Alright, man. We all know what worked, but you really should make a video about all of the glaring narrative inconsistencies, plot wholes, retcons from season 1 and the Marvelesque finale that superseded an actually compelling ending culminating from the groundwork laid out in the story before it went off the rails. Do that video. I'll help if you want.
Jayce had to learn how bad things would be in order to convince him to sacrifice everything to make things right. Ekko had to learn how good things could be to convince him to do the same. Jayce didn’t need hope, Ekko didn’t need fear. God-tier storytelling.
Jayce's "hell" was clearly his fault, even at the start he tripped and hurt himself, followed by seeing he is the one who ended that world, only to have him go mess up his reality. And understand??? He came back insane and blasting just like he did back int he day. Totally mad to me that folks think Jayce was anywhere near the right.
@@1MHCShim tripping and giving himself hell was a metaphor. He got himself into this whole mess and had to climb back out, literally as a poor cripple from under the city as Viktor did as punishment. Then Viktor was able to show him his purpose
This episode also explains how Ekko beat Viktor in the last episode Viktor says when controlling everyone, "they all yearn for a better life." Ekko had that better life, he lived it, and ultimately left it. Thats why when Viktor caught him he wasnt easily mind controlled. Ekko looked up at the blue lightning and sky, the blue that reminds him of Powder and the time he spent.
Ekko making the mural of the Vi he knows for the Powder that never got to see it is one of the most heartbreakingly touching scenes i have ever seen. I can't think of a more impactful gift you could give someone than letting them see the potential held by a loved one that was lost too early.
@@echo3568I think he was just saying it would be nice if this part of the story had a little more room to breathe. Maybe allow the weight to fall on some of the characters more. Let powder know even if she still had her sister it might not be what she is wishing for
@@echo3568 it definitely was rushed sorry, I loved the season but it needed more episode run time to make certain scenes more impactful and give more weight to certain arcs. We had two time skips that deserved more space around their transitions, more time for jinx to grieve, less time with vi and Caitlyn, war should have been longer, and we needed the cut scenes of jinx and ekko in that last episode.
She definitely caught on it was not quite her Ekko. Which I think it just makes it sweeter? She didn' react violent to it or anything, she just tried to help him out.
She catches on once she reads the notes they're (Ekko & Heimer) writing. She notes the "body swap" with the taped on page, and the next scene shows her watching Ekko closely. Powder is smart enough to understand what they're building, so she would clearly understand the purpose of Ekko's research.
@@princessthyemis couldn't that Also be the reference of jinx telling to vi : "even when we're worlds apart" ? Edit : Also, AT that moment powder sees what IS possible with hextech, and has the gems, futur powder might recreate hextech, either bringing doom to that universe or even maybe doing Also a universe travel 👀
@@iwack I very much agree! I also got the feeling that she knew something was off with Ekko and that she connected the dots as they spent more time together. I did for days wonder about her strange glare at Ekko during the build of the z-drive since I totally forgot about it being right after she saw the sketches of the body swap, so your comment finally confirmed what I missed and struggled to connect! The one thing I am still confused about is why, if she suspects her Ekko has been replaced, she is fine with being so close with our version of him. Maybe it is that she herself haven't yet fully connected / decided if it could really be the case that she's been spendning time with an alternative version of her boyfriend, or that she enjoys their time together so much that she somewhat forgets or cannot think clearly about it. Vander does mention that he hasn't seen her this much alive in a long time so even tho she clearly is very intelligent you can't really blame her for not fully understanding what's going on since the whole situation must feel so confusing and surreal / unbelievable. Note: did kinda get an answer / agreement to my second point simply by just continuing to watch this YouTub analysis xd
But it is wonderful to know that this timeline does exist. There Powder is happy and a grown up version of her true self, where she is together with Ekko and not a Jinx. Where her adoptive brothers are alive, with Vander and Silco and Benzo. It was wonderful to see her blue eyes again and smiling, not a sinister one or a sarcastic one but a happy smile. It is amazing they included this in the series..
Did you hear about the scenes Jinx and Ekko had? Where the aforementioned tells Jinx about Powder and the other reality, they had an intimate moment while they were painting and preparing for war. (Confirmed by the Co-Creator) Likewise, in the minigame: "Jinx fixes everything" where it is also confirmed that Jinx went to the Firelights camp and the Tree, and mentions that she can't forget the way Ekko saw her on the bridge. Or likewise in the ArtBook that tells Jinx's feelings, where these 2 characters are seen holding hands and Jinx drawing hearts on Ekko, or asking him to go on a date, or calling him Smart, etc. They both loved each other a lot. Powder was the perfect contrast to the premise that JInx established. "There are no good versions of me" When there were, there were. Ekko realized this, through Powder, he realized that both were the same person under different experiences, and that loving one meant staying in love with another. That's why he chose her, his Jinx, that's why he escaped from heaven to save his beloved from hell. His own hell. This love is beautiful. Because it is as impossible as it is possible, Jinx and Ekko would look great and even the animators, writers and the Co-Creator himself believe that. So I refuse to accept: "In another life", because in this one it is also possible.
@@mullworm Did you hear about the scenes Jinx and Ekko had? Where the aforementioned tells Jinx about Powder and the other reality, they had an intimate moment while they were painting and preparing for war. (Confirmed by the Co-Creator) Likewise, in the minigame: "Jinx fixes everything" where it is also confirmed that Jinx went to the Firelights camp and the Tree, and mentions that she can't forget the way Ekko saw her on the bridge. Or likewise in the ArtBook that tells Jinx's feelings, where these 2 characters are seen holding hands and Jinx drawing hearts on Ekko, or asking him to go on a date, or calling him Smart, etc. They both loved each other a lot. Powder was the perfect contrast to the premise that JInx established. "There are no good versions of me" When there were, there were. Ekko realized this, through Powder, he realized that both were the same person under different experiences, and that loving one meant staying in love with another. That's why he chose her, his Jinx, that's why he escaped from heaven to save his beloved from hell. His own hell. This love is beautiful. Because it is as impossible as it is possible, Jinx and Ekko would look great and even the animators, writers and the Co-Creator himself believe that. So I refuse to accept: "In another life", because in this one it is also possible.
I wanted to know what happened to the other u. Do they die? Momentarily? Do they fall asleep? Do they get forced into your body from your original time line? Either way, if he stayed he basically killed someone by robbing them of their own life. He basically stole the kiss from powder that ekko was supposed to have. Not his fault particularly as heim told him to go to the party while he works on the machine but that timeline ekko came back to missing a wonderful moment
@@thedoomslayer5863that ekko got a peaceful and prosperous lifetime with powder. I'm sure the balcony kiss would have been nice for that ekko, but also just another kiss with his partner. Our ekko got his first kiss and maybe only kiss with powder. A much nicer thing.
@@thedoomslayer5863 I don't think it's that of a big deal for the alternate ekko? Yes it was an intimate moment for sure and it would be a bummer to miss out on. However, Powder and Ekko was already together in that universe so they've surely shared more than many intimate moments. When Ekko took over the alternate Ekko's body I think it's as simple as falling unconscious becuase right after "our" Ekko had left the alternate Ekko simply woke up like he had fallen asleep.
@@foob2066Our ekko took over for weeks before the actually one came back. I imagine it was like waking up from a coma to find out your girlfriend cheated on you with a alternate version of you.
@centipedekid9824 I doubt ekko knew what happened since the first thing he said was "What happened?". I don't think powder wanted to complicate things by telling him either because I doubt he would believe her.
This episode encapsulates the themes of the whole series. Ekko’s expression at the end, as he looks at Powder before he’s teleported away, says it all: “I’m heartbroken that I have to leave but I’m so glad we got this little bit of time together”. I sobbed through a good portion of this episode and it felt so good 🥲
Did you hear about the scenes Jinx and Ekko had? Where the aforementioned tells Jinx about Powder and the other reality, they had an intimate moment while they were painting and preparing for war. (Confirmed by the Co-Creator) Likewise, in the minigame: "Jinx fixes everything" where it is also confirmed that Jinx went to the Firelights camp and the Tree, and mentions that she can't forget the way Ekko saw her on the bridge. Or likewise in the ArtBook that tells Jinx's feelings, where these 2 characters are seen holding hands and Jinx drawing hearts on Ekko, or asking him to go on a date, or calling him Smart, etc. They both loved each other a lot. Powder was the perfect contrast to the premise that JInx established. "There are no good versions of me" When there were, there were. Ekko realized this, through Powder, he realized that both were the same person under different experiences, and that loving one meant staying in love with another. That's why he chose her, his Jinx, that's why he escaped from heaven to save his beloved from hell. His own hell. This love is beautiful. Because it is as impossible as it is possible, Jinx and Ekko would look great and even the animators, writers and the Co-Creator himself believe that. So I refuse to accept: "In another life", because in this one it is also possible.
it's so healing to hear that you sobbed but felt good. Cus it actually struck a chord in me that led to a lot of grieving, and it's been difficult, so I'm so happy to hear someone's got happy tears out of it. that's not to say i disliked it at all, i'm VERY glad for it and the effect it's had on me, and it's one of my favorite things i've ever experienced
After a rewatch it's clear that Powder knows, the way she looks a Ekko change immediatly during the montage after she see the drawing. She seems a bit sad or melancholic, I think she knows he is going to leave soon, and her dialogues and reactions make much more sense that way. Also Vander saying he doesnt remember seeing her so alived, makes me think she is more compatible with the main arcane Ekko than her own Ekko, despite the two being already dating. The impossible love goes both ways making it even more tragic. Also the hextech at the end may be teasing she will be back in some form, or at least let the door open, I don't think they would include that scene for no reason.
right!!!! but question, how long were they there for - a day or multiple weeks cause they disappeared around the same time Caitlyn's hot dictator summer began or was starting up right? And Ekko and Jayce return right as it's ending so, if I'm correct, they had the time to build up that connection
If you re watch the bridge scene of the people putting in papers of peoples name in it.. there is shot from above and we see a person with the exact hairstyle and color (even the little red/pink on the bun) and I think this is Powder from the different timeline. Although I will say the pink color is on the other hair bun than the original shown, but it could still very well be Powder
I interpreted the last scene where alternate universe Powder was hiding the hextech gemstone as showing how much this version of her wanted to keep the status quo and not have to progress, but I think it's possible that it also indicates that, now that she's met mainline Ekko, she could decide that she's willing to move forward and grow and change
The fact that the two Ekkos are different (AU Ekko can’t really dance and is apparently a little traumatized by Vi’s death for example) really solidifies how well Ekko and Powder’s personalities blend.
One of the things i enjoy about Ekko's dynamic with Powder is that it comes from a place of true love. When you love someone you see all the potential of what they can be and you feel an urge to set them on the path that makes you truly admire them. Ekko as a kid probably saw Powder's potential as an inventor. He saw her creativity and her deep desire to help those she cared about(Vi) and loved her for it. And as time progressed, He began to see her tread a destructive path which distanced herself from what he truly loved about her and it broke his heart. He began to convince himself that there was nothing left of the person he cared about anymore. However, when he's about to finish the fight with jinx and looks her in the eye he realizes that he cant let go of the love he once had for her as a kid and sees again the soul inside her that wants to help people. This notion is fully realized when he travels to the alternate dimension and sees the version of her that he believed she could be. A person who smiled, who danced, who helped those around her, who was an innovator, who desired to make a difference. 'Your ideas change the world, and i cant shake the feeling that that's who you are supposed to be. ' He falls in love again and The hope that is installed because of this marks the true heart of their dynamic.
The only show to make a couple work and mean something emotionally, thematically, story-wise and just everything. They work so well together like they're so cute and purposeful that it was genuinely motivating to see them together
So, in that dialogue ekko is talking to her jinx and the powder of this universe... or he is saying what he want or view about her jinx/powder... so beuty
I also think the whole experience really changes his perspective of his worlds Jinx/Powder. When he says "Your ideas change the world", he's talking about his Jinx there, he realises in that moment how though she's not the person they perhaps thought growing up she still does have that innovative spark. The episode also shows plenty of Jinx-like attributes within the alternate Powder, showing Ekko that though Powder is seemingly "gone", Jinx and Powder are really just two sides of the same coin, and that there's is still a lot of what he loves about Powder in Jinx. I honestly don't think that without the perspective shift he'd try to save Jinx later on as she tries to commit suicide. And even in that scene we can see how much each of them really care about eachother. For example when Ekko is getting close Jinx tries to put distance between him and the explosion by jumping off first so he won't get hurt, and the way her face softens as his pleads finally get through. They may not be lovers in this universe but honestly with enough time its not impossible I think.
He wasn't though. He wasn't supposed to shoot Viktor (that turned him desperate) but to deliver him the final rune so he could see the truth. By shooting Viktor he was dooming the world as it was leading to events that already happened in the tragic reality. In fact it wasn't Jayce stopping Viktor but Ekko. Without Ekko Jayce would fail.
@@meiru2453 Without Jayce, Ekko's efforts would not matter. Everybody's effort would not matter. It was, in fact, Jayce who stopped Viktor. Viktor says it himself. "In all realities, you were the only person that could show this to me."
yes! after watching act 3, i couldn’t shake the feeling that ep 7 was so important to the whole show. Throughout both seasons Ive been confused on what exactly the story is trying to say. ‘the oppressors are just as good of people as those they oppress’? ‘fighting for a better world is inherently bad’? and with the ending of ep. 9 ‘we need to set aside our differences to fight evil magic man’ what does the arcane represent?? what are they trying to say? but i think you’re right, THIS episode, is the revealing moment. This is what they are trying to say. People are fluid and capable of change. We must live in the present moment, ready to forgive those who have done wrong in the past if they have changed in the present. It’s not that the oppressors are somehow good people as they commit war crimes but that they are capable of becoming good people. They are never stuck. Beautiful analysis, thank you
@@dsokoll9184 Cait, when talking to Jinx in the Jail, also says "our crimes", not "your crimes", admitting her own wrongs. Letting Vi release Jinx is her way of forgiving herself for her own crimes.
@@f1mbultyr that's such a good point! I would have loved more talking between Caitlyn and Jinx, as well as Jinx playing a more active role as a symbol of Zaun. Jinx attacking the council room and Piltover as a whole was for Silco, her father. Her final drastic act was in his name. While Caitlyn became this dictator for her mother, motivated by vengeance. They've both done horrible things in the name of those they loved. And like Caitlyn said, they can't be forgiven for their crimes.
It's also like that she knows she isn't the one who can changes victor's mind (only jayce can) so she just agrees with it, just to be close to him. She's happy but also kind of with the tone in her voice of the "no you won't" disappointed she knows she can't do anything else.
