Why Mel Isn't JUST A Manipulator | Arcane Season 1 | Character Analysis & Explained

[@aranthur]

Interestingly, Mel also waits seven years to make a pass at Jayce because before then she was a councilor and he wasn't. The relationship would have had a power imbalance that could have been unhealthy, but they are equals when she finally goes for it and they become partners

[@lydiscott]

Aw I love that point you’ve made!

[@aranthur]

@lydiscott Thanks! I've wondered before about it, if maybe this was both a character decision about Mel and also a symbolic one about their relationship?? Like there are other characters they could have easily given sex scenes to in season 1 (Mel's mom and her cuisine come to mind), but they only chose this one, potentially because the sex scene is itself a metaphor for the two of them finally becoming a true and equal partnership And if so, will it be the same in season 2? It's been hinted that there will be a sex scene in s2 as well, and it would be interesting if in a similar way it is between two people who haven't been equal in power so far, but become so just before the consummation of their relationship. My obvious first thought is Vi and Cait, who have a MASSIVE imbalance in social station and political influence, but if we see a late season Vi intentionally or accidentally do something heroic that makes her beloved by the people of Piltover and get a promotion so that she and Cait are basically like co-sheriffs of the enforcers, that would put them on a much more even playing field as partners. And then that transition could be symbolized by a sex scene and their finally becoming romantic partners as well

[@isahmoon3227]

But doesn't it mean there is a conflict of interests when they are both councilors and lovers at the same time?

[@mduckernz]

@@isahmoon3227Definitely, but then, there is no shortage of conflict of interest at that level among the councillors lol.

[@WGasmss]

@@aranthurthere is no thematic reason for Mel’s mother to have a sex scene. The sex scene between Mel and Jayce had sooo many interconnecting layers. Even the subtle hint that Jayce was cheating on his other partner (partner in the sense of intellectual partner) Viktor while he’s dying. Jayce is experience the best moment he’s had while viktor crumbles in comparison. There’s a lot more themes going on in this 1 sex scene. No one else in arcane could have a sex scene and make it mean something.

[@bluecatOMG]

My issue is a man does it, he is called brilliant and a genius. A woman does it and shes labeled a manipulative person. She's a genius, she's cunning, she's soft hearted but strong willed. She used Jayce but she also pushed his dream forward. It wasn't only for her benefits. It was for him too.

[@belhajyassine7563]

When men does it we call him manipulative like Johan from monster

[@Imbetterthanyoucouldeverbe]

@@belhajyassine7563yeah but it’s seen as a positive thing

[@Of_infinite_Faith]

​@@belhajyassine7563 you can't compare a monster like johan with mel. The point still stands

[@belhajyassine7563]

@@Of_infinite_Faith ok then shuu from Tokyo ghoul, he did manipulate kaneki

[@hugomventura]

When a man does it, it tends to be sexualized. I think it's a nice showcase of the kinda subconscious patriarchal teachings people succumb to. Man succumbing to temptation or naivety = bad , its her fault Man tempting which is then hidden as courting = good. Hence many men going "how else are we supposed to get a girl" in response to their manipulations. Meanwhile alot of women tend to fetishize men who manipulate. Dark romances, and alot of other nsfw content that my girl friends enjoy tend to have women be victims of manipulate men. The type to kill other's.

[@o-wolf]

You left out the main motivation Mel has, to protect Piltover, not from Zaun, but from the looming approach of Noxus, Piltover using their political acumen and strstegic importance to Runeterra trade can only hold Noxus off so long, once theyve licked theur wounds from Ionia, theyll eventually turn to Piltover and Mel knows intinately what that will look like if they decide to take a foothold in the city state.. with Hextech they have leverage and power to defend themselves against the might of an impending Noxian invasion

[@lydiscott]

I MISSED THIS! Love it!!!!!

[@therearenoshortcuts9868]

she's not just a manipulator she's also a sweetheart xP

[@neofulcrum5013]

I really hope Mel survives. She chooses a new path beyond the violent nature of Noxus. The very opposite of her mother which pits her as an outcast to them, but a high ranking figure in a place like Piltover. Edit: :D

[@theoaketree4246]

I wanna huff that copium with you as well my friend, but I don't think the odds are in Mels favor, simply based off her positioning when Jinx's ult popped off in that last teamfight.

