I love the idea that Powder had always been looking into “the void” as you say, always teetering on the edge of overwhelming emotions only to be comforted by Vi. It’s so good at planting the seed that would become her eventual downfall
I hate Vi soo much...in the game she is ciop who puches people and then asks questions while puching some more....police brutality its finest...also she saw her sister almost DIE on the bridge...if Silco wouldnt have saved her she would have been dead,....and what Vi did? she didnt even shed a tear...she went f**king her new girlfriend....I could never...I have seen my mentally unstable psychotic lil sister try to commit suicide and I was losing my damn mind...I didnt even think about my boyfriend all I could think is that I have so save her , I cried and screamed , Silco loves Jinx way more , he did everything he could to help her...they dont have many options in Zaun but Silco loved Jinx more than Vi ever could, yes it was f*cked up love but thats Zaun.... Vander was a horrible leader, he was ready to have his people poisoned and oppressed while doing absolutely nothing...I come from a country that was oppressed and massacred by more powerful country and people like Vander didnt help us get our freedom :D It was people like Silco who were ready to fight
@@yasiegonlastie5483 I mean, Vi clearly wants to protect her sister, but she's just bad at it? All she knows is how to punch the bad guys away, whenever a different problem happens she panics. She even said it herself, "..then a real monster showed up, and I just ran away." can't even argue with them. they basically just stated what happened in the show. Doesn't mean that Vi is evil or anything, but she still failed Jinx multiple times and this comment is probably more akin to what Jinx's perspective is like.
@@Mendoxs_ I dont think thats how Jinx thinks of Vi, she clearly loves her sister to pieces, but Vi is still that little girl who lost her family while Jinx grew up. I think Jinx sees Caitlyn how Vi sees Silco ''If only you werent here, I would have my sister back''
I really like your analysis! Vi is a parentified child who was put in an almost impossible situation. Too much responsibility to put on someone who was also a child. She's damned if she does and damned if she doesn't. Even if she had done everything "correctly," Jinx has a lot of unresolved mental health issues that she does not have the tools to solve (and there are no mental health services in Zaun). Vander also placed too much responsibility on her when he said if things go wrong, it's on her. We see how she internalises this and how it impacts her throughout the series. I do, however, feel like fans place all the blame on Vi to the point where it diminishes Jinx's agency. Would be interested in hearing your analysis on Caitlyn.
See i love that you mention agency, thats such an underrated theme in this story in my opinion. Totally hear you, this show is so complex, and Vi and Jinx are both fascinating characters that each deserve an objective look. Thanks so much for watching and for your comment, I'll be getting that Caitlyn video done soon! :D
I get that she has a lot of responsibility on her, but realistically you dont need to be a full grown adult to make bad, life changing decisions. One easy example would be if Powder couldnt make the jump. Vi was there to catch her at the last second, but if she didnt, Powder could have died because she was urged to follow. It would be two parts, Powder not being old enough or athletic enough and Vi's leadership putting them in that situation. That was the point of Vander's discussion with her. If you are taking the lead, you have to consider what may happen under your command. Jinx knows the explosion is her fault, that's why, even years later, she blames herself despite the fact that she "just wanted to help", the corpses haunt her. Powder caused multiple deaths in her family, undoubtedly. Vi was understandably horrified. But the moment Vi decided to turn her back on her sister, was the moment she actively removed Powder from her responsibility. Powder's actions left the sisters orphaned again, but Vi's actions left them both alone and separated.
@@Xxx-dh3bg I think when talking about this scene we forget that Vi left for less than a minute and Silco swept in, then Marcus took Vi. She told Powder to stay home, Powder chose not to. They both made mistakes but neither are at fault for being separated.
@@Xxx-dh3bgSee, Vi never turned her back on Powder. She went to calm down because she realised she hurt Powder and was too angry. She was drugged and arrested before she could come back. That's not "betraying" or "turning her back" on Powder and it says a lot that you think it is
It's not the thought of a reunion with Powder that kept Vi alive in jail. The last thing she saw in episode 3 is Silco, the man who said he would kill her whole family, standing next to Powder with a knife in his hand. She thought he killed her (she even tells Cait in episode 6 that she believed her sister died). What kept her going is revenge. Her hate for Silco is blinding Vi. That's why she can't understand Jinx or compromise with the council, Jayce or even Caitlyn. I'm looking forward to your Sevika analysis.
Tnx.. At last.. I found someone who really watched the show.. and didn't talk about stupid things.. So we know that he can really speak although it was nonsense.. tnz for letting me know ppl like me still exist.
Not really. If Vi actually had so much thirst for revenge and hate against Silco like you're saying, she would've tried to turn Jinx against him at the tea party. Let's not forget that Silco was masked and tied. And Jinx was hella angry on him for supposedly "lying" to him. If Vi was so revengeful against him, I'd at least expect her to say something hateful against him. But all that time at the tea party, she didn't utter a single word to turn Jinx against him. She only tried to be with her sister. She even wanted to leave Piltover/Zaun with her.
i mean if she was looking for silco and not jinx, she would've immediately gone to get him. the proof cait brought to her in jail, was quite clear that powder is still alive and hence the painting in the proof. but she goes to the brothel first to ask for her sister, then she goes to sevika to ask for powder "where's my sister? where is he keeping her?" NOT "where is he? i want revenge." when sevika tells her, powder is jinx now, and she's like silco's daughter. she doesn't immediately believe that either, she's like, maybe she's alive and doing well, maybe its a part of a plan she doesn't know, she doesn't understand how powder would go with someone who is indirectly responsible for killing mylo, claggor and vander.
@@wiseversa135that's not what I gathered from op. He's saying her hatred that she felt ALL THESE YEARS is blinding her. Not that she's after him or that her real motive is revenge instead of her sister. The moment she got a hint that her sister was alive, that was ALL she thought about. I 100% believe she was ready to move on with her and not seek revenge. But that doesn't change the FEELINGS he has! She hates the guy. She hates him so much in fact she's unwilling to even accept the fact that at the point she came back, he's a big part of her sister's life and she can't just tell her (let's get out of here ) and expect her to cry from joy and accept. She refuses the notion that he maybe someone that can do good to the city (I know he's a king pin) and gain independence (something she DREAMED of as kid) he's the moster in her story and she's unwilling to see that even thou that's VALID for her to feel. He's not a monster in jinx's story.
Vi's story, and Arcane as a whole is an amazing take on a Greek tragedy. Just with Vi alone, she is a person of importance and oustanding personal qualities who falls into disaster both through her own personal failings, and through circumstances beyond her control. Vi wanted to see Powder again, to keep her safe, to go back to her, but beyond her own temper, everyone else around her just kept pulling her apart from her sister, until finally, the political game between Jayce and Silco accidentally set things past the point of no return for Powder. Man I love Arcane... Amazing analysis!
Vi's character has made such an impact on me personally. Seeing not only the in-story characters turn her into a scapegoat for everything that goes wrong, but some of the audience as well, breaks my heart.
I dont understand people who blame her. Like, she's a fricking TEENAGER. She just nearly all of her family for the second time in not even a decade, and her little sister, whom she loves but has had to carry and protect and make excuses for for far too long is basically the one responsible. Even an adult would snap in that situation. She was a child. And she had enough control and love for Powder to walk away to cool off as to not hurt her further. She didnt abandon Powder. Its very understandable why Jinx would think that is what happened, but as an audience who sees everything happening, they should know better
I don't think people hate her as a character thou... Did her action ( poorly thought out ) have consequences? Yes, they did. The saying the road to hell is built on good intentions is perfect for her. I actually think that people have such different reactions as a testament to the show's high quality writing! People and real life stories are often multidimensional and complex and have different moving part that different people resonate with! No one is right or wrong to feel what they feel. To love or to hate a character is not an indicator of the morality of the character and its actions. I would even say people who hate vi and her character are a reflection of the hate Vi has towards herself. And the audience that felt that, may have a tendency to be hard on themselves but that's purely speculation on my part. But that's the fun of arcane!! God I love this show so much.
@@saranaila5905 hm, maybe it's a bit too harsh to say "road to hell" applying to her. In the grand scheme of things, she has very little blood on her hands compared to Jinx, Silco or even Jayce. Yeah, she does do some bad things. Leaving Powder, though understandable, was one of them. But I think the "hate" her character gets is a bit disproportionate, ESPECIALLY considering she is one of the few who fully acknowledges it was her fault and doesn't even try to excuse it with an ends justify the means BS. I would go to say that despite - or maybe because? - of her flaws, she is one of the most "good" (in terms of alignment) characters of season 1.
@@thomasmann4536 well yeah, I totally agree with that. I don't think many people can say she's a bad written character (they would be simply dead wrong). She's a well written character and she objectively has a good goal of getting her sister to safety. But people's emotions relate to themselves and also their ideals. Someone can say she's a great character to the show but I can't like her as a person. Not because of anything "wrong" she did. It's the same with real life people some People you simply don't like or are frustrated by her. However actually trying to paint her as the worst person ever, or straight up hating on her is...well not very mindful, not very demure 🤣. I just love it when people have different views on the characters! It's so interesting how everyone has their own interpretation of the SAME events. It speaks volumes on how people process stories and events.
@@saranaila5905 absolutely. my hot take is that Silco is not nearly as much of a "good" (morally speaking) person as most people make him out. I think he's way more sinister than ppl say ;)
Vander taught Vi Responsibility when she needed protection and so Vi protected Powder when she needed responsiblity, she never prepared her for the day when she have to fight her monsters on her own.
21:16 I don't think Caitlyn was ever on a path of violence to begin with. Caitlyn became an enforcer for a possible number of reasons. She's always wanted to earn her own way. She grows frustrated and offended when something is given to her she feels she didn't earn. Caitlyn does not want to be sheltered and coddled by her parents. She may have looked up to Grayson during their competitive outings but Grayson asks her, "What are you shooting for?". At this point, she doesn't really know. It seems clear by Act 2 and the events that lead to Grayson's death, Caitlyn has decided that she wants to protect the people of Piltover. When Vi is stabbed by Savika, Caitlyn does NOT shoot to kill. She shoots to protect Vi. Caitlyn has proven that she is an excellent shot and could very easily have put one right between Savika's eyes if she wanted. Caitlyn gives up her gun to save Vi because, yes, she has grown to trust Vi but she is also there for the crystal and Jinx and knows that she can't do it alone. That said, the situation was desperate and time was of the essence. Caitlyn did not have time to think about what else she may have on her to trade. Coming from the most wealthy family in Piltover, she probably doesn't even know the concept of haggling. All she knew was that Vi was bleeding out and her rifle was the most valuable possession she had to trade. Caitlyn's growth stems from breaking out of her naive and sheltered world-view, seeing first hand just how bad things are for the people of Undercity but also how Piltover, the city of progress, has neglected and failed the people of Undercity. Undercity is a shithole but more specifically, it is Piltover's shithole and that has been the status quo for decades.
It really matters nothing. We always reason our own choices into being "good actually," it's one of the foundational aspects to properly understanding psychological phenomenology. What matters is the outcome of our choices. There are plenty of ways in which she could have "earned her own way" without resorting to enabling a Fascistic ideology, the concept, on which Piltover is founded despite having few to none of the markers that we put under the label 'fascism.' Any person born and raised in a society of Fascistic ideology will grow up to think that the Fascistic ideology is "good actually " if they never see alternatives. While violence is an explicit tool of Fascistic ideology in Europe the police use violence as a means to do their job. The Enforcers use it as the sole method of doing their job. There's nothing 'police' about them, they're state-sponsored terrorists by another name. By joining up with them Caitlyn embraces that ideology even though she she reasons it away to be something else because she's been raised to believe the kind of order that the Enforcers stand for is good. This whole "You can lie with the dogs without waking up with fleas"# is the pure brain rot of Centrist ideology. To paraphrase, "If there are ten people at a table and one of them says something from Fascistic ideology and no one pushes back against it then there are ten people at the table embracing Fascistic ideology." How they change their beliefs later is called 'growth of character' and has nothing to do with their initial reasoning. If anything, they should be able to reflect on who they were and come to the realisation that version of them was horrible, or else they'll just become that person again under the right stimulus.
@@nielsjensen4185 Except Caitlyn was evidently unaware of how the enforcers operated and the system as a whole that kept Piltover prosperous. She's been sheltered her whole life. Even when she joined law enforcement, her mother made sure that her station was mostly ceremonial, guarding her parents' tent at the Progress Day fare and, assumably, other menial tasks as to keep her out of harm's way. This is clear when she begins investigating the attack on the airship and visits Stillwater Prison to question Lok. It is here she learns that the warden is a sadistic asshat, inmates like Vi are locked away, repeatedly abused physically and, in Vi's case, doesn't even have a file or record of her crimes. She learns from Vi that many enforcers are on the take. Whether she believes that or not doesn't really take shape till she's confronted by Marcus on the bridge in Act 3. Caitlyn may not be innocent by directly benefiting from Piltover's system of rule but she's certainly naive of it's methods. She learns directly through Vi just how bad things are.
I like to think a gun/rifle is to an enforcer what a lightsaber is to a jedi. Cait basically gave up her life to save Vi's but in doing so ended up saving the both of them. Because had she wasted what valuable time they had left hesitating or trying to think of an alternative, she certainly would've met her end when Silco arrived like what's a single rifle gonna do against three shimmer enhanced ghoulish addicts? This further cements their relationship a sturdy one and I can't wait for more of their awe inspiring dynamics in s2 as soon as we're able to pick ourselves up from the wreckage we become cuz of the angst😭😭
Yeah, I don't think it can be understated just how much it would mess someone up. Having someone defend you after every hateful thing that people say about you and be there in every moment, just to have them turn around and say everyone was right.