@@nicolebanh3791I think they mean after going through what the doctor does, that his humanity may be harder to reach. And that proves to be true. ONLY Jace gets through, and only after so much damage
himerdinger knows he messed up, he went to the undercity after he was kicked out of the council, faced the reality of the situation, tried to help, failed. and then he met ekko, who gave him a role to play in doing some good for the people he was responsible, ekko gave himerdinger a chance to be a scientist once again, which redeems him (in my eyes at least), that's why it hits hard when he gives up his life to fix the machine in the end, and fades away, i really hope he isn't dead, and since there are more league of legends shows coming in the future i wish we can see more of him. that's it, i just wanted to talk about a moment i felt went underrated in this episode.
@@atomskthepirateking2776 That's assuming the alternate universe stuff wouldn't mess up with the respawning thing. I mean, hopefully he isn't dead, but the fact that he, Jayce, and Ekko were in the same place one moment and then tossed in completely different directions (Heimerdinger and Ekko the same universe, with Heimerdinger sent 3 years in the past from when Ekko joins him, and Jayce in a different universe in the future) I don't think we can fully trust that it wouldn't have influenced his immortality.
@@atomskthepirateking2776 unfortunately, we don’t know if this Netflix show is taking into account LOL lore like that. A lot of Runeterra lore has already been debunked in the show. We just have to wait and see what shows are announced and who’s in it. One leak revealed a possible story of Powder travelling worlds to meet Vi. It sounds like WildRift tbh but could be the opportunity to us to see Heimerdinger again.
Additionally I read someone say it is a blue peonie which symbolizes unyielding love, and often symbolizes one sided affection as well cause he had a crush on her as a kid which is incredibly romantic
Did you hear about the scenes Jinx and Ekko had? Where the aforementioned tells Jinx about Powder and the other reality, they had an intimate moment while they were painting and preparing for war. (Confirmed by the Co-Creator) Likewise, in the minigame: "Jinx fixes everything" where it is also confirmed that Jinx went to the Firelights camp and the Tree, and mentions that she can't forget the way Ekko saw her on the bridge. Or likewise in the ArtBook that tells Jinx's feelings, where these 2 characters are seen holding hands and Jinx drawing hearts on Ekko, or asking him to go on a date, or calling him Smart, etc. They both loved each other a lot. Powder was the perfect contrast to the premise that JInx established. "There are no good versions of me" When there were, there were. Ekko realized this, through Powder, he realized that both were the same person under different experiences, and that loving one meant staying in love with another. That's why he chose her, his Jinx, that's why he escaped from heaven to save his beloved from hell. His own hell. This love is beautiful. Because it is as impossible as it is possible, Jinx and Ekko would look great and even the animators, writers and the Co-Creator himself believe that. So I refuse to accept: "In another life", because in this one it is also possible.
6:19 it's very possible that Heimer played a big part in expanding education opportunities into Zaun in his 3 years time in that universe. That's how everyone is now in the academy and doing science project.
Little sweet and fragile Ekko has grown up so much. He and Powder have perfectly parallel stories: a child with little self-confidence despite extraordinary latent potential, and who sinks into darkness after the loss of his adoptive father. Episode 7 is a pure masterpiece and at the same time the only moment where Ekko will be able to open his heart and find a little of this peace and this love which made him change. We see a more mature Ekko than ever, who will do anything to explain to Powder how special she is. Take advantage of seeing his adoptive father again to tell him how much he was his role model. He is also the only character in the series who knows how to talk to Jynx and the one she listens to: when he asks for her help to make his temporal convector, when she is determined to end her life, and also at the moment of the big finale where she moves forward to fulfill her dream of traveling to a new life, while leaving behind a part of herself. When Ekko goes back in time, his body remains marked with the injuries he suffered before his travels. He is the one who suffers even before the characters are aware of having carried out their actions: he suffers several explosions from Jynx's grenades to prevent him from ending his life. He is the one who suffers again and again, but who moves forward. And for the rescued, he had to make her realize that she had the possibility of starting her life again elsewhere. Except that for that, he would lose her again... It is indeed Ekko who bears the suffering of the world, so many times, and who will end up saving it while he will have at the same time borne everything and lost everything at the same time. It is indeed Powder who is the main character of Arcane, but it is Ekko who is the real Hero.
You`re right in the "Ekko is the only one (aside from Silko) who knows how to talk to and listen to Jinx!" With all the reconciliation and never giving up on her, VI never found a way to actually listen to her sister, talk to her about their feelings. To be fair she hardly got a chance as well but notice how the two in Victors commune deliberate living there together yet barely talk about anything but Vander. SIlco and Ekko where really the only two people to actually really acknowledge that and how Jinx changed (even if for Ekko initially it was adversarial).
There is a slight bit of hope that Ekko and Jinx could reunite in the future though. Necrit had a stream/video with Christian Linke and he talks about how Ekko seeing alt verse Powder showed him the good his verses Zaun and Jinx could achieve and more importantly Christian said in the video that he thinks "its worth continuing thier story forward". Which I am going to assume "thier" means Ekko and Jinx. Which seems to hint that Riot/Fortiche could have plans for Ekko and Jinx's story being continued in the future. So thier is a slither of hope that Arcane season 2 might not be the end to thier story.
@@smuggrog9821wasn't that the same interview that he also admitted there was a scene of ekko and jinx making amends after ekko talks her out of self ending? The fact it was cut was criminal. She goes from her lowest point to ready to help vi and others again alongside ekko instantly and its jarring
Even though I dont think season 2 fit together as seamlessly as season 1 did (probably trying to do too much with the given 9 ep limit) the emotional impact and character work was in no way diminshed from it for me. I´d even say it hit me just as hard if not more. And epsiode 7 encapuslates all that. Just perfection to it´s core.
Honestly feel the same, maybe if there was 1 more act it would have time for everything to breathe more seemlessly as a whole. But EP7 was perfect, yes it slowed down the pace for some character work, but that was absolutely needed, and I think helped carry the emotional weight through EP9.
I think it’s completely an improvement. Season 1 was a lot of set up and asked the audience a lot of trust. It all depended on how season 2 delivered on those promises and loose ends of season 1. Season 1 looks solid _because_ season 2 delivered the goods. The disjointed nature of season 2 is because it’s all out war. It completely demonstrates the scattered mess of war. As someone who has survived two tours myself, it really connected. I think that adds to the Yin and Yang motif of Arcane.
If you noticed Powder's facial reaction. She knows what Ekko is doing. And in my opinion is not actually affected by the time loop. She actually is looking at Ekko while everything goes still. Also when she walked away, she was so sad. She knows something.
There is another reason why Episode 7 is so important in regard to Jinx / powder. It gives us a vision of the good side of Jinx. The side of her she keeps running from. As she said to Vi "There is no good version of me" Then here comes Ekko stopping her from killing herself. She sees the moneys in his Z Drive. I think Ekko tells Jinx about what he saw in that alternate universe. She learns that there Is indeed a good version of her. Powder! So in the end as she falls with Warwick, she isn't sad, she isn't depressed. She smiles and caresses his face. She isn't Jinx any more, but Powder reborn. Those scenes in Episode 7 plant the seed in our minds that this is Powder pulling the pin on that grenade, Not Jinx. She let Jinx die and remained Power. Jinx Died, but Powder survived.
Jinx also seem to notice the little monkey toys in the time device that AU Powder made. So yeah, episode 7 is a crucial lynch pin for Ekko saving Jinx for episode 9 at the beginning and her also having the will to survive at the end with the hints she escaped.
Unpopular opinion but I'm not fond of the way fandom talks about jinx vs powder. They are not two seperate people imo. There is even a new voice line from the newest lol skin for jinx that goes "jinx, powder? They were never that different anyway". I think Ekko needed to spend some time with this powder in order to see how similar she is to jinx in many ways. It was probably hard to reconcile with. The whole "powder is dead, there's only jinx now" thing vi and ekko did was an attempt at convincing themselves and spare the hurt. We see jinx as she could have been with less trauma and a good support system. She still loves a spectacle, loves making grand entrances. She loves art and colors. She is a genious. She loves Vi and Vander. She has her snappy comebacks and teasing remarks and her silly humor. Surprisingly, she still makes a doll of her departed sibling as part of her grieving process. She just wants to help like little powder, and never had that blow up in her face, so she still believes herself capable of it. I think it's beautiful that we get to see this what-if version after act 2 jinx. And it is heartbreaking that it is followed up by act 3 jinx, who is so done and in so much pain. Jinx with isha and vi showed us that we don't have to jump dimensions to find a good version of her, she never left. Powder isn't dead or gone, she is jinx's past, the reason she is who she is now, and nobody can erase that. But "powder" just doesn't fit anymore, not after all the ways she changed, and that is her perception of herself. It is like illusion Silco said, we have this idea of ourselves that are sometimes rigid and untrue and limiting, and it informs our identity. But we are constantly changing and evolving every single day. Ekko realised that maybe jinx was never lost to him, just like a better zaun was never impossible. He was just losing hope after so many years of failures and struggles, for which none can blame him. Seeing this world thrive was the spark he needed to get back up and continue fighting the good fight. It was this hope that allowed him to leave this happy world behind. Jinx would have died if he hadn't returned, and viktor/ambessa would have won. It was his clarity from reconnecting with powder that allowed him to bridge the gap with jinx in ep 9, because again, they are not so different. She is the version who is tired of all her attempts to care and help ending in death and misery. She perceives herself to be incapable of good. So Ekko reignites a bit of hope in her with the right words, just like powder did for him in the other universe. And perhaps Ekko's words to her recontextualised what Silco told her about "walking away". She thought she had to die to do so, but she realised she can accept the past and reach for something better, rebuild something new. Which ties into the little hints implying her survival and departure from piltover. She could've let herself die in the explosion, but she chose to find out what a new beginning had in store.
@@NoctilucaBloom That was quite the read and quite a nice perspective I might add. You are right but you're coming from a 3rd person point of view. There is no real difference between Jinx and Powder. You know that I know that. My Statement was in regard to Jinx / Powders point of view. Vi and Ekko were not the only ones to make a Distinction between Powder and Jinx. She did herself, twice in the first Season. First time when Vi meet Powder again and she say's and I quote. ""Stop calling me that, Its Jinx now. Powder fell down a well!"" and again, with the tea Party where she sets out two chairs, One with Powder and one with Jinx. Then again in Season two where she tells Isha She used to be named Power and says its stupid. So, from even her own point of view these are two separate personas, were the Jinx persona won out over the Powder persona. She likely viewed her existence as Powder over. Thru Isha and later with Vi helping to restore Vander. The Powder persona reemerges. Likely when she was in that cell, she was peek jinx, fully convinced that everyone she gets close to dies. As Jinx she knew only Death as part of the cycle. So to stop the Cycle she had to die. Again, believing that there was No good version of her. Powder is gone, and Jinx kills. So now Ekko shows up right as she is trying to off herself and keeps stopping her. She sees the Monkeys in the Z Drive and even thoe we don't see it. I'm willing to bet he tells her how it was made. About this other version of herself that doesn't kill. Is ok just working at a bar and helping her friends out. This Brings the Powder persona back. and yes in the end battle what we are seeing is the merging of Power and Jinx. until the last moment. Were Jinx sacrifices herself to Save Vi, and Mercy kill Vander. Then Leaps away last minute to Walk away as Powder again. So when I say Jinx Died, while Powder survived. It's from Jinx / Powders own perspective. Jinx just kills, so to break the cycle Jinx had to die. BUT! Powder still has a future, a Purpose, a Life to live. Things to build. So while Jinx is dead, Powder can move on. It is the death of the Persona. Like you pointed out, was Silco's entire point. :)
There is a scene of them reconciling right after the rooftop one. They just cut it from the show for whatever reason. It's around ten minutes or do i think
The "Good" universe I think turned out because of a large number of factors. Vi's death at the scene of crime shapes the councils view on Hextech so they never give it the go because instead of potential danger there was an actual death, also it shows Powder kept the stones so it's likely they assumed they were all lost in the explosion. Because of this there is no man hunt which causes Vander to turn himself in which then results in Silko double crossing them and taking over. Then Jinx in an attempt to help blowing them all up. Basically all the bad stuff that happens in the first 3 episodes which result in all the good influences in the undercity dying and thus resulting in the downward spiral. I also think since Silco and Vander knew Vi's mom that her death could have lead them them reconciling at the funeral or some other event. It's basically the Butterfly effect in action where one change cascades into a completely different outcome as each event builds on the other.
In the Good universe Jayce would have been locked up for the forbidden equipment and Viktor would have died of his condition instead of fusing with the hexcore. All the domino's fell in the opposite direction of the first 3 episodes
Yes! The double death of Vi and her mom would absolutely cause a complete change of approach to how Zaun operates. Vi’s burglary would become a cautionary tale, meaning no more mischief in Piltover and after seeing Vander’s flashback of Vi’s mom requesting him and Silco to “make this [Zaun] work for her [unborn Vi] sake” it really hits home how they would shift gears from being adversarial with Piltover to being more cooperative. And since Hextech never happened, Zaun’s technological progress had become a major asset, it flourished as a nation and was no longer seen as the slums but a viable place to live.
Episode 7 was easily my favourite. There was something so ethereal about the dance scene and the song choice and everything that I can't quite put words on.
The betrayal he felt when knowing that Jinx came to the very man that kills Benzo makes him antagonizes her, portraying her as some kind of villainess. But the way Ekko looked at Jinx after meeting Powder in the other universe- makes me think he just realized how lonely and broken she is all this time. It really hits me when Jinx said "It's too late, Ekko". Powder abandoned herself after Vi abandoned Powder. But if Ekko somehow approaches her in her lowest moment, could he save Powder? It's also kind of funny how Ekko learned how to forgive Jinx from Silco out of all people.
In the deepest parts of his heart, Ekko still cared about Jinx/Powder. He just needed a spark to reignite that feeling. I think Ekko is the only one left that can get through to her, they both have been through so much and they know each other since they were kids, being raised together. They have a long history, and Ekko is probably the only one left that can understand her. I think if it would have been anyone else, he or she would have failed.
Did you hear about the scenes Jinx and Ekko had? Where the aforementioned tells Jinx about Powder and the other reality, they had an intimate moment while they were painting and preparing for war. (Confirmed by the Co-Creator) Likewise, in the minigame: "Jinx fixes everything" where it is also confirmed that Jinx went to the Firelights camp and the Tree, and mentions that she can't forget the way Ekko saw her on the bridge. Or likewise in the ArtBook that tells Jinx's feelings, where these 2 characters are seen holding hands and Jinx drawing hearts on Ekko, or asking him to go on a date, or calling him Smart, etc. They both loved each other a lot. Powder was the perfect contrast to the premise that JInx established. "There are no good versions of me" When there were, there were. Ekko realized this, through Powder, he realized that both were the same person under different experiences, and that loving one meant staying in love with another. That's why he chose her, his Jinx, that's why he escaped from heaven to save his beloved from hell. His own hell. This love is beautiful. Because it is as impossible as it is possible, Jinx and Ekko would look great and even the animators, writers and the Co-Creator himself believe that. So I refuse to accept: "In another life", because in this one it is also possible.