[@einc3437]

​@@theoaketree4246i actuallt think otherwise after the latest music video "Blood,Sweat, and Tears" where they show Ambessa's backstory of conquering death and there was a flash scene at the end where it showed that the baby she was carrying was also influenced by that experience, and i think its hinting that mel will have to battle death and she WILL come out alive at the end

[@Aletheia_soul]

She was just recently leaked as a new league champion so there's some chances that she will live

[@captainziggy82]

Pretty sure she does, no idea how yet. Mel, Jayce and Viktor are definitely surviving

[@theoaketree4246]

It would be pretty cool if she survived, I like her character and would love to see more character development from her. I'm just not hopeful about it, I guess, would be cool tho

[@joz-]

I adore Mel. One thing I wanna point out is how *lonely* she seems to be. We see her being close with Jayce and Elora but no one else. At the Progress Day party, she stands alone on the balcony. Mel has nothing to gain from the attendees and so she doesn't interact with them. Then, in the morning after Jayce and her slept together, she's again alone in her large luxurious bed. Ambessa arguably knows Mel best but they're almost always at odds. She has her growing relationship with Jayce, but I don't think Mel and Jayce will last with their current ideologies. If it came down to it, I don't think they'd choose each other. When Mel sees Jayce for the first time after they slept together, she says something like "work always calls." I think they want someone to be dedicated to them but aren't ready to give the same dedication because their work takes precedence. I'm *really* excited to see Mel this season. I was kinda bored by her at first until Ambessa shows up. I think she's most interesting when she has something to fight for, *really* fight for. I wanna see Mel when her back against the wall. It's a shame she got kinda character assassinated in the fan interpretations. Mel is manipulative and always plays this sociopolitical chess game but she's still genuine in her wants for peace and progress. I think we see her earnest more than otherwise, that a lot of her times being manipulative is still underlaid with genuine feelings and wants.

[@joz-]

I stay winning (and Mel stays losing. Sorry girl)

[@frann8552]

Mels imagery is always associated with sunlight, especially showing it reflecting off her tattoos/armor. The design of the armor while very similar to the solari's(probably because the solari and shurimans are right next to each other and both use celestial sun magic), is more than likely shuriman or icathian. The design specifically resembles the shuriman sun disc, a magical artifact that ansorbs celestial magic and turns humans into ascended god warriors. It also resembles the artifacts used by icathian time mages.

[@zebramaniac3595]

We know from ambessas lore that the medarda family trades along the shuriman coast

[@joshmartin156]

I could never hate this goddess of a woman from a beauty stand point and character standpoint. Much more complex then first realized episode 8 really helped me with that and plenty of rewatches. The richness in piltover but poorest among her house hold

[@o-wolf]

John Boyega was right.. Black actors/characters never get rhe "nuance" Its crazy to see how on a show where someone as outright MALEVOLENT &cruel as Silco exists Mel rohtinely gets rhe most derision suspicion and outright dismissal fromany reactors or video essayists. When its actually plain as day that shes ALWAYS thinking of the greater good, from the minute she goaded Jayce into speaking his true feelings and ehen she later happened upon him &Viktor breaking into Heinerdingers office.

[@amahlgrant]

So true. Even Jinx who has killed countless people gets a pass.

[@mduckernz]

There’s definitely some of that at work here, I agree, but I also think some of it is because unlike Jinx and Silco, she doesn’t ever get her own hands dirty to get what she wants. Characters and people who get everything through how they use other people are never looked upon as positively

[@masonguthrie1257]

To be fair I would say the it is due to her job as a politician more so than her skin color and the fact that she is objectively gorgeous and so that slots her perfectly into the dangerously beautiful and manipulative woman role.

[@austincde]

Leaving a supportive comment for you 🤐❤

[@abeautifulpiece6917]

Couldnt agree more...so much Mel hate, so many comments writing her off a clearly not surviving the blast, even with Fortiche Animators clearly pointing out that she has Magic in her Golden Fused Armor that operated as a shield that saved Jayce. Odd how so many viewers wanted her dead. Sad really , such an Amazing character who Will be a Magical Champion ✨✨✨✨

[@abeautifulpiece6917]

"i hope Mel is dead"....smh so many people do....sorry but ummm...she is a Whole Sun Goddess whose about to be a Champion and even more freaking Powerful and Beautiful than she already is. Thank goodness for the writers at Riot & Fortiche who didnt reduce her Amazing character into a Sacrificial lamb cliche

[@theaveragecomment1014]

Literally this. And then afterwards she says it'd be cool if warwick randomly shows up kills Ambessa??? like that came kinda out of nowhere to me

[@abeautifulpiece6917]

@ exactly….side eyeing that desire big time 🤔

[@sebrussell]

I feel like Mel and Jayce (and maybe Viktor) have to be somehow out of commission for the chaos that is coming to Piltover and Zaun to happen. I just don't see either of them letting Ambessa get control unless they are literally incapable of stopping her. My pet theory is that some combo of Mel's gilded adornments and some sort of hextech on Jayce's person will combine to transport them elsewhere, and their goal early in season 2 will be returning to Piltover, and trying to undo the damage Ambessa has done. I'm probably just coping, but I really want Mel to be alive.

