And on an archetypical level a daughter, as a "young and innocenti girl" could very well represent someone's vulnerable side, one that makes them more human and empathic
The parenting in this show is so poignant. Understanding how trauma is passed down onto the next generation and how it can make it harder for the current generation to not only survive but thrive in life. (Something that should be shared with parents nowadays. They way they were raised will not always work for their children, because every person is different. Well said there!) I like how the show shows all of the main characters as both adults and children. The audience can see if the characters matured or was still stuck in their childhood mindset… Seeing the backstories really add depth to the characters, the plot and the lore, even. I’m looking forward to season 2! ♥️
@@heyimj662 hey at the start I thought this too. But Arcane does a very good job of fleshing out their characters. We see why she is the way she is because of her upbringing. And if we were in her position and with her past, would we have chosen and acted differently?
Mel defense squad checking in. Absolutely. One of the things that Arcane does really well is drawing the audience in as initially presenting characters as well known tropes, and then showing that the characters are more than their tropes. Mel starts off as the corrupting mentor and seductress, but with Mel (unlike the rest of the cast) the audience seems very unwilling to see beyond her initial presentation. Like the most manipulative thing Mel does to Jayce is put him on the council, but realistically who else could be placed on the council to do what needs to be done (keep Hextech going and protecting Piltover)? In the scene during the concert, Jayce had just made himself an enemy of all the movers and shakers of Piltover (except for Heimerdinger) and she gave him information crucial to his ability to survive on the council and achieve his goals. Jayce has always tackled challenges head-on, and so it’s absolutely in character and not him being manipulated that he takes that information and runs with it. I could go on about Mel for whole paragraphs. She’s every bit as much of a complex character as the rest of cast, and I love her.
What I find fascinating is that Ambessa (Mel's Mother), while definitely NOT a reasonable person in the traditional sense, IS genuinely trying to be a good Mom and Mentor in her own way, she's just so deep in Noxian ideals to realize she's causing more harm than good in regards to her relationship with Mel. Plus you can tell she absolutely HATES that her own child sees her as a Monster, but she feels she must do what she has to in order to protect her Family and Home.
As a lore fan, if Noxus in Arcane is much the same as it is in the LoL universe, Ambessa is probably one of the more laid-back Noxians and if they tried it Mel's way, they'd ALL have been long dead a while ago. Especially if the man Kino crossed is who most of the fanbase thinks it is.
"What I find fascinating is that Silco (Jinx's 3rd father), while definitely NOT a reasonable person in the traditional sense, IS genuinely trying to be a good father and mentor in his own way, he's just so deep in Zaun ideals to realize he's causing more harm than good in regards to his relationship with Jinx. Plus you can tell he absolutely HATES that his own child sees him as a monster, but he feels he must do what he has to in order to protect his Family and Home." God I love the parallels in this show.
I couldn't have said it better. I want to add though, when Ambessa told Mel the real reason she cast her out; the fact that she felt Mel 'softened' her, it feels like Ambessa saw for the first time in her daughter: an alternative to the path that was laid out for her when she was young. As if Mel were choosing the path that she herself wanted to take but felt like she had no option. This I'm sure brought back a lifetime of memories and regrets she has from being a Wolf for so long, and out of a moment of impulse made the decision to send her own daughter away instead of guiding her. That line alone though showed me Ambessa made the decision she felt would give Mel the Fox her best chance in life; a bureaucratic position in a (compared to Noxus) passive city where she could hone her skills. I fcking love this show dude. Thank you Georgia for the perspective. 💛
@@f7forever That's actually a really cool take. She even says as much. "I sent you away to grow yourself, and you have." I think she honestly knew her daughter wouldnt last in this world of Noxus that they had set up. So banishment was the only choice. I agree that I dont think it was as malicious of an act as it seemed at first, and like you said, perhaps Mrs. Medarda was a bit envious of this path that Mel could now take and still thrive.
I find it interesting in that Mel always wears pure white with gold adornments, but when her mother comes to visit she's in straight black (but still has the gold adornments).
Mel's painting, even though it was never mentioned in the show, is of Noxus. She created it because she longed to be together with her family again. But when she painted over it, she rejected being part of any of it, even before taking off the family ring.
Mel isn't just mad at Moma-darda for a boundary violation. Moma-darda pushed Jayce into a mindset of rushed action and necessary confrontation, resulting in Jayce killing that kid. Mel is furious for the unnecessary emotional damage Jayce was set up to take
This. Mel knows Jayce has a capacity to become like her mother and is actively trying to prevent that by moulding him into a fox, her mum was undoing her efforts by pushing him to "know death".
It's so sad that so many people label Mel as a morally grey or downright evil character because of her manipulation of Jayce. But if you understand the context of her upbringing (ESPECIALLY if you know League of Legends lore and what Noxus as a nation has done; they have chemically bombed several nations) her desire to better the world and separate herself from her lineage is very understandable.
