinx story alone is so great 💙 I can't wait for arcane to visit other region in runtera

[@suripunaitoh5881]

Meh, they did so little about Zaun and Piltover, we didn't see Blitzcrank, Zac, Twitch (maybe the rat) Camille, and so much more I wanted to, I hope they're gonna dig more about Zaun and Piltover before any other regions, maybe some Noxus in season 2 tho

[@datadoesdorian]

Jeez this show is full of so many little details it's beautiful

[@BLK_pharaoh]

I like the parallels of Ekko - Jink and Vi - Savika. After watching he show, you get to see how each pairing are what the protagonists would be if they stuck with their original paths. This is also greatly emphasized by the focus of both pairing’s fights. If Jinx stayed as Powder, she’d probably become a Firelight like Ekko, using her intellect to help the people of Zaun. If Vi went against Vander, she’d probably end up like Savika, not wanting peaceful progress for Zaun, but instead wanting Zaun to stay the rough, fighting city is was.

[@permafrosttt2262]

I just want to give jinx a hug man. She’s amazing

[@MolliCartoonist]

No one can make better writing than this beautiful story.

[@forgetfulidiot3186]

I love how you give depth to this masterpiece... The more I watch your vids the more I feel connected with the characters... It's pure bliss to be honest... ✌️

[@domo201]

These writers and producers are so intricate and meticulous and brilliant with their storytelling and I love it so much 😭❤️

[@lorriepongpong3280]

Wow. I always thought that firelight that came out from powder’s mouth is symbol of loss of innocence/light in her.

[@j_117]

The exact moment Jinx was born

[@batmanvsjoker7725]

The Firelight represents hope and innocence. And it leaves Powder.

[@Isabella-qn2nb]

Another thing about the firelights could be that when Jinx made her explosive firelights, it could represent the fact that Powder was killed through the firelights as if trying to show the fact that’s she really gone

[@T0YCHEST]

I wish i can go through my screen and hug and kiss powder 😭

[@optimascrime5235]

Seriously Jinx seems like a straight up Batman villan....An A list one

[@ivanhunter6492]

It could symbolise Powder losing what little hope she has

[@bbgll]

Wow, heartbreak in less than a minute, that's a performance!

[@ScoundrelChestnut]

man the more i watch your videos and (so many others) about jinx i am so devastated thinking about the "what ifs", powder could have been a firefly, she would have been free, she would have a a family that values her not just exploits her, she wouldn't be painted in the fireflies hideout as someone they "lost".

[@jayce8123]

Vomit is a strong description for this lol.

[@banirolls]

The entire animation looks like a digital painting when paused 😍

[@khadijasenghor286]

I loved this part of the video, I don't know why but the way it emerged and then lit up intrigued me in the best way possible.

[@kelceyfirth]

I have never watched arcane but this single KZbin short has made me interesting the art style looks so good!

[@toskibro]

schnee closing in on 100k?

[@Xloudy684]

Everytime young Powder cried it felt too real.

[@Smiley_710]

That fight on the bridge and the musics was dope

[@YourManifoldWorld]

Damn...didn't realize it. Fire light escaping powder is like her spirit leaving her.

[@Rwscienceguy]

Hey shnee, I realized something interesting about the last drop over the course of the series. At the start of the series we are shown 2 areas of the last drop, the ground floor and the basement where the kids lived. However, after the time skip, we see the ground floor and the upstairs office. We never see the office pre-time skip, and we never see the basement post-time skip. I can understand why jinx would never go to the basement post time skip (to many memories), so that on its own isn't strange, but the fact that we ONLY see the office after the time skip is interesting. It suggests many things, one of which is the difference in leadership style between vander and silco, vander the man of the people, and silco, the dictator in the tower. Vanders focus down in the undercity vs silco's obsession with matching piltover. What do you think?

[@losin_mymarblez]

honestly "firelight au" could be a rlly cool name 4 ppl who draw or write abt "what could've been" storylines

[@grilionreal]

"Death symbolised by the crow." Nah, it's just Swain.

[@user-mh1cu4ej3e]

I often see people reacting with a "bad" feeling in this part of the video (Grossed out, weirded, disturbed, etc). But first time I saw it I thought it was just beautiful, and keeps being my favourite clip of the song.

[@s.s.681]

I love how arcane is a really good show on the surface but it has depth and deeper meaning which is so cool to watch

[@cassierogers9546]

'When u said jinx is there to protect powder' I just envisioned jinx and powder meeting each other😭

[@twentyonetortas5921]

This reminds me of the Jinx vs Ekko scene where she basically attempted suicide while on the ground after their fight. By “attempting” I mean that in the sense that Jinx places bombs on people so easily even when they’re charging and fighting her at such a fast pace so to see her just let that grenade roll beside her and Ekko, her expression remaining sad instead of smug even after revealing the grenade she hid, and her not even trying to get up and out of his grasp seems to be less of a murder attempt at Ekko and more like a shot at suicide for her. Powder’s eyes would either be blue or grey and during that scene, her eyes were grey which showed whatever was left of Powder which Ekko thought was completely gone hence his surprise when seeing her eyes. I think that Firelight clip is also a way to foreshadow the entire bridge attack, their fight, and her near death via grenade.