[@amahlgrant]

You are definitely on to something.

[@lydiscott]

This would be quite awesome!

[@lilchaos9212]

That would make a lot of sense actually. If Mel and Jayce are presumed dead, then that explains Ambessa being on her war path, Caitlyn wanted revenge for her mother and old friend, and Viktor possibly having no one else to turn to for help which leads him to descend further down his path of great evolution. We saw how magic transported Jayce and his injured mother to Piltover at the start of his story, so now him and an injured Mel (seeing how she seemed to be at the front and would've taken the brunt of the attack) away from Piltover to save them would work as a parallel too.

[@dragonkyuu]

:) unfortunately it isnt always up to singular people, one can fight against a river of hate but if the river becomes a flood even the best of intentions can be corrupted and the whole thing will fall apart. arcane is a mastery of this concept... people are always at their most impulsive when they are consumed with fear.

[@ElysianCosmos]

Great prediction 👀

[@dredgen0268]

Regardless of what you think of her, ya gotta admit; our girl was making MOVES!!!

[@Cauchemar369]

Around the 15 minute mark when you’re talking about Jayce leaving in the middle of the night, one thing I haven’t heard anyone talk about is the fact that Jayce couldn’t have known about Viktor till after he left Mel Likely, no one would’ve known Jayce stayed with Mel that night let alone came knocking on Mel’s door to wake Jayce up to tell him Viktor was dying So I feel like that means Jayce left of his own accord and only after he left, could’ve found out about what happened to Viktor that night

[@lydiscott]

HMMMMMMM FASCINATING POINT…. I shall take this into consideration for whenever I get to his character!

[@brendajameson5093]

I disagree. I didn't see where they were hiding their relationship and this seems like a very open society when it comes to "relations." I'm sure they knew, at the very least, that Jayce left with Mel. Especially since they were council members - not just some random couple - at a public event. Also, also, they had been friends for YEARS at this point, so it would make sense for them to check with Mel when looking for him - even if they hadn't seen them together.

[@duckfoot6131]

Or they banged at Jayce's place.

[@Arkin7]

I actually noticed this point about Jayce in my current watch through to get to season 2. To be honest I think it was a writing mistake. No show is perfect. But for the sake of argument, I think it’s mostly improbable that Jayce wouldn’t have known. But I also think it’s reasonable that he would have left but then just came back sooner. He is a busy inventor who really wasn’t thinking about the misread Mel might have had about him. In fact he might actually left specifically to meet up with Victor in the first place. A planned inventor meeting or something. Actually as I think about the possibilities I am inclined to think it wasn’t a writing mistake. It was just an opportunity to show Mel be self-reflective and learn Jayce really is just an earnest guy.

[@brendajameson5093]

@@Arkin7 Jayce was already in love with Mel. He would've never left her that night other than an emergency. He literally leaves his dying friend, just to make sure Mel knew it was an emergency and he didn't just 'disappear.' it wasn't a mistake because the writers made it pretty clear why he left.

[@LeonStar155]

Mel is just like her mother, chosen by the wolf, so she cannot die by the rocket laucher!

[@mattsmith8160]

Wow, Mel turned out pretty badass in the end.

[@NerveUnderscore]

21:55 Mr. Local Cuisine 😂 I can't *WHEEZE* I love your analysis, mate.

[@Archeon802]

Who is here after Mel got completely shafted in season 2? She just got isolated from everyone else which is unfortunate because of how interesting her dynamics with others are.

[@alexisloveschocolate]

This was really good! Mel is one of my favorite characters and I think you did a good job of balancing her flaws and positive attributes here. To your point about Mel's naivety and her belief that people will play by the rules as she decides they operate- T B Skyen released a video recently about the animation in Arc 3 or Arcane and he mentioned that Mel's strength and flaw is that she's always looking for a mutually beneficial solution to a problem. Its what she does with her mother in the flashback and Jayce in Arc 2. And in some ways that is a naive (if good) ideal. It does not account for the realities of the power systems she's operating in (imperialism, conquest, invasion) but its not a bad ideal just because the reality is hard

[@troyii435]