@@monicacreator3168 also they act as if Jayce didnt get what he wanted, although Mel manipúlate him it was so he could get the chance he wanted to make something big she help him and get something for her it was a win/win situation
I'm so happy I found your channel. One scene that completely changes Mel's character for me is on Episode 6 when Jayce opens up about Viktor to her. First the start of that scene is amazing... because you can clearly sense how pissed she is at him for leaving in the middle of the night. Then he starts to talk about Viktor and you can see how uncomfortable she is. I've seen people say that she looks bored and dismissive... but to me it's because she doesn't know how to act. She have until that point played the cunning political Fox. And this is someone she clearly doesn't know how to do. She also opens up to him. And for the first time her guard is down, it's the first time we see Mel the human being and not Mel the councilor. I love how this show can make me empathize with every character.
I noticed it, too. Vander's relationship with Vi, Silco's relationship with Jinx, Ambessa's with Mel... not to mention Marcus' last words being "tell my daughter I love her" and Caitlyn's mother always trying to support her daughter. Arcane is a story about daughters.
The parallels of both parents/mentor shaping their kids. Yes it scream in volumes of similar yet different actions going to the same route of uncertainty
@@vangoghsnight4268 I wouldn’t know, since I’m not Asian, but I’m 90% sure that prejudice is the reason why “being (insert race here) sucks.” Prejudice sucks.
@@paulchapman8023 I get where you're coming from.. but guy is clearly frustrated due to cultural norms surrounding his situation. No need to pull out the flags when not needed. Let's just empathize with him where he's at, and go from there.
In that last scene, I was very proud of Mel, going against her mother and Noxus to support the man she loves and do the right thing for the new home that she's grown to care for. Of course, she's not a saint, she's made some questionable decisions, but she made the honorable choice in the end. I hope that glowing armor of hers managed to protect her from Jinx's missile and that we'll see more of her and her mom in the next season. Moving on from that, do you think you might do a video on Mel and Jayce's relationship similar to how you went over Vi and Caitlyn's?
I think she will die, Jayce will be saved by standing right besides Viktor, who will involuntarily manifest a force field through the synthetic limbs that he acquired from the Hexcore. That will trigger a Noxian invasion of PnZ, and probably would make Jayce hate on the undercity.
@@ScorpionViper1001 They really do, though! They're exactly what the other needs - he helps her be more open and channel her emotions, and she helps him be less impulsive and more of a strategist, they effectively communicate with each other and it seems like they have a good thing going physically as well... Dismissing their relationship as toxic because she's persuasive is just denial.
After watching this I think there's definitely a theme of the tragic side of parenting/mentorship (in addition to all the other things somehow crammed in this show). Ambessa couldn't make Mel into a proper Noxian. Silco couldn't make Jinx whole. Heimerdinger couldn't make Jayce and Victor see how dangerous hextech was before tragedy struck. Greyson couldn't make Marcus understand how to properly work with the Undercity to keep the peace. Sometimes you can't save your children. They're going to make choices whether you like it or not, even if they're wrong, even if it breaks your heart.
@@Let_Toons i actually find this particular example really compelling because vi sort of DOES become this person. She has the beliefs and moral code vander instilled in her it’s just that she doesn’t have the power to change things as she wishes she does. The lack of peace is out of her hands despite her best efforts.
@@hanaeltantawy145 Vi does not escape the tragedy, they all learn the lesson just after a first failure always bloody and dramatic Marcus already started changing his mind right after Greyson's death and he "saves" vi's life after that (in an excruciating way that makes me wonder why, but whatever) but already gone too far Jinx decides to fend for herself and no longer sickly need recognition (to see if it works but she pushed Vi away for this purpose anyway) but it's after Silco's death and Vi is almost a perfect big sister especially considering the context in which she grew up but she lied to Vander after his speech on "the responsibilities as a leader" by telling Jinx to keep the blue stones and that it would be "their secret" and well.. . we know where it led .
I like to call it "The Undoing of Daughters" Come to think of it we haven't seen the son equivalent. Our boy Jayce is the only male we even see the parents of.
13:21 highlighted a new angle for me. Mom sending Mel away was an unintentional insult. She knew Mel wouldn't survive Noxian politics so she sent Mel to someplace whose politics she could survive. She couldnt protect Mel from the Noxia she built at the same time she works to build it. So she sent her away, because protecting their pups is what wolves do. So many new dimensions all the time.
Mel is my absolute favourite. With her past traumas and family issues, she's so much more layered and good hearted than most people think. thank you so much for talking about her!! 💗
Something that really intrigues me about Mel is that almost everyone I’ve seen who watches this are really suspicious of Mel and build up this character archetype in their heads of this seductive, political power player who only cares about the influence they wield and I think the series plays into that for at least the first 4 episodes and genuinely plays Mel like that with honesty, she is after all these things, but then the series slowly starts to peel back the layers of her character that they set up with the line in her first appearance about being the poorest in her family despite being the richest in Piltover, and they sort of reveal it through her romance with Jayce that at first seems like some sort of power move, but then through the way she acts she subtly shows the audience that those feelings are genuine as we start to learn more about her, and this just keeps building and building every scene she’s in all the way to her last scenes with her mother and on the council. Every scene she’s in shows us something new about her and by the end you see that she’s such a complicated person, but ultimately a good one, with a strong moral compass, a developed sense of empathy and the smarts to play the game, being both the “fox and the wolf” in her own way. And at the end taking off her family ring is such a tiny, yet monumental thing for her that mirrors what Jinx is going through at that same moment, only where Jinx is falling into this mental decline as she rejects her long lost family, Mel is rejecting her long lost family in a display of self improvement. While Jinx would have been far better off accepting Vi back into her life but thinks the opposite, Mel is better off pushing her mother out of her life and she knows truly why she needs to. And looking at the series as a whole, they reflect each other even further, as an inverse of each other’s stories. We are introduced to Jinx as an innocent, lovable little girl who is corrupted over the course of the series, doing these unforgivable things until the point where she becomes practically a villain. Mel is virtually introduced as a seeming villain and she instead has a positive arc, growing more and more morally and empathetically conscious until the point where she also faces her demons and yet overcomes them in a healthy way. Two women, one being destroyed by her abandonment issues, one facing them and coming out stronger.