[@nepntzerZer]

We see powder die there. Actually her whole arc is about transformation and death so we see a many moments that could be interpreted as powder dying or needing to die so jinx can be born. that's what makes her a tragic character. Powder was a sweet innocent kid, and jinx is a terrifying monster.

[@akhilavila7590]

This is some of the highest quality shorts content ever lol

[@cormyat07]

Powder gave birth to the firelights in a f'd up way.

[@abigailchan5718]

Thanks for the interpretation! I've always wondered why, after my first time watching the Enemy music video. I couldn't understand it.

[@user-mn9dr2iz9w]

“Jinx is here to protect powder” that hit me deep😭

[@joelpena209]

Silco. Don’t cry. You’re perfect

[@hexhiaa]

it also shows how she created them fucking up their shit as jinx and all

[@lbgherkin]

Beautiful. Also, don't know if firelights - being fictional and all - go through a larval/pupal metamorphosis stage like other lepidoptera, but that would tie in with your analysys too.

[@Dressup_Doll]

I think it’s symbolic for her friendship ending with Ekko. His theme in the fight is a Firelight after all.

[@laurencelavigne-cloutier4665]

I think it also refers to the French poem "La charogne" it did symbolise the death of an era and entering a new one that was more evoking of senses, more emotional, if I remember correctly my college class

[@EnderFox23]

Just rewatching this gives me chills. Such an amazing ending to an amazing show

[@crazygamer_1082]

Bro I loves fireflies (or firelight) they are cute ASF. And they don’t make your skin crawl like other insects

[@solidsnakedred]

When my girlfriend and I watched arcane it was like 3 eps in my girlfriend went "wish I could give powder a hug" but we have no attachment to many of other characters in other shows. Writing and acting are a huge huge deal

[@beardlessdragon]

Love your analyses, man

[@jeremycrumpton7881]

Good lord bro you always kill it with the breakdowns. I always wondered about this. Thanks for “another one!”

[@oll9995]

She deserves better.

[@-Whisper]

What i saw in the enemy music video is that Jinx was always there in Powder but you can only see little signs of her Ever since Vi left Jinx awakens only having a small drop of Powder left until the end of the series when Jinx fully took over. I'm not good in theories but i think this might be a good one so i wanted to share it.

[@amber_thefox.cosplay]

I never realized the symbolism they used with that. Wow! That gives me a whole new take on the show and the character Jinx.

[@DungeonCreator20]

Also in League lore, crows are frequently used to represent this vague concept of “the demon of fear” which is where Swain and Fiddlesticks (assuming HE isnt the true demon” get their power. The firelights can also represent courage vs the crows of fear which is the emotion that brought jinx to powder

[@bouhhgz1969]

Great character description - Bravo!

[@crankfastleuwu]

"So the Firelights are all about life-" Bat-eared Firelight who was gonna impale unconscious Vi with a spear : "Gonna pretend I didn't hear that."

[@riakun]

I was always curious at this artistic choice. I did always wonder if it was about her and Ekko in a sense, cuz you could tell that he totally liked her as a kid. It's like a "what could have been" between them. Like, if she hadn't become Jinx, she could have gone off with him (and also Vi) and lived happily together while do good. But it's just a tragic love story that could never be more than that. A potential love that ended in tragedy. Especially if Powder could have opened up her world to a good and healthy love like she did with Vi, but a different kind since it would be with Ekko. Metaphors and symbols have always gone over my head, so thanks for the video!

[@skyhunter2816]

This show is art.

[@AceIsAnAngel]

It could double as being that Powder has been put to rest, and although she may be “gone,” a new life has come from her- the new life being Jinx.

[@troyjames827]

It's her superpower. It's what PTSD is. You trade in your Walt Disney world for the real one. It's not bad. The crow symbolizes Odin's Ravens, Thunin(thought) and Munin (memory). PTSD is called Divine Madness or Soldier's Heart, but it means you know how people can hurt others and have a driven Will to stop this.

[@Giulia-om2gl]

This is actually amazing

[@svenabel2987]

You know it's a good show when imagery alone gives you goosebumps even after having seen it a dozen times already

[@siadraws2057]

"What Could've Been"

[@dandelionmosssycamore8218]

I really love how detailed and well thought out your analysis videos are. Even your shorts are very full of meaning and impart great depth to the story. I hope you'd do more videos like this on other fandoms too but I get that Arcane is too good too lose and honestly so full of hidden meanings and layers. Truly amazing storytelling.

[@bibss9337]

I always interpreted this scene as Jinx loosing the life inside her after what happens to her. The concept that she is now empty and lost.

[@Arcane_10_out_of_10]

Thank you, I had no idea that the music video has scenes that are not in the show, so this is a real treat.