Man, sorry, not sorry. Fuck jinx, this is all her fault. Dude just stay in place for a few hours. Thats all they asking. But no. Lets get friendly fire on and get everyone killed. And then people surprised when vi instults her. Like what, You kill my friends and fuck my life, but I CANT CALL YOU JINX ONCEEE
You're talking like there is no context, like Vi didn't witness the death of her two best friends and the person that she consider like her father. Bffr
I’m glad that someone you really dive deep into this character. The amount of hate Vi gets is so undeserved. Maybe it’s because she reminds me so much of myself, but she had so much put on her at such a young age and the burdens she carries is unfortunately her undoing. As an older sister I can understand where she comes from. I feel like her trauma is overlooked when compared to Jinx, who is also a victim.
Yes ahhh exactly! It’s odd when people assume not entirely dumping all over one of these sisters means you’re villainizing the other. Like, it’s looking at the whole situation and taking all the perspectives into account to get to the root of the problem/story and it’s REALLY FUN TO DO LOL! It’s so much more complex, I’m a younger sister, so I can totally hear you with your older sister experience. Love Arcane for that.
The truly wild thing is how many people Blame VI and also treat Silco like he's just some quirky stepdad trying his best, and not the emotionally abusive child murderer that gaslit one sister into trying to murder the other that he actually is.
@@LG-lk5es I watched arcane for the first time a few weeks ago 🫣🫣 and she was instantly my favourite character, and then going down a RUclips arcane rabbit hole and finding so many people hating on her and then absolutely adoring Jinx really baffled me ngl😂 Vi is my beloved and I just want to give her a big bear hug
I just wish Vi had chosen a different word to call Powder. A numbskull, a fool, clumsy. But by calling her a Jinx, she did create what she’d become. She validated what Mylo said even if it was unintentional.
But it makes sense, she said it exactly because Mylo established that cuss word already.. Didn't think clearly and triggered her trauma, which is when you can say quite horrible things, you think way too fast about everything that has happened long term I should know 🥴
But if she had the chance, Vi would have come back and apologized. However, if she did, Silco would have killed them both because Marcus saved them in a twisted way.
I think, while she immediately regretted it, she said "jinx" specifically to hurt her, bc she was hurt. She quickly realized her mistake, but it was intentional
I love Vi so so much. Hoping more than anything that s2 focuses more on Vi, and what shes been/ is going through. Her struggles aren't talked about nearly enough.
I'm glad to see people analysis both characters rather to put blame on someone. Both of them grown in place where you can not be soft and no one cares for your feelings so you're copying
V has martyr style of leadership where she feels that all of the weight of the struggle should fall on her in an attempt to shield others. This style is an egotic one despite its seemingly pure nature as it both a) infantiles all their followers by denying them any self-agency and responsibility and b) denjes their followers the ability to grow into their own competency which you touched on with Powder.
It’s such a tragic backfire for her, I really wonder where they’ll take this method next season. Thank you for watching, Raven, always great to read your comments!
@@lydiscott Thank you. I like your work. As a former military NCO I've seen a lot of leadership styles, good, bad, and indifferent. V's style comes from a combination of inexperience and idealism. If I were to make the call, I'd place her in a number two position to an experienced and slightly cyncial leader to learn the other side of the coin before leading anyone herself. Alas, if there's one thing that tragedy reinforces, it's the lesson that neglecting the nuturing of talent pays dividends of lost opportunities and regret.
@@lydiscottmy take is that she will try this same focus with Caitlyn and will fail again. She will carry the weight of what Jynx does and try to fix everything for Caitlyn, but she won’t be able to do it. Then, she will have to learn to let others help her and protect her too when she gets depressed and touches rock bottom. Is very interesting that in the first look of Jynx and Vi is mirrored and Jynx is protecting Vi, Jynx is holding her. So, I think Vi will be held and helped maybe by her or Caitlyn later. It looks kind of unsettling and I wonder what it means, because Vi has like her eyes completely open while she is being held by Jynx. Probably she is going to feel weird but end up accepting that help that others can give her… and not just being her protecting.
I wanted to disagree with you but Vi was the one that kicked the balcony door down impatiently while milo was trying to pick the lock. Hence as you said sort of infantilizing him. Vi had much to learn..becuase in comparison when milo was picking the lock on vanders chains..vander didnt allow milo to panic he encouraged him and milo was able to get his adoptive father out. *starts to cry becuase of what happens afterwards*
Great video. Always love a good Vi analysis. She's my favourite personally. I just really empathize with her struggle. She's always (mostly) tried to do what she feels is right even at the cost of her own wellbeing. I hope she gets some well deserved catharsis by the end of season 2. She's been through so much Most other characters in the show appear to be aligned one way or another towards Zaun or Piltover. But Vi is the one, more than any other I think, whose personal struggle has her caught between Zaun and Piltover. She is the bridge between both cities in a way. She's always being put in a position where her actions are taken as her picking a side, Piltover or Zaun. The injustice being that she shouldn't have to pick a side at all. She shouldn't have to pick between Caitlyn and Jinx. But She's caught trying to balance this and it just seems to be tearing at her. It's just tragic. Would love to see more vids about other Arcane characters :)
Same!! Genuinely can't understand why ppl hate and blame her sm. She's my favorite, she's a tragedy. Feels like everyone forgets she was also a kid, as deserving of empathy as Powder.
I kind of disagree. Vi doesn't want to be a bridge between the two cities. Vi in the most part of the show is not taking politics into consideration whatsoever. Vi is from the undercity and she at one point loved her home so much she was "ready" to fight for it. She has absolutely no loyalty to piltover. But as we see her grow up she also grew separate from Zaun. She only cares about her sister, she's willing to leave the mess Zaun AND piltover behind for her sister. it's not that she doesn't care anymore but more like the girl is spent. She cannot afford to care about politics but at the same time she can't afford NOT caring. And THAT'S what's tearing her apart. She gave piltover jinx's name and painted her a target after all she went thru in jail. Because she wasn't THINKING of the political significance of that move. She went to Zaun and destroyed a shimmer factory out of pure spite WITHOUT thinking how those actions would put her city on a political scale. She was single-minded in her pursuit of jinx and she wasn't LIVING with the people around her in their reality which is SHAPED by politics with which her actions have a direct effect.
@@saranaila5905 You missed the point I'm making. "Vi doesn't want to be a bridge between the two cities." I never said that she wanted to be a bridge. It was a metaphorical statement. It's not about the politics, it's about the relationships. She is one of the few people in the show who has a relationship with people from both Zaun and Piltover. She cares about her sister, and over time she comes to care about Caitlyn. Two individuals who are the opposite ends of the spectrum, so to speak. "Vi is from the undercity and she at one point loved her home so much she was "ready" to fight for it. She has absolutely no loyalty to piltover." Yes, when she was a still a child, and Vander impressed upon her the potential consequences of letting her anger guide her actions. Hence why she decided to give herself up at the time. In the present, being stuck between not wanting any harm to happen to Jinx AND Caitlyn has nothing to do with loyalty to Piltover either. Caitlyn and Jinx are inevitably becoming people who will have a significant impact in their respective worlds, and Vi is the person who links them together for better or worse. The rest of your comment is just not really relevant to what my point is. It's not about loyalty to any one side. Vi hates the enforcers and Piltover, but Caitlyn is an example to her that there might be some people up there who can be decent people. And the home she loved can also turn into something sinister and unrecognizable with Shimmer and Silco. But there's also Ekko fighting the good fight, and still enforcers are jerks overall. It's all a mess, and Vi's just trying to hold on to the few things she still has any connection to. It just so happens that two of those things are people on opposite sides. That is the tragedy, but also perhaps the hope. How does Vi's relationship and love for both Jinx and Caitlyn affect the outcome of the story. That's the point of the "bridge" metaphor. It'll get worse before it gets better, but what a ride it will be.
@@danc1513 well from Ur comment I understood it to be talking about the cities and their politics and didn't get that by saying "cities" and "piltover" you really ment just Cait. Much like I said vi doesn't take Into consideration the political consequences of her actions. Thou I think I understand better after you explained it, I totally agree that vi finds herself a singular link between the people up top and under, and she's suffering for it. Much like the literal bridge that place saw some shit 😅. I don't know how things will get better for her if she stays in that position though but at the same time she'll suffer if she's not also. Poor vi can't catch a break. I'm someone who cares a lot about the political narrative of the plot of arcane and I already have a side to support, not that I think the other side should suffer. I can't help support the underdog(hound?) 😅. Thou I appreciate the reply it did clarify your meaning for me.
This video was amazing. The tea party analysis gave me chills because the part where Vi kept reminding Jinx of the past and how it was actually hurting Jinx (which in turn makes Silco desperate to kill Vi) was rarely ever brought up from other youtubers that I've watched. Overall this made me more excited for Season 2, thank you!
I recognize that, objectively, most of Vi's actions are understandable. But I would lie if I said I didn't feel a little bit satisfied when Jinx destroyed all hope for a rekindling at the end of Season 1
Great analysis! One thing that's become increasingly clear to me as I rewatch this season is that whatever illness Powder's suffering from, Vi has it too. It's a lot more subtle because she's been allowed to self-regulate in ways powder wasn't, but the clearest sign is that she hallucinates too. It's clever, they frame it as through tropes to make it seem like a narrative device, but she really sees her mother and Powder in that building, she really sees Vander in the Last Drop.
I disagree that they suffer from the same thing. First we have to remember Powder in the opening was shown to have some symptoms on the bridge when Vander took them in. We see flashes of creepy (monster) faces on an enforcers face mask as he shoots a Zaunite down, and we see flashes of the eyes crossed out of a dead man in the same style that would later be more prevalent with Jinx's mentality. Also the camera turns on her eye level to look at her after acting as her perspective. This is all, as far as we know, without physical trauma (simply the mental trauma of seeing all that death for both Vi and Powder, but we can see Powder's brain interacting with it differently with these flashes we see more when she's Jinx). Every time we see Vi have hallucinations its during times that would induce hallucination's in even those without mental illnesses that would cause hallucinations. Seeing mom and Powder at her old family home is blood loss (Sevika stab). Significant blood loss can lead to delirium. Delirium is a state of mental confusion characterized by changes in cognition, attention, and awareness. When the body loses a significant amount of blood, it can result in reduced oxygen delivery to the brain, which can lead to cognitive impairment and confusion. In cases of severe blood loss, the brain may not receive enough oxygen and nutrients to function properly, leading to symptoms such as confusion, disorientation, agitation, and even hallucinations. Lets not forget Seeing Vander in episode 9 it was both extensive head trauma (from fighting Sevika) and DRINKING (VERY dangerous mix). Something we know we will see more next season with hallucinations specifically again linked to drinking and fighting (which is purposeful). All occurring with exterior issues inducing it. This is more like posttraumatic delirium from TBI. The typical symptoms shown are restlessness, confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, agitation, and delusions. Delirium occurs by the effect of injury on brain tissue chemicals. These usually aren't permanent though if severe an injury enough could lead to something more permanent and even death. Alcohol hallucinosis, like alcohol paranoia, can develop during heavy drinking or more frequently within a few days or weeks of the cessation of drinking. Both tend to go away with time though can be permanent depending on severity. So both fighting and drinking at once. Then the show illustrates it differently for Vi and Powder. Vi is coming back to her childhood home after years in prison. Seeing powder all over the house is more like the show giving us a view into her memories. Vi’s visions have that typical “memory”/“imagination” vibe. Jinx’s have a very eerie specific style and the visions kind of attack her and she fights with them, shoots at them, ACTUALLY back and forth argues with them, and tells them to shut up. The show paints them as distortions of her ability to perceive reality when she’s wide awake and physically well. For Vi, they happen when she’s passing out, almost like dreams. Psychosis refers to a collection of symptoms that affect the mind, where there has been some loss of contact with reality. What's real and what's in their head. Will she undergo some form of alcoholic/alcohol withdrawal hallucinations (both are a thing that can happen)... possibly! And it seems so from Annecy, but the question is, will she be just seeing them or will she perceive them as part of reality? If the latter then it would be psychosis, though it would be an induced form of it. As of now, I would not characterize her as someone with neurological psychosis like I believe with Jinx. The only time she interacts with them is when delirious from blood loss which would cause that as mentioned. (This is not to say that people experiencing psychosis for whatever reason don't ever realize it or can't be logical [in fact to them they are very logical, but in the confines of their delusions]. Anyway, many are or can be aware their psychotic, but either spiral into delusion and paranoia preventing them from allowing there brains to apply logic [like realizing the voices aren't muffled when covering ears] or realize they've experienced a episode AFTER the fact and not during. During they believe and interact). So Vi has experienced hallucinations but they've all been in instances where they're connected to physical events (not just mental or emotional and nothing more, but real world contact related) and actions that WOULD induce hallucinations. She does seem to experience something like auditory PTSD on the bridge SPECIFICALLY. I don't know if that suggests hallucinations or a narrative technique to remind the audience what happened there (her trauma) and tell us what she's thinking/feeling. It helps explain why she wants to go back for Jinx without exposition in episode 7 and why she wants to fight Piltover in Act 1. Instead of just using dialogue we can have both reasonings related to loss and to Vi talking about feeling lesser than Piltover without clunky lines. It’s a common thing in TV and movies that doesn’t necessarily suggest psychosis or hallucinations (for example Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Kraglin sees his mentor Yondu despite him being dead when he needed inspiration most. It's the same as Vi seeing Vander). Anyways hallucinations are common among many different illnesses including illnesses/conditions that induce hallucinations instead of being naturally apart of how the specific mind works (basically not always a brain condition which are usually the more permanent and severe versions). I don't think they have the same thing besides maybe both having a form of PTSD, but beyond that they work very differently. I think its important to recognize the different illnesses without grouping them together since there's such a wide variety. I just think its a reach especially since it has zero connection to her LoL base whereas crazy talking to guns and inanimate things (there or not) has always been Jinx. Plus Vi has been so heavy attached in show to things that would cause hallucinations and that she isn't interacting with them in a psychosis way where as Jinx has them despite not having shown signs of physical reasons like Vi was. They have been very purposeful in how they show these things so I don't think they are doing it this way for no reason. (This all is not to say Jinx has no grasp on reality or it's a constant never ending thing for her. Episode 4 and especially 5 she wasn't normal but obviously she wasn't as bad as when she knew of Vi's return. It is regular due to stressors [which is often due to stress and guilt], but it obviously was at a really bad point episode 6 and on due to the SEVERITY of the mental stressors [Vi, her mistake, rejection, enforcers, and lies are her big ones]. Anyway I'm saying Jinx's more heavily psychologically arisen without physical reasons where Vi is heavy connected to physical reasons which is a huge difference in how they are characterized and what they go through.)