@TipoIrritable Waouh, I love your interpretation. I also do believe there's a chance that in this universe too, Ekko and Jinx will come together at some point. They just have to make it possible !!! I do hope that Fortiche would give us the chance to see timebomb clips that didn’t make it. Also probably, continue their story...
absolutely love this idea that the main thesis statement of arcane is that there are two sides to the same coin. it feels like that is ultimately what every relationship, every character arc, every conflict and ultimately the ending to the show is about. the conflict arises from an attempt to separate these two sides, but acceptance of this allows for resolution and harmony. order and chaos, fox and wolf, piltover and zaun, past and future, family and enemy, psychosis and sanity, hero and villain, life and death, betrayal and forgiveness, ambition and humility, idealism and nihilism. the ending of every character’s arc is ultimately about the marriage of these two sides of the coin - reconciling the past and future, self-acceptance, and breaking the cycle to embrace harmony and to move forward in the present. resolution comes from forgiveness and accepting differences - from crossing the bridge/the great divide. contrast and imperfections are what make something beautiful.
This scene is so powerful, because Arcane creators are devoted to basic principles of old school, Greek theater. Its about Catharsis. This episode release all built up emotions, and sets purpose for the final stand. You know, humanity comes from pieces of beautiful feelings, scattered through time. Ekko is such a stubborn character, fighting without having any second thoughts, because he is fueled by memories of different times. Its empowering knowing and actually getting to experience better life for yourself, if the things have gone differently. It gives hope for a better tomorrow. It just clicks.
This episode… is the absolute most heart-wrenching experience despite how beautiful and peaceful it is. I could not stop crying after watching it, and I still can’t.
The tragedy in “can we pretend like it’s the first time”… it’s not just about the kiss, but about the episode 7 as a whole, and then also about all the 2nd chances in S2.
Heimer might be the reason this alternate universe turned out like this. He might have paved the path to peace between Zaun and Piltover. Maybe he's the reason why they don't have fully developed hextech yet. Maybe he's relaxed and chill because he knows he did everything he could to protect everyone. At least I hope that's the case.
The alternate universe is the way that it is because of the incident that killed Vi. The incident probably caused Jayce to back out from hextech, either due to authorities forbidding him to work with those gems or because Jayce felt guilt.
As soon as i saw it i knew it was the best episode. It is the greatest metaphor for what i think the point of the entire show is, "what could have been", its a recurring theme with so many characters and this is by the the best version.
The dance scene was one of the best scenes in the series. I was in tears to see Ekko and Powder getting to have a life untroubled by strife outside of their control. Even watching your clip had me in the feels again. Loved your take.
This was my favorite episode. Couldn’t believe when you said people didn’t like it. The weight of the decisions, the contrasts, the music and timing. It was a breath of what the people in the main timeline have been desiring/fighting for
Reminded me of Ember Island Players (ATLA). A great breather before the big finale. Just enjoying life before we go back to an apocalyptic world. Also there is a kiss between Aang and Katara. Ekko's dance scene is the most beautiful scene I ever watched in a show. I cry like a baby every time Ekko says: "I got consumed by all the ways it wasn't. I gave up on you." And when Powder comforts him and kisses him.... woooaaaah!
@@MikrobizepsYeaaa same in all. Its so fucking beautifull all the scene in "the party" all the people how view ekko, how he talk with Silko, then the entrance of Powder with this song, and the view of his shoes (like the combat in t7 s1), the eye contact and we see this perfect powder, the dance in 4 FPS, how we see the love and all the words they said, after the kiss that ekko stop and said "sorry, can we pretend that is the first time?" Reinforce so fucking well her character, his relation with the time, and the fcking difficult is the contrast about his world and jinx and this world and powder. So beautifull. I cried every time...
This episode is the best Arcane episode. It has so many layers and it’s actually well thought out and paced. Here’s just an example: Powder’s keepsake is Yin and Yang. In Powder’s drawer she had kept the blue stones as a reminder of Vi and the dangers of the gems. She was holding them to protect everyone from hexcore. She is the reason why there isn’t another Jayce-replacement trying to experiment and create hextech. This makes her helping Ekko way more valuable. He shown her the shards, she had a surprised face. She realized “oh crap. There were still shards.” That face said it all. But she didn’t overreact. She lived in the moment and helped him out anyway. Later on when she put away the spinning keepsake. She put it next to the shards (the reminder of Vi). Now she has reminders of two people she lost. Both representative of the progress of science. Yin and Yang. Destruction and Progress.
Ekko is arguably the strongest character. He always put his community first. He's also sacrificial in that way, but his determination to make the world a better place felt genuine. Not out of ego and perfection (embodied through Jayce and Viktor), and he didn't let his personal trauma deter his values (embodied through Vi, Jinx, and Caitlyn). Of course I wish Ekko had more screentime, but episode seven exuded so much love and hope, it was definitely a balm for all the wounds the series inflicted, lol. I love Ekko forever.
In all these Arcane episodes of philosophy, of heartbreak of horrors ... THIS one is not just my absolute favorite... THIS one made me cry 🥲🥲 Like for real not a tear in my eye, pause the episode and cry. And it`s the simplicity of the solution that made me cry. How does a Silco forgive Vander? He just decides he would like to and takes it step by step from there. How can Ekko be happy? He chooses to be happy and enjoys the moment when it happens. The way the dance is shot in 4 frames per second as if Ekko is trying to slow down time to revel in this moment of happiness... The only and most important task for Ekko is to be there with powder and be happy. And that simple thing is the most important thing he ever did for himself. How in a sense for us in the real world to be happy, we need to stop chasing it and trust ourselves to find our way to happiness, that all we need to do is accept the happiness and enjoy it. It`s so simple so why can`t we do it? We do we keep losing ourselves in these overcomplicated plans and schemes, worries and fear of not being happy when that is what`s stopping us from being happy 😔 ... I`m sorry I`m rambling but all that simplicity it made me really honestly emotionally cry. And I`m so very thankful to this wonderful show for giving me that and the writers for being clever, patient enough to make that point and trust us enough to not hammer it home but instead to give us this gentle slow experience 🥲
You actually made so much sense ❤ happiness...IS a choice. After all even here, powder could've lose it all after vi's death...one wrong step and she wouldve. But she didn't. She had a choice abd she saw it. Jinx had a choice but couldnt see it until the very end. Thats why.
@@DarkHarlequin I wonder where Piltover comes into this conversation on just FINDING happiness without needing to put others down. It seems they also found the answer in this alternative universe. It breaks my heart that VI died, but I think Marcus and Piltover as a whole, seeing how desperate children from Zaun were and a child dying due to these circumstances Piltover is responsible for, changed their perspective. Along with Heimindinger of course. Thus, the bridge becoming a free-Flowing point of connection between them and Zaun flourishing like it always should have. Forgiveness and understanding. Ekko learning that in an alternative universe saved our main one. Not just because of the time machine Powder and Heimindinger helped him invent, but forgiving Jinx/Powder there, helped him reach out to his Jinx and save her. I would kill to see the convo they had after that, there was probably a lot of talk about forgiveness and letting yourself be better😭.
@@hanyu_dada it's not bad in any universe, the only flaw was a fast pacing and cut content, which is excused by netflix being assholes as usual, but in the end it served to make the situation more dire and more captivating if you want bad, there's a billion other endings you can go to, GoT and the like
i've been talking on reddit about how i don't think there is alternate worlds, but more the anomaly fabricating a world to trap each person pulled in. jayce getting hurt and stuck in the cave, ekko in his happy place he's always dreamed of. but ekko needed this in order to come and save the day.
So I have a secondary thought. I think Ekko and Powder represents us, the viewers, who wish they could go back in time or go to another universe and right all their wrongs whether it be with a dead family member, a lover, a friend, etc. To be able to play out a point in your life differently than how it ended up now. Ekko finally crossing over back into the current reality is us finally letting go of the past, accepting what has happened and looking forward to the future. I like your observations more though.
10:21 you can notice in that room everyone's breath is visible, indicating the place is cold, but victors follower doesnt have that breath, indicating they arent even alive anymore
Uff totaly true bro, I feel the same emotion. Is like i never gone live it again with no expectation or knowing of what is going to happen. I only remember that when Pow enter with the song, the shoes, the eye contact to Ekko was perfect, and moments after I beggin crying . Also the moment was not the perfect, but as the show learn, there is perfection and imperfection and we have to like and move steps forward, the time need to move in order to view this beautiful scenes :) Pd: I was tipping this comment the first time and my phone was 0% battery so I think. I can not comment this, its the same that I feel so, for the second I was searching to comment it again haha
I think it's pretty hinted that Powder did know. She knew smtg was off with this Ekko. And during their final scenes, I think Ekko wanted her to know he's from a different world. One where Powder and Ekko are no longer friends. Which makes the, "can we just pretend...'' scene more bittersweet for me. Powder never even judged him ONCE. My heart. Powder showed him what could be ''I've never seen you give up on anything, Ekko'' and Ekko took that wholeheartedly and went back to Jinx, HIS Powder.
That's what gets me the most, she definitely knew something was off, and yet, she never questioned his words or his actions once, she could have freaked out or inquire what was going on, etc but she didn't. And during Ekko's most vulnerable state -- when he asks her to pretend like it's the first time -- she comforts him and acknowledges his request because se deeply cares about him too. This show is something else, huh?
Very well put. On a first watch, it seems like this episode is contrasting the hell that Jayce sees (what cannot be) with the 'perfect' world in which Ekko and Heimerdinger see (what can be). On reflection, I'm now seeing it to be a contrast of two visions for what the 'perfect' world looks like. The imagery used at the top Viktor's world is peaceful; quiet. In episode 9 when everyone is connected via the golden threads, without the context that could easily be seen as a victory. Peace brought to a conflict ridden world. We see through Jayce's eyes what lies beneath the surface of this apparent perfection. On the other hand, the show makes it clear that in the 'perfect' world, the negative has not been banished. Vi is dead in this world. If this is a vision of the perfect, why would that include the grief that comes along with death? Viktor optimized the suffering out of existence, but in so doing took away the essence of existence itself.
I just realized after rewatching the scene where Ekko saves Jinx from offing herself, after all her attempts she finally looks at the time-loop device he has and notices the little cymbal-beating monkeys. It feels like somehow she understands that she had something to do with the machine since the monkeys are her trademark. So even while not knowing he went on some multiverse shit, she has proof that somehow her tech can be used to also save lives, not just destroy. Excellent video btw!
As hard as it was to leave AUPowder i believe that she was also a great pillar of strength that convinced Ekko to go back and continue the fight. I'm a firm believer that throughout the episode AUPowder realizes that this isn't her Ekko and yet she still actively chooses to trust him, to help him, and in a great display of affection to ultimately love him as if he was her own Ekko. This gives Ekko the hope and strength he needed to trust his universes' Jinx/Powder. He moves on from the past and chooses to love her in the present, whatever/whoever she decides to do/be.
The amount of emotional intelligence AUPowder shows by deciphering clues to Ekko's true identity and to then choose the best course of actions honestly left me in shock and awe of such an intelligent and caring character.
Great insight! I agree! She was a source of strength. I would say she became a “goal worth fighting for,” meaning breaking thru to her during her many explosive self-delete attempts.
That is what ultimately really hit me as well: AU Powder's emotional intelligence. She deduced what was going on and knew Ekko wasn't really her Ekko, but she still went along with it anyway because she loves helping people out, she not only helped him, but reassured and showed affection towards him, giving him that extra spark that he desperately needed. It's so poetic and beautiful. This episode is easily one of the best in Arcane imo.
The beginning of the scene has a little visual detail I like. When the dance starts, Powder is introduced with her boots walking into frame. This is a callback to when Jinx is first introduced in season 1 episode 4. Before she fights the firelights in that scene, the camera focuses on her boots walking into frame before it shows her full face and body. For added effect, Ekko was one of the firelights she was fighting in that scene. Her boots even make the same movement in both scenes. However, instead of her being a crazy person of horrible destruction, she is healthier and happier. Just a nice mirroring of what could have been.
Absolutely loved this. I think another implication of this scene and i personally wish we had more screen time to let that sink in was when ekko saves jinx and then she sees the monkeys. Ekko having seen what powder could have been can give her the piece of mind that she is not broken as a person, that there is a good version of her because he LIVED it. I’m sure that’s what makes her change her mind and possibly walk away from all the cycles she’s been stuck in to start new somewhere else. I think independently of if she survived or not, ekko showing her that freed jinx from a big burden.
Did you hear about the scenes Jinx and Ekko had? Where the aforementioned tells Jinx about Powder and the other reality, they had an intimate moment while they were painting and preparing for war. (Confirmed by the Co-Creator) Likewise, in the minigame: "Jinx fixes everything" where it is also confirmed that Jinx went to the Firelights camp and the Tree, and mentions that she can't forget the way Ekko saw her on the bridge. Or likewise in the ArtBook that tells Jinx's feelings, where these 2 characters are seen holding hands and Jinx drawing hearts on Ekko, or asking him to go on a date, or calling him Smart, etc. They both loved each other a lot. Powder was the perfect contrast to the premise that JInx established. "There are no good versions of me" When there were, there were. Ekko realized this, through Powder, he realized that both were the same person under different experiences, and that loving one meant staying in love with another. That's why he chose her, his Jinx, that's why he escaped from heaven to save his beloved from hell. His own hell. This love is beautiful. Because it is as impossible as it is possible, Jinx and Ekko would look great and even the animators, writers and the Co-Creator himself believe that. So I refuse to accept: "In another life", because in this one it is also possible.