[@Goldfisher]

So someone else in the comments mentioned that they viewed this as powder rejecting the firelights. I disagree… sort of. I think this is actually symbolizing the firelights rejecting powder as she becomes jinx. This is because powder doesn’t crush the firelight or shoo it away, it crawls out of her mouth and leaves on its own. Furthermore, Jinx never actually initiated combat against the firelights. Jinx doesn’t ever seek out the firelights to destroy them, they always come to her. In the ship scene, the firelights are raiding a shipment Jinx is supposed to protect. Later they kidnap Vi just as Jinx reunited with her, and finally Ekko turns back to fight Jinx instead of Vi, when initially he was supposed to speak to the council in Piltover. Not saying Jinx is ever necessarily in the right in these situations it is just interesting to note that whenever Jinx encounters the firelights the firelights are always the aggressors.

[@NightWink129]

I love your breakdowns!

[@OddityIllustrations]

Welp, now I’m sad, and need to watch Arcane for like the 100th time to be retraumatized, thanks man👍

[@TheCursedCat1927]

Something to point out: The entite Music Video is taking place after Silco already took over the Last Drop - we can see how the Bar looks (different and more refined than Vander's). But it's also not looking as the one in Act 2, as it's years before that. So this whole thing is also Powder reflecting and thinking of her past.

[@eidaxiel]

*Crows Appears* League of Legends Players: "OH MY GOD IT'S FUCKING SWAIN!!!! RAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!"

[@bizzyg5751]

For context, a lot of these scenes are from the Imagine Dragon Enemy music video which has scenes that aren't in the Arcane series.

[@blackviolinprince3315]

living for this amazing content, beautiful how arcane is such a deep and intricate show with all of these little details to keep me entertained after i've finished it

[@squigglydickley1851]

Also it symbolizes hope as well

[@RubyGeeScuderia]

I shoot, i completely missed the backgrounds being the firelight and the crow in Ekko vs Jinx. AND- the symbolism of the firelights being bombs. Incredible.

[@osflores8672]

"vomit" Ye no it's more like she opened her mouth and it came out by itself I would call it spitting out the bug not vomiting

[@martinasq02]

If the firelight represents the future of Powder could have been, then could the scene in ep7 where she "shoots" at the firelight with her fingers mean that she's trying to delete that side of her but she yet can't quite get rid of it? I also think it's very cool how that same scene parallels her shooting the crow, the animal that represents her in the present state of things, especially when prior to the kill Jinx looks at the bird in such a weird way, like she doesn't understand what it is or why it's there, while she glares at the insect, she clearly doesn't like the fact that it's there (or perhaps that she's aware that it's there) and yet doesn't bring actual harm to it. Maybe this parallel could even be foreshadowing for the conclusion of the fight between her and Ekko... of course following the theory that the bomb was meant for her and not for Ekko, therefore killing him was a risk but not a goal, but I know not everyone follows that theory (I personally do tho)

[@browhoisgrace]

crows also symbolise change!! i think i saw someone mention once theres little details like crow feathers or a crow flying by either in the mv or show i cant remember and theoretically it resembles when jinx/powder changes throughout the show

[@mileslugo6430]

*vomit* is a violent way to put it. Jynx send more serene when it comes out of her mouth.

[@editedbyaries]

I have a question that isn’t related to arcane but also ties back to your “Analyzing ARACNE’s Best Scene” video would you consider the Running Up That Hill scene in stranger things an example of all 9 levels used in one scene?

[@quwyn6192]

YEAH I thought of that exact sane thing when I was watching

[@Vizible21]

It wasn't that mind-blowing tbh like what everyone is making it out to be. It's cliche, a lot of movies already does that "I see a portal and I have to run away as fast as I can to get away from this monster". The fact that the effects are kinda disappointing, it looks cgi af doesn't help. It's one of those "ok it's a popular person doing it" and fans over reacting.

[@DeadBore]

@@Vizible21 you must be super fun at parties

[@AgentSapphire]

To clarify something in general: The image of an insect (usually a butterfly) crawling out of someone's mouth signifies the soul leaving the body in some cultures as butterflies were thought to carry souls to the afterlife on their wings.

[@MagnaMidan]

The crows might also lot be just a symbol but instead signifying that swain is around and watching

[@Angel-ip7pw]

I read it as flashlight lol i thought she just went 🤮🔦

[@_le.ah_]

Ok but if thts case then the fact tht Ekko won tht fight tells me tht the Firelight in her wins and I love tht

[@M8OfTheNorth]

Shows what I know, I just thought she fell asleep and the little bugger crawled into her mouth.

[@rosequartz3318]

They look like butterflies! 🤫😱

[@graphixkillzzz]

thus show has an infinite well of depth 🤔 i love it so much 🥰

[@eller3794]

Reminded me of silence of the lambs lol

[@thejumper4505]

Fortiche team: Holy sh*t did we actually do that?

[@AxLivvy]

I love symbolism so much ❤❤❤