Eh I still think they have the same thing. Mental illness is often genetic & their psychosis appearing differently doesn't automatically make it different, and I do believe it's on purpose they're the only 2 characters in the show who hallucinate.
@@pugisherpug4366 It's pretty clear to me, as I've experienced the following "ilness" (don't worry, I've been to therapy and no longer deal with it), that we're speaking about a dissociative identity disorder or DID (at least regarding Powder, VI proly not ), formerly known as multiple personality disorder. DID is an identity disorder arising from unprocessed childhood trauma; due to the childs mind not being able to properly contextualize traumatic events (which is perfectly exemplified by the opening scene, in which powder is unable to understand the situation at hand), including, but not limited to, war, physical abuse, emotional neglect or loss of loved ones (perfectly fits the sisters past), get supressed. It's sometimes reffered to as childhood PTSD, being caused by similar triggers. In most cases of DID, the traumatic event was experienced before puberty. That would fit Powder perfectly. In addition, DID is characterised by it causing auditory and visual halucinations as well as headaches and seizures, commonly manifesting in seperate personality states or identities. Said symptoms are often reinstated or intensified when being confronted with triggering, emotionally intense scenarios, often resembling past traumatic events (That'd of course fit 1. the scene in which Jinx fights against a Firelight resembling VI 2. Her first experiment with the Hex-Core 3. Her psychotic breakdown in the final scene). The fraction of the childs identity serves to contextualize and supress the effects of traumatic events (tucking them away, so to speak), as the patient is unable to deal with the emotional burden. Jinx is, as follows, a protection mechanism; she contextualizes her sisters betrayal, is oblivious of past traumatic events (or, at least, tries to supress them) and acts as a way for powder to partially compensate for her dependency on VI. Secondly, her hearing Mylo would also serve as a contextualization and compensation of deceased relatives and her emotional links to them. As to why I think that them sharing these is unlikely: 1. From a purely narrative-driven perspective, it simply wouldn't sit right 2. VI was able (or had to) confront and understand her trauma immediatly, as is seen in her emotional reaction to her parents death. Most traumatic events that happened to VI (at least those we are aware of, like her prison stay), happened when she was cognitively mature enough to process/internalize them otherwise. However, the last trailer possibly suggests otherwise, with VI slipping into a seperate identity. It's possible that she is experiencing a partial DID in a non-obsessive form. But only time will tell. Sry for any spelling issues, I'm not a native speaker.
Thank you for this wonderful character analysis on Vi. I think that taking Vi's action towards Powder as a protection of her own innocence serves to demonstrate exactly how misaligned Vi's words of comfort to Jinx are. Vi tries to make it okay within her warped perspective. Therefore missing the signs that the methods of care she tries to provide Jinx are misguided and painful. They come across more as methods Vi could use to soothe herself with, than methods to be applied to Jinx and her situation now. With this externalized perspective of innocence, Vi can provide Powder care she cannot afford herself. So, when that care is rejected there is a more personal sting to that wound. Hopefully, in time they will each see the other as they are now and not who they wish each of them to be. About Jinx becoming a warped version of the protector Powder saw in Vi, I think that point is well demonstrated by the role Jinx takes in the Enemy music video in association with Powder. Powder at first mimicked the actions of violence that Vi was teaching all of the Zaunite children for protection before finding what that version of protection meant for Powder's skills and creativity. Another good example of this is Jinx's attempt to surpass Vi's score in the arcade they went to as children. When attaching the idea of Vi as that protector to be strived for, it only leaves hurt and frustration as Jinx's skills don't transfer to effectiveness in the same arena and a longing for the comfort that successful protection provided to Powder. Powder is trying to craft a persona that can protect herself but due to that warped version of Vi's protection at its core that's where key troubles in her development come. Before Jinx with Silco's guidance expands the idea of what that violent protection of Powder can be. I think another aspect of the tragedy of Arcane's ending is the misconception each sister holds about the other going into that final dinner table conversation. The warped perspective of who each sister wants the other to be does not live up to the reality of the growth Jinx has undergone and the relic of another time that Vi has become in prison. It is so heartbreaking to see that disconnect between the sisters play out in real time "But, you changed too" Thank you, this character analysis has given me so much to think about while waiting for season 2!!!
I can't help but thing that Vi is definitely responsible for Powders' inability to rationalize certain actions/outcomes. She was sheltered, sheltered from the horrors that Vi herself should have never endured. Vi wanted her sister to feel safe and protected but in that attempt help to nuture the very thing that Powder becomes. Though Vi throughout her young life she didn't have someone to look over her, it was just her and Vander . She overburdened herself with being "the stronger one" that protector and in doing so conditioned herself to become stronger physically and mentally for others and herself. We could even say there is a Nature vs Nurture debate happening here to some degree. There is a lot of theory in Arcane especially about the rabbit, which I have some thoughts on. Looking forward to some more Arcane character in depths and the second season as well! 😄 👻
I LOVE THIS! And I would love to hear your thoughts on the bunny! I’ve heard some really interesting theories about it, and considering how deep the writing goes on this show I don’t think they’re out of the realm of possibilityyyy ahhh lol
Comments like this are very frustrating bc it seems everyone magically forgets Silco and how he basically spent the rest of his life raising Jinx from her young age to that of a teen.
Vi's vision of Vander is like a scar; she may be more durable for having it, but it's still a clear sign of past damage. I kinda hope to see more peculiar strengths born of trauma in Season 2
Vi & Jinx are my favorite fictional relationship of all time. It's such an emotionally and heart wrenching dramatic experience to witness their sisterhood. It reminds me so much of a lo of more general family dynamics of learning to accept each other for your flaws and differences but it's all blown to to an extraordinary scale with PTSD, deep seated psych trauma, and mental health issues that are so obviously created as a result of the horrible lives they've had to lead.. is such a window into our own lives... so many layers... i have such luv for this show
A child is a child, but an 11 year old could start making decisions that could ruin their life. Vi is definitely young, around 15, learning she could possibly be responsible for bad things that can happen, but its true. What if Vi lead Powder to the edge, but Powder couldnt make the jump? I understand it is hard to think about a child being told this, but if one wants to lead, it is important to know this. If Vi wants to take charge, Vi needs to know the weight of her decisions
That is very interesting that children in the UnderCity, the City that makes Piltover the City of Progress possible resemble children in the beginning of the 20th century and end of the 19th century, there is Silent black & white footage of children during that time where they seem to act and dress in a much older way, as if they had to grow up earlier, due to poverty and lack of child labour laws among other things, it is just an observation I noticed. Vi is tragic,but I actually think Vander gets kind of a pass for his part in raising Vi & Powder. Yes Vander did have an important role in the Undercity but he concentrated most of the parenting and free time with Vi. Sure giving her sound advice,but leaving it up to her to take care of the rest but most of all Powder, who also needed a Father figure.We only see Vander in one scene with Powder and there did not seem to be much of a connection compared to her sister Vi. Vander enabled Vi's Parental rol towards her sister. Sure Vi put Powder into situations that were dangerous, and encouraged Powder's bomb making. But Yah Vander did have a part to play, I did notice how Powder changed Silco, it was subtle at first sure,but she completely changed his whole philosophy of do anything to achieve for Powder and your ultimate goal. In the end Silco could not give up Powder for the life of of him, even when he had everything he and Vander ever wanted. He understood his brother. Too late perhaps,but the fact he did change because of Powder shows how she changed him. Where Vi is tied all into it is she became a threat to Silco not because he could take down his empire, No. But she was the only person who could take away his daughter, Silco like Powder had abandonment issues and Silco never got over his. His fear of being alone drove him to lie to Powder about Vi. The bigger problem by the very end was both Vi & Silco love Powder, Vi though has been missing for 8 years,Marcus lied to Silco, so both Powder and Silco believed Vi abandoned Powder. So much time has past Vi could not have known that memories of the past, were trigger words that set off her PTSD, Silco did. It was made clear earlier in the show Powder confided in Silco. I feel sorry for Vi but also Powder and even understood where Silco was coming from. Vi did not understand the Powder she knew was gone,yes if Caitlyn's timing was different things could have gone better for Vi, but Cait has awful timing. Though even though I knew Powder loved Silco too, I knew she would on instinct protect Vi. Had no doubt, which made Silco's death scene so tragic for Powder because that was it, the moment I think Powder died. After Silco comforted Powder instead of berate her for shooting him "don't cry,your perfect" hit so much because this time he did say Jinx is perfect but you're perfect". The look in Powder's eyes changed. You could see Powder die on the inside and when she stood up and walked to the Jinx chair. Vi at least tried to understand what just happened was a huge moment for her sister. "It's Ok,We're be Ok". it was done. Vi's relationship with her sister had changed forever. It is so tragic for Vi,because you see where she was coming from being in prison so long and not understanding fully the trauma Powder has been through and how different she processed the loss of they're family compared to Vi. Honestly I was sad for all three of them. Each character was written so....human,
Its so devestating how Mylo told powder she was a Jinx, and Vi tells her sister that he is wrong. And then she later reverses that, what she once told her sister was a lie, she now appears to believe it too
I have decided to watch Arcane because of your videos on Cyberpunk being so good. I kept putting it off but now I’ll check back on these videos after I finish season 1.
One extra nuance I’d like to add is that it’s implied that either one or both of Vi and Powder’s parents were drug addicts. We can infer this from the fact that they lived down in the depths of the undercity where all the other addicts go before their parents died and Vander adopted them. This probably played a huge role in why Vi had to step up to raise Powder, their parents just weren’t in a position to do that.
I wonder tho, would Vi on the bridge hate Vi the Enforser from season 2... Also what is interesting is that before she leaves to save Vander, Vi gives Powder her bunny toy as she was finally able to bring it down. And at the very end of the series, at the mad tea party - you can see Valdiani gadget as soon as Vi opens her eyes. It was in the bag Powder trew in the water while she escaped, which means she herself was finally able to bring it back, her own version of the "bunny" - a symbol of her weakness. 27:00 she kept both the bunny and the flare in that box
I loved your take about Vi and Jinx relationship. I never thought about Powder being completely ok with who she is until the end, and the fact that Vi was in prision was like being on the past too much. So they're in differente pages or even books. They might grew up together at first, but later they grew apart without losing the love and care for one another, but Jinx, after being "fully loved and accepted" by her new father figure knows that there are people who are willing to love her exactly as she is. And I think we're gonna see that in season 2. Which will make Vi have an identity crisis even more... Poor girls, i can't with their story! it's too tragic 😭
I think that was a really interesting analysis. Vi is my favourite character in arcane & i think she, like all the characters in arcane, is so nuanced & well written there are many ways to view her intentions & actions at every point in the story. In a nutshell i have always seen vi as being unconditionally protective & feels overwhelmingly responsible for powder's happiness & wellbeing. Jinx is actually like a whole different person & a very real threat & enemy of powder. So much so that vi feels she has to literally defeat jinx in order to get her sister powder back. I can't wait to see how it all pans out in S2. Thanks for a great video SBS.
Part of her pain came from nostalgia, which if you look at the root word means pain. She was nostalgic about a past life she detested, because her family and friends were there along with her. She despised Sevika for her betrayal and only wanted to run away with Powder because she's the only thing she has left but Powder or Jinx doesn't want to run away with her at all. Vi has rose tinted glasses on an idea of Zaun, but not the reality of it. The Zaun she remembers was a tight knit community where everyone shared the same struggles, the reality was that it was rife with crime and youth violence, but she thought her version was the real Zaun. It's why Vi told Jinx to think about their family while she was having a mental breakdown, not knowing that remembered them only amplified her sister's pain.
This exactly, she's very stuck in the past and wants to just return to familiarity. In the new season we see her room as a pit fighter and it's essentially a replica of her cell. It's insulating and stagnant, and I can't wait to see how she changes in s2 :3
I love your analysis and discussion of symbols. I never noticed the connection of the cloud tattoos and the torch. I did note some stuff with the rabbit but I didn’t notice she brought it to her stand-off at the end. Fundamentally Vi doesn’t understand Jinx and so she denies who she has become and that’s why she isn’t able to reach her. I do not think despite what Jinx said she can ever really go back to Powder. The symbol of the rabbit being locked away showing me that Jinx also abandoned her innocence even while she tried to cling onto its memory. Silco while I think he greatly failed Jinx in helping her process her grief and mental issues did truly accept her for who she was and did give her stability. I think however for season 2 I don’t believe Vi in the trailer saying that her sister is gone. It’s still VI’s wish deep down to be with her sister. I believe she joins Caitlin in an attempt to save Jinx but she fails, leading to it appearing Jinx dies which causes a fallout with Caitlin. Without Jinx/Powder Vi has lost the only thing that was still driving her and so she becomes a pit fighter and alcoholic falling apart crushed by the immeasurable guilt she feels that led to this. I think perhaps then she might be able to understand her sister’s madness more and I think ultimately accept Jinx as her sister. I think Jinx too may change, not only seeing her sister falling apart, but becoming the hope of Zahn. Those two will finally unite, though I wonder if they will stay together in the end.