This episode was just the pinnacle of sheer emotional story telling. Definitely one of my most favorite episodes of all time. Had me in an emotional chokehold for dayyssssss
She puts a memento from Ekko that spins backwards and forwards beside the bag of whole crystals in a drawer labelled "Vi". She's going on a rescue mission!
i interpreted that as closing the chapter there for good. Powder keeps the hex crystals with vi's mural because she realized the dangers of hextech and thought it should die with her. Similarly, she was trying to give our ekko the necklace, but he leaves before she had a chance, so now she's keeping the necklace with the hex crystals. which also solidifies that she knows our ekko and au ekko are different. So she's keeping it in the drawer because he's "gone" now
@@arycogito I don't think so, i think they have shown use the crystal to know it's possible for her to actually create the same device Vander also told her in the episode to do greater thing than just staying at the bar I mean Jinx whole personality is to create stuff so
Having come from twitter where there are very engaging, introspective posts those conversations they were drowned out by many people who did not understood what they watched so this is a refreshing perspective (and very detailed and interesting, enjoyed it a lot). I don't mean what I said as if people don't like arcane = they did not understand it but I've seen a lot of people who did not pick up on a lot of the nuanced (and in some cases more obvious) storytelling in this episode and S02 in general.
i can understand having issues with s2, because its not perfect like s1 but people on twitter go too far and i always wind up wondering "did you even watch the show" because people really just say the craziest things and ignore basically everything about the story whether its because they care about their favs more than the work as a whole, or because they just cant understand the narrative and see things black/white, its just super dissapointing to me that these people are fans of the show yet flat out dont get it
"My best ennemy is you, Flee me, the worst is you and me" Stromae & Pomme deserves the higher praise for this song.... I don't understand they haven't subtitled it (Maybe because I'm french but theirs wasn't a translation of the song that is PERFECT for the scene )
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thinks that Powder knew to an extent. You're thoughts on it are almost identical to mine: she understands fundamentally that it's not the Ekko she knows, but that's really where the understanding ends. Perhaps she knows that something went wrong in his timeline? Maybe even with that timeline's version of her? And that's why she imparts all this extremely profound wisdom on him? Organizing my thoughts on this episode feels like an impossible task. This video certainly didn't help me do just that, but I'm glad that I'm not the only one who is going on this mind-exploding thought experiment. The best episode in Season 2. As close to flawless as anything can possibly be. But is it better than Season 1 episode 3? I go back and forth. But wow, what a powerful episode. That "what if?" idea is always so tragic when done this way. I quite literally can't stop thinking about it.
I enjoyed this video and your analysis. I’d add that the theme you articulate is represented in their dance in this episode: coming together and breaking apart, a mutuality and reciprocity that finds form in their dance, a dance that is beautiful because they learn to read each other, to anticipate and respond. Here we find the dao that finds unity in difference without resolving one for the other. Jinx asks Ecko where he learned ‘those moves and he responds with, ‘I was following your lead’. This harmony requires learning when to set aside ego (a kind of forgiveness) in service of a collective (the dance).
This episode (at least, the part without poor Jayce) is such a cleanser. Powder was seriously smart: she definitely had an idea of what was going on. I like how Ekko later says to Jinx exasperatedly "Everything has to be a dance with you!". To my mind, the one tiny flaw of this episode is that Isha could have been given a valedictory cameo ;-)
For me episode 7 of season 2 summed up everything that arcane was about & explained every single motive throughout the whole show…..what could have been.
Heimer probably didn't just do music in the other world. I think a big reason why that world turned out so much better was because he was there for almost 4 years and knowing what's going to happen in the world in the future, he would've definitely done a lot as the founder of the city. Silco brushes it off as him willing to forgive Vander, but I feel like that only happened after Heimer gave Zaun its independence. It's also a big shoutout to Silco's character because we now know that he really was in it for Zaun. His goal was always Zaun and when his dream became reality, he didn't try to chase power and just accepted the happy end.
Good call, Heimer being in the other dimension for a few years 3.5 or 4 years allows him yo slowly craft peace, mediate, give zaun and piltover more chances to succeed, stop Green of the top side and aid in education of the under city. Perhaps? Plus with Vi dying it is a brutal sacrifice where maybe Jayce walks away from hextech, Vander turns himself in and serves time. Silco is a community leader perhaps too. And Powder does every thing to try to be happy for two people she carries on wanted to be happy knowing that her sister is gone and perhaps Powder is thinking in the dimension that her spirit of Vi wants her to happy so she pushing on but we see her grieve for her sister by visiting her alter 😢😮 But also great observation that perhaps Heimer shapes a good timeline in the 2nd dimension. 👏🏾
Loved this episode. Get goosebumps from every clip. I can’t shake the thought though, about how it goes wrong there too given what victor says to Jayce. In every timeline Jayce’s is the one showing victor the right path. And then there’s the bag of hex crystals in the VI drawer we see at the end…
Yeah I thought it was hinted that Powder might discover hextech in that timeline, because of the crystals and Vander telling her she wasn’t reaching her potential, plus the progress she made with Ekko and Heimerdinger.
@@Meraxes6 exactly. It might be echo and Heimer that nudged the events in a way that brought things along. That isn’t to say though that everything goes wrong just that at some point Jayce helps Victor to not go too far down the wrong path
I think it’s completely the opposite of what some of you in the thread are saying. Zaun found their own way to make progress without the stones. As you can see they’re still intact in the drawer. Powder saved the world by never allowing Hextech to be a thing when she decided to hide the stones in there. Remember, Jayce was working illegally in his room. Nobody knew wtf he was working on. That’s what made the heist in S1 so important. Ekko’s tip was S-tier opportunity and he didn’t even know it. He just thought they were going to steal some good junk. Run-in-the-mill job. Once the accident happened: everything changed. We all know Powder’s personality. Once she had a first hand experience of what those stones do she looked at it like a curse and that’s why she stole them and hid them away. Without having a direct hand in the accident, Powder didn’t blame herself so she was able to make a very solid decision and was able to move on. I think this show is really good at creating rules for personalities and letting those rules dictate how the characters act.
@@MerlinTheCommenter so in what way did Jayce show Victor that “perfection is only the end of pursuit” etc. in this timeline? Perhaps it was trivial and with no catastrophic event avoided I do t know. But it seemed that stakes were high and that victor giving Jayce te first stone was vital for all timelines
Honestly don’t know if I was just high but this episode was one of the best episodes of tv I’ve ever seen. It absolutely made me feel regardless if I wanted to or not. This added so much depth to not just the main characters but some side characters. Amazing
This analysis is beautiful. Your passion for the show is clearly apparent and this video helps me process my own feelings about it better. Thanks for making ✌️
Maaaan I loved this ep, my favourite of season 2 and possible the series. Your description nails one aspect, and reminds me of a video essay I saw on the train scene from Spirited Away and the importance of letting a story 'breathe'.
First time an animated series hits me this much. Especially this episode 7 that made me cry and sob for long minutes. Couldn't quite put words on why I found it so beautiful. And I was hurting a lot (again first time in my 26 yo life I grieve fictional characters, powerful writing from this show) for a day or two. It seems crazy to me to be in that emotional state over drawn characters lol. THIS VIDEO relieved something in me. There's words to give sense to that episode now and it feels like I've learnt something. So thanks a lot for taking the time to break this masterpiece down. Truly a beautiful show. Love to all the artists that gave life to this magnificent story.
Amazing video analysis. I feel that this video and this comment section discuss exactly the topics I've been wanting to hear about since watching this fantastic episode.
11:30 to invoke Avengers: Age of Ultron- Viktor confuses “peace” with “quiet.” There is grace in humanity’s failings, and a thing isn’t beautiful because it lasts.
While I somewhat agree, I also think people take this sentiment too far. Afterall, it's hard to consider there to be any beauty whatsoever in humanity's failings... when you personally are facing a human enemy actively exterminating you and your people. Likewise, is there anything beautiful in the follies of Man that allows a slaver to brand another human being like cattle?
@@DreamersOfRealityThe impulse that leads a slaver to brand his fellow man is the same impulse that leads Viktor to wipe out the planet without meaning to- it’s the urge to subjugate, to *suppress* humanity, flaws and merits alike, in service of some vision of a more controlled human condition. Human nature is self-defeating and oxymoronic, and those parts of it are often disgusting and condemnable. And yet so much of that condemnable behavior is born out of a misguided want to change that very nature. It’s a toughie, this human condition.
thank you for making this breakdown for us, i always think the whole Arcane's thing is much much deeper than we think... I think I'm going to watch once again.
You really said it here. Harmony despite differences. There's so much duality in this show, the yin and yang, the dance of opposites being made whole together. Which is distinctly different from the uniformity Viktor creates. It all makes sense now why the creators chose him to be the final villain.
Completely out of topic, but is nobody gonna talk about the s*x scene on E8? Yes, the scene is so strong, but what it symbolizes, I think, is much stronger. In S1, Cait meets Vi first time in the prison cell, and Cait frees Vi. In S2, Vi frees Jinx, but Vi gets stuck in the prison cell again. Later, Cait COMES IN to the cell, and then they decide to make love INSIDE the cell. It's the complete cycle of their love journey between Vi and Cait. But furthermore, Cait explains she "allowed" Vi to free Jinx by moving all the guards to the hexgate, knowing that's what Vi would do behind her back. It shows Cait also decided to forgive and trust Jinx just as she decided to trust Vi by freeing her in S1. It's not just a simple s*x scene. It's a confirmation scene where Vi, Jinx, and Cait all reconciled with each other. A genius and powerful way to show the beginning of "breaking the cycle".
You don't know me, and I've only seen a couple of your videos. But this one somehow changed my perspective on a conflict I've been having with someone for an extremely long time. "The absence of conflict is not peace." That really stuck with me and made me think. And I thank you for that. I look forward to more of your content. I appreciate it more than you realize.
Ahh that's really nice of you to say, thanks! It's such a simple idea, really, resolving conflict. So much harder to do than to say, but always, always a really important thing
I think this also give Ekko, the time related person, a chance to realize he doesn’t need to rush out of things and teaches him to slow down and not jump to any one conclusion. Teaching him to take him time to analyze situations on a deeper level and even find it in himself to forgive or at least reach out to Jinx. They also had a kind of touching and flashbacky fight on the bridge recalling a moment where they would play as kids and if you remember nobody really gave her the time of day back then, but it appears Ekko did. It was not very often we saw Powder smiling and laughing, but when they showed the flashback fight as kids, she looked genuinely happy, especially foreshadowing her skills as a marksman
One thing about that universe's powder: its not just that she needs to grow, its that she is still consumed by grief over Vi and doesnt let herself achieve things on her own, she diminishes herself, focus singularly in helping other people while neglecting herself. She is brilliant but she doesnt even participates on the competition, only helps Ekko with HIS project. And if they do continue exploring this Powder like they implied in the end of the episode, thats going to be a great thing to explore
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Alright, man. We all know what worked, but you really should make a video about all of the glaring narrative inconsistencies, plot wholes, retcons from season 1 and the Marvelesque finale that superseded an actually compelling ending culminating from the groundwork laid out in the story before it went off the rails.
Do that video. I'll help if you want.
Jayce lived through hell to understand his destiny and Ekko had to give up paradise to understand his. 10/10
Oof, I like that thought a lot!
Jayce had to learn how bad things would be in order to convince him to sacrifice everything to make things right. Ekko had to learn how good things could be to convince him to do the same. Jayce didn’t need hope, Ekko didn’t need fear. God-tier storytelling.
Jayce's "hell" was clearly his fault, even at the start he tripped and hurt himself, followed by seeing he is the one who ended that world, only to have him go mess up his reality. And understand??? He came back insane and blasting just like he did back int he day. Totally mad to me that folks think Jayce was anywhere near the right.
@@1MHCShim tripping and giving himself hell was a metaphor. He got himself into this whole mess and had to climb back out, literally as a poor cripple from under the city as Viktor did as punishment. Then Viktor was able to show him his purpose
@@theflyinglatinoman69 I'd buy that. Though I'm still convinced Viktor was on the right path!
Respect to Ekko for leaving that alternate reality. I know I wouldn't have.
He really is the Boy Savior
For real...
Yeah aint no one leaving that reality lets be real😂
I would’ve have hella kids with powder
Same 😂
This episode also explains how Ekko beat Viktor in the last episode
Viktor says when controlling everyone, "they all yearn for a better life."
Ekko had that better life, he lived it, and ultimately left it. Thats why when Viktor caught him he wasnt easily mind controlled.
Ekko looked up at the blue lightning and sky, the blue that reminds him of Powder and the time he spent.
Wow, that’s a very good observation!
Peak
ur cooking
the moment he resisted the mind control i knew he was the best character , my goat
He saw paradise, and walked away.
Ekko making the mural of the Vi he knows for the Powder that never got to see it is one of the most heartbreakingly touching scenes i have ever seen. I can't think of a more impactful gift you could give someone than letting them see the potential held by a loved one that was lost too early.
The fact that now she knows it was not just a dream of Ekko but it really is her sister alive in another timeline
Well said. Would have been extremely touching in a not rushed/crammed season 3 of arcane :(
@@DigitalFootprintToBeAbusedidk if I’m stupid but are you saying it was rushed? If so what’s your reason for thinking it was
@@echo3568I think he was just saying it would be nice if this part of the story had a little more room to breathe. Maybe allow the weight to fall on some of the characters more. Let powder know even if she still had her sister it might not be what she is wishing for
@@echo3568 it definitely was rushed sorry, I loved the season but it needed more episode run time to make certain scenes more impactful and give more weight to certain arcs. We had two time skips that deserved more space around their transitions, more time for jinx to grieve, less time with vi and Caitlyn, war should have been longer, and we needed the cut scenes of jinx and ekko in that last episode.
She definitely caught on it was not quite her Ekko. Which I think it just makes it sweeter? She didn' react violent to it or anything, she just tried to help him out.
Shouldn’t she be a lot more concerned or at the very least inquisitive? Like the obvious first question being “Uh, so where is MY Ekko?”
And I like to think since she saw "our universe" version of Ekko, that means he told this universe's Jinx about the happy Powder. :D
She catches on once she reads the notes they're (Ekko & Heimer) writing. She notes the "body swap" with the taped on page, and the next scene shows her watching Ekko closely.
Powder is smart enough to understand what they're building, so she would clearly understand the purpose of Ekko's research.
@@princessthyemis couldn't that Also be the reference of jinx telling to vi : "even when we're worlds apart" ?
Edit : Also, AT that moment powder sees what IS possible with hextech, and has the gems, futur powder might recreate hextech, either bringing doom to that universe or even maybe doing Also a universe travel 👀
@@iwack I very much agree! I also got the feeling that she knew something was off with Ekko and that she connected the dots as they spent more time together. I did for days wonder about her strange glare at Ekko during the build of the z-drive since I totally forgot about it being right after she saw the sketches of the body swap, so your comment finally confirmed what I missed and struggled to connect!
The one thing I am still confused about is why, if she suspects her Ekko has been replaced, she is fine with being so close with our version of him. Maybe it is that she herself haven't yet fully connected / decided if it could really be the case that she's been spendning time with an alternative version of her boyfriend, or that she enjoys their time together so much that she somewhat forgets or cannot think clearly about it. Vander does mention that he hasn't seen her this much alive in a long time so even tho she clearly is very intelligent you can't really blame her for not fully understanding what's going on since the whole situation must feel so confusing and surreal / unbelievable.