I loved this video a lot. I felt like you gave a really fair, truthful, and deep reflection of the character while showing compassion and fair judgment to all of the other characters involved, such as Jayce and Ambessa. I also loved how you really framed Mel's character, her defined place in her family and piltover and the lives of those around her, as well as what her intentions are and what she symbolizes. She's slowly become one of my favorite characters because her ideals and presence and the skills that she prioritizes are all very inspiring to me and her flaws, as well as jayce and viktor's, are so very realistic and understandable and something you can learn from. I truly am so excited about the next season because I'm expecting to see jayce, viktor, vi, and mel all confronted with their naivete and am hoping to see how they hold true to their values while still overcoming their negligence. I also am excited to see further development between mel and ambessa and to see how their relationship reflects the themes of "there's nothing so undoing as a daughter" and how the bonds of love create your biggest strengths while also being your biggest weakness(such a beautiful and valuable message btw).

[@beccaknight5763]

She is stunning and so captivating each time she’s on screen! 🥰

[@VVinterl3ear]

Spoilers guys V Mel lives and still chooses peace after getting bombed, and then her mom lures in some Zaun people and kills them without anyone knowing. Then her mom uses Caitlyn's grief to encourage Caitlyn to choose police brutality. 🙃

[@severedproxy]

Yknow after reading the riot dev tweet saying leblanc is not guile, guile has a golden mask, years ago, I was thinking it might be mel’s mom. Now I have a feeling that mel survived the bombing scarred and now wears a golden mask, and joins the trifarix as guile.

[@lydiscott]

HMMMMM that would be quite cool!

[@hasssubh4093]

U ACTUALLY DID IT OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH that was really accurate and complete in the way u breakdown and reconstruct the character like u write it

[@rafaela00002]

Mel is a great character

[@taylorparis7228]

The ending about Mel's tattoos.....turns out, you weren't crazy AT ALL. Wild how spot on you were🤣

[@princessthyemis]

I'm rewatching season one in anticipation for season 2. So I am commenting this now so I can come back and watch this after my rewatch, but before season two! I'm only a minute in, but this is already super awesome, I can tell!! 👏 👏

[@lydiscott]

Ahhh enjoy your rematch! 😄 AND THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

[@serenitysubs933]

some of the hate mel gets just feels racist ngl, i mean, there's way worse characters in Arcane

[@Ninitendo]

Jinx her body count is absurd why does she not get hate?

[@decidueyezealot8611]

Fr ​@Ninitendo

[@decidueyezealot8611]

Found comments like that for ambessa as well when she released

[@Semajlarae]

it definitely is … it felt so weird kuz why her ? idk she seems the most chill .. Caitlyn has been doing a lot this season for me except for the last few episodes

[@afrozzz5634]

A combination of misogyny and racism

[@luckyowl6432]

What's Mels power? GOLD

[@wadeo_0]

all the women in Arcane are written exceptionally well, but what I love about Mel is she's intriguing. she truly defines a quality of strength through feminism that's truly refreshing as we don't really get that a lot in female characters these days

[@artxroyalty]

Ohhh I’ve been waiting for this one!

[@eliahdayton3448]

There are so many ways to see this series. I believe that when Ambessa is referencing the wolf she is talking about Kindred, Lamb and wolf the god of death.

[@pockart4782]

Season two is just around the corner, heres hope for more Mel soon!!

[@noodledaddy3234]

Man i love Mel

[@Fronkville]

Congrats on the 30k!!

[@lydiscott]

AHH THANK YOU SO MUCH Im so sorry i didn't see your comment sooner!

[@ravendelacour1917]

I fear Jinx's attack has proven Ambessa's point in the need for hard as well as soft power to rule. The soft power political soultion carefully crafted by Silco and Jayce is wild away in single nanosecond by the use of hard power by a single rogue individual. Force works, even if the results are messy if not handled carefully.

[@firstimpression7529]

I will bet money she killed the blindfolded general and that’s why keno, her son, was killed by the black rose.

[@Etticos.]

You left out one of the labels: “baddie”

[@KeitieKalopsia]

Some people be like “I would give my life for Mel to be alive in season two” Yeah, well I would give Jayce and Viktor’s lives for Mel to be alive in season two. No, I’m not happy about it either :/

[@KeitieKalopsia]

WAIT! I never realized the shape of the necklace was hidden in Mel’s metal back design!

[@lydiscott]

I don’t know if I’m just seeing something where there’s actually nothing to be entirely fair!!! I’m not a good theorist lmao!!!

[@TheApryl]

I just wanted to tell you that I really like this format. I've always preferred videos that show clips on screen with a voice-over because I find it less distracting than cutting back and forth between clips and someone talking in front of a microphone. It allows me to really focus on what you're saying. I also tend to watch this kind of content when I'm getting ready for bed, so perhaps I find it more relaxing to be able to just listen? I usually just don't watch content where creators cut back and forth, but I've always liked your content despite my preferences. However, I would be REALLY happy if you continued to do your videos like this!