Mel and Jinx parallel? God this show has it all. I'll be honest I wouldnt be surprised if there's some sort of parallel between each and every character. I read a new one that blows my mind every day.
Mel never went trough such a trauma that Jinx did, yeah her childhood was traumatic but nothing to the extent that Jinx had o go trough,big difference is already that Mel was born rich and had everything she wanted while Jinx was born in tough and unforgiving undercity in my opinion its not even her fault at what she became ,Powder would have never survived the cruelty of Zaun also there are no psychatrists ad therapists in Zaun....so there was never even a chance for Jinx , maybe if she would have been born in Piltover....or in rich family like Mel but sadly she wasnt , I didnt like how undercity was portrayed as full of criminals and villains while politicans and rich people in the show were framed as heroes I see Mel and Jayce as villains as well, they dont commitviolent acts like Jinx but Jayce was blinded by her ambition and incredibly irresponcible, most of the things that happened in the show...even the monkey bomb explosion are actually Jayces fault , he even broke the law and Mel is incredibly corrupt , I am from a country that was oppressed and occupied for over 40 years because we had government that also closed their eyes and didnt care what people are going troug , I hated the fact that Mel knew that people are dying in the Undercity and are being oppressed and poisoned but she chose to ignore it , soo many people died and got hurt thanks to this ,yeah Mel and Jayce made the right decision in the end but it was already too late, but thats just my opinion ,as I see it there are no heroes or good people in this story anyway :D Ekko is the only one who comes close to being a hero
@@HK-gm8pe there is no measure of how much trauma is worse than the other however. Mel's trauma doesn't take away from Jinx's the same way Jinx's doesn't take away from hers. They both were dealt heavy cards and went through journeys dealing with them
An interesting note about the scene with Ambessa (Mel's mom) and Jayce is for most people, having no clothes is a sign of vulnerability or shame. But for Ambessa it's almost like a power move, she is showing off her scars and her muscles and it's like her saying "look at how strong I am, I am stronger than you, more experienced." I just thought it was something interesting despite the strangeness of the scene.
21:20-21:55 One more thing about the painting scene is that painting is of The Immortal Bastion, the capital city of Noxus. Mel defacing it with gold, one of the national colors of Piltover, is a major artistic statement to her mother about where she truly feels she belongs.
To be correct Noxus Prime is the capital city, Immortal Bastion is it's ancient center part) And knowing the history of the Bastion, all the horrors and danger behind its walls, how many characters were tortured there and how the darkest parts of Noxian past are connected to this fortress - the painting looks even more symbolic, I think.
@@МарияСизова-г9м I mean technically the formal name of the capital is Noxus Prime, but everyone who isn't being super official calls it The Immortal Bastion. Definitely agree on the extra symbolism too.
Great analysis! Mel is a super smart character that wants to see Piltover prosper. When the hexgates were compromised, she suggested making Jayce a counselor even though the other members of the council hated the fact that someone else is given the same powers as them. But Mel didn't care as it was best for Piltover's safety. When Jinx gets the gemstone, Mel is in favor of making Hextech weapons to defend Piltover even though she hates war. She always considers the good and bad of every option available. I think she is a fox till the only option remaining is to become a wolf.
A lot of people forget Mel's position, a leader of an independent free trade city, arguably the real power of the council as well. What keeps that city and her ideals alive from other powers? All the predatory exploitative actions Mel does is likely for the sake of keeping her city running, and independent.
5:40 this can apply to Silco too. He gave Jinx the same experiences that he had (the clearest example being the baptism) because it made him a strong man and he assumed that it will make her strong too. But the only thing he did was cracking Jinx’s mind and turning her into a living weapon
God, I love Mel. The way they frame her to be a potential villain/manipulator, only to show her truth and develop her so much in the final arc is genius. One of my favorite characters in s1 and that's a very high bar to meet lol. Great video, Georgia! Keep at it 😁
Something that really interests me is the way that Councilor Mel is able to enact the plan she had as young Mel. Young Mel describes her ideal regent as having a kind face, charmingly clever to her subjects, and pliable to the Medardas. All of which are evident in Head Councilor Jayce: a good-hearted scientist whose inventions have garnered the love of the Piltover citizenry, and whom is thrust into a position of leadership and political games under Mel’s instruction.