Do you think Vi will have her "grow up" moment? Jinx had it at the table scene, Vi was having it when she was turning herself in in the first act but she was interrupted by Vander and now she is kind of stalling
I’m wondering if she will, and I’m concerned it may either involve her sacrificing herself again (though fully this time) or taking out jinx, but HMMMMMM it’s a noggin spinner for sure!!!
i don't rly see it as jinx's "grown up" moment tbh, it honestly seemed like the opposite. she is regressing more and more into the darkness and leaning more and more into extremes, instead of realizing that her black and white mindset is inaccurate. THAT would be her actually growing up. her saying "i thought... maybe you could love me like you used to" is the very opposite of growing up, bc if jinx had actually grown up, she'd understand that vi literally DOES love her like she used to. that's the whole point.
@@juniper1350Vi doesn't love her, Vi loves Powder, she finally understood that and grow up, get rid of her mindset of always looking for protection and validation.
@@juniper1350 yes "grow up" wasn't really the right word choice, I meant more like she stopped being codependent and found herself, even if herself is a psycho sadly
I understand both sisters' sides but I sympathize with Vi more. The minute her parents died she had to become an adult for Powder's sake. They had Vander but Powder lend on Vi more than him. Vi wasn't allowed to make mistakes because if something happens while her siblings were in her care it all falls on her. She had to take the blame for someone else's mistake which isn't fair and ended up shaping her mentality. Marcus was right for doing it because Silco went there to kill Vi if she had went there he would have killed her and Powder since she only went with him because she had no one and thought Vi abandoned her. What killed me even more is that no matter how many times Vi tried to get to Jinx something kept happening that prevented her from doing so. First it was Ekko and then it was constantly Caitlyn. It made Vi look like a liar in Jinx's eyes. I also can't blame Vi for trying to get the old Powder back. Jinx is killing people for no reason and is mentally unwell Vi wants the best for her and this life isn't it. Sadly, Silco indented in Jinx's mind that Powder is weak while Jinx is her best self. Powder never got a chance to grow into herself the minute Vi left she had to be Jinx to be able to survive Zuan.
Vi's parents were lost and stopped her from getting to have a childhood, while Caitlyn's parents hover constantly and refuse to let her reach adulthood. A very interesting contrast
24:50 At this point in the video my heart's now all fluttery and wacko that I kid you not I feel like Vi falling in love with Caitlyn for the first time. Man that Kiramman girl is the best thing to happen to Vi since her and her sister's birth with no doubt
Someone give this girl unconditional love and support i feel sad for Vi. She didn't had Silco or even right to walk where she wants and was constantly beaten in Jail. Imo Vi has more right to have psychosis than Powder
Ah, I am looking forward to your nuanced take on Arcane. It is a series worthy of your talents. As for the bunny, if you want to see just how far the rabbit hole (pun intended) you can go with its symbolism check out my other beloved channel for story analysis schee's Grand United Bunny Theory video.
Good evening 🌃. I fan of arcane and vi and caitlyn. Everyone have great day and next day and week and weekend and next week and full happiness 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊.
I have been both Vi and Powder, and my most recent again girlfriend, college sweetheart, is my Caitlyn…we’re working things out. But the monster I had to become to protect my innocence isn’t compatible with the sincerity in her fostering nature. Thus I have to actually kill and grieve for a part of me, part I’ve used to survive for my 30+ years, and relearn how to love and trust without expectation. This show was too masterfully done💜🙌🏾🙏🏾✊🏾
I think in simpler terms. Vi is beginning to be forced to choose between something she longs to protect, and something she wants to be protected with. She will have to chose between her past, Powder/Jinx, or her future, Caitlin
pleasee make an character analysis on mai zenin (i would recommend reading the manga if you want to though because a lot more of her character is in there)
I feel like it's a little (more) inappropriate how some people choose to forget Vi was herself still a child forced to grow up prematurely and become a surrogate mother to her own younger sister and hold her solely responsible for "what she did to" Powder. She was a child, why are we holding her to an unrealistic, perfect standard of having everything figured out, while excusing and justifying everything Powder/Jinx did and does. They're both human, flawed characters and that is the beauty of a well written story. You don't need to hate on a character if you like another. I sympathise with people who find themselves in Jinx/Powder, it's great when we can relate and find representation in a character - it helps us find others like us and we feel less alone. But the exact same can be said for Vi - there are a great number of people, myself included, which can relate to her struggles of having to grow up faster, see and do things she shouldn't have had to at her age, while a younger sibling was sheltered and could experience their innocence longer. Holding the older (but still a child!!) sibling accountable and blaming them for making mistakes that a well adjusted adult maybe wouldn't have is unrealistic. Vi was a child, she was doing her best with what she could. So I'll say it again: people don't need to hate on Vi to like Jinx/Powder, the opposite is also true - they are both flawed, human-like, well written characters. Let's enjoy a well written story :)
I can't totally agree with you about VI's childhood. She did have to grow up too soon, but I think she had to grow up early independently of Vander. Because the girls parents were drug addicts; Vi had to care for powder, to protect her from their parent's addiction and then their death. If I had 1 criticism of Vander: it would be that he focused most of his parental guidance on Vi. His attention is split on the people direcrly under him and the Capo of his foster children. If Vander thought about his value for his kids, Vi might've been captured by the enforcers and then kidnapped by Silco and we would've had a completely different end to the first act. Where Vi had to face Vander's Demon, and Vander would have to rally 3 little bugbears to save Vi.
@@candleofmylife environmental/context clues. act 2 episode 6, when Caitlyn and Vi take Refuge in the slums and Vi immediately picks a Ramshackle hut, she's familiar with the place. She sees all kinds of visions of chibi Powder crawling around sleeping in the hammock and the crayon drawings on the wall. It's implied that her parents and them lived down there with the rest of the shimmer users; perhaps they didn't use shimmer, but they did something unsavory down there. They're brought to a Riot on the bridge where their parents died, subtract parent points for taking your kids to a Riot. When Vi talks about games she'd play with Powder; Vi wanted to avoid waking their parents. admittedly that's a little weak cause parents tend to want 8 hours before they have to wake up. I also question why they have anime hair colors and I kind of think it has something to do with prenatal drug use. Like I don't think there are any young people from piltover with Neon Pink, Blue, and White hair. I think it naturally comes out that color
You know what i wonder? Does Jinx know that Vi didnt actually abandon her. That she was going to come back after coming back to her senses but Marcus arrested her. Does Jinx know that or not?
Vi's story is a tragedy, she had a normal reaction to a very abnormal situation, and it ruined her relationahip with Powder (of course this is also Silco's fault for causing this to begin with, and in a way Marcus for not letting her go back, but both Vi and Jinx think its on Vi and so thats what matters) Its painfully sad, as an older sister i very quickly came to understand Vi and forgive what she did, but thats just it isnt it? Its not up to the viewer to forgive Vi, its up to Jinx, amd the end of season 1 gave us the answer to that question
Why so many side with Jinx? i dont understand in the slightest. Under every Trailer and everything i see everyone sides with the psychomaniac terrorist because of the trauma she caused on herself and refused to work trough. Is everyone now an arnachist? I am curiouse how all of them justify the next hundred bodies she will leave death in her wake.
Yaaaaa like I get the criticism of Vi for sure, she’s not flawless lol, but I mean, when it comes to Jinx/Powder… you can’t absolve horrific actions using childhood trauma/Vi’s actions as a kid. you can EXPLAIN how it came about, factoring that in. But It’s not at all a good justification 😬
mostly Jinx mains from League or fanboys who think they can fix her. Then there's the vocal minority of cop haters who label Vi as a traitorous villain because she eventually becomes an enforcer.
B/c she was horrifically traumatized as a child, then warped by silcos messed up beliefs, a lack of a support system outside of him, and the environment of Zuan. Not to mention she's still a teen when the later events of the show happened. She's not a good person, and there may not be any excuse for the deaths she's caused, but it is pretty understandable
I didn't like your video, the way you talk about Vi. She didn't "authored her own destruction" she was already destroyed, by the death of her parents, by the responsibilities that wasn't hers, by the people around her, by the environment that she lives in. She tries to built something (because that what you do when you want to survive) but everything collapse because of the people around her. Vi didn't cause her own destruction that's the people around her that are destroyer. By people I mean mostly Jinx/Powder.
yeah i definitely agree. this analysis feels like OP came with one idea of Vi and ignored all the canon evidence that showed anything else. plus these comments are really something else lol
honestly i like that vi took distance and wanted to cool down but at the same time to walk that far away after traumatizing her and leave her loudly crying near Silcos men which they just escaped is still something i have to discredit her even if cooling down was the right and good choice
Vi is pretty blind to the consequences of her actions (even more so then her sister) so it result's in her never learning from her mistakes. its a play on how being really stubborn is often portrayed as a great quality to have but its really a double edge sword. Like when Vi realizes she bought into a too good to be true story from Caitlyn, her solution was lash out at Silco again which is the dumbest thing she could be doing at that point. As she confirming all her sister's fear's and then think's the reason my sister does not trust me is because of silco not anything that did.
The entire story starts with Vi robbing someone else's laboratory because she thought they had something she wanted but couldn't earn. All of that is downstream from surviving the damage that Vander's invasion and rioting caused because Zaun felt like it was entitled to Piltover's property. After which Piltover, when it successfully defended itself from that invasion, declined to pursue its right to prosecution of Zaunites' aggression and let the sleeping dogs lie. The only person more at fault for what happens than Vi is Vander. Vi's whole arc is her coming to terms with what happens when unearned leadership causes incalculable damage- as inherited from her father. Everything about the first season of Arcane is Vi doing everything wrong. Piltover is not stagnant, Zaun is, being dragged underwater by its gangs of organized crime and refusing any help to clean itself up. Blaming Piltover for what happens is like blaming a jeweler for getting robbed because it had things worth robbing. Vi absolutely is misunderstood- she's not the hero, or even the protagonist. The closest to a protagonist Arcane has is Caitlin, who does her (insufficient) best to stop idiots from killing each other over their worst aspects, and Vi ruthlessly denounces her for her actual righteousness. Eko is the closest thing to a hero that world has. Vi is the catalyst for change- and all the change she causes is destruction and violence. She's at the core of everything that goes wrong everywhere. If she wasn't so relateable and that there weren't people who were deliberately vicious she would be the villain. Vi's story is of her doing exactly *everything* wrong.
@@Gerritch piltover don't oppress them, unless you take freedom and selfgovernance as oppression which is extremely confusing and selfdefeating. The best Zaun did with its freedom was raise criminal gangs to their semblance of governance.
@@Gerritch nah, youre just lying and trolling. What happened is that I saw the reality of the situation and who was at fault for it- first Vander and all the other criminals he allied with (one of which he betrayed when he was too inconvenient), then Zaun when it wasted its selfgovernance, then Vi's pillaging and Zaun ignoring their nonaggression pact when it suits them, and finally when Zaun gains full autonomy from the government whose help they rejected, took advantage of and cheated whenever it suited them. Zaun is the problem. Either way, youve made no arguments and contributed nothing, even assuming that is something you are capable of.
Your opening framing was terribly flawed. It is not possible to have only one cat 😂
LOLOLOL very true!!!
@@lilunette9319
Always (at least) two there are: the devil and the deviler.
I love the idea that Powder had always been looking into “the void” as you say, always teetering on the edge of overwhelming emotions only to be comforted by Vi. It’s so good at planting the seed that would become her eventual downfall
I hate Vi soo much...in the game she is ciop who puches people and then asks questions while puching some more....police brutality its finest...also she saw her sister almost DIE on the bridge...if Silco wouldnt have saved her she would have been dead,....and what Vi did? she didnt even shed a tear...she went f**king her new girlfriend....I could never...I have seen my mentally unstable psychotic lil sister try to commit suicide and I was losing my damn mind...I didnt even think about my boyfriend all I could think is that I have so save her , I cried and screamed , Silco loves Jinx way more , he did everything he could to help her...they dont have many options in Zaun but Silco loved Jinx more than Vi ever could, yes it was f*cked up love but thats Zaun.... Vander was a horrible leader, he was ready to have his people poisoned and oppressed while doing absolutely nothing...I come from a country that was oppressed and massacred by more powerful country and people like Vander didnt help us get our freedom :D It was people like Silco who were ready to fight
@@HK-gm8peHow about Arcane Vi?
@@HK-gm8pe mf you good?
@@yasiegonlastie5483 I mean, Vi clearly wants to protect her sister, but she's just bad at it? All she knows is how to punch the bad guys away, whenever a different problem happens she panics. She even said it herself, "..then a real monster showed up, and I just ran away."
can't even argue with them. they basically just stated what happened in the show. Doesn't mean that Vi is evil or anything, but she still failed Jinx multiple times and this comment is probably more akin to what Jinx's perspective is like.
@@Mendoxs_ I dont think thats how Jinx thinks of Vi, she clearly loves her sister to pieces, but Vi is still that little girl who lost her family while Jinx grew up. I think Jinx sees Caitlyn how Vi sees Silco ''If only you werent here, I would have my sister back''
I really like your analysis! Vi is a parentified child who was put in an almost impossible situation. Too much responsibility to put on someone who was also a child. She's damned if she does and damned if she doesn't. Even if she had done everything "correctly," Jinx has a lot of unresolved mental health issues that she does not have the tools to solve (and there are no mental health services in Zaun). Vander also placed too much responsibility on her when he said if things go wrong, it's on her. We see how she internalises this and how it impacts her throughout the series. I do, however, feel like fans place all the blame on Vi to the point where it diminishes Jinx's agency. Would be interested in hearing your analysis on Caitlyn.
See i love that you mention agency, thats such an underrated theme in this story in my opinion. Totally hear you, this show is so complex, and Vi and Jinx are both fascinating characters that each deserve an objective look. Thanks so much for watching and for your comment, I'll be getting that Caitlyn video done soon! :D
I get that she has a lot of responsibility on her, but realistically you dont need to be a full grown adult to make bad, life changing decisions. One easy example would be if Powder couldnt make the jump. Vi was there to catch her at the last second, but if she didnt, Powder could have died because she was urged to follow. It would be two parts, Powder not being old enough or athletic enough and Vi's leadership putting them in that situation. That was the point of Vander's discussion with her. If you are taking the lead, you have to consider what may happen under your command.