[@lydiscott]

Hey thank you so much for saying this! I’ll be honest, the main reason I put my face in is because it helps me avoid copyright issues. Graphics SOMETIMES help, like when I put annotations in and blur footage (but not always unfortunately), but the cutting to my own footage is what lets me keep posting videos as frequently as I do, and being able to monetize them. Personally I’d love to not be on camera more often lmao. It’s just easier for my editing atm.

[@hadrianhexe9603]

Sevika and Jinx vs Ambessa and Caitlyn. Omg bestie, you clocked it!!!!!

[@ayoCC]

Deterrence and defense. Create a shield to withstand any attack, have a sword that tells the world, don't even try, you know what's going to happen. When shields are strong, the world is at peace, people feel safe, and that the status quo will be maintained.

[@bitfreak7447]

The fact that you say she is guided by guilt without knowing the significance that that holds to noxus is crazy your analysis is spot on

[@Arkin7]

I definitely love Mel’s character and never thought of her negatively. She is a human with flaws sure, but she was using her talents for reasonable good. I say reasonable because she was kept grounded with the injection of self-interest too. I loved your theory at the end. I would extend that I think the inverse of the necklace also makes sense since I think it will be a complete reversal of Mel’s mother’s argument. Instead of a few deaths to avoid the deaths of thousands it will be the few deaths that lead to the deaths of thousands. I also hope Mel is dead unfortunately. I loved the character and would prefer someone else dead…like Jace😅, but ultimately for the story to keep its weight it can’t back step on the idea that this was a major weapon Jynx just unleashed. Truthfully I think it’s silly for anyone to survive that room but it definitely would smell of too much plot armor and remove the weight of the season 1 ending if Mel survives despite being the dead center of that attack.

[@alexliossis4859]

Ambessa will not die bc she just got released in league, every champion in league is alive in canon

[@tesphoenix2020]

I love the Hollow Knight Music in the background

[@lydiscott]

I’m playing the game right now and it’s just such a beautiful experience.

[@tesphoenix2020]

@ thats nice to hear love that game myself. Enjoy

[@IkoElyod]

5:10 has got to be the funniest but most fitting paraphrase I’ve heard, that’s so good Like, imagine those words coming out of Ambessa’s mouth, that would be so funny

[@warlordofbritannia]

Comment for the algorithm. Anyways, what if Robert Strong is actually the resurrected Bobby B? Think about it: “Gods, I was STRONG then,” the irony of Cersei being protected by her hated husband, the fact that Robert Strong is so obviously the Mountain and there’s no way even Cersei would be Cersei enough to blatantly fake Mr Gregory Bighill’s reduction to negative six feet…

[@Keram-io8hv]

Damn this ones gold

[@nierinwolfy8513]

I always love Mel's character, she's a manipulator, yes but sometimes you have to participate in a dirty game to win

[@ravendelacour1917]

Regarding the sigil on Mel's back, I am of the opinion synchronicity will install symbolism that the artist didn't intend.

[@SupremeChalupaSnoke]

After Act 2, this is incredible. 🤯

[@marikafukuroi86]

she doesnt die lmao. and the back metal is solari shield

[@pockart4782]

An incredible analysis!

[@Lady_Yunalesca]

if you like characters like Mel, and specifically because she reminds you of Got s1-4, you should check out Black Sails if you haven't already. There's a character in that show that Mel reminds me a lot of, who fits into that kind of description ("beautiful lady who is a politician who knows she's beautiful and is smart/smartly written"). Her name is Max, and she is just like that and has a really great character journey. Anyway, great video and analysis!

[@gabsmarg4048]

I love Mel

[@Lordmaster135]

crazy how that shi missed her perfectly and went on to cripple and kill the rest

[@halloweye4613]

Awesome! New Shaped by Stories on my birthday!

[@yunwang1243]

Why are great analysis happens now? It’s a great timing I guess

[@ArcaneMelodies82]

So interesting, Do all of the major Characters go through such a transformative growth throughout the series?. Think about it From Jinx being in Silco's life had a transformative effect on him when he began to love her as a daughter his priority of Zaun's Freedom at any cost, transforms, culminating in the deal with Jayce Zaun's Freedom in exchange for his Daughter. At Vander's Statue he knew, he could never give her up. Then you have Vi and Caitlyn. Vi hated the Enforcers because of what they did to her and Powder's parents. She develops a hatred for all of Topside, Until she gained a new perspective from Caitlyn and I think Jayce just a bit. Caitlyn gains a new perspective thanks to Vi, Powder had Silco who tried to help her,but through the facets of how he overcame betrayal, Powder became Jinx. Powder I think renamed herself Jinx. Silco did not know that Mylo always called her that. So many interesting but repeating themes. Vander had Vi & Powder in which changed him. All of these characters end up caring and loving for someone and it transforms them that would never had if these characters never met each other.