Oh yeah! But even though she mentors him, she never once takes away his agency, he is always free to make his own decisions for better or worse. Something that her mother would never allow.
‘Social Engineering’ is such a good phrase for Mel’s character. She is excellent in a Communications role like a Councilwoman, so I love the phrase for Mel. She has a talent for navigating in a social setting. I feel like Mel was - in my opinion - an Upgrader, in terms of Jayce. She saw potential of who Jayce could be and molded him, upgraded him into that version she sees in her vision of him. But beside that, her relationship with her mom was powerful. Her mother is shameless but entertaining to watch and probably a nightmare to live with though! Thank you for the reaction video! Im definitely watching more of your videos! Arcane is so good, I need more content 🙏🏽♥️😃
Mel's Mother taught Mel that there are people like her in the world. In response adult Mel has built herself a piece of the world that she dominates and controls. I see the adult interactions of Mel and her mother as a battle of two alpha's in a territory dispute not one of Mother vs bratty women child. Adult Mel is every bit as formidable as her mother but done different through strategy and political maneuvering. It is a recurring theme in the show. Young people with new ideas trying to replace the old guard. The two coups one in the council, one in the gang structure and this one between Mel and her mom being the transition of iron fist rule to statesmanship.
Your analysis made me realize there's some parallels between Mel's arc in Arcane, and Zuko's arc in Avatar The Last Airbender. Both were exiled essentially for being too soft for their ruthless parent (though the motivations for the exile were drastically different between them), both started their arcs wanting to prove themselves worthy of their family, both were offered a return to their families in exchange for being who their parent wanted them to be, and both end up rejecting that offer in the end.
@@GeorgiaDow Ah. My comment spoils a character's general arc a bit, but I think you'd really love the series, and you'd have a lot to dig into and analyze in it. All of the major characters get some solid characterization and/or development across the series, but there's one character in particular that I think a lot of fans of the series would enjoy your analysis and insight on.
You actually have reminded of the scene in the council, when Mel is taking off her family ring, and the light shines on her - she she stepped out of the shadow of her mom and being her own.
I would still like to see your take on Vi on her own, rather than in the context of her relationships with Jinx or Cait. Her trauma is expressed in a much more muted way than Powder's, but that doesn't mean she's any less affected by what happened to her and I think that's worth its own analysis.
Yea especially with how views powder. First from saying she could do parkour when she was 7 even tho in episode 1 she barely could, to thinking powder was being held by silco, thinking powder had to work for him because she has to. As much jinx puts vi on a pedastal, vi does the same with powder
Yes! If I had to pick, Vi is my favorite character. She's been through so much and it always hurts me to see people saying she's a horrible person/sister
@@GeorgiaDow There's too many and at the same time too little about Vi. We only know her as Jinx's Sister/parental figure, and the roughish cat fang hot tomboy head strong. We have yet to see what's deep in Vi's mind we only get the glimpse of their mother and the house Vi destroy. It somehow has subtle symbolic and the way she described their home as not as worse like it used to means we have yet to explore Violets true backstory
When Ambessa says "such drama" and basically undermined Mel expressing herself, it really struck a cord with me. And I was angry just as much as Mel. I feel like my mom does that too. Sees me as overreacting instead of actually listening. It sucks
I didn't know what to make of Mel for a number of episodes in the beginning but I was intrigued by her calm and cunning demeanor (also she's a literal fox appearance-wise so that helps lol). The annoyance she displayed waking up to Jayce not being in her bed was the first sign for me of those layers being peeled back. Then, her reaction to him laying his head in her lap and kissing her hand while lamenting about Viktor. It reminded me of being caught off guard in that same kinda way with my s/o (he's also very open and unafraid about showing vulnerability + affection).
I know this was meant as more a breakdown of Mel, but one aspect of her mother I found interesting is how she said that Mel "weakened" her. Ambessa would be disgusted at herself when she saw that Mel looked at her as if she were a monster. Ambessa did what she believed was necessary, yet Mel's disapproval seemed to awaken in her a sense of mercy and justice that she had long ago suppressed. Makes me think that as a child Ambessa was not so different from Mel. Ambessa learned to be very guarded with those feelings, such that they were reserved for those closest to her. She felt responsible for her son's death because she saw herself as her family's protector. She exiled Mel because it was the right thing to do for herself, for the rest of the family, and for Mel. She sent Mel to a place where she believed Mel would fit in, because society as it was in Noxus would have eaten Mel alive (and it seems this is just barely this side of a figure of speech).
I would love for you to explore Mel and Jayce's relationship. They seem to have made each other better and help each other evolve. Even though, in the beginning, she only saw him as an asset and was manipulating him for her own ends. I belive they really fell in love along the way. Maybe I'm just a helpless romantic lol.
May I add that Mel is like a supermodel, beautiful and elegant. Then the voice just seals it all. Seriously this character is my favourite within the series.
as a league player, while watching arcane, i was only really interested in the in-game champions of the show. since mel isn't a champion, i never paid much attention to her character as a whole, and i just wanted to say you did an amazing job at putting a whole new perspective on her with this reaction video! i'm much more intrigued than i was before, and i'm tempted to rewatch the show with all of this new information in mind because it makes it that much better when putting the pieces together. as always, amazing video, i'm looking forward to more content!