Note: did kinda get an answer / agreement to my second point simply by just continuing to watch this YouTub analysis xd
But it is wonderful to know that this timeline does exist. There Powder is happy and a grown up version of her true self, where she is together with Ekko and not a Jinx. Where her adoptive brothers are alive, with Vander and Silco and Benzo. It was wonderful to see her blue eyes again and smiling, not a sinister one or a sarcastic one but a happy smile. It is amazing they included this in the series..
where she lives in a world not overshadowed by Vi... lol
("I am the main character, not you" LOL)
@@therearenoshortcuts9868comments like these make me wonder if you actually understand their conflict in the story
If Vi were given the choice, she would’ve picked the alternate timeline in a heartbeat.
@@therearenoshortcuts9868 are we.. watching the same show?
goes to show how much we are the result of our surroundings
This episode felt like fan service, and I’m the fan, specifically.
Especially for the Timebomb shippers! They hoped and waited 3 years for these moments between Ekko and Powder.
@@mullworm timebomb is a cute name for a ship lmao
It's fanservice done for a narrative and thematic purpose, a.k.a. the best kind of fanservice.
Did you hear about the scenes Jinx and Ekko had? Where the aforementioned tells Jinx about Powder and the other reality, they had an intimate moment while they were painting and preparing for war. (Confirmed by the Co-Creator)
Likewise, in the minigame: "Jinx fixes everything" where it is also confirmed that Jinx went to the Firelights camp and the Tree, and mentions that she can't forget the way Ekko saw her on the bridge.
Or likewise in the ArtBook that tells Jinx's feelings, where these 2 characters are seen holding hands and Jinx drawing hearts on Ekko, or asking him to go on a date, or calling him Smart, etc.
They both loved each other a lot. Powder was the perfect contrast to the premise that JInx established. "There are no good versions of me" When there were, there were. Ekko realized this, through Powder, he realized that both were the same person under different experiences, and that loving one meant staying in love with another. That's why he chose her, his Jinx, that's why he escaped from heaven to save his beloved from hell. His own hell.
This love is beautiful. Because it is as impossible as it is possible, Jinx and Ekko would look great and even the animators, writers and the Co-Creator himself believe that.
So I refuse to accept: "In another life", because in this one it is also possible.
@@mullworm Did you hear about the scenes Jinx and Ekko had? Where the aforementioned tells Jinx about Powder and the other reality, they had an intimate moment while they were painting and preparing for war. (Confirmed by the Co-Creator)
Likewise, in the minigame: "Jinx fixes everything" where it is also confirmed that Jinx went to the Firelights camp and the Tree, and mentions that she can't forget the way Ekko saw her on the bridge.
Or likewise in the ArtBook that tells Jinx's feelings, where these 2 characters are seen holding hands and Jinx drawing hearts on Ekko, or asking him to go on a date, or calling him Smart, etc.
They both loved each other a lot. Powder was the perfect contrast to the premise that JInx established. "There are no good versions of me" When there were, there were. Ekko realized this, through Powder, he realized that both were the same person under different experiences, and that loving one meant staying in love with another. That's why he chose her, his Jinx, that's why he escaped from heaven to save his beloved from hell. His own hell.
This love is beautiful. Because it is as impossible as it is possible, Jinx and Ekko would look great and even the animators, writers and the Co-Creator himself believe that.
So I refuse to accept: "In another life", because in this one it is also possible.
This scene is also painful asf AND ITS EVERYWHERE I SEE IT EVERYWHERE, AND THAT DAMN SONG. Best episode for real.
Give thanks to Stromae for it
Tbe song and the dance, uff a lot
For me the end is 100 times more sad after this episode, and youtube recomends me this scene all the time : (
@@patri96 and pomme the femal voice in the song, she is much less known so i insist on mentioning her name
If you understand the lyrics it's even more powerful
I love the fact that dimension hopping doesn't mean there's a double but you take over the other you's body
I wanted to know what happened to the other u. Do they die? Momentarily? Do they fall asleep? Do they get forced into your body from your original time line?
Either way, if he stayed he basically killed someone by robbing them of their own life. He basically stole the kiss from powder that ekko was supposed to have. Not his fault particularly as heim told him to go to the party while he works on the machine but that timeline ekko came back to missing a wonderful moment
@@thedoomslayer5863that ekko got a peaceful and prosperous lifetime with powder. I'm sure the balcony kiss would have been nice for that ekko, but also just another kiss with his partner. Our ekko got his first kiss and maybe only kiss with powder. A much nicer thing.
@@thedoomslayer5863 I don't think it's that of a big deal for the alternate ekko? Yes it was an intimate moment for sure and it would be a bummer to miss out on. However, Powder and Ekko was already together in that universe so they've surely shared more than many intimate moments. When Ekko took over the alternate Ekko's body I think it's as simple as falling unconscious becuase right after "our" Ekko had left the alternate Ekko simply woke up like he had fallen asleep.
@@foob2066Our ekko took over for weeks before the actually one came back. I imagine it was like waking up from a coma to find out your girlfriend cheated on you with a alternate version of you.
@centipedekid9824 I doubt ekko knew what happened since the first thing he said was "What happened?". I don't think powder wanted to complicate things by telling him either because I doubt he would believe her.
This episode encapsulates the themes of the whole series. Ekko’s expression at the end, as he looks at Powder before he’s teleported away, says it all: “I’m heartbroken that I have to leave but I’m so glad we got this little bit of time together”. I sobbed through a good portion of this episode and it felt so good 🥲
Me too... Me too 🥲
Did you hear about the scenes Jinx and Ekko had? Where the aforementioned tells Jinx about Powder and the other reality, they had an intimate moment while they were painting and preparing for war. (Confirmed by the Co-Creator)
Likewise, in the minigame: "Jinx fixes everything" where it is also confirmed that Jinx went to the Firelights camp and the Tree, and mentions that she can't forget the way Ekko saw her on the bridge.
Or likewise in the ArtBook that tells Jinx's feelings, where these 2 characters are seen holding hands and Jinx drawing hearts on Ekko, or asking him to go on a date, or calling him Smart, etc.
They both loved each other a lot. Powder was the perfect contrast to the premise that JInx established. "There are no good versions of me" When there were, there were. Ekko realized this, through Powder, he realized that both were the same person under different experiences, and that loving one meant staying in love with another. That's why he chose her, his Jinx, that's why he escaped from heaven to save his beloved from hell. His own hell.
This love is beautiful. Because it is as impossible as it is possible, Jinx and Ekko would look great and even the animators, writers and the Co-Creator himself believe that.
So I refuse to accept: "In another life", because in this one it is also possible.
it's so healing to hear that you sobbed but felt good. Cus it actually struck a chord in me that led to a lot of grieving, and it's been difficult, so I'm so happy to hear someone's got happy tears out of it.
that's not to say i disliked it at all, i'm VERY glad for it and the effect it's had on me, and it's one of my favorite things i've ever experienced
After a rewatch it's clear that Powder knows, the way she looks a Ekko change immediatly during the montage after she see the drawing. She seems a bit sad or melancholic, I think she knows he is going to leave soon, and her dialogues and reactions make much more sense that way. Also Vander saying he doesnt remember seeing her so alived, makes me think she is more compatible with the main arcane Ekko than her own Ekko, despite the two being already dating. The impossible love goes both ways making it even more tragic. Also the hextech at the end may be teasing she will be back in some form, or at least let the door open, I don't think they would include that scene for no reason.
right!!!! but question, how long were they there for - a day or multiple weeks cause they disappeared around the same time Caitlyn's hot dictator summer began or was starting up right? And Ekko and Jayce return right as it's ending so, if I'm correct, they had the time to build up that connection
If you re watch the bridge scene of the people putting in papers of peoples name in it.. there is shot from above and we see a person with the exact hairstyle and color (even the little red/pink on the bun) and I think this is Powder from the different timeline. Although I will say the pink color is on the other hair bun than the original shown, but it could still very well be Powder
I interpreted the last scene where alternate universe Powder was hiding the hextech gemstone as showing how much this version of her wanted to keep the status quo and not have to progress, but I think it's possible that it also indicates that, now that she's met mainline Ekko, she could decide that she's willing to move forward and grow and change
@@guamart_2792you can see the characters ear and tell that theyre dark-skinned, not pale like powder
@@guamart_2792 i rewatched it just now and it's not, that person you describe doesnt have the same skin tone
Powder fell in Love for the same guy twice... [sobbing]
Honestly not hard to believe at all. Ekko might ve the most decent character all around, he's very easy to love
The fact that the two Ekkos are different (AU Ekko can’t really dance and is apparently a little traumatized by Vi’s death for example) really solidifies how well Ekko and Powder’s personalities blend.
Different people same face
Ekko is best boy!
One of the things i enjoy about Ekko's dynamic with Powder is that it comes from a place of true love. When you love someone you see all the potential of what they can be and you feel an urge to set them on the path that makes you truly admire them. Ekko as a kid probably saw Powder's potential as an inventor. He saw her creativity and her deep desire to help those she cared about(Vi) and loved her for it. And as time progressed, He began to see her tread a destructive path which distanced herself from what he truly loved about her and it broke his heart. He began to convince himself that there was nothing left of the person he cared about anymore. However, when he's about to finish the fight with jinx and looks her in the eye he realizes that he cant let go of the love he once had for her as a kid and sees again the soul inside her that wants to help people. This notion is fully realized when he travels to the alternate dimension and sees the version of her that he believed she could be. A person who smiled, who danced, who helped those around her, who was an innovator, who desired to make a difference. 'Your ideas change the world, and i cant shake the feeling that that's who you are supposed to be. ' He falls in love again and The hope that is installed because of this marks the true heart of their dynamic.
The only show to make a couple work and mean something emotionally, thematically, story-wise and just everything. They work so well together like they're so cute and purposeful that it was genuinely motivating to see them together
So, in that dialogue ekko is talking to her jinx and the powder of this universe... or he is saying what he want or view about her jinx/powder... so beuty
I also think the whole experience really changes his perspective of his worlds Jinx/Powder. When he says "Your ideas change the world", he's talking about his Jinx there, he realises in that moment how though she's not the person they perhaps thought growing up she still does have that innovative spark. The episode also shows plenty of Jinx-like attributes within the alternate Powder, showing Ekko that though Powder is seemingly "gone", Jinx and Powder are really just two sides of the same coin, and that there's is still a lot of what he loves about Powder in Jinx.
I honestly don't think that without the perspective shift he'd try to save Jinx later on as she tries to commit suicide. And even in that scene we can see how much each of them really care about eachother. For example when Ekko is getting close Jinx tries to put distance between him and the explosion by jumping off first so he won't get hurt, and the way her face softens as his pleads finally get through. They may not be lovers in this universe but honestly with enough time its not impossible I think.
@@__-fm5qv and even if they can't, im satisfied seeing them together under better circumstance
@@Maryln.Antoinette It was nice yeah. I'm still hoping we get a glimpse of them in future LoL series.
we all hold hands and say in perfect unison "we're sorry jayce, you were right all along jayce"
He could just show Viktor his memories, instead of blowing a hole in his chest
@@Valdemar135 Jayce does not posses the sharingan to be able to do that..
He wasn't though. He wasn't supposed to shoot Viktor (that turned him desperate) but to deliver him the final rune so he could see the truth. By shooting Viktor he was dooming the world as it was leading to events that already happened in the tragic reality. In fact it wasn't Jayce stopping Viktor but Ekko. Without Ekko Jayce would fail.
I don't have to apologize for anything. Never doubted my boy
@@meiru2453 Without Jayce, Ekko's efforts would not matter. Everybody's effort would not matter. It was, in fact, Jayce who stopped Viktor. Viktor says it himself. "In all realities, you were the only person that could show this to me."
yes! after watching act 3, i couldn’t shake the feeling that ep 7 was so important to the whole show. Throughout both seasons Ive been confused on what exactly the story is trying to say. ‘the oppressors are just as good of people as those they oppress’? ‘fighting for a better world is inherently bad’? and with the ending of ep. 9 ‘we need to set aside our differences to fight evil magic man’ what does the arcane represent?? what are they trying to say? but i think you’re right, THIS episode, is the revealing moment. This is what they are trying to say. People are fluid and capable of change. We must live in the present moment, ready to forgive those who have done wrong in the past if they have changed in the present.
It’s not that the oppressors are somehow good people as they commit war crimes but that they are capable of becoming good people. They are never stuck. Beautiful analysis, thank you
Vi asks Cait “Who decides who gets a second chance?” And Cait doesn’t answer. We are meant to wrestle with the question. Society certainly should.
@@dsokoll9184 Cait, when talking to Jinx in the Jail, also says "our crimes", not "your crimes", admitting her own wrongs. Letting Vi release Jinx is her way of forgiving herself for her own crimes.
@@f1mbultyr that's such a good point! I would have loved more talking between Caitlyn and Jinx, as well as Jinx playing a more active role as a symbol of Zaun. Jinx attacking the council room and Piltover as a whole was for Silco, her father. Her final drastic act was in his name. While Caitlyn became this dictator for her mother, motivated by vengeance. They've both done horrible things in the name of those they loved. And like Caitlyn said, they can't be forgiven for their crimes.
Sky’s “No you won’t” hurts me so much
It's also like that she knows she isn't the one who can changes victor's mind (only jayce can) so she just agrees with it, just to be close to him. She's happy but also kind of with the tone in her voice of the "no you won't" disappointed she knows she can't do anything else.
viktor is losing his humanity with the next step in his evolution, and with it the potential to feel emotions, and the ability to "miss" people at all
@@shieldgenerator7yet the first thing he says after seeing Jayce, was that he was pleased to do so
I thought Sky was the void pretending to be her to nudge Viktor
@@nicolebanh3791I think they mean after going through what the doctor does, that his humanity may be harder to reach. And that proves to be true. ONLY Jace gets through, and only after so much damage
himerdinger knows he messed up, he went to the undercity after he was kicked out of the council, faced the reality of the situation, tried to help, failed. and then he met ekko, who gave him a role to play in doing some good for the people he was responsible, ekko gave himerdinger a chance to be a scientist once again, which redeems him (in my eyes at least), that's why it hits hard when he gives up his life to fix the machine in the end, and fades away, i really hope he isn't dead, and since there are more league of legends shows coming in the future i wish we can see more of him. that's it, i just wanted to talk about a moment i felt went underrated in this episode.
Yordles don't die permanently. He will respawn in Bandle City. Question is will he still have the memories from his alternate timeline self?