[@LazuliRose]

Are we supposed to not like mel? Cause I absolutely adore her! I don’t see the wrong she does am I erong for that?

[@kjlynne1191]

oh man, i know it was just a throwaway possibility for a potential season two plotline, but now you got the gears in my head turning. Warwick killing Ambessa. that has the potential to work on so many levels. i love the idea that Ambessa will fight Jinx, and Jinx won't be able to beat her - Ambessa's raw strength and stubbornness making it nearly impossible for Jinx to ever get the upper hand. going with the assumption that Warwick is Vander, him coming out of nowhere and just annihilating Ambessa with little to no effort would be insane. Ambessa gets defeated by a literal wolf. the poetic irony is just too good! not saying Warwick/Vander is making the conscious choice to protect his surrogate daughter. maybe Singed sends him to fight for Zaun, or its just a well-timed coincidence. it just has the potential to be such a good death for such a good character.

[@darlingdarylann3453]

I think the idea of hope and underdogs only existing in pullover with people of extreme wealth and privilege is interesting and critical. The difference is instinct and fear vs hope and dreams. One side has no time or resources to dream only fight the other has nothing else to do with their time. Both are concidered rebels except one is fighting for their life. It’s very interesting.

[@zebramaniac3595]

The wolf is also one aspect of the literal spirit of death on runeterra

[@cielsteam]

2:59 The Solari live on Mount Targon, which is on an entirely different continent than Noxus. I don’t see how the Solari would end up in an area Noxus had conquered, so this seems far fetched to me.

[@msaad_xd9472]

Thank you for the video, we missed you on twitch and insta ^_^

[@AtelaLafford]

dearly enjoy mel she's so amazing and well constructed, when i learned she was entirely new to the universe i was so impressed by the writers because she's such a perfect foil/parallel to jayce! i also agree that i hope mel is dead, which has garnered a plethora of reactions from those i've told this to lmao, mostly because it'd make season 2 have proper ramifications right off the bat and push the narrative forward, which does make me sad we'll lose the polticking but should make for fun conflicts. another great essay and good luck with the doggos! they are soooo cute

[@thegodplace7887]

Based on the tone of the last trailers and promotions for the show I think Mel is definitely gone... The subject of the song is Mel's mother, and I think the loss of her daughter is going to send her down a Warpath.

[@amahlgrant]

Ambessa is Noxian, she will go to war for a nickel and a hooker so killing off Mel to push her to war would be an unnecessary over-correction and terrible low-end quality writing.

[@thegodplace7887]

@@amahlgrant That's not entirely true. Ambessa is a warrior, but she is cunning and strategic. Ambessa could smell the war brewing from a continent away, so she came to that city to encourage her daughter to leave. She may have given the reason as wanting the Hextech weapons for the Noxians, but I'm pretty sure it was mostly to protect Mel, especially after losing her son. Mel is her last child and she sought to protect her legacy. I think Losing Mel would cause her enough grief to completely unhinge her.

[@Semajlarae]

nope 😂😂😂

[@kotorandcorvid4968]

About Ambessa: If Mel is dead, then Ambessa had it coming for what she did to that regent girl. Mel doesn't deserve to die but Ambessa deserves to lose her

[@KeitieKalopsia]

Hmm interesting take. Can’t say I disagree tbh

[@Keram-io8hv]

Ambessa did nothing wrong

[@lydiscott]

It would be a very devastating form of poetic justice. For Mel’s sake, I hope this isn’t the case. But plot wise… it’s too good.

[@amyquintanna5311]

She lost kino tho

[@angelinatran4930]

I don’t think you’re crazy about the necklace and Mel’s tattoos slotting together. The girl who got killed looks like she may be Lunari (moon religion), which is the “other half” to the Solari (sun religion) that Mel and Ambessa have ties to. Thanks for pointing it out because I wouldn’t have noticed otherwise!

[@EVERARDOGARCIAGONZALEZ]

imagin them killing Ambessa right as they put her in the game XD

[@EVERARDOGARCIAGONZALEZ]

It was a joke riot. (Future me)

[@miguelarturogallegosacuna3803]

Her description as a rebel makes her fitt more whit Zoun!