Arcane is a much better show than "just putting champions into a serie and bonking on it" it's deep, it's complex and it's a freaking awesome show, watching it "only for the champions" isn't doing it justice I think. I was a pretty big fan fo the game myself but I'm more some kind of "lore fan" right now and this serie is the blast for that ! there's geopolitical relationship explained, characters that could seems insignificant for the game (even though I could perfectly see Ambessa (or even better : Sevika !) make it through in the game as a champion) If Riot plan to expand the serie in some kind of "league of legend cinematic universe" I'd be so Hyped ! There's tons of different regions and intersting characters ! and I'd love to explore it with more depth that what we have right now !
@@yozarahirvi4750 There is no "if" question, that is exactly the plan. They are taking the steps to make the world of Runeterra alive, making different kinds of games that feature all the different parts of the world. Now there just need to be some books.
Mel's situation with her mom really hits home, especially in the black community. Often time, black parents are stuck in their ways of doing what they were taught by their parents. In America, this is a direct result of slavery and segregation. It creates this perspective that the only way you will survive is by hardening yourself and your children to live. Yet just like in this case, you can see how it effects Mel's mom and, in Noxus, weakness is not accepted. Its always hard to address when you make decisions for the well being of your children, without taking into consideration how it will effect them emotionally.
This is so true. There's so much intergenerational trauma that's passed from one generation to the next; fear and prejudice that was once literally necessary to survive. But does it make sense for our children to fear the world the way their ancestors did? When in so many ways, the world is different now? Not different enough, many would say. And that's the struggle. How do you prepare them for today, knowing everything that happened yesterday, and everything that could still happen tomorrow? Give them the confidence to move forward carrying our hopes and dreams, while knowing that they may experience opposition from all sides... what feels like all the time.
Okay two things first: THE outfit and makeup omg, it's gorgeous! And that Darth Vader reference, gave me chills, thanks for that moment... Amazing how you were able to get so much from four interactions, Mel really did become the person her mom wanted her to be, but without giving up her beliefs
When I started the series, I saw this ultra-rich Goddess of a woman and thought "This is going to be an evil and manipulative person driven by greed" Throughout the season, she did nudge things in a preferred direction using her political power, and (Substantial) feminine wiles. However, she showed a willingness to show compassion and goodness however uncommon and inconvenient on the council. Ultimately, I like her, and it makes me sad that none of the Zaunites got to really know her well
I'm crossing my fingers that in some way both Medardas will come in contact with the Zaunites, i just think they can learn from each other and have so much in common too
I absolutely hated Mel when she was first introduced. I just looked at her as a grand manipulator trying to get her way. The show is so good though, and they managed to get me to completely flip my view of her. They have managed to make me understand every single characters actions and the beliefs that they have. Can't wait for season 2.
I didn't hate her, but I was extremely wary of her and her motivations. They did make her seem manipulative, until it eventually became clear she was trying to help Jace (and their interests for Piltover so happened to align).
I LOVE how dynamic everything is in this show! Ambessa, though she had limited screentime, still stood out to me. I didn't expect it honestly. She's not just this stereotypical tough woman with no heart.
She seems really similar to Zuko in that when everything she wants is just right in her reach she lets it go to do what's right. Definitely gave me Zuko defecting vibes. She's really a strong and interesting character. Thanks for shining the spot light on her and helping me appreciate her as more than just a side character!
Thank you for doing this one! Mel is one of my favourite characters and it's always frustrating to me when people take her on a surface level. There's deep trauma within her and she's struggling with the need to be validated by her family and rebelling against them. I think Jayce is integral to her decision to finally take that last step and cut off all ties. He helps her channel the aspects of herself that she's learned to suppress due to her upbringing. He revives that idealism she shows in that flashback. He's openly affectionate and vulnerable with her, values her counsel and validates her. Most importantly, he doesn't ask anything in return except her company because he genuinely enjoys spending time with her, whereas she's always expecting conditions. You can tell that she's shocked and doesn't initially know how to handle his openness. She questions it. Then she confines in him about her exile and he immediately validates her, tells her that to him she's good enough. As they build their relationship, she becomes more openly emotional and physically affectionate like he is. And when her mother arrives and tries to mould Jayce the way she tried to mould her, she releases all of that pent up emotion at her. The armour comes off. She's scared that her mother will push Jayce towards becoming a wolf like she tried to do with her and she wants to protect him from that. When she takes off the ring she's not only choosing peace over war, but also Jayce's unconditional love over her mother's affection that comes with an assortment of ifs and buts. She finally realises that she doesn't need her family because she now has someone who values and accepts her fully. It breaks my heart that the final scene of the season is her smiling at her man in victory (that for her is more symbolic than just passing the vote on peace treaty, it's a victory over herself and her upbringing as well) because we might not see that growth come into fruition if she dies.
Loved this look into Mel and her relationship with her mother. There are many examinations of the idea of “not being enough” for one’s family (or predecessors/figures one values and respects) in this show. I love that Mel is one example of one rising above it and finding such strength in what she thought made her a disappointment to her family.