Jinx knows the explosion is her fault, that's why, even years later, she blames herself despite the fact that she "just wanted to help", the corpses haunt her. Powder caused multiple deaths in her family, undoubtedly. Vi was understandably horrified. But the moment Vi decided to turn her back on her sister, was the moment she actively removed Powder from her responsibility. Powder's actions left the sisters orphaned again, but Vi's actions left them both alone and separated.
@@Xxx-dh3bg I think when talking about this scene we forget that Vi left for less than a minute and Silco swept in, then Marcus took Vi. She told Powder to stay home, Powder chose not to. They both made mistakes but neither are at fault for being separated.
@@Xxx-dh3bgSee, Vi never turned her back on Powder. She went to calm down because she realised she hurt Powder and was too angry. She was drugged and arrested before she could come back. That's not "betraying" or "turning her back" on Powder and it says a lot that you think it is
No, jinx thinks this tho. And we are talking about jinx's reaction and interpretation @@Quinn-he3vn
It's not the thought of a reunion with Powder that kept Vi alive in jail. The last thing she saw in episode 3 is Silco, the man who said he would kill her whole family, standing next to Powder with a knife in his hand. She thought he killed her (she even tells Cait in episode 6 that she believed her sister died). What kept her going is revenge. Her hate for Silco is blinding Vi. That's why she can't understand Jinx or compromise with the council, Jayce or even Caitlyn.
I'm looking forward to your Sevika analysis.
VERY FAIR POINT and THANK YOUUU IM EXCITEDDDDDDD
Tnx..
At last..
I found someone who really watched the show..
and didn't talk about stupid things..
So we know that he can really speak
although it was nonsense..
tnz for letting me know ppl like me still exist.
Not really. If Vi actually had so much thirst for revenge and hate against Silco like you're saying, she would've tried to turn Jinx against him at the tea party. Let's not forget that Silco was masked and tied. And Jinx was hella angry on him for supposedly "lying" to him. If Vi was so revengeful against him, I'd at least expect her to say something hateful against him. But all that time at the tea party, she didn't utter a single word to turn Jinx against him. She only tried to be with her sister. She even wanted to leave Piltover/Zaun with her.
i mean if she was looking for silco and not jinx, she would've immediately gone to get him. the proof cait brought to her in jail, was quite clear that powder is still alive and hence the painting in the proof. but she goes to the brothel first to ask for her sister, then she goes to sevika to ask for powder "where's my sister? where is he keeping her?" NOT "where is he? i want revenge." when sevika tells her, powder is jinx now, and she's like silco's daughter. she doesn't immediately believe that either, she's like, maybe she's alive and doing well, maybe its a part of a plan she doesn't know, she doesn't understand how powder would go with someone who is indirectly responsible for killing mylo, claggor and vander.
@@wiseversa135that's not what I gathered from op. He's saying her hatred that she felt ALL THESE YEARS is blinding her. Not that she's after him or that her real motive is revenge instead of her sister. The moment she got a hint that her sister was alive, that was ALL she thought about. I 100% believe she was ready to move on with her and not seek revenge. But that doesn't change the FEELINGS he has! She hates the guy. She hates him so much in fact she's unwilling to even accept the fact that at the point she came back, he's a big part of her sister's life and she can't just tell her (let's get out of here ) and expect her to cry from joy and accept. She refuses the notion that he maybe someone that can do good to the city (I know he's a king pin) and gain independence (something she DREAMED of as kid) he's the moster in her story and she's unwilling to see that even thou that's VALID for her to feel. He's not a monster in jinx's story.
Vi's story, and Arcane as a whole is an amazing take on a Greek tragedy.
Just with Vi alone, she is a person of importance and oustanding personal qualities who falls into disaster both through her own personal failings, and through circumstances beyond her control.
Vi wanted to see Powder again, to keep her safe, to go back to her, but beyond her own temper, everyone else around her just kept pulling her apart from her sister, until finally, the political game between Jayce and Silco accidentally set things past the point of no return for Powder.
Man I love Arcane... Amazing analysis!
Love this! Thank you so much for watching! 😄
Vi is Odysseus
Jinx is Telemachus
Vi's character has made such an impact on me personally. Seeing not only the in-story characters turn her into a scapegoat for everything that goes wrong, but some of the audience as well, breaks my heart.
I dont understand people who blame her. Like, she's a fricking TEENAGER. She just nearly all of her family for the second time in not even a decade, and her little sister, whom she loves but has had to carry and protect and make excuses for for far too long is basically the one responsible. Even an adult would snap in that situation. She was a child. And she had enough control and love for Powder to walk away to cool off as to not hurt her further. She didnt abandon Powder. Its very understandable why Jinx would think that is what happened, but as an audience who sees everything happening, they should know better
I don't think people hate her as a character thou... Did her action ( poorly thought out ) have consequences? Yes, they did. The saying the road to hell is built on good intentions is perfect for her. I actually think that people have such different reactions as a testament to the show's high quality writing! People and real life stories are often multidimensional and complex and have different moving part that different people resonate with! No one is right or wrong to feel what they feel. To love or to hate a character is not an indicator of the morality of the character and its actions. I would even say people who hate vi and her character are a reflection of the hate Vi has towards herself. And the audience that felt that, may have a tendency to be hard on themselves but that's purely speculation on my part. But that's the fun of arcane!! God I love this show so much.
@@saranaila5905 hm, maybe it's a bit too harsh to say "road to hell" applying to her. In the grand scheme of things, she has very little blood on her hands compared to Jinx, Silco or even Jayce. Yeah, she does do some bad things. Leaving Powder, though understandable, was one of them. But I think the "hate" her character gets is a bit disproportionate, ESPECIALLY considering she is one of the few who fully acknowledges it was her fault and doesn't even try to excuse it with an ends justify the means BS. I would go to say that despite - or maybe because? - of her flaws, she is one of the most "good" (in terms of alignment) characters of season 1.
@@thomasmann4536 well yeah, I totally agree with that. I don't think many people can say she's a bad written character (they would be simply dead wrong). She's a well written character and she objectively has a good goal of getting her sister to safety. But people's emotions relate to themselves and also their ideals. Someone can say she's a great character to the show but I can't like her as a person. Not because of anything "wrong" she did. It's the same with real life people some People you simply don't like or are frustrated by her. However actually trying to paint her as the worst person ever, or straight up hating on her is...well not very mindful, not very demure 🤣. I just love it when people have different views on the characters! It's so interesting how everyone has their own interpretation of the SAME events. It speaks volumes on how people process stories and events.
@@saranaila5905 absolutely. my hot take is that Silco is not nearly as much of a "good" (morally speaking) person as most people make him out. I think he's way more sinister than ppl say ;)
Vander taught Vi Responsibility when she needed protection and so Vi protected Powder when she needed responsiblity, she never prepared her for the day when she have to fight her monsters on her own.
she never rly got the chance to.
You cooked with this OP
21:16 I don't think Caitlyn was ever on a path of violence to begin with. Caitlyn became an enforcer for a possible number of reasons. She's always wanted to earn her own way. She grows frustrated and offended when something is given to her she feels she didn't earn. Caitlyn does not want to be sheltered and coddled by her parents. She may have looked up to Grayson during their competitive outings but Grayson asks her, "What are you shooting for?". At this point, she doesn't really know. It seems clear by Act 2 and the events that lead to Grayson's death, Caitlyn has decided that she wants to protect the people of Piltover.
When Vi is stabbed by Savika, Caitlyn does NOT shoot to kill. She shoots to protect Vi. Caitlyn has proven that she is an excellent shot and could very easily have put one right between Savika's eyes if she wanted. Caitlyn gives up her gun to save Vi because, yes, she has grown to trust Vi but she is also there for the crystal and Jinx and knows that she can't do it alone. That said, the situation was desperate and time was of the essence. Caitlyn did not have time to think about what else she may have on her to trade. Coming from the most wealthy family in Piltover, she probably doesn't even know the concept of haggling. All she knew was that Vi was bleeding out and her rifle was the most valuable possession she had to trade.
Caitlyn's growth stems from breaking out of her naive and sheltered world-view, seeing first hand just how bad things are for the people of Undercity but also how Piltover, the city of progress, has neglected and failed the people of Undercity. Undercity is a shithole but more specifically, it is Piltover's shithole and that has been the status quo for decades.
It really matters nothing. We always reason our own choices into being "good actually," it's one of the foundational aspects to properly understanding psychological phenomenology. What matters is the outcome of our choices. There are plenty of ways in which she could have "earned her own way" without resorting to enabling a Fascistic ideology, the concept, on which Piltover is founded despite having few to none of the markers that we put under the label 'fascism.'
Any person born and raised in a society of Fascistic ideology will grow up to think that the Fascistic ideology is "good actually " if they never see alternatives.
While violence is an explicit tool of Fascistic ideology in Europe the police use violence as a means to do their job. The Enforcers use it as the sole method of doing their job. There's nothing 'police' about them, they're state-sponsored terrorists by another name.
By joining up with them Caitlyn embraces that ideology even though she she reasons it away to be something else because she's been raised to believe the kind of order that the Enforcers stand for is good.
This whole "You can lie with the dogs without waking up with fleas"# is the pure brain rot of Centrist ideology. To paraphrase, "If there are ten people at a table and one of them says something from Fascistic ideology and no one pushes back against it then there are ten people at the table embracing Fascistic ideology."
How they change their beliefs later is called 'growth of character' and has nothing to do with their initial reasoning. If anything, they should be able to reflect on who they were and come to the realisation that version of them was horrible, or else they'll just become that person again under the right stimulus.
💯
@@nielsjensen4185 Except Caitlyn was evidently unaware of how the enforcers operated and the system as a whole that kept Piltover prosperous. She's been sheltered her whole life. Even when she joined law enforcement, her mother made sure that her station was mostly ceremonial, guarding her parents' tent at the Progress Day fare and, assumably, other menial tasks as to keep her out of harm's way.
This is clear when she begins investigating the attack on the airship and visits Stillwater Prison to question Lok. It is here she learns that the warden is a sadistic asshat, inmates like Vi are locked away, repeatedly abused physically and, in Vi's case, doesn't even have a file or record of her crimes. She learns from Vi that many enforcers are on the take. Whether she believes that or not doesn't really take shape till she's confronted by Marcus on the bridge in Act 3.
Caitlyn may not be innocent by directly benefiting from Piltover's system of rule but she's certainly naive of it's methods. She learns directly through Vi just how bad things are.
I like to think a gun/rifle is to an enforcer what a lightsaber is to a jedi. Cait basically gave up her life to save Vi's but in doing so ended up saving the both of them. Because had she wasted what valuable time they had left hesitating or trying to think of an alternative, she certainly would've met her end when Silco arrived like what's a single rifle gonna do against three shimmer enhanced ghoulish addicts?
This further cements their relationship a sturdy one and I can't wait for more of their awe inspiring dynamics in s2 as soon as we're able to pick ourselves up from the wreckage we become cuz of the angst😭😭
@@ziachung4547 It seems both are going to a dark place in S2 but I think they'll work it out.
Yeah, I don't think it can be understated just how much it would mess someone up. Having someone defend you after every hateful thing that people say about you and be there in every moment, just to have them turn around and say everyone was right.
pretty sure everybody understands that atp
Man, sorry, not sorry. Fuck jinx, this is all her fault. Dude just stay in place for a few hours. Thats all they asking. But no. Lets get friendly fire on and get everyone killed. And then people surprised when vi instults her. Like what, You kill my friends and fuck my life, but I CANT CALL YOU JINX ONCEEE
You're talking like there is no context, like Vi didn't witness the death of her two best friends and the person that she consider like her father. Bffr
I’m glad that someone you really dive deep into this character. The amount of hate Vi gets is so undeserved. Maybe it’s because she reminds me so much of myself, but she had so much put on her at such a young age and the burdens she carries is unfortunately her undoing. As an older sister I can understand where she comes from. I feel like her trauma is overlooked when compared to Jinx, who is also a victim.
Yes ahhh exactly! It’s odd when people assume not entirely dumping all over one of these sisters means you’re villainizing the other. Like, it’s looking at the whole situation and taking all the perspectives into account to get to the root of the problem/story and it’s REALLY FUN TO DO LOL! It’s so much more complex, I’m a younger sister, so I can totally hear you with your older sister experience. Love Arcane for that.
The truly wild thing is how many people Blame VI and also treat Silco like he's just some quirky stepdad trying his best, and not the emotionally abusive child murderer that gaslit one sister into trying to murder the other that he actually is.
People hate Vi ??!
look in this comment section, you can find extreme jinx stans who act like vi is the devil lol
@@LG-lk5es I watched arcane for the first time a few weeks ago 🫣🫣 and she was instantly my favourite character, and then going down a RUclips arcane rabbit hole and finding so many people hating on her and then absolutely adoring Jinx really baffled me ngl😂 Vi is my beloved and I just want to give her a big bear hug
I just wish Vi had chosen a different word to call Powder. A numbskull, a fool, clumsy. But by calling her a Jinx, she did create what she’d become. She validated what Mylo said even if it was unintentional.
Yaaaa everytime I rewatch that scene it feels so damning and horrible uggghh so sad
But it makes sense, she said it exactly because Mylo established that cuss word already..
Didn't think clearly and triggered her trauma, which is when you can say quite horrible things, you think way too fast about everything that has happened long term
I should know 🥴
It was on the tip of her tongue. Already in her mind. An established word. So I’m not surprised it slipped out in her most weakened state of mind.
But if she had the chance, Vi would have come back and apologized. However, if she did, Silco would have killed them both because Marcus saved them in a twisted way.
I think, while she immediately regretted it, she said "jinx" specifically to hurt her, bc she was hurt. She quickly realized her mistake, but it was intentional
I love Vi so so much.