[@isitkav]

Season 2 watcher… that… that is no "regent princess"

[@tabinekoman]

Mel have this survivor's guilt. It stem from her mother murder a girl her age in front of her. It become a guilt that he prove herself to justify her existence. To prevent murder and senseless murder in the future. I think this is because her mother is not apply Noxian value correctly or misundertand Noxian value. She want to make Mel become stronger woman but it is only create weakness. In Noxian value power is above else. Ambessa is weak in heart, she afraid losing her family. A true Noxian would let Mel choice and follow it, let her make mistake, even if it hurt her. If the princess is strong enough let her live, and if she live and could create rebellion so be it. Because a true Noxian could destroy rebellion with one arm tied. If she failed and died, maybe she deserve to die. Ambessa teach Mel to be afraid, to always afraid. Absolutely reverse of what Noxian represent. Mel always seeking power, not exert power. She will never become true Noxian because her mother teach her the wrong way. Her mother did not want her children become Noxian. Ironically. Vi, Caitlyn or even Jinx. Could pass more of a Noxian.

[@hannahmetzger4880]

What's this music that starts playing at 1:27?

[@gambadrawing5669]

The track is called Reflection and it’s from Hollow Knight

[@hannahmetzger4880]

@gambadrawing5669 Thank you!! :3.

[@olitambasakan8839]

She's not dead

[@soldecle]

There was no ill intent in the way she treated jayce she always said it too, her goal in supporting Jayce is making his dream come to life, because it will benefit everyone. It’ll benefit the city, the people, and ultimately her since she is one of the main investors in hextech. To me she’s just logical. Actually the one time she doesn’t act logically is actually when she takes decisions influenced by her feelings for jayce. For instance it was clear to me that she did not want to vote out heimerdinger but she did it to support jayce. She also thought ambessa was right about the weapons but ultimately she sides with jayce idea of keeping hextech out of it. Nobody mentions this though they’d rather think she is the bad guy just like jayce did when he came back from the future in season 2 and I wish the writers committed to that bit and let them finish that conversation cause now we’re left with some vague last words to each other it’s disappointing at best

[@TitusCastiglione1503]

I’m not sure if “manipulator” is really the best way to describe Mel. It’s sort of true, but at the same time, she also seems to be pretty fair, honorable and honest. For a politician, anyway.

[@Of_infinite_Faith]

Some people say mel might be pregnant in act 2, (with Jayce's child obviously) and i hope they're right because that would really spice things up

[@divishka]

I like how Hollow Knight ost is ideally fits Arcane visuals ahahhaha

[@ravendelacour1917]

Ah, your new dogs look like such good boys.

[@warlordofbritannia]

From how you presented her arc here, Mel dying would be very Ned-esque.

[@RunnyElephant44]

Shes not shes beautiful and loving

[@CJT96]

I KNOW THE HOLLOW KNIGHT SOUNDTRACK ANYWHERE! 😂❤

[@frann8552]

It would be really cool if you did a dissection video of ambessa's music video blood sweat and tears.

[@alexeiramos1682]

Mel is not a Solari, the dress is just an easter egg for the players, like many other things in the series (like Jarvan´s banners etc) The medardas come from Shurima and were conquered by the Noxians. Noxus is not a patchwork of nations it´s a ruthless empire that allows no deviation from the norm. if you as a member of a conquered nation want to join Noxus you have to prove yourself in strength and show that you´re equally as strong as others and share the same mind, if not you can consider yourself enslaved or dead. The whole wolf thing is because Ambessa is the chosen of the wolf, which is one half of Kindred one of the representations of death. she fought against them and won being chosen by the wolf instead of the lamb, she sees lamb (peaceful death) as pathetic.

[@hadrianhexe9603]

Just because they are shuriman doesnt mean they arent also Solari, especially because Mount Targon is right there

[@diddles3383]

I really started liking Mel by the end of season one, so i really hope she's alive

[@steventamburello7187]

3 days until we find out Mel is dead

[@vismaykedilaya1318]

i believe mel is dead. there are several lines from ambessa about how "wrath must be met with wrath" and "we do not lament death. we avenge it." i get that she's probably saying this to cait, but she often says this with such vitriol that there must be some personal motivation behind it, and what greater motivation could there be than mel's death.

[@steventamburello7187]

@@vismaykedilaya1318 absolutely agree.

[@lydiscott]

😬😬😬

[@steventamburello7187]

@@lydiscott I wanted to also give you massive props for your analysis of all these arcane characters. I love the work you put in! Doing amazing :3

[@steventamburello7187]

“Womp womp” you’ll know what that means when you see the episodes.