Mel's story is a fascinating journey of a political cynic discovering a moral idealism. At first she's probably just trying to use Jayce as an "investment" but gradually their relationship evolves her perspective. The final scene sees the culmination of her journey, when she removes her family signet ring -- signalling her final acceptance of her rejection from her family because of her values. She turns her back on her mother's demands and helps Jayce lead the council to the right, moral choice. And there, at the moment of her greatest triumph, Jinx tears it all down. The tragedy is perfect.
I absolutely adore this cosplay, it's stunning! It looks like you had a lot of fun with it! Mel and Ambessa's dynamic and interlocking personalities were so fantastic...I was on the fence about Mel as a character until her mother came along. Watching the way her and her mother interact with one another really cemented their place in my heart. I'm curious to see your takes on Jayce and Heimerdinger. They are my least favorite/least interesting characters so far, but every time I've come away from your interpretation videos with a new perspective to look at and more stuff to chew on, it leads to a newfound appreciation of the characters and I thank you for it. I went a little Arcane-drunk for a while (the quality of character development and relationships is in a league of its own), and your dives are giving me new material to digest even now. Thank you!
I speak French but I will do my best to write this comment: excellent video! I really LOVE it! Also, everybody wants to find an excuse to " dislike " Mel because I think she is too complex for some people. She is like Silco and Jinx but people doesn't want to share some sympathy with her. I don't understand why. Also, she is stronger than Jinx in a way because she tries to fight against her traumas and abandon issues. I'm sorry but As a young person Diagnosed with schizophrenia (so, a psychotic person), I really dislike Jinx for being so immature and she doesn't fully represent us at all even if she is fictional. I preferred her character in LOl. In arcane she is a kind of the cliché of tortured psychotic murder... I know that us, neurodivergent person are not all the same but I don't like how fans only sens Jinx trauma and not Vi's or Mel's multiple traumas : seeing corpses at young age and for Vi seeing her adoptive family accidentally killed by her precious sister + being in prison (even if she was innocent she took responsibilities and it's very mature for a teenager). It's like everybody are idealising Jinx and doesn't care about Vi's perspective or Mel's point of view. Jinx is " cuter " so it's the only thing for some "fans" and LOL community. Finally, thank you soooo much for your videos and objectivity!!! Not like other RUclipsrs who clearly have a sort of favouritism and a biased point of view due to the game. Thank you very much again❣️
Mel is one of my favorite characters from this show and I struggle with my own mother so it’s always great when I see a similar situation of a daughter standing up to a toxic parent
Mel is one of my most favourite characters, I've always liked smart characters because it's pretty hard to write a good one and Mel is perfect. You can see her influence in every council meetings.
Fathers and Sons. That hits home. I tried for years to tell my father (who with the benefit of hind sight was a fairly wise man) that I was not a younger version of him. Sadly he never understood, even to his dying day.
Mel is my fav character. The complicated relationship she goes through with her mother. As well as her wicked smarts. Hope to get more of her in season 2
Thank you for bringing attention to her! I feel like she’s the character people sleep on the most when in reality she’s really deep and intriguing because I feel she’s so morally gray. We see her framed as a person who sort of allows for corruption to happen and utilizes manipulation in order to maintain her political power to someone who later on softens and looks out for Jayce and the interests of the people of Piltover in direct opposition to her family’s wishes. I really hope she survives, she’s definitely my favorite character.
I love mel!! she is way more than pretty rich woman. She is mature, beautiful and also smart... I hope to see more Mel in season 2!! (Could you also make separate video on Vi because I'd love to learn more about her avoidant attachment styles and understand her even more!
I honestly didn't think you could make much with Mel, but this is really good, I hope Mel ends up being a champion in the game, but you know, doing that means she'll survive the explosion, so.... who knows
The gold *embedded in her skin* was glowing from *under her dress* ; I have no doubt in my mind she'll live. And since she was sitting close to Victor and Jayce, it might be full on forcefield around her.
Mel became one of my favorites characters of the series. I really hope she survives the missile so we could explore more of the arc between her and her mother
please react to vi! vi as a child was always pressured by vander to be responsible as an older sister and like he said after they robbed one part of piltover (mylo, claggor, vi and powder) whatever happens is on vi. he also says that vi fighting isn’t gonna get her anywhere, it’s just gonna cause more problems. which vi continues to fight. she also wanted the best for powder and more. she went through a lot and i feel so bad for vi. she spent a lot of time in a cell starving, being abused, and counting the hours as she mentioned in episode 9, jinx’s tea party. so yeah, sorry if this dosnt make sense, i’m bad at explaining lol but anyways this is a great video! i love mel, keep up the great work! :)))
Mel, my beloved! So glad to see your episode on her. I was blown away by her beauty inside and out, her compassion and emotional strength that is shown in these episodes
I am loving all the videos coming out of Mel right now. Yours and Viv Chai are really good. I love type A characters and especially female characters who have a heart of gold hidden under their political cunning
Dude thank you for making this video because I see a lot of people down play Mel as just a manipulater or seductress which definitely pushes some stereotypes about black women in a negative light.
Thank you for saying something, I thought I was tweakin'. Because the "Jezebel" perception of Mel is rampant in the fandom, and even these comments, and I'm sick of it.