Hoping more than anything that s2 focuses more on Vi, and what shes been/ is going through. Her struggles aren't talked about nearly enough.
agreed. it's always abt jinx jinx jinx and not enough vi
I'm glad to see people analysis both characters rather to put blame on someone. Both of them grown in place where you can not be soft and no one cares for your feelings so you're copying
V has martyr style of leadership where she feels that all of the weight of the struggle should fall on her in an attempt to shield others. This style is an egotic one despite its seemingly pure nature as it both a) infantiles all their followers by denying them any self-agency and responsibility and b) denjes their followers the ability to grow into their own competency which you touched on with Powder.
It’s such a tragic backfire for her, I really wonder where they’ll take this method next season. Thank you for watching, Raven, always great to read your comments!
@@lydiscott Thank you. I like your work. As a former military NCO I've seen a lot of leadership styles, good, bad, and indifferent. V's style comes from a combination of inexperience and idealism. If I were to make the call, I'd place her in a number two position to an experienced and slightly cyncial leader to learn the other side of the coin before leading anyone herself. Alas, if there's one thing that tragedy reinforces, it's the lesson that neglecting the nuturing of talent pays dividends of lost opportunities and regret.
@@lydiscott Also, shout out to a fellow Sevika stan!
@@lydiscottmy take is that she will try this same focus with Caitlyn and will fail again. She will carry the weight of what Jynx does and try to fix everything for Caitlyn, but she won’t be able to do it. Then, she will have to learn to let others help her and protect her too when she gets depressed and touches rock bottom.
Is very interesting that in the first look of Jynx and Vi is mirrored and Jynx is protecting Vi, Jynx is holding her. So, I think Vi will be held and helped maybe by her or Caitlyn later. It looks kind of unsettling and I wonder what it means, because Vi has like her eyes completely open while she is being held by Jynx. Probably she is going to feel weird but end up accepting that help that others can give her… and not just being her protecting.
I wanted to disagree with you but Vi was the one that kicked the balcony door down impatiently while milo was trying to pick the lock. Hence as you said sort of infantilizing him. Vi had much to learn..becuase in comparison when milo was picking the lock on vanders chains..vander didnt allow milo to panic he encouraged him and milo was able to get his adoptive father out. *starts to cry becuase of what happens afterwards*
Great video. Always love a good Vi analysis. She's my favourite personally. I just really empathize with her struggle. She's always (mostly) tried to do what she feels is right even at the cost of her own wellbeing. I hope she gets some well deserved catharsis by the end of season 2. She's been through so much
Most other characters in the show appear to be aligned one way or another towards Zaun or Piltover. But Vi is the one, more than any other I think, whose personal struggle has her caught between Zaun and Piltover. She is the bridge between both cities in a way. She's always being put in a position where her actions are taken as her picking a side, Piltover or Zaun. The injustice being that she shouldn't have to pick a side at all. She shouldn't have to pick between Caitlyn and Jinx. But She's caught trying to balance this and it just seems to be tearing at her. It's just tragic.
Would love to see more vids about other Arcane characters :)
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for watching 😄
Same!! Genuinely can't understand why ppl hate and blame her sm. She's my favorite, she's a tragedy. Feels like everyone forgets she was also a kid, as deserving of empathy as Powder.
I kind of disagree. Vi doesn't want to be a bridge between the two cities. Vi in the most part of the show is not taking politics into consideration whatsoever. Vi is from the undercity and she at one point loved her home so much she was "ready" to fight for it. She has absolutely no loyalty to piltover. But as we see her grow up she also grew separate from Zaun. She only cares about her sister, she's willing to leave the mess Zaun AND piltover behind for her sister. it's not that she doesn't care anymore but more like the girl is spent. She cannot afford to care about politics but at the same time she can't afford NOT caring. And THAT'S what's tearing her apart. She gave piltover jinx's name and painted her a target after all she went thru in jail. Because she wasn't THINKING of the political significance of that move. She went to Zaun and destroyed a shimmer factory out of pure spite WITHOUT thinking how those actions would put her city on a political scale. She was single-minded in her pursuit of jinx and she wasn't LIVING with the people around her in their reality which is SHAPED by politics with which her actions have a direct effect.
@@saranaila5905 You missed the point I'm making.
"Vi doesn't want to be a bridge between the two cities."
I never said that she wanted to be a bridge. It was a metaphorical statement. It's not about the politics, it's about the relationships. She is one of the few people in the show who has a relationship with people from both Zaun and Piltover. She cares about her sister, and over time she comes to care about Caitlyn. Two individuals who are the opposite ends of the spectrum, so to speak.
"Vi is from the undercity and she at one point loved her home so much she was "ready" to fight for it. She has absolutely no loyalty to piltover."
Yes, when she was a still a child, and Vander impressed upon her the potential consequences of letting her anger guide her actions. Hence why she decided to give herself up at the time. In the present, being stuck between not wanting any harm to happen to Jinx AND Caitlyn has nothing to do with loyalty to Piltover either. Caitlyn and Jinx are inevitably becoming people who will have a significant impact in their respective worlds, and Vi is the person who links them together for better or worse.
The rest of your comment is just not really relevant to what my point is. It's not about loyalty to any one side. Vi hates the enforcers and Piltover, but Caitlyn is an example to her that there might be some people up there who can be decent people. And the home she loved can also turn into something sinister and unrecognizable with Shimmer and Silco. But there's also Ekko fighting the good fight, and still enforcers are jerks overall. It's all a mess, and Vi's just trying to hold on to the few things she still has any connection to. It just so happens that two of those things are people on opposite sides. That is the tragedy, but also perhaps the hope. How does Vi's relationship and love for both Jinx and Caitlyn affect the outcome of the story. That's the point of the "bridge" metaphor. It'll get worse before it gets better, but what a ride it will be.
@@danc1513 well from Ur comment I understood it to be talking about the cities and their politics and didn't get that by saying "cities" and "piltover" you really ment just Cait. Much like I said vi doesn't take Into consideration the political consequences of her actions. Thou I think I understand better after you explained it, I totally agree that vi finds herself a singular link between the people up top and under, and she's suffering for it. Much like the literal bridge that place saw some shit 😅. I don't know how things will get better for her if she stays in that position though but at the same time she'll suffer if she's not also. Poor vi can't catch a break. I'm someone who cares a lot about the political narrative of the plot of arcane and I already have a side to support, not that I think the other side should suffer. I can't help support the underdog(hound?) 😅. Thou I appreciate the reply it did clarify your meaning for me.
This video was amazing. The tea party analysis gave me chills because the part where Vi kept reminding Jinx of the past and how it was actually hurting Jinx (which in turn makes Silco desperate to kill Vi) was rarely ever brought up from other youtubers that I've watched. Overall this made me more excited for Season 2, thank you!
he also wanted to kill vi bc he is threatened by her, don't forget. he is aware that the only person alive who could "take" jinx from him is vi.
Silco didn't want to kill Vi for "hurting" Jinx, he wanted to kill her because she was making Jinx doubt her decision.
I recognize that, objectively, most of Vi's actions are understandable. But I would lie if I said I didn't feel a little bit satisfied when Jinx destroyed all hope for a rekindling at the end of Season 1
It’s a WICKED moment, they executed it so well!
Arnachist
Whyd you feel satisfied
@@Speedy2619LOL
Interesting.. were you satisfied because you felt the betrayal itself was warranted, or is it just because it was a well executed tragedy?
Great analysis! One thing that's become increasingly clear to me as I rewatch this season is that whatever illness Powder's suffering from, Vi has it too. It's a lot more subtle because she's been allowed to self-regulate in ways powder wasn't, but the clearest sign is that she hallucinates too. It's clever, they frame it as through tropes to make it seem like a narrative device, but she really sees her mother and Powder in that building, she really sees Vander in the Last Drop.
I disagree that they suffer from the same thing.
First we have to remember Powder in the opening was shown to have some symptoms on the bridge when Vander took them in. We see flashes of creepy (monster) faces on an enforcers face mask as he shoots a Zaunite down, and we see flashes of the eyes crossed out of a dead man in the same style that would later be more prevalent with Jinx's mentality. Also the camera turns on her eye level to look at her after acting as her perspective. This is all, as far as we know, without physical trauma (simply the mental trauma of seeing all that death for both Vi and Powder, but we can see Powder's brain interacting with it differently with these flashes we see more when she's Jinx).
Every time we see Vi have hallucinations its during times that would induce hallucination's in even those without mental illnesses that would cause hallucinations. Seeing mom and Powder at her old family home is blood loss (Sevika stab). Significant blood loss can lead to delirium. Delirium is a state of mental confusion characterized by changes in cognition, attention, and awareness. When the body loses a significant amount of blood, it can result in reduced oxygen delivery to the brain, which can lead to cognitive impairment and confusion. In cases of severe blood loss, the brain may not receive enough oxygen and nutrients to function properly, leading to symptoms such as confusion, disorientation, agitation, and even hallucinations.
Lets not forget Seeing Vander in episode 9 it was both extensive head trauma (from fighting Sevika) and DRINKING (VERY dangerous mix). Something we know we will see more next season with hallucinations specifically again linked to drinking and fighting (which is purposeful). All occurring with exterior issues inducing it. This is more like posttraumatic delirium from TBI. The typical symptoms shown are restlessness, confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, agitation, and delusions. Delirium occurs by the effect of injury on brain tissue chemicals. These usually aren't permanent though if severe an injury enough could lead to something more permanent and even death. Alcohol hallucinosis, like alcohol paranoia, can develop during heavy drinking or more frequently within a few days or weeks of the cessation of drinking. Both tend to go away with time though can be permanent depending on severity. So both fighting and drinking at once.
Then the show illustrates it differently for Vi and Powder. Vi is coming back to her childhood home after years in prison. Seeing powder all over the house is more like the show giving us a view into her memories. Vi’s visions have that typical “memory”/“imagination” vibe. Jinx’s have a very eerie specific style and the visions kind of attack her and she fights with them, shoots at them, ACTUALLY back and forth argues with them, and tells them to shut up. The show paints them as distortions of her ability to perceive reality when she’s wide awake and physically well. For Vi, they happen when she’s passing out, almost like dreams.
Psychosis refers to a collection of symptoms that affect the mind, where there has been some loss of contact with reality. What's real and what's in their head. Will she undergo some form of alcoholic/alcohol withdrawal hallucinations (both are a thing that can happen)... possibly! And it seems so from Annecy, but the question is, will she be just seeing them or will she perceive them as part of reality? If the latter then it would be psychosis, though it would be an induced form of it. As of now, I would not characterize her as someone with neurological psychosis like I believe with Jinx. The only time she interacts with them is when delirious from blood loss which would cause that as mentioned. (This is not to say that people experiencing psychosis for whatever reason don't ever realize it or can't be logical [in fact to them they are very logical, but in the confines of their delusions]. Anyway, many are or can be aware their psychotic, but either spiral into delusion and paranoia preventing them from allowing there brains to apply logic [like realizing the voices aren't muffled when covering ears] or realize they've experienced a episode AFTER the fact and not during. During they believe and interact).
So Vi has experienced hallucinations but they've all been in instances where they're connected to physical events (not just mental or emotional and nothing more, but real world contact related) and actions that WOULD induce hallucinations. She does seem to experience something like auditory PTSD on the bridge SPECIFICALLY. I don't know if that suggests hallucinations or a narrative technique to remind the audience what happened there (her trauma) and tell us what she's thinking/feeling. It helps explain why she wants to go back for Jinx without exposition in episode 7 and why she wants to fight Piltover in Act 1. Instead of just using dialogue we can have both reasonings related to loss and to Vi talking about feeling lesser than Piltover without clunky lines. It’s a common thing in TV and movies that doesn’t necessarily suggest psychosis or hallucinations (for example Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Kraglin sees his mentor Yondu despite him being dead when he needed inspiration most. It's the same as Vi seeing Vander).
Anyways hallucinations are common among many different illnesses including illnesses/conditions that induce hallucinations instead of being naturally apart of how the specific mind works (basically not always a brain condition which are usually the more permanent and severe versions). I don't think they have the same thing besides maybe both having a form of PTSD, but beyond that they work very differently. I think its important to recognize the different illnesses without grouping them together since there's such a wide variety.
I just think its a reach especially since it has zero connection to her LoL base whereas crazy talking to guns and inanimate things (there or not) has always been Jinx. Plus Vi has been so heavy attached in show to things that would cause hallucinations and that she isn't interacting with them in a psychosis way where as Jinx has them despite not having shown signs of physical reasons like Vi was. They have been very purposeful in how they show these things so I don't think they are doing it this way for no reason.
(This all is not to say Jinx has no grasp on reality or it's a constant never ending thing for her. Episode 4 and especially 5 she wasn't normal but obviously she wasn't as bad as when she knew of Vi's return. It is regular due to stressors [which is often due to stress and guilt], but it obviously was at a really bad point episode 6 and on due to the SEVERITY of the mental stressors [Vi, her mistake, rejection, enforcers, and lies are her big ones]. Anyway I'm saying Jinx's more heavily psychologically arisen without physical reasons where Vi is heavy connected to physical reasons which is a huge difference in how they are characterized and what they go through.)
@@pugisherpug4366 Holy crap that was so detailed and interesting. I tip my hat to you good sir or madam.
Eh I still think they have the same thing. Mental illness is often genetic & their psychosis appearing differently doesn't automatically make it different, and I do believe it's on purpose they're the only 2 characters in the show who hallucinate.
@@pugisherpug4366 It's pretty clear to me, as I've experienced the following "ilness" (don't worry, I've been to therapy and no longer deal with it), that we're speaking about a dissociative identity disorder or DID (at least regarding Powder, VI proly not ), formerly known as multiple personality disorder.
DID is an identity disorder arising from unprocessed childhood trauma; due to the childs mind not being able to properly contextualize traumatic events (which is perfectly exemplified by the opening scene, in which powder is unable to understand the situation at hand), including, but not limited to, war, physical abuse, emotional neglect or loss of loved ones (perfectly fits the sisters past), get supressed. It's sometimes reffered to as childhood PTSD, being caused by similar triggers. In most cases of DID, the traumatic event was experienced before puberty. That would fit Powder perfectly.