[@OCD-Gamer]

Might, Vision, GUILE - NOXUS!!!

[@ravendelacour1917]

I fear Season One Mel may be all we get.

[@amahlgrant]

Let's not. To waste away such an important character to the plot would be immature, foolish and aided by shock value.

[@tristancarter4324]

she alive bro she have magic, reason that man want the medardas gone

[@ravendelacour1917]

@@amahlgrant It's not my call. I am just noting she's getting a shoulder launched missle to the back and unless that shirt of hers has a forcefield it's going to be hard to see how she survives.

[@ravendelacour1917]

@@tristancarter4324 She hasn't actually used magic in the series that we know of. If that shirt of hers isn't a +5 cloak of protection she's in for a rough beginning of Season Two.

[@tristancarter4324]

@ravendelacour1917 well u telling u Did heim show he can teleport to a limbo realm no but he can

[@mangoman7346]

I really think you should do disco elysium at some point

[@lydiscott]

I’ve heard it’s excellent! Just playing Hollow Knight atm, maybe I’ll play that next.

[@olgalokoshchenko7270]

so, this is retelling of the first season?

[@poundsofslothcigars]

I love mel peak woman

[@kotorandcorvid4968]

Comment to boost the video in the alghoritm. I misser your videos

[@aetherwolf9288]

Mid-Hard spoiler for Arcane season 2 and some predictions that may be upsetting: Mel survived the blast totally unscathed as we see her in 2-3 frames of promotional content. However what I believe is that the Chem baron attack shown in the trailer is the moment were the council (except for Jayce as he was by Viktor probably) dies as an result of Vi letting Powder go in the scene „You finally got the name right“. This would be the highlight of act 1 leading into the pit fighter Vi era and Caitlyns monstrous arc. Act 2 ends up with the release of Warrick and Noxian supremacy leading to war. Then we will get a buildup and a double episode to conclude the series: Piltover destroyed, Vi and Powder fleeing the city, Ekko either dead or left behind to build up the undercity, Caitlyn conflicted between following Vi (potentially trying to kill her) and saving the rest of the city, Heimerdinger needs to die similarly to Warrick as both are embodiments of cities no longer alive, Ambessa leaving with Marcus daughter/the rest of Caitlyns squat to Noxus (wild card prediction), Jayce and Viktor will either take their own life or help rebuild Piltover. This makes a bit too much sense for me. And Im hyped and scared for it. I love it!!!

[@tristancarter4324]

sorry to break it to you but no champs in league are dead in lore tech wise so all arcane champs will live Mel and Ambessa will at end leave for Noxus to set up Arcane season three where we get swain leblanc and drauis with draven to lead to riven fighting in Ionia where yasou reides Singe gives noxus the poison to fight Ionian it all connected and is the past by 10-15 years

[@aetherwolf9288]

@ just one of them needs to survive. And Vander has to die otherwise it doesn’t make sense. We know that Arcane isn’t bound by LoL at least in its continuity. So yeah… I don’t think the characters have plot armor

[@tristancarter4324]

@@aetherwolf9288 arcane is 100% canon now they said that like a year ago as it to prep for mmo all league media connected hence push for ambessa ambessa and Mel are the new jinx and vi for phase 2

[@tristancarter4324]

Victor literally being retcon in 2 weeks cause of arcane sevika is most likely only one dying tbh

[@aetherwolf9288]

@@tristancarter4324 Arcane however is allowed to add to the continuity. As far as I know they broke it with Singed. I didn’t say that they need to die, however its very likely that they die (as they want to break away from Piltover/Zaun and leaving Warrick in Zaun or Mel alive would cause them to stay in Piltover or at least return to it in due time). My reasoning is purely narrative and not connected to other ideas.

[@thareal_nisee]

CLOCK IT.

[@miekamoore]

FRIST

[@Beard_Hood]

I tapped out after season 2 ep 2... what a joke. The executives had to go and ruin it.

[@Артём_Кузнецов-2000]

This channel is lowkey fire, Godspeed 🫡

[@Артём_Кузнецов-2000]

And W for the 30к

[@lydiscott]

Aww thank you!

[@Артём_Кузнецов-2000]

@@lydiscott you are welcome

[@hcando8347]

I understand having Mel die would definitely cause a motivation out of Ambessa to influence martial law in season 2 as we saw in the trailers, but i still have a glimmer of hope she lives because she is such a refreshing and unique character and I need more of her !🥲

[@lydiscott]

Yeahhhhh agreed, her loss would still be a blow. She’s awesome.