@@Ebon_Sean yeah man it's getting fucking annoying and they kinda infantize jayce, making it seem like mel is predatory towards him. Which definitely push the sapphire/jezebel stereotype.
@@Ebon_Sean Same. It definitely is and it honestly sucks, here we have this somewhat rare representation of a complex black female character in an animated show, and everyone else either dislikes or unfairly categorizes her character into a very negative stereotype. I don't get how there are characters in this show that have done worse yet they're afforded complexity in discussions. Can't have shit ffs
@@chaaaargh It's the exact same dynamic we see when a white school shooter is remarked to have been "such a nice kid", while an unarmed black person is shot to death by trigger happy cops and there's an immediate reflexive clamoring for reasons they must have somehow deserved it. In both fandom spaces and real life, there's a general tendency for people to squint to find the humanity in white people no matter what bad they do, and search for the villain in black people no matter how good they are. It's exhausting.
I'm new here (from your Encanto videos) and can I just say....THANK YOU!!! Your analysis is spot on. Everyone saying Mel is a manipulator or I never liked/understood her character are weird to me because they can't bring up valid points for their hate. Politically savvy and diplomatic acumen is always readily understood or excused for ambitious, pragmatic men but here's Mel, who btw is right in her decision makings get hate from people who lowkey are jealous that she's smart, beautiful, ambitious, gets the guy that they wanted paired up with their otp. All the characters in Arcane are complex and I gave each of them grace from the beginning because I don't think in black and white. There's alot to unpack for Mel. For e.g. She had the foresight in supporting Jayce and Viktor's research and what it might mean for Piltover's status/economy, after Jinx's attack she proposed Jayce as councilor because who better to lead an investigation for Hextech while protecting the Hexgates i.e economy through the shipping lanes. After jayce wanting to weed out corruption, she explained to him it's better to have a light touch, grease palms, that way everyone gets what they want. She suggests arming Piltover only after they realize that the undercity might be more dangerous than they gave them credit for (happens when you underestimate and over look people). She opts for peace because not only is it preferable to bloodshed, it's the moral thing to do. I think she's seducting (have you seen her🤤) but not a seductress in the way everyone makes her out to be. She didn't weaponize sex she was attracted to Jayce and then fell in love with him after she found herself being vulnerable around him. "The Medardas usually take from the world....we don't often find ourselves in a position to give something back". Mel wants Piltover/Jayce to succed and she wants to succeed, especially as the fox rather than the wolf. She wants to solidify herself and her way of politics as good enough, as sustainable. Subscribed ❤.
Mel is so underrated, so thank you for this reaction! I'm looking forward to your analysis of Jayce. There is too much hatred from the audience towards him, which, in my opinion, he doesn't really deserve. It will be interesting to hear your opinion about him with Viktor. I'm a little familiar with the game lore and I know what may happen next season, so the further relationship between Jayce and Viktor is very intriguing.
I wanted to say I really enjoy your Arcane character breakdowns. Mel turned out to be my favorite character because she started as what seemed like an ... amoral (for lack of a better word) opportunist, then through the course of the story became a very real, very rich and very endearing person.
Mel is easily in my top 5 Arcane characters, since I find her incredibly complex and interesting. But what I really want is your video about Jayce, since he is my favourite character and I think a lot of people missed his struggles throughout the show (for example his struggles with unwanted responsibilities or the impossible choices he had to make).
Great video, Georgia! I love Mel. One thing that struck me about her was her desire for peace and how she sticks with her principles. I also was intrigued by her relationship with her mom. You did such a great job analyzing it - especially about the pain that Mel feels from being exiled and about how some parents, even when kids are adults, will try to make their children to be a certain way, see the world the same way they do, etc. Your videos always get me to think deeper about characters (even ones that I thought deeper about, like Jinx). I appreciate how empathetic you are and you are awesome. Keep up the great work! I need to catch up on more of your Arcane videos, but I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your reactions and also your videos about mental health generally too (like what to do if you can't afford therapy, forgiveness, and fear). Kudos. :) Have a great week!
I'm so glad you've taken the time to do this analysis. Mel gets very little attention in fandom for some reason when she's such an incredibly complex character with an arc that's very compelling, especially in its subtlety. She's definitely my favourite character, it's rare to get this kind of complex representation for Black women characters in animated series so I'm endlessly thankful for her existence. I'm excited to see if she'll make it in the next season and how she might shift now that being the fox has in many ways failed her. Will she be more susceptible to her mother's influence? Will she find a way to be both the fox AND the wolf? Thanks for your wonderful series, great analysis as always.
Agreed, her character is some much needed and appreciated representation. I honestly think that's why her character struck a chord with me the most, although I love all the characters in this show (so well written, really). It's a shame that the fandom is so quick to write off her character as manipulative (or in some cases, because she's with Jayce). A part of me is a little sad that there are few people that discuss her character outside of black and white lenses. It makes no sense to me.
It’s interesting that Ambessa thought Mel made her weak, in a way justifying Mel’s exile to herself. I think that harkens back to what you said about Ambessa’s parenting of Mel. She probably didn’t want to send Mel away but she’s so committed to keeping her land safe she will do anything, even send her young daughter away. And saying Mel made her weak was probably an easy way to justify her actions.
