The frustration with Heimerdinger’s arc isn’t just about what he didn’t do-it’s about the systemic failure he allowed to flourish. His absence from Zaun wasn’t merely physical; it was a moral failure, a refusal to engage with the realities of a city that had been screaming for help for generations. And when he finally did engage, it was under circumstances that absolved him of true accountability. He wasn’t “just a scientist from Piltover” or a “wise, fluffy grandpa figure.” Just like when Jayce entered the council, he was not just a scientist anymore. Beneath those layers, he WAS Piltover. Every action-or inaction-he took reflected the city’s systemic flaws. When he ignored the cause of Viktor’s illness, he didn’t just fail Viktor-he embodied Piltover’s blindness to the suffering it perpetuated.
This isn’t to say that Heimerdinger was wrong in everything. For example, his caution regarding the dangers of the Hexcore was entirely justified. But his failure to act when he could have, to provide help or guidance to those who needed it most, was inexcusable. While Jayce and Viktor understood that every moment counted when lives were at stake or futures could be improved, Heimerdinger lived as though everyone shared his privilege of time and resources. He acted as if every person had the same long life and advantages he did, ignoring the fact that in Zaun, every second could be the difference between life and death.
Even in the *Arcane AU*, his presence wasn’t entirely meaningless, and his contributions to Zaun’s progress weren’t without value. However, his detachment remained evident. Mylo and Claggor, from Zaun, spoke of innovations before Heimerdinger contributed anything meaningful-and he didn’t help them or others like them with their research, despite his ability to do so accepting the responsability like a good teacher/mentor.
Furthermore, his decision to stay and assist for the main au struggle only came after Ekko confronted him with unwavering resolve. Had Ekko not stood his ground, Heimerdinger likely would have ignored everything in their universe, leaving everything to its fate and collapse.
It’s clear that his actions were shaped by the traumas of the Great War, which understandably made him cautious to a fault. Yet, that same caution created new disasters. Heimerdinger’s failure to engage with Zaun wasn’t simply a result of his past-it was a deliberate choice. Zaun and Piltover had once united against threats from beyond their walls, proving that cooperation was possible. His decision to leave Zaun behind, to ignore its plight, wasn’t dictated by trauma or circumstance-it was a conscious act of neglect. His actions, or lack thereof, ensured that Zaun’s suffering continued, and in doing so, Heimerdinger became the ultimate representation of Piltover’s systemic apathy.
My video could have been twice as long, unfolding every detail and conversation, but I hope this is enought. Thank you for watching it.
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