In addition, DID is characterised by it causing auditory and visual halucinations as well as headaches and seizures, commonly manifesting in seperate personality states or identities. Said symptoms are often reinstated or intensified when being confronted with triggering, emotionally intense scenarios, often resembling past traumatic events (That'd of course fit 1. the scene in which Jinx fights against a Firelight resembling VI 2. Her first experiment with the Hex-Core 3. Her psychotic breakdown in the final scene).
The fraction of the childs identity serves to contextualize and supress the effects of traumatic events (tucking them away, so to speak), as the patient is unable to deal with the emotional burden. Jinx is, as follows, a protection mechanism; she contextualizes her sisters betrayal, is oblivious of past traumatic events (or, at least, tries to supress them) and acts as a way for powder to partially compensate for her dependency on VI. Secondly, her hearing Mylo would also serve as a contextualization and compensation of deceased relatives and her emotional links to them.
As to why I think that them sharing these is unlikely:
1. From a purely narrative-driven perspective, it simply wouldn't sit right
2. VI was able (or had to) confront and understand her trauma immediatly, as is seen in her emotional reaction to her parents death. Most traumatic events that happened to VI (at least those we are aware of, like her prison stay), happened when she was cognitively mature enough to process/internalize them otherwise.
However, the last trailer possibly suggests otherwise, with VI slipping into a seperate identity. It's possible that she is experiencing a partial DID in a non-obsessive form. But only time will tell.
Sry for any spelling issues, I'm not a native speaker.
Thank you for this wonderful character analysis on Vi. I think that taking Vi's action towards Powder as a protection of her own innocence serves to demonstrate exactly how misaligned Vi's words of comfort to Jinx are. Vi tries to make it okay within her warped perspective. Therefore missing the signs that the methods of care she tries to provide Jinx are misguided and painful. They come across more as methods Vi could use to soothe herself with, than methods to be applied to Jinx and her situation now. With this externalized perspective of innocence, Vi can provide Powder care she cannot afford herself. So, when that care is rejected there is a more personal sting to that wound. Hopefully, in time they will each see the other as they are now and not who they wish each of them to be.
About Jinx becoming a warped version of the protector Powder saw in Vi, I think that point is well demonstrated by the role Jinx takes in the Enemy music video in association with Powder. Powder at first mimicked the actions of violence that Vi was teaching all of the Zaunite children for protection before finding what that version of protection meant for Powder's skills and creativity. Another good example of this is Jinx's attempt to surpass Vi's score in the arcade they went to as children. When attaching the idea of Vi as that protector to be strived for, it only leaves hurt and frustration as Jinx's skills don't transfer to effectiveness in the same arena and a longing for the comfort that successful protection provided to Powder. Powder is trying to craft a persona that can protect herself but due to that warped version of Vi's protection at its core that's where key troubles in her development come. Before Jinx with Silco's guidance expands the idea of what that violent protection of Powder can be.
I think another aspect of the tragedy of Arcane's ending is the misconception each sister holds about the other going into that final dinner table conversation. The warped perspective of who each sister wants the other to be does not live up to the reality of the growth Jinx has undergone and the relic of another time that Vi has become in prison. It is so heartbreaking to see that disconnect between the sisters play out in real time "But, you changed too"
Thank you, this character analysis has given me so much to think about while waiting for season 2!!!
I can't help but thing that Vi is definitely responsible for Powders' inability to rationalize certain actions/outcomes. She was sheltered, sheltered from the horrors that Vi herself should have never endured. Vi wanted her sister to feel safe and protected but in that attempt help to nuture the very thing that Powder becomes. Though Vi throughout her young life she didn't have someone to look over her, it was just her and Vander . She overburdened herself with being "the stronger one" that protector and in doing so conditioned herself to become stronger physically and mentally for others and herself. We could even say there is a Nature vs Nurture debate happening here to some degree.
There is a lot of theory in Arcane especially about the rabbit, which I have some thoughts on.
Looking forward to some more Arcane character in depths and the second season as well! 😄
👻
I LOVE THIS! And I would love to hear your thoughts on the bunny! I’ve heard some really interesting theories about it, and considering how deep the writing goes on this show I don’t think they’re out of the realm of possibilityyyy ahhh lol
Comments like this are very frustrating bc it seems everyone magically forgets Silco and how he basically spent the rest of his life raising Jinx from her young age to that of a teen.
Vi's vision of Vander is like a scar; she may be more durable for having it, but it's still a clear sign of past damage.
I kinda hope to see more peculiar strengths born of trauma in Season 2
Beautiful way of putting it! Ahhh yeahhh I have a feelings things are gonna get worse for Vi next season 😬 THANK YOU FOR WATCHING! 😄
Vi & Jinx are my favorite fictional relationship of all time. It's such an emotionally and heart wrenching dramatic experience to witness their sisterhood. It reminds me so much of a lo of more general family dynamics of learning to accept each other for your flaws and differences but it's all blown to to an extraordinary scale with PTSD, deep seated psych trauma, and mental health issues that are so obviously created as a result of the horrible lives they've had to lead.. is such a window into our own lives... so many layers... i have such luv for this show
the 'identifying reality as one of the monsters' line was such a bar
A child is a child, but an 11 year old could start making decisions that could ruin their life. Vi is definitely young, around 15, learning she could possibly be responsible for bad things that can happen, but its true. What if Vi lead Powder to the edge, but Powder couldnt make the jump? I understand it is hard to think about a child being told this, but if one wants to lead, it is important to know this. If Vi wants to take charge, Vi needs to know the weight of her decisions
That is very interesting that children in the UnderCity, the City that makes Piltover the City of Progress possible resemble children in the beginning of the 20th century and end of the 19th century, there is Silent black & white footage of children during that time where they seem to act and dress in a much older way, as if they had to grow up earlier, due to poverty and lack of child labour laws among other things, it is just an observation I noticed. Vi is tragic,but I actually think Vander gets kind of a pass for his part in raising Vi & Powder. Yes Vander did have an important role in the Undercity but he concentrated most of the parenting and free time with Vi. Sure giving her sound advice,but leaving it up to her to take care of the rest but most of all Powder, who also needed a Father figure.We only see Vander in one scene with Powder and there did not seem to be much of a connection compared to her sister Vi. Vander enabled Vi's Parental rol towards her sister. Sure Vi put Powder into situations that were dangerous, and encouraged Powder's bomb making. But Yah Vander did have a part to play, I did notice how Powder changed Silco, it was subtle at first sure,but she completely changed his whole philosophy of do anything to achieve for Powder and your ultimate goal. In the end Silco could not give up Powder for the life of of him, even when he had everything he and Vander ever wanted. He understood his brother. Too late perhaps,but the fact he did change because of Powder shows how she changed him. Where Vi is tied all into it is she became a threat to Silco not because he could take down his empire, No. But she was the only person who could take away his daughter, Silco like Powder had abandonment issues and Silco never got over his. His fear of being alone drove him to lie to Powder about Vi. The bigger problem by the very end was both Vi & Silco love Powder, Vi though has been missing for 8 years,Marcus lied to Silco, so both Powder and Silco believed Vi abandoned Powder. So much time has past Vi could not have known that memories of the past, were trigger words that set off her PTSD, Silco did. It was made clear earlier in the show Powder confided in Silco. I feel sorry for Vi but also Powder and even understood where Silco was coming from. Vi did not understand the Powder she knew was gone,yes if Caitlyn's timing was different things could have gone better for Vi, but Cait has awful timing. Though even though I knew Powder loved Silco too, I knew she would on instinct protect Vi. Had no doubt, which made Silco's death scene so tragic for Powder because that was it, the moment I think Powder died. After Silco comforted Powder instead of berate her for shooting him "don't cry,your perfect" hit so much because this time he did say Jinx is perfect but you're perfect". The look in Powder's eyes changed. You could see Powder die on the inside and when she stood up and walked to the Jinx chair. Vi at least tried to understand what just happened was a huge moment for her sister. "It's Ok,We're be Ok". it was done. Vi's relationship with her sister had changed forever. It is so tragic for Vi,because you see where she was coming from being in prison so long and not understanding fully the trauma Powder has been through and how different she processed the loss of they're family compared to Vi. Honestly I was sad for all three of them. Each character was written so....human,
Honestly can't wait to watch the next season for more Vi
Same here! Things are looking very tense in the trailers ahhhhh
Its so devestating how Mylo told powder she was a Jinx, and Vi tells her sister that he is wrong. And then she later reverses that, what she once told her sister was a lie, she now appears to believe it too
I have decided to watch Arcane because of your videos on Cyberpunk being so good. I kept putting it off but now I’ll check back on these videos after I finish season 1.
Arcane is a masterpiece and i would love to hear more your thoughts about other characters ! Best wishes and hope Jinx or Silco will come next.
Character analysis on ARCANE YES! THANK YOU!!!
ANYTIME!
One extra nuance I’d like to add is that it’s implied that either one or both of Vi and Powder’s parents were drug addicts. We can infer this from the fact that they lived down in the depths of the undercity where all the other addicts go before their parents died and Vander adopted them. This probably played a huge role in why Vi had to step up to raise Powder, their parents just weren’t in a position to do that.
I wonder what we’ll see of this in next season? It seems super plausible!!!!
Vi is the hardest carry.
Also, how do you keep having these banger takes on characters? Underrated channel, keep it up.
AWWW THANK YEEEE I credit my mom, she has a very good creative brain lololol! 🥳
I wonder tho, would Vi on the bridge hate Vi the Enforser from season 2... Also what is interesting is that before she leaves to save Vander, Vi gives Powder her bunny toy as she was finally able to bring it down. And at the very end of the series, at the mad tea party - you can see Valdiani gadget as soon as Vi opens her eyes. It was in the bag Powder trew in the water while she escaped, which means she herself was finally able to bring it back, her own version of the "bunny" - a symbol of her weakness.
27:00 she kept both the bunny and the flare in that box
I loved your take about Vi and Jinx relationship. I never thought about Powder being completely ok with who she is until the end, and the fact that Vi was in prision was like being on the past too much. So they're in differente pages or even books. They might grew up together at first, but later they grew apart without losing the love and care for one another, but Jinx, after being "fully loved and accepted" by her new father figure knows that there are people who are willing to love her exactly as she is. And I think we're gonna see that in season 2. Which will make Vi have an identity crisis even more... Poor girls, i can't with their story! it's too tragic 😭
I think that was a really interesting analysis. Vi is my favourite character in arcane & i think she, like all the characters in arcane, is so nuanced & well written there are many ways to view her intentions & actions at every point in the story. In a nutshell i have always seen vi as being unconditionally protective & feels overwhelmingly responsible for powder's happiness & wellbeing. Jinx is actually like a whole different person & a very real threat & enemy of powder. So much so that vi feels she has to literally defeat jinx in order to get her sister powder back. I can't wait to see how it all pans out in S2. Thanks for a great video SBS.
I just realized ‘faded’ fits Jink’s theme so much.
Great analysis, sometimes I struggle to relate to Vi's actions, but this helped. You earned a sub.
this was so incredibly well structured, i’m speechless
I feel like most fans are so focused on Jinx and her trauma that they ignore just how burdened and damaged Vi is.
seriously, it's annoying asf
@juniper1350 people obsessed with Jinx and call her the main character, but Vi also a main character
@@ΘΘΝΘ-β5ξ They both are.
I feel perturbed by the fact that I was never able to distinguish an American from a Canadian accent prior to this video.
I feel honoured lol!!! 😂
Part of her pain came from nostalgia, which if you look at the root word means pain. She was nostalgic about a past life she detested, because her family and friends were there along with her. She despised Sevika for her betrayal and only wanted to run away with Powder because she's the only thing she has left but Powder or Jinx doesn't want to run away with her at all. Vi has rose tinted glasses on an idea of Zaun, but not the reality of it. The Zaun she remembers was a tight knit community where everyone shared the same struggles, the reality was that it was rife with crime and youth violence, but she thought her version was the real Zaun. It's why Vi told Jinx to think about their family while she was having a mental breakdown, not knowing that remembered them only amplified her sister's pain.
This exactly, she's very stuck in the past and wants to just return to familiarity. In the new season we see her room as a pit fighter and it's essentially a replica of her cell. It's insulating and stagnant, and I can't wait to see how she changes in s2 :3
I love your analysis and discussion of symbols. I never noticed the connection of the cloud tattoos and the torch. I did note some stuff with the rabbit but I didn’t notice she brought it to her stand-off at the end. Fundamentally Vi doesn’t understand Jinx and so she denies who she has become and that’s why she isn’t able to reach her. I do not think despite what Jinx said she can ever really go back to Powder. The symbol of the rabbit being locked away showing me that Jinx also abandoned her innocence even while she tried to cling onto its memory. Silco while I think he greatly failed Jinx in helping her process her grief and mental issues did truly accept her for who she was and did give her stability.
I think however for season 2 I don’t believe Vi in the trailer saying that her sister is gone. It’s still VI’s wish deep down to be with her sister. I believe she joins Caitlin in an attempt to save Jinx but she fails, leading to it appearing Jinx dies which causes a fallout with Caitlin. Without Jinx/Powder Vi has lost the only thing that was still driving her and so she becomes a pit fighter and alcoholic falling apart crushed by the immeasurable guilt she feels that led to this. I think perhaps then she might be able to understand her sister’s madness more and I think ultimately accept Jinx as her sister. I think Jinx too may change, not only seeing her sister falling apart, but becoming the hope of Zahn. Those two will finally unite, though I wonder if they will stay together in the end.
Do you think Vi will have her "grow up" moment? Jinx had it at the table scene, Vi was having it when she was turning herself in in the first act but she was interrupted by Vander and now she is kind of stalling
I’m wondering if she will, and I’m concerned it may either involve her sacrificing herself again (though fully this time) or taking out jinx, but HMMMMMM it’s a noggin spinner for sure!!!