@@atomskthepirateking2776 That's assuming the alternate universe stuff wouldn't mess up with the respawning thing. I mean, hopefully he isn't dead, but the fact that he, Jayce, and Ekko were in the same place one moment and then tossed in completely different directions (Heimerdinger and Ekko the same universe, with Heimerdinger sent 3 years in the past from when Ekko joins him, and Jayce in a different universe in the future) I don't think we can fully trust that it wouldn't have influenced his immortality.
@@atomskthepirateking2776 this mends my heart a bit, thank you.
here's to me hoping heimerdinger comes back in the future shows like Stan Lee does in marvel films
@@atomskthepirateking2776 unfortunately, we don’t know if this Netflix show is taking into account LOL lore like that. A lot of Runeterra lore has already been debunked in the show. We just have to wait and see what shows are announced and who’s in it. One leak revealed a possible story of Powder travelling worlds to meet Vi. It sounds like WildRift tbh but could be the opportunity to us to see Heimerdinger again.
That charm you see spinning around, the flower, blue and white,
you can see the profiles of ekko and powder in it.
Additionally I read someone say it is a blue peonie which symbolizes unyielding love, and often symbolizes one sided affection as well cause he had a crush on her as a kid which is incredibly romantic
Stopp this is beautiful😭
Did you hear about the scenes Jinx and Ekko had? Where the aforementioned tells Jinx about Powder and the other reality, they had an intimate moment while they were painting and preparing for war. (Confirmed by the Co-Creator)
Likewise, in the minigame: "Jinx fixes everything" where it is also confirmed that Jinx went to the Firelights camp and the Tree, and mentions that she can't forget the way Ekko saw her on the bridge.
Or likewise in the ArtBook that tells Jinx's feelings, where these 2 characters are seen holding hands and Jinx drawing hearts on Ekko, or asking him to go on a date, or calling him Smart, etc.
They both loved each other a lot. Powder was the perfect contrast to the premise that JInx established. "There are no good versions of me" When there were, there were. Ekko realized this, through Powder, he realized that both were the same person under different experiences, and that loving one meant staying in love with another. That's why he chose her, his Jinx, that's why he escaped from heaven to save his beloved from hell. His own hell.
This love is beautiful. Because it is as impossible as it is possible, Jinx and Ekko would look great and even the animators, writers and the Co-Creator himself believe that.
So I refuse to accept: "In another life", because in this one it is also possible.
And she puts it away with the crystals in the end. She knows that pendant wasn't from the Ekko from her universe. That gutted me.
I cried so hard during the dance scene. That’s probably the most emotionally loaded dancing scene I have EVER seen
ikr, im never recovering from the emotional damage.
People will be dissecting and learning the lessons of this show for years to come. Truly a masterpiece.
6:19 it's very possible that Heimer played a big part in expanding education opportunities into Zaun in his 3 years time in that universe. That's how everyone is now in the academy and doing science project.
That would be really cool
Little sweet and fragile Ekko has grown up so much. He and Powder have perfectly parallel stories: a child with little self-confidence despite extraordinary latent potential, and who sinks into darkness after the loss of his adoptive father. Episode 7 is a pure masterpiece and at the same time the only moment where Ekko will be able to open his heart and find a little of this peace and this love which made him change. We see a more mature Ekko than ever, who will do anything to explain to Powder how special she is. Take advantage of seeing his adoptive father again to tell him how much he was his role model. He is also the only character in the series who knows how to talk to Jynx and the one she listens to: when he asks for her help to make his temporal convector, when she is determined to end her life, and also at the moment of the big finale where she moves forward to fulfill her dream of traveling to a new life, while leaving behind a part of herself. When Ekko goes back in time, his body remains marked with the injuries he suffered before his travels. He is the one who suffers even before the characters are aware of having carried out their actions: he suffers several explosions from Jynx's grenades to prevent him from ending his life. He is the one who suffers again and again, but who moves forward. And for the rescued, he had to make her realize that she had the possibility of starting her life again elsewhere. Except that for that, he would lose her again... It is indeed Ekko who bears the suffering of the world, so many times, and who will end up saving it while he will have at the same time borne everything and lost everything at the same time.
It is indeed Powder who is the main character of Arcane, but it is Ekko who is the real Hero.
You`re right in the "Ekko is the only one (aside from Silko) who knows how to talk to and listen to Jinx!" With all the reconciliation and never giving up on her, VI never found a way to actually listen to her sister, talk to her about their feelings. To be fair she hardly got a chance as well but notice how the two in Victors commune deliberate living there together yet barely talk about anything but Vander. SIlco and Ekko where really the only two people to actually really acknowledge that and how Jinx changed (even if for Ekko initially it was adversarial).
@ absolutly my friend :) Cant say it more effyciently. Arcane was a blast in my life. I really need to talk about it. Im glad u read all :) take care
There is a slight bit of hope that Ekko and Jinx could reunite in the future though. Necrit had a stream/video with Christian Linke and he talks about how Ekko seeing alt verse Powder showed him the good his verses Zaun and Jinx could achieve and more importantly Christian said in the video that he thinks "its worth continuing thier story forward". Which I am going to assume "thier" means Ekko and Jinx. Which seems to hint that Riot/Fortiche could have plans for Ekko and Jinx's story being continued in the future. So thier is a slither of hope that Arcane season 2 might not be the end to thier story.
@@smuggrog9821wasn't that the same interview that he also admitted there was a scene of ekko and jinx making amends after ekko talks her out of self ending?
The fact it was cut was criminal. She goes from her lowest point to ready to help vi and others again alongside ekko instantly and its jarring
I am so happy taht i'm not the only one who thinks Ekko is the real hero
Even though I dont think season 2 fit together as seamlessly as season 1 did (probably trying to do too much with the given 9 ep limit) the emotional impact and character work was in no way diminshed from it for me. I´d even say it hit me just as hard if not more. And epsiode 7 encapuslates all that. Just perfection to it´s core.
Honestly feel the same, maybe if there was 1 more act it would have time for everything to breathe more seemlessly as a whole. But EP7 was perfect, yes it slowed down the pace for some character work, but that was absolutely needed, and I think helped carry the emotional weight through EP9.
I think it’s completely an improvement. Season 1 was a lot of set up and asked the audience a lot of trust. It all depended on how season 2 delivered on those promises and loose ends of season 1. Season 1 looks solid _because_ season 2 delivered the goods. The disjointed nature of season 2 is because it’s all out war. It completely demonstrates the scattered mess of war. As someone who has survived two tours myself, it really connected. I think that adds to the Yin and Yang motif of Arcane.
If you noticed Powder's facial reaction. She knows what Ekko is doing. And in my opinion is not actually affected by the time loop. She actually is looking at Ekko while everything goes still. Also when she walked away, she was so sad. She knows something.
There is another reason why Episode 7 is so important in regard to Jinx / powder. It gives us a vision of the good side of Jinx. The side of her she keeps running from.
As she said to Vi "There is no good version of me" Then here comes Ekko stopping her from killing herself. She sees the moneys in his Z Drive.
I think Ekko tells Jinx about what he saw in that alternate universe. She learns that there Is indeed a good version of her. Powder!
So in the end as she falls with Warwick, she isn't sad, she isn't depressed. She smiles and caresses his face. She isn't Jinx any more, but Powder reborn.
Those scenes in Episode 7 plant the seed in our minds that this is Powder pulling the pin on that grenade, Not Jinx.
She let Jinx die and remained Power.
Jinx Died, but Powder survived.
Jinx also seem to notice the little monkey toys in the time device that AU Powder made. So yeah, episode 7 is a crucial lynch pin for Ekko saving Jinx for episode 9 at the beginning and her also having the will to survive at the end with the hints she escaped.
Unpopular opinion but I'm not fond of the way fandom talks about jinx vs powder. They are not two seperate people imo. There is even a new voice line from the newest lol skin for jinx that goes "jinx, powder? They were never that different anyway".
I think Ekko needed to spend some time with this powder in order to see how similar she is to jinx in many ways. It was probably hard to reconcile with. The whole "powder is dead, there's only jinx now" thing vi and ekko did was an attempt at convincing themselves and spare the hurt. We see jinx as she could have been with less trauma and a good support system. She still loves a spectacle, loves making grand entrances. She loves art and colors. She is a genious. She loves Vi and Vander. She has her snappy comebacks and teasing remarks and her silly humor. Surprisingly, she still makes a doll of her departed sibling as part of her grieving process.
She just wants to help like little powder, and never had that blow up in her face, so she still believes herself capable of it.
I think it's beautiful that we get to see this what-if version after act 2 jinx. And it is heartbreaking that it is followed up by act 3 jinx, who is so done and in so much pain. Jinx with isha and vi showed us that we don't have to jump dimensions to find a good version of her, she never left. Powder isn't dead or gone, she is jinx's past, the reason she is who she is now, and nobody can erase that. But "powder" just doesn't fit anymore, not after all the ways she changed, and that is her perception of herself. It is like illusion Silco said, we have this idea of ourselves that are sometimes rigid and untrue and limiting, and it informs our identity. But we are constantly changing and evolving every single day.
Ekko realised that maybe jinx was never lost to him, just like a better zaun was never impossible. He was just losing hope after so many years of failures and struggles, for which none can blame him. Seeing this world thrive was the spark he needed to get back up and continue fighting the good fight. It was this hope that allowed him to leave this happy world behind.
Jinx would have died if he hadn't returned, and viktor/ambessa would have won. It was his clarity from reconnecting with powder that allowed him to bridge the gap with jinx in ep 9, because again, they are not so different. She is the version who is tired of all her attempts to care and help ending in death and misery. She perceives herself to be incapable of good. So Ekko reignites a bit of hope in her with the right words, just like powder did for him in the other universe.
And perhaps Ekko's words to her recontextualised what Silco told her about "walking away". She thought she had to die to do so, but she realised she can accept the past and reach for something better, rebuild something new. Which ties into the little hints implying her survival and departure from piltover. She could've let herself die in the explosion, but she chose to find out what a new beginning had in store.
@@NoctilucaBloom That was quite the read and quite a nice perspective I might add.
You are right but you're coming from a 3rd person point of view. There is no real difference between Jinx and Powder.
You know that I know that.
My Statement was in regard to Jinx / Powders point of view.
Vi and Ekko were not the only ones to make a Distinction between Powder and Jinx.
She did herself, twice in the first Season. First time when Vi meet Powder again and she say's and I quote.
""Stop calling me that, Its Jinx now. Powder fell down a well!""
and again, with the tea Party where she sets out two chairs, One with Powder and one with Jinx.
Then again in Season two where she tells Isha She used to be named Power and says its stupid.
So, from even her own point of view these are two separate personas, were the Jinx persona won out over the Powder persona.
She likely viewed her existence as Powder over. Thru Isha and later with Vi helping to restore Vander. The Powder persona reemerges.
Likely when she was in that cell, she was peek jinx, fully convinced that everyone she gets close to dies. As Jinx she knew only Death as part of the cycle. So to stop the Cycle she had to die.
Again, believing that there was No good version of her. Powder is gone, and Jinx kills.
So now Ekko shows up right as she is trying to off herself and keeps stopping her.
She sees the Monkeys in the Z Drive and even thoe we don't see it.
I'm willing to bet he tells her how it was made. About this other version of herself that doesn't kill. Is ok just working at a bar and helping her friends out.
This Brings the Powder persona back.
and yes in the end battle what we are seeing is the merging of Power and Jinx.
until the last moment.
Were Jinx sacrifices herself to Save Vi, and Mercy kill Vander. Then Leaps away last minute to Walk away as Powder again.
So when I say Jinx Died, while Powder survived. It's from Jinx / Powders own perspective. Jinx just kills, so to break the cycle Jinx had to die. BUT!
Powder still has a future, a Purpose, a Life to live. Things to build. So while Jinx is dead, Powder can move on.
It is the death of the Persona. Like you pointed out, was Silco's entire point. :)
There is a scene of them reconciling right after the rooftop one. They just cut it from the show for whatever reason. It's around ten minutes or do i think
The monkeys is a reference to 12 monkeys, btw. I have not read that anywhere yet. It ended in a dark way, similar to how Arcane ended.
"A Wild Vander Appears."
They attempt to capture him in a giant Pokeball.
The "Good" universe I think turned out because of a large number of factors. Vi's death at the scene of crime shapes the councils view on Hextech so they never give it the go because instead of potential danger there was an actual death, also it shows Powder kept the stones so it's likely they assumed they were all lost in the explosion. Because of this there is no man hunt which causes Vander to turn himself in which then results in Silko double crossing them and taking over. Then Jinx in an attempt to help blowing them all up. Basically all the bad stuff that happens in the first 3 episodes which result in all the good influences in the undercity dying and thus resulting in the downward spiral. I also think since Silco and Vander knew Vi's mom that her death could have lead them them reconciling at the funeral or some other event.
It's basically the Butterfly effect in action where one change cascades into a completely different outcome as each event builds on the other.
No, it's all Jayce's fault because he was alive.
In the Good universe Jayce would have been locked up for the forbidden equipment and Viktor would have died of his condition instead of fusing with the hexcore. All the domino's fell in the opposite direction of the first 3 episodes
Yes! The double death of Vi and her mom would absolutely cause a complete change of approach to how Zaun operates. Vi’s burglary would become a cautionary tale, meaning no more mischief in Piltover and after seeing Vander’s flashback of Vi’s mom requesting him and Silco to “make this [Zaun] work for her [unborn Vi] sake” it really hits home how they would shift gears from being adversarial with Piltover to being more cooperative. And since Hextech never happened, Zaun’s technological progress had become a major asset, it flourished as a nation and was no longer seen as the slums but a viable place to live.
I also realized when Vi joins Caitlyns enforcement squad. They are literally walking a moral grey area. By using the GREY
On one hand - police brutality and chemical warfare...
On the other hand - it looked 🔥👌
😉
Episode 7 was easily my favourite. There was something so ethereal about the dance scene and the song choice and everything that I can't quite put words on.
The betrayal he felt when knowing that Jinx came to the very man that kills Benzo makes him antagonizes her, portraying her as some kind of villainess. But the way Ekko looked at Jinx after meeting Powder in the other universe- makes me think he just realized how lonely and broken she is all this time. It really hits me when Jinx said "It's too late, Ekko". Powder abandoned herself after Vi abandoned Powder. But if Ekko somehow approaches her in her lowest moment, could he save Powder?
It's also kind of funny how Ekko learned how to forgive Jinx from Silco out of all people.
In the deepest parts of his heart, Ekko still cared about Jinx/Powder. He just needed a spark to reignite that feeling. I think Ekko is the only one left that can get through to her, they both have been through so much and they know each other since they were kids, being raised together. They have a long history, and Ekko is probably the only one left that can understand her. I think if it would have been anyone else, he or she would have failed.
Did you hear about the scenes Jinx and Ekko had? Where the aforementioned tells Jinx about Powder and the other reality, they had an intimate moment while they were painting and preparing for war. (Confirmed by the Co-Creator)
Likewise, in the minigame: "Jinx fixes everything" where it is also confirmed that Jinx went to the Firelights camp and the Tree, and mentions that she can't forget the way Ekko saw her on the bridge.
Or likewise in the ArtBook that tells Jinx's feelings, where these 2 characters are seen holding hands and Jinx drawing hearts on Ekko, or asking him to go on a date, or calling him Smart, etc.
They both loved each other a lot. Powder was the perfect contrast to the premise that JInx established. "There are no good versions of me" When there were, there were. Ekko realized this, through Powder, he realized that both were the same person under different experiences, and that loving one meant staying in love with another. That's why he chose her, his Jinx, that's why he escaped from heaven to save his beloved from hell. His own hell.
This love is beautiful. Because it is as impossible as it is possible, Jinx and Ekko would look great and even the animators, writers and the Co-Creator himself believe that.
So I refuse to accept: "In another life", because in this one it is also possible.
@TipoIrritable Waouh, I love your interpretation. I also do believe there's a chance that in this universe too, Ekko and Jinx will come together at some point. They just have to make it possible !!!
I do hope that Fortiche would give us the chance to see timebomb clips that didn’t make it. Also probably, continue their story...
absolutely love this idea that the main thesis statement of arcane is that there are two sides to the same coin. it feels like that is ultimately what every relationship, every character arc, every conflict and ultimately the ending to the show is about. the conflict arises from an attempt to separate these two sides, but acceptance of this allows for resolution and harmony. order and chaos, fox and wolf, piltover and zaun, past and future, family and enemy, psychosis and sanity, hero and villain, life and death, betrayal and forgiveness, ambition and humility, idealism and nihilism. the ending of every character’s arc is ultimately about the marriage of these two sides of the coin - reconciling the past and future, self-acceptance, and breaking the cycle to embrace harmony and to move forward in the present. resolution comes from forgiveness and accepting differences - from crossing the bridge/the great divide. contrast and imperfections are what make something beautiful.
"In the pursuit of great, we failed to do good."
In their pursuit of great, bad actors sabotaged their ability to do good, more like.
Our Ekko deserves that universe he went to. In spite of that he knows he’s needed elsewhere. Hands down my favorite character of the show.
This scene is so powerful, because Arcane creators are devoted to basic principles of old school, Greek theater. Its about Catharsis. This episode release all built up emotions, and sets purpose for the final stand. You know, humanity comes from pieces of beautiful feelings, scattered through time. Ekko is such a stubborn character, fighting without having any second thoughts, because he is fueled by memories of different times.
Its empowering knowing and actually getting to experience better life for yourself, if the things have gone differently. It gives hope for a better tomorrow. It just clicks.
This episode… is the absolute most heart-wrenching experience despite how beautiful and peaceful it is. I could not stop crying after watching it, and I still can’t.
Feel the same bro. I have the song in my mind and I cried for the emotional evwry time I see...
The tragedy in “can we pretend like it’s the first time”… it’s not just about the kiss, but about the episode 7 as a whole, and then also about all the 2nd chances in S2.
Heimer might be the reason this alternate universe turned out like this. He might have paved the path to peace between Zaun and Piltover. Maybe he's the reason why they don't have fully developed hextech yet. Maybe he's relaxed and chill because he knows he did everything he could to protect everyone. At least I hope that's the case.
The alternate universe is the way that it is because of the incident that killed Vi. The incident probably caused Jayce to back out from hextech, either due to authorities forbidding him to work with those gems or because Jayce felt guilt.
As a viewer, Isha's sacrifice broke me. Ekko getting a day in a perfect world with undamaged Powder pieced me back together.
As soon as i saw it i knew it was the best episode. It is the greatest metaphor for what i think the point of the entire show is, "what could have been", its a recurring theme with so many characters and this is by the the best version.
I agree. It’s definitely the best episode period. I’m usually against multiverse stuff but they made it good.
The dance scene was one of the best scenes in the series. I was in tears to see Ekko and Powder getting to have a life untroubled by strife outside of their control. Even watching your clip had me in the feels again. Loved your take.
16:34 crying. i love the way that arcane can apply to real life
“enjoy the present moment… just be as you are and dance”
This was my favorite episode. Couldn’t believe when you said people didn’t like it. The weight of the decisions, the contrasts, the music and timing. It was a breath of what the people in the main timeline have been desiring/fighting for
Saw this episode 3 times, it’s probably one of the best episodes of television this year. Reminds me very much of the best episodes of Doctor Who
Reminded me of Ember Island Players (ATLA). A great breather before the big finale. Just enjoying life before we go back to an apocalyptic world.
Also there is a kiss between Aang and Katara.
Ekko's dance scene is the most beautiful scene I ever watched in a show. I cry like a baby every time Ekko says: "I got consumed by all the ways it wasn't. I gave up on you." And when Powder comforts him and kisses him.... woooaaaah!
@@MikrobizepsYeaaa same in all. Its so fucking beautifull all the scene in "the party" all the people how view ekko, how he talk with Silko, then the entrance of Powder with this song, and the view of his shoes (like the combat in t7 s1), the eye contact and we see this perfect powder, the dance in 4 FPS, how we see the love and all the words they said, after the kiss that ekko stop and said "sorry, can we pretend that is the first time?" Reinforce so fucking well her character, his relation with the time, and the fcking difficult is the contrast about his world and jinx and this world and powder. So beautifull. I cried every time...
This episode is the best Arcane episode. It has so many layers and it’s actually well thought out and paced. Here’s just an example: Powder’s keepsake is Yin and Yang.
In Powder’s drawer she had kept the blue stones as a reminder of Vi and the dangers of the gems. She was holding them to protect everyone from hexcore. She is the reason why there isn’t another Jayce-replacement trying to experiment and create hextech. This makes her helping Ekko way more valuable. He shown her the shards, she had a surprised face. She realized “oh crap. There were still shards.” That face said it all. But she didn’t overreact. She lived in the moment and helped him out anyway. Later on when she put away the spinning keepsake. She put it next to the shards (the reminder of Vi). Now she has reminders of two people she lost. Both representative of the progress of science. Yin and Yang. Destruction and Progress.
Episode 7 is my favorite episode by far. Chills from head to toe the whole time.
Ekko is arguably the strongest character. He always put his community first. He's also sacrificial in that way, but his determination to make the world a better place felt genuine. Not out of ego and perfection (embodied through Jayce and Viktor), and he didn't let his personal trauma deter his values (embodied through Vi, Jinx, and Caitlyn). Of course I wish Ekko had more screentime, but episode seven exuded so much love and hope, it was definitely a balm for all the wounds the series inflicted, lol. I love Ekko forever.
In all these Arcane episodes of philosophy, of heartbreak of horrors ... THIS one is not just my absolute favorite... THIS one made me cry 🥲🥲 Like for real not a tear in my eye, pause the episode and cry. And it`s the simplicity of the solution that made me cry. How does a Silco forgive Vander? He just decides he would like to and takes it step by step from there. How can Ekko be happy? He chooses to be happy and enjoys the moment when it happens. The way the dance is shot in 4 frames per second as if Ekko is trying to slow down time to revel in this moment of happiness... The only and most important task for Ekko is to be there with powder and be happy. And that simple thing is the most important thing he ever did for himself.
How in a sense for us in the real world to be happy, we need to stop chasing it and trust ourselves to find our way to happiness, that all we need to do is accept the happiness and enjoy it.
It`s so simple so why can`t we do it? We do we keep losing ourselves in these overcomplicated plans and schemes, worries and fear of not being happy when that is what`s stopping us from being happy 😔 ... I`m sorry I`m rambling but all that simplicity it made me really honestly emotionally cry. And I`m so very thankful to this wonderful show for giving me that and the writers for being clever, patient enough to make that point and trust us enough to not hammer it home but instead to give us this gentle slow experience 🥲
You actually made so much sense ❤ happiness...IS a choice. After all even here, powder could've lose it all after vi's death...one wrong step and she wouldve. But she didn't. She had a choice abd she saw it. Jinx had a choice but couldnt see it until the very end. Thats why.
@@DarkHarlequin I wonder where Piltover comes into this conversation on just FINDING happiness without needing to put others down. It seems they also found the answer in this alternative universe. It breaks my heart that VI died, but I think Marcus and Piltover as a whole, seeing how desperate children from Zaun were and a child dying due to these circumstances Piltover is responsible for, changed their perspective. Along with Heimindinger of course. Thus, the bridge becoming a free-Flowing point of connection between them and Zaun flourishing like it always should have. Forgiveness and understanding. Ekko learning that in an alternative universe saved our main one. Not just because of the time machine Powder and Heimindinger helped him invent, but forgiving Jinx/Powder there, helped him reach out to his Jinx and save her. I would kill to see the convo they had after that, there was probably a lot of talk about forgiveness and letting yourself be better😭.
From what I can tell, this episode seems to be widely beloved even by those who aren’t fond of the finale.
yeah, this season was bad but this episode was top
I think it is the most loved episode in general, unrelated to the final
definitely top 3 highest rated ep in the series
Why bad? Maybe you can enlighten me... I haven't seen a compelling argument yet. I think it's perfect and I've played LoL since season 1
@@hanyu_dada it's not bad in any universe, the only flaw was a fast pacing and cut content, which is excused by netflix being assholes as usual, but in the end it served to make the situation more dire and more captivating
if you want bad, there's a billion other endings you can go to, GoT and the like
i've been talking on reddit about how i don't think there is alternate worlds, but more the anomaly fabricating a world to trap each person pulled in. jayce getting hurt and stuck in the cave, ekko in his happy place he's always dreamed of. but ekko needed this in order to come and save the day.
So I have a secondary thought. I think Ekko and Powder represents us, the viewers, who wish they could go back in time or go to another universe and right all their wrongs whether it be with a dead family member, a lover, a friend, etc. To be able to play out a point in your life differently than how it ended up now. Ekko finally crossing over back into the current reality is us finally letting go of the past, accepting what has happened and looking forward to the future. I like your observations more though.
10:21 you can notice in that room everyone's breath is visible, indicating the place is cold, but victors follower doesnt have that breath, indicating they arent even alive anymore
Never gonna get the feeling of watching this scene for the first time again. Think that’s a testament to how emotional the pacing of episode 7 is.
Uff totaly true bro, I feel the same emotion. Is like i never gone live it again with no expectation or knowing of what is going to happen. I only remember that when Pow enter with the song, the shoes, the eye contact to Ekko was perfect, and moments after I beggin crying . Also the moment was not the perfect, but as the show learn, there is perfection and imperfection and we have to like and move steps forward, the time need to move in order to view this beautiful scenes :)
Pd: I was tipping this comment the first time and my phone was 0% battery so I think. I can not comment this, its the same that I feel so, for the second I was searching to comment it again haha
There's one line that has been been repeating in my mind for this season.
"I think you're confusing peace with quiet." - Ultron
I think it's pretty hinted that Powder did know. She knew smtg was off with this Ekko. And during their final scenes, I think Ekko wanted her to know he's from a different world. One where Powder and Ekko are no longer friends. Which makes the, "can we just pretend...'' scene more bittersweet for me. Powder never even judged him ONCE. My heart. Powder showed him what could be ''I've never seen you give up on anything, Ekko'' and Ekko took that wholeheartedly and went back to Jinx, HIS Powder.
That's what gets me the most, she definitely knew something was off, and yet, she never questioned his words or his actions once, she could have freaked out or inquire what was going on, etc but she didn't. And during Ekko's most vulnerable state -- when he asks her to pretend like it's the first time -- she comforts him and acknowledges his request because se deeply cares about him too.
This show is something else, huh?
Very well put.
On a first watch, it seems like this episode is contrasting the hell that Jayce sees (what cannot be) with the 'perfect' world in which Ekko and Heimerdinger see (what can be). On reflection, I'm now seeing it to be a contrast of two visions for what the 'perfect' world looks like. The imagery used at the top Viktor's world is peaceful; quiet. In episode 9 when everyone is connected via the golden threads, without the context that could easily be seen as a victory. Peace brought to a conflict ridden world. We see through Jayce's eyes what lies beneath the surface of this apparent perfection.
On the other hand, the show makes it clear that in the 'perfect' world, the negative has not been banished. Vi is dead in this world. If this is a vision of the perfect, why would that include the grief that comes along with death?
Viktor optimized the suffering out of existence, but in so doing took away the essence of existence itself.
I just realized after rewatching the scene where Ekko saves Jinx from offing herself, after all her attempts she finally looks at the time-loop device he has and notices the little cymbal-beating monkeys. It feels like somehow she understands that she had something to do with the machine since the monkeys are her trademark. So even while not knowing he went on some multiverse shit, she has proof that somehow her tech can be used to also save lives, not just destroy.
Excellent video btw!
As hard as it was to leave AUPowder i believe that she was also a great pillar of strength that convinced Ekko to go back and continue the fight. I'm a firm believer that throughout the episode AUPowder realizes that this isn't her Ekko and yet she still actively chooses to trust him, to help him, and in a great display of affection to ultimately love him as if he was her own Ekko. This gives Ekko the hope and strength he needed to trust his universes' Jinx/Powder. He moves on from the past and chooses to love her in the present, whatever/whoever she decides to do/be.
The amount of emotional intelligence AUPowder shows by deciphering clues to Ekko's true identity and to then choose the best course of actions honestly left me in shock and awe of such an intelligent and caring character.
Sorry about the rant, i know its not really relevant to the video but this is all i can think about when watching the dance scene.
Great insight! I agree! She was a source of strength. I would say she became a “goal worth fighting for,” meaning breaking thru to her during her many explosive self-delete attempts.
That is what ultimately really hit me as well: AU Powder's emotional intelligence. She deduced what was going on and knew Ekko wasn't really her Ekko, but she still went along with it anyway because she loves helping people out, she not only helped him, but reassured and showed affection towards him, giving him that extra spark that he desperately needed.
It's so poetic and beautiful. This episode is easily one of the best in Arcane imo.
The beginning of the scene has a little visual detail I like. When the dance starts, Powder is introduced with her boots walking into frame. This is a callback to when Jinx is first introduced in season 1 episode 4. Before she fights the firelights in that scene, the camera focuses on her boots walking into frame before it shows her full face and body. For added effect, Ekko was one of the firelights she was fighting in that scene. Her boots even make the same movement in both scenes. However, instead of her being a crazy person of horrible destruction, she is healthier and happier. Just a nice mirroring of what could have been.