@@lydiscott yes, It will be traumatic for us to watch, thank you for answering :)
i don't rly see it as jinx's "grown up" moment tbh, it honestly seemed like the opposite. she is regressing more and more into the darkness and leaning more and more into extremes, instead of realizing that her black and white mindset is inaccurate. THAT would be her actually growing up. her saying "i thought... maybe you could love me like you used to" is the very opposite of growing up, bc if jinx had actually grown up, she'd understand that vi literally DOES love her like she used to. that's the whole point.
@@juniper1350Vi doesn't love her, Vi loves Powder, she finally understood that and grow up, get rid of her mindset of always looking for protection and validation.
@@juniper1350 yes "grow up" wasn't really the right word choice, I meant more like she stopped being codependent and found herself, even if herself is a psycho sadly
I understand both sisters' sides but I sympathize with Vi more. The minute her parents died she had to become an adult for Powder's sake. They had Vander but Powder lend on Vi more than him. Vi wasn't allowed to make mistakes because if something happens while her siblings were in her care it all falls on her. She had to take the blame for someone else's mistake which isn't fair and ended up shaping her mentality. Marcus was right for doing it because Silco went there to kill Vi if she had went there he would have killed her and Powder since she only went with him because she had no one and thought Vi abandoned her. What killed me even more is that no matter how many times Vi tried to get to Jinx something kept happening that prevented her from doing so. First it was Ekko and then it was constantly Caitlyn. It made Vi look like a liar in Jinx's eyes. I also can't blame Vi for trying to get the old Powder back. Jinx is killing people for no reason and is mentally unwell Vi wants the best for her and this life isn't it. Sadly, Silco indented in Jinx's mind that Powder is weak while Jinx is her best self. Powder never got a chance to grow into herself the minute Vi left she had to be Jinx to be able to survive Zuan.
love your arcane videos! I'd loove to see an analysis on Caitlyn's character, God knows we need many more of those 😭
that’s actually coming either today or tomorrow! 😄😄😄 very excited to hear what you think of it.
@@lydiscott omggg I wasn't expecting it so soon aahhh i'm so excited 😭
Vi's parents were lost and stopped her from getting to have a childhood, while Caitlyn's parents hover constantly and refuse to let her reach adulthood. A very interesting contrast
Excellent video. All I can say is your get it, you really get how good the storytelling is in this show.
Thanks so much for watching! 😄
Thanks for this analysis, it helped me figure out some stuff for a story of my own.
24:50 At this point in the video my heart's now all fluttery and wacko that I kid you not I feel like Vi falling in love with Caitlyn for the first time. Man that Kiramman girl is the best thing to happen to Vi since her and her sister's birth with no doubt
So uh
This aged
I love how you brought up how violets are resistant to herbicides!
Someone give this girl unconditional love and support i feel sad for Vi. She didn't had Silco or even right to walk where she wants and was constantly beaten in Jail. Imo Vi has more right to have psychosis than Powder
Ah, I am looking forward to your nuanced take on Arcane. It is a series worthy of your talents.
As for the bunny, if you want to see just how far the rabbit hole (pun intended) you can go with its symbolism check out my other beloved channel for story analysis schee's Grand United Bunny Theory video.
OHHH I LOVE SCHNEE
That was very interesting and well explained. I’m so excited for saison 2. We will see
Good evening 🌃. I fan of arcane and vi and caitlyn. Everyone have great day and next day and week and weekend and next week and full happiness 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊.
Excellent analysis, subscribed immediately after the video!
Aw thank you!!!
21:39
Arcane Season 2 Act I: not anymore... at least, not now.
I have been both Vi and Powder, and my most recent again girlfriend, college sweetheart, is my Caitlyn…we’re working things out. But the monster I had to become to protect my innocence isn’t compatible with the sincerity in her fostering nature. Thus I have to actually kill and grieve for a part of me, part I’ve used to survive for my 30+ years, and relearn how to love and trust without expectation. This show was too masterfully done💜🙌🏾🙏🏾✊🏾
really liked your interpretation of arcane and its characters and themes, cant wait for you to cover my favourite girl sevika! :)
I think in simpler terms. Vi is beginning to be forced to choose between something she longs to protect, and something she wants to be protected with. She will have to chose between her past, Powder/Jinx, or her future, Caitlin
Amazing video great storyline explained great work as always
It's a lovely analysis.
I liked this review! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching 🤗
pleasee make an character analysis on mai zenin (i would recommend reading the manga if you want to though because a lot more of her character is in there)
Love Mai ahhh
WHATT!! really? Thats cool i love her to✨:)
Can't wait to see more of Vi and Jinx!!!
Excellent video!
Aw thanks! ☺️
I feel like it's a little (more) inappropriate how some people choose to forget Vi was herself still a child forced to grow up prematurely and become a surrogate mother to her own younger sister and hold her solely responsible for "what she did to" Powder. She was a child, why are we holding her to an unrealistic, perfect standard of having everything figured out, while excusing and justifying everything Powder/Jinx did and does. They're both human, flawed characters and that is the beauty of a well written story. You don't need to hate on a character if you like another.
I sympathise with people who find themselves in Jinx/Powder, it's great when we can relate and find representation in a character - it helps us find others like us and we feel less alone. But the exact same can be said for Vi - there are a great number of people, myself included, which can relate to her struggles of having to grow up faster, see and do things she shouldn't have had to at her age, while a younger sibling was sheltered and could experience their innocence longer. Holding the older (but still a child!!) sibling accountable and blaming them for making mistakes that a well adjusted adult maybe wouldn't have is unrealistic. Vi was a child, she was doing her best with what she could.
So I'll say it again: people don't need to hate on Vi to like Jinx/Powder, the opposite is also true - they are both flawed, human-like, well written characters. Let's enjoy a well written story :)
vi’s story is so tragic! so excited to see where she ends up in season 2!
Amazing video
Do you plan to do all the main characters in Arcane and singed?
Oh ya!
I can't totally agree with you about VI's childhood. She did have to grow up too soon, but I think she had to grow up early independently of Vander. Because the girls parents were drug addicts; Vi had to care for powder, to protect her from their parent's addiction and then their death. If I had 1 criticism of Vander: it would be that he focused most of his parental guidance on Vi. His attention is split on the people direcrly under him and the Capo of his foster children. If Vander thought about his value for his kids, Vi might've been captured by the enforcers and then kidnapped by Silco and we would've had a completely different end to the first act. Where Vi had to face Vander's Demon, and Vander would have to rally 3 little bugbears to save Vi.
Where did you find that their parents were drug addicts?
@@candleofmylife environmental/context clues. act 2 episode 6, when Caitlyn and Vi take Refuge in the slums and Vi immediately picks a Ramshackle hut, she's familiar with the place. She sees all kinds of visions of chibi Powder crawling around sleeping in the hammock and the crayon drawings on the wall. It's implied that her parents and them lived down there with the rest of the shimmer users; perhaps they didn't use shimmer, but they did something unsavory down there. They're brought to a Riot on the bridge where their parents died, subtract parent points for taking your kids to a Riot. When Vi talks about games she'd play with Powder; Vi wanted to avoid waking their parents. admittedly that's a little weak cause parents tend to want 8 hours before they have to wake up. I also question why they have anime hair colors and I kind of think it has something to do with prenatal drug use. Like I don't think there are any young people from piltover with Neon Pink, Blue, and White hair. I think it naturally comes out that color
Sure! Oil and Water can't mix,,, but...... what happens when its not water anymore
You know what i wonder? Does Jinx know that Vi didnt actually abandon her. That she was going to come back after coming back to her senses but Marcus arrested her. Does Jinx know that or not?
Vi did tell her that when they reunited, and Jinx seemed to understand. So yeah, I think she does know
@@cartoonishidealism582 I think I need to rewatch arcane. Thank u for confirming.
Unrelated but I love your voice
I’ve thought about checking out this show. It seems amazing.
OHHH MAN ITS SO GOOD! 10/10 would recommend!
@@lydiscott Thank you!
Jinx was always in Powder. Powder will always be in Jinx.
13 years old ? Wtf ?🤣
How can someone watch and listen to Vi for more than 2 secondes and think she is 13 years old? What is wrong with people ?
Btw vi was 16 or 17 in the first 3 episodes not 14
Vi's story is a tragedy, she had a normal reaction to a very abnormal situation, and it ruined her relationahip with Powder
(of course this is also Silco's fault for causing this to begin with, and in a way Marcus for not letting her go back, but both Vi and Jinx think its on Vi and so thats what matters)
Its painfully sad, as an older sister i very quickly came to understand Vi and forgive what she did, but thats just it isnt it? Its not up to the viewer to forgive Vi, its up to Jinx, amd the end of season 1 gave us the answer to that question
Ey, aren't you that girl from overly sarcastic productions?
is that a fucking Of Montreal reference
What’s the text in the thumbnail say? I can’t figure it out
Why so many side with Jinx? i dont understand in the slightest. Under every Trailer and everything i see everyone sides with the psychomaniac terrorist because of the trauma she caused on herself and refused to work trough. Is everyone now an arnachist? I am curiouse how all of them justify the next hundred bodies she will leave death in her wake.
Yaaaaa like I get the criticism of Vi for sure, she’s not flawless lol, but I mean, when it comes to Jinx/Powder… you can’t absolve horrific actions using childhood trauma/Vi’s actions as a kid. you can EXPLAIN how it came about, factoring that in. But It’s not at all a good justification 😬
mostly Jinx mains from League or fanboys who think they can fix her. Then there's the vocal minority of cop haters who label Vi as a traitorous villain because she eventually becomes an enforcer.
B/c she was horrifically traumatized as a child, then warped by silcos messed up beliefs, a lack of a support system outside of him, and the environment of Zuan. Not to mention she's still a teen when the later events of the show happened. She's not a good person, and there may not be any excuse for the deaths she's caused, but it is pretty understandable
I didn't like your video, the way you talk about Vi. She didn't "authored her own destruction" she was already destroyed, by the death of her parents, by the responsibilities that wasn't hers, by the people around her, by the environment that she lives in. She tries to built something (because that what you do when you want to survive) but everything collapse because of the people around her. Vi didn't cause her own destruction that's the people around her that are destroyer. By people I mean mostly Jinx/Powder.
yeah i definitely agree. this analysis feels like OP came with one idea of Vi and ignored all the canon evidence that showed anything else. plus these comments are really something else lol
Why are just making a video about Arcane now?
i rly hope vi can move on, she rly deserves to.
To be honest, I think this is the reason why she's acting like that in actual League game. Her voicelines are so cocky and egotistical.
honestly i like that vi took distance and wanted to cool down but at the same time to walk that far away after traumatizing her and leave her loudly crying near Silcos men which they just escaped is still something i have to discredit her even if cooling down was the right and good choice
Vi is pretty blind to the consequences of her actions (even more so then her sister) so it result's in her never learning from her mistakes. its a play on how being really stubborn is often portrayed as a great quality to have but its really a double edge sword. Like when Vi realizes she bought into a too good to be true story from Caitlyn, her solution was lash out at Silco again which is the dumbest thing she could be doing at that point. As she confirming all her sister's fear's and then think's the reason my sister does not trust me is because of silco not anything that did.
It's ridiculous to say that Vi is more blind to the consequences of her actions than Jinx.
Another victim mentality holder who doesn't hold Jinx accountable for her actions and making a video on it
The entire story starts with Vi robbing someone else's laboratory because she thought they had something she wanted but couldn't earn.
All of that is downstream from surviving the damage that Vander's invasion and rioting caused because Zaun felt like it was entitled to Piltover's property. After which Piltover, when it successfully defended itself from that invasion, declined to pursue its right to prosecution of Zaunites' aggression and let the sleeping dogs lie.
The only person more at fault for what happens than Vi is Vander. Vi's whole arc is her coming to terms with what happens when unearned leadership causes incalculable damage- as inherited from her father. Everything about the first season of Arcane is Vi doing everything wrong.
Piltover is not stagnant, Zaun is, being dragged underwater by its gangs of organized crime and refusing any help to clean itself up. Blaming Piltover for what happens is like blaming a jeweler for getting robbed because it had things worth robbing. Vi absolutely is misunderstood- she's not the hero, or even the protagonist. The closest to a protagonist Arcane has is Caitlin, who does her (insufficient) best to stop idiots from killing each other over their worst aspects, and Vi ruthlessly denounces her for her actual righteousness. Eko is the closest thing to a hero that world has.
Vi is the catalyst for change- and all the change she causes is destruction and violence. She's at the core of everything that goes wrong everywhere. If she wasn't so relateable and that there weren't people who were deliberately vicious she would be the villain.
Vi's story is of her doing exactly *everything* wrong.
Although I'm not 100% sure with this take I totally loved it
Blaming the poor for getting oppressed by the rich is such a fkn take
@@Gerritch piltover don't oppress them, unless you take freedom and selfgovernance as oppression which is extremely confusing and selfdefeating. The best Zaun did with its freedom was raise criminal gangs to their semblance of governance.
@@Avenus112 You clearly didn't watch the series if you truly believe that Zaun was "free". 😂 Literally the first scene dude
@@Gerritch nah, youre just lying and trolling. What happened is that I saw the reality of the situation and who was at fault for it- first Vander and all the other criminals he allied with (one of which he betrayed when he was too inconvenient), then Zaun when it wasted its selfgovernance, then Vi's pillaging and Zaun ignoring their nonaggression pact when it suits them, and finally when Zaun gains full autonomy from the government whose help they rejected, took advantage of and cheated whenever it suited them. Zaun is the problem.
Either way, youve made no arguments and contributed nothing, even assuming that is something you are capable of.
Fantastic video Narrator, pure 🐨🫖
AW THANKS FOR WATCHIN! 😄
This video was such a fantastic character study! I can’t wait to see more content from you, you truly understand the characters you talk about