Absolutely loved this. I think another implication of this scene and i personally wish we had more screen time to let that sink in was when ekko saves jinx and then she sees the monkeys. Ekko having seen what powder could have been can give her the piece of mind that she is not broken as a person, that there is a good version of her because he LIVED it. I’m sure that’s what makes her change her mind and possibly walk away from all the cycles she’s been stuck in to start new somewhere else. I think independently of if she survived or not, ekko showing her that freed jinx from a big burden.
Did you hear about the scenes Jinx and Ekko had? Where the aforementioned tells Jinx about Powder and the other reality, they had an intimate moment while they were painting and preparing for war. (Confirmed by the Co-Creator)
Likewise, in the minigame: "Jinx fixes everything" where it is also confirmed that Jinx went to the Firelights camp and the Tree, and mentions that she can't forget the way Ekko saw her on the bridge.
Or likewise in the ArtBook that tells Jinx's feelings, where these 2 characters are seen holding hands and Jinx drawing hearts on Ekko, or asking him to go on a date, or calling him Smart, etc.
They both loved each other a lot. Powder was the perfect contrast to the premise that JInx established. "There are no good versions of me" When there were, there were. Ekko realized this, through Powder, he realized that both were the same person under different experiences, and that loving one meant staying in love with another. That's why he chose her, his Jinx, that's why he escaped from heaven to save his beloved from hell. His own hell.
This love is beautiful. Because it is as impossible as it is possible, Jinx and Ekko would look great and even the animators, writers and the Co-Creator himself believe that.
So I refuse to accept: "In another life", because in this one it is also possible.
I will watch all of the analises I can find of this scene.
Same.
3 Days, nothing but Arcane content.$
I refuse to stop until Fortiche/Riot give us a new show.
Same, I cried all the times I see the dance and the song
im cooking something up for you then lol
And apparently I will cry every time
this
This episode has lived rent free in my head ever since it aired
This episode was just the pinnacle of sheer emotional story telling. Definitely one of my most favorite episodes of all time. Had me in an emotional chokehold for dayyssssss
She puts a memento from Ekko that spins backwards and forwards beside the bag of whole crystals in a drawer labelled "Vi". She's going on a rescue mission!
Now there's an interesting idea
She has the hex crystals and Ekko's notes. Not to mention the machine is probably still intact. That would be interesting indeed.
@@Pandamonium626 the machine is destroyed when he teleport
i interpreted that as closing the chapter there for good. Powder keeps the hex crystals with vi's mural because she realized the dangers of hextech and thought it should die with her. Similarly, she was trying to give our ekko the necklace, but he leaves before she had a chance, so now she's keeping the necklace with the hex crystals. which also solidifies that she knows our ekko and au ekko are different. So she's keeping it in the drawer because he's "gone" now
@@arycogito I don't think so, i think they have shown use the crystal to know it's possible for her to actually create the same device
Vander also told her in the episode to do greater thing than just staying at the bar
I mean Jinx whole personality is to create stuff so
Having come from twitter where there are very engaging, introspective posts those conversations they were drowned out by many people who did not understood what they watched so this is a refreshing perspective (and very detailed and interesting, enjoyed it a lot). I don't mean what I said as if people don't like arcane = they did not understand it but I've seen a lot of people who did not pick up on a lot of the nuanced (and in some cases more obvious) storytelling in this episode and S02 in general.
i can understand having issues with s2, because its not perfect like s1
but people on twitter go too far and i always wind up wondering
"did you even watch the show" because people really just say the craziest things and ignore basically everything about the story
whether its because they care about their favs more than the work as a whole, or because they just cant understand the narrative and see things black/white, its just super dissapointing to me that these people are fans of the show yet flat out dont get it
"My best ennemy is you, Flee me,
the worst is you and me"
Stromae & Pomme deserves the higher praise for this song.... I don't understand they haven't subtitled it (Maybe because I'm french but theirs wasn't a translation of the song that is PERFECT for the scene )
Not only a very good video, but the way you explained it was very enjoyable to hear, like it matches the tranquility of episode 7.
Ah thanks!
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thinks that Powder knew to an extent. You're thoughts on it are almost identical to mine: she understands fundamentally that it's not the Ekko she knows, but that's really where the understanding ends. Perhaps she knows that something went wrong in his timeline? Maybe even with that timeline's version of her? And that's why she imparts all this extremely profound wisdom on him?
Organizing my thoughts on this episode feels like an impossible task. This video certainly didn't help me do just that, but I'm glad that I'm not the only one who is going on this mind-exploding thought experiment. The best episode in Season 2. As close to flawless as anything can possibly be. But is it better than Season 1 episode 3? I go back and forth. But wow, what a powerful episode. That "what if?" idea is always so tragic when done this way. I quite literally can't stop thinking about it.
Episode 7 is my favorite of the entire show. Everything about this episode is perfect.
I enjoyed this video and your analysis. I’d add that the theme you articulate is represented in their dance in this episode: coming together and breaking apart, a mutuality and reciprocity that finds form in their dance, a dance that is beautiful because they learn to read each other, to anticipate and respond. Here we find the dao that finds unity in difference without resolving one for the other. Jinx asks Ecko where he learned ‘those moves and he responds with, ‘I was following your lead’. This harmony requires learning when to set aside ego (a kind of forgiveness) in service of a collective (the dance).
I loved this episode because it's also a curtain call from the players of Season 1. We got to say goodbye to them before the series finale.
This episode (at least, the part without poor Jayce) is such a cleanser. Powder was seriously smart: she definitely had an idea of what was going on. I like how Ekko later says to Jinx exasperatedly "Everything has to be a dance with you!". To my mind, the one tiny flaw of this episode is that Isha could have been given a valedictory cameo ;-)
One of if not my favorite episode of the series! We finally get Jayce’s perspective and we get some of the most heartwarming moments with Ekko!
Basically community, cooperation and the anarchist / solarpunk revolution
Powder knew that why she puts the necklace in the drawer she knew
The fact that this was followed by watching someone try to fly with grenadine, i just broke down... so many feelings
For me episode 7 of season 2 summed up everything that arcane was about & explained every single motive throughout the whole show…..what could have been.
Heimer probably didn't just do music in the other world. I think a big reason why that world turned out so much better was because he was there for almost 4 years and knowing what's going to happen in the world in the future, he would've definitely done a lot as the founder of the city.
Silco brushes it off as him willing to forgive Vander, but I feel like that only happened after Heimer gave Zaun its independence. It's also a big shoutout to Silco's character because we now know that he really was in it for Zaun. His goal was always Zaun and when his dream became reality, he didn't try to chase power and just accepted the happy end.
Good call, Heimer being in the other dimension for a few years 3.5 or 4 years allows him yo slowly craft peace, mediate, give zaun and piltover more chances to succeed, stop Green of the top side and aid in education of the under city. Perhaps?
Plus with Vi dying it is a brutal sacrifice where maybe Jayce walks away from hextech, Vander turns himself in and serves time. Silco is a community leader perhaps too.
And Powder does every thing to try to be happy for two people she carries on wanted to be happy knowing that her sister is gone and perhaps Powder is thinking in the dimension that her spirit of Vi wants her to happy so she pushing on but we see her grieve for her sister by visiting her alter 😢😮
But also great observation that perhaps Heimer shapes a good timeline in the 2nd dimension. 👏🏾
Loved this episode. Get goosebumps from every clip. I can’t shake the thought though, about how it goes wrong there too given what victor says to Jayce. In every timeline Jayce’s is the one showing victor the right path. And then there’s the bag of hex crystals in the VI drawer we see at the end…
I hadn't considered that. In my mind, Viktor was dead in that timeline because there was no hextech to save him, now I'm not so sure
Yeah I thought it was hinted that Powder might discover hextech in that timeline, because of the crystals and Vander telling her she wasn’t reaching her potential, plus the progress she made with Ekko and Heimerdinger.
@@Meraxes6 exactly. It might be echo and Heimer that nudged the events in a way that brought things along. That isn’t to say though that everything goes wrong just that at some point Jayce helps Victor to not go too far down the wrong path
I think it’s completely the opposite of what some of you in the thread are saying. Zaun found their own way to make progress without the stones. As you can see they’re still intact in the drawer. Powder saved the world by never allowing Hextech to be a thing when she decided to hide the stones in there. Remember, Jayce was working illegally in his room. Nobody knew wtf he was working on. That’s what made the heist in S1 so important. Ekko’s tip was S-tier opportunity and he didn’t even know it. He just thought they were going to steal some good junk. Run-in-the-mill job. Once the accident happened: everything changed. We all know Powder’s personality. Once she had a first hand experience of what those stones do she looked at it like a curse and that’s why she stole them and hid them away. Without having a direct hand in the accident, Powder didn’t blame herself so she was able to make a very solid decision and was able to move on. I think this show is really good at creating rules for personalities and letting those rules dictate how the characters act.
@@MerlinTheCommenter so in what way did Jayce show Victor that “perfection is only the end of pursuit” etc. in this timeline? Perhaps it was trivial and with no catastrophic event avoided I do t know. But it seemed that stakes were high and that victor giving Jayce te first stone was vital for all timelines
7:23 viktor needs to hear this
Episode 7 may be my favourite episode of any series ever. I was in tears by the end
Honestly don’t know if I was just high but this episode was one of the best episodes of tv I’ve ever seen. It absolutely made me feel regardless if I wanted to or not. This added so much depth to not just the main characters but some side characters. Amazing
This analysis is beautiful. Your passion for the show is clearly apparent and this video helps me process my own feelings about it better. Thanks for making ✌️
Maaaan I loved this ep, my favourite of season 2 and possible the series. Your description nails one aspect, and reminds me of a video essay I saw on the train scene from Spirited Away and the importance of letting a story 'breathe'.
First time an animated series hits me this much. Especially this episode 7 that made me cry and sob for long minutes. Couldn't quite put words on why I found it so beautiful. And I was hurting a lot (again first time in my 26 yo life I grieve fictional characters, powerful writing from this show) for a day or two. It seems crazy to me to be in that emotional state over drawn characters lol.
THIS VIDEO relieved something in me. There's words to give sense to that episode now and it feels like I've learnt something. So thanks a lot for taking the time to break this masterpiece down.
Truly a beautiful show. Love to all the artists that gave life to this magnificent story.
13:44 "rigid visions on the blurry people we truly are"
I'm adding it to my quote book
Really hit the right spot
Amazing video analysis. I feel that this video and this comment section discuss exactly the topics I've been wanting to hear about since watching this fantastic episode.
this scene/episode or s2 in general got me crying straight for a day, i think this video is what i needed right now
well done I cried again
seriously you really grasped the episodes' essence
11:30 to invoke Avengers: Age of Ultron- Viktor confuses “peace” with “quiet.”
There is grace in humanity’s failings, and a thing isn’t beautiful because it lasts.
in an alternate timeline, ultron gets all the infinity stones and succeeds in wiping out all of life in the universe. and then its very, very quiet
While I somewhat agree, I also think people take this sentiment too far.
Afterall, it's hard to consider there to be any beauty whatsoever in humanity's failings... when you personally are facing a human enemy actively exterminating you and your people.
Likewise, is there anything beautiful in the follies of Man that allows a slaver to brand another human being like cattle?
@@DreamersOfRealityThe impulse that leads a slaver to brand his fellow man is the same impulse that leads Viktor to wipe out the planet without meaning to- it’s the urge to subjugate, to *suppress* humanity, flaws and merits alike, in service of some vision of a more controlled human condition.
Human nature is self-defeating and oxymoronic, and those parts of it are often disgusting and condemnable. And yet so much of that condemnable behavior is born out of a misguided want to change that very nature.
It’s a toughie, this human condition.
thank you for making this breakdown for us, i always think the whole Arcane's thing is much much deeper than we think... I think I'm going to watch once again.
You really said it here. Harmony despite differences. There's so much duality in this show, the yin and yang, the dance of opposites being made whole together. Which is distinctly different from the uniformity Viktor creates. It all makes sense now why the creators chose him to be the final villain.
Completely out of topic, but is nobody gonna talk about the s*x scene on E8? Yes, the scene is so strong, but what it symbolizes, I think, is much stronger. In S1, Cait meets Vi first time in the prison cell, and Cait frees Vi. In S2, Vi frees Jinx, but Vi gets stuck in the prison cell again. Later, Cait COMES IN to the cell, and then they decide to make love INSIDE the cell. It's the complete cycle of their love journey between Vi and Cait. But furthermore, Cait explains she "allowed" Vi to free Jinx by moving all the guards to the hexgate, knowing that's what Vi would do behind her back. It shows Cait also decided to forgive and trust Jinx just as she decided to trust Vi by freeing her in S1. It's not just a simple s*x scene. It's a confirmation scene where Vi, Jinx, and Cait all reconciled with each other. A genius and powerful way to show the beginning of "breaking the cycle".
True, great insight. I would have missed that.
i love hearing people's insights into this show, there's so much stuff like this i just don't catch on my own
It happens at a time where Jinx clearly alluded to suicide, which proves Jinx was right Caitlyn being Vi's replacement for Powder
This was my favourite scene EVER, right next to the Ekko vs Jinx fight in season 1
You don't know me, and I've only seen a couple of your videos.
But this one somehow changed my perspective on a conflict I've been having with someone for an extremely long time.
"The absence of conflict is not peace." That really stuck with me and made me think. And I thank you for that.
I look forward to more of your content. I appreciate it more than you realize.
Ahh that's really nice of you to say, thanks! It's such a simple idea, really, resolving conflict. So much harder to do than to say, but always, always a really important thing
I think this also give Ekko, the time related person, a chance to realize he doesn’t need to rush out of things and teaches him to slow down and not jump to any one conclusion. Teaching him to take him time to analyze situations on a deeper level and even find it in himself to forgive or at least reach out to Jinx. They also had a kind of touching and flashbacky fight on the bridge recalling a moment where they would play as kids and if you remember nobody really gave her the time of day back then, but it appears Ekko did. It was not very often we saw Powder smiling and laughing, but when they showed the flashback fight as kids, she looked genuinely happy, especially foreshadowing her skills as a marksman
this episode is my FAVORITE of the entire season 2 !! Thanks for talking about it (:
One thing about that universe's powder: its not just that she needs to grow, its that she is still consumed by grief over Vi and doesnt let herself achieve things on her own, she diminishes herself, focus singularly in helping other people while neglecting herself. She is brilliant but she doesnt even participates on the competition, only helps Ekko with HIS project. And if they do continue exploring this Powder like they implied in the end of the episode, thats going to be a great thing to explore
Think this is the only episode of the season I wouldn't fundamentally change in some way
This was my favorite episode this season
What a great video! I just love Arcane!❤