How amazing that a video about Mel (in particular her relationship with her mom) is posted on my mom's birthday, the same day that my mom starts watching Arcane.
mel is honestly my favorite character, I used to think she was trying to manipulate Jayce somehow, but when Ambessa came along, it became clear that her only intention was to do what she thought was best for Piltover
Arcane is such a masterpiece. Every character is so beautifully human, full of pain and emotional and hope and passion! The attention to details that allow them to emote so the audience feels what we need to feel to understand each character as a person. The patent/child dynamics we see between Mel and Ambessa, between Jinx and Silco, between Caitlyn and her parents, it draws us in because it’s real, these are dynamics we experienced in our lives. Such deep beauty. You’re insight into the psychology of what we are seeing adds so many layers to this masterpiece! You should be on the Arcane DVD set as a bonus track. And OMG, I love your Cosplay!
I would like to see video about Ekko , I know that he didnt have a lot of screentime but he was the only truly good character in the show :) I hope that we see more of him and his story in season 2
The more the show progressed the more I fell in love with Mel^^ Also something interesting that came to my mind, because you mentioned Mel using painting as a medium to work through her trauma: Jinx also "paints", but it doesn´t really help her to work through her traumas, it´s more of a sign that she´s still stuck in her childhood? And here Mel is, painting of (probably) one of her most traumatic events hanging over her bed, painting of the fleet of the noxian ships that she had to leave behind.. Another thing: Mel´s mom probably did the right thing to send her daughter away, but at the cost of her love.. Silco kept Powder and had her love, but it ulitmatelty led to her downfall.. conclusion: it´s hard to be a parent and do everything right, also you can be a good and a bad parent at the same time?^^
This is a character that I didn’t expect you to do, but really needed. She has so many things that were pretty mysterious so watching this clarified quite a lot in my head and now hopefully understand her better. Thanks!
This probably plays a part in Mel's choices. So mel wanted peace, and the mom wanted war and weapons when Jinx released the bomb on the counselors building. Now Mel's mom has a reason for war and getting the weapons made now, and mel probably would agree
I've said this elsewhere: the cinematography, editing, lighting, sound design, and just the total use of cinema language collectively is the best I've seen. Had Kubrick, the Coen Brothers, Kurosawa, David Fischer... directed this live action it would be considered their magnum opus. The reason you can pause this on literally any frame print and frame it and hang it on your wall isn't just the 'pretty drawing' but the framing and shot composition. I geek on this stuff and never have I seen it's equal from a 'cinema' perspective. Every scene, every cut, every shot just two hand chef kiss.
You're so good at noticing all of the nuances of human personality, you keenly address both their rationality, development, & emotional warfare. Please don't stop making these kinds of videos, they're transformative. I think people who watch closely will get keen insight both into themselves & the plurality of human experience. Thank you Georgia!
When Ambessa talks to Jayce it's not just personal boundary violation. It's political boundary violation. She interferes into work of the council. It's Mel responsibility bigger then herself. She is responsible for people as politician. And her mom challenges that not only as mom but as politician to.
I've seen arcane a million times.. and each one of your videos that delve into the psyche of the characters opens up a whole new range of emotions that attach me to the show even more. I love your videos and you are a true professional. Love the outfits too!
mel is such an interesting character to me. I generally liked her throughout the whole show, but I was so unsure how I should feel about her in the first two parts; but then once we got to part three, everything suddenly slid into place, and she became one of my favorite characters in the whole show. I can only hope/pray those gold plates fused to her skin end up being what she needs to survive the ending of season 1, because she is FAR too rich a character to only have one season of.
something i always liked about the mel seeing her mom again scene is she is the only one with her feet in a defensive position and she stands in front in opposition to her mom
My first impression of Mel: She's gonna use Jayce. My last impression of Mel: I like her. Great videos. It's enjoyable hearing you go through all these breakdowns of these characters. One of my favorite things I love of Arcane is that everyone is...human. As a child I used to view characters in a white and black aspect, good vs evil, however as an adult, I'm seeing everything through a grey lense.
First of all, another great breakdown of an oft overlooked character in the series. Pinpoint perfect cosplay as always, by the way. I want to highlight something in that earlier flashback/nightmare. The mother is always in the dark despite the lighting. This means Mel herself subconsciously erased her mother's face out of her mind, keeping only her silhoutte because that's the moment that she lost her childhood, her mother's words about the world and her mother's action against the helpless child at the same age as her. She is forced to grow up to keep up with her mother's expectation and still doing so when she came to visit, but this time she could look her in the eyes to stand up for herself.
Firstly, your outfit is sick❤🔥💯👀. Secondly, Mel is such an interesting and complex character, intelligent and cunning, everything you can imagine and even more, so I'm very grateful for making an episode about her💛. I loved it and can't wait for other reactions. I would love to see video about Isabela Madrigal from Encanto 🌵
I'm so glad that you're talking about her! I feel that out of all the characters, she gets looked over the least and in even rare cases people automatically blame her for all the Piltover political drama. While I do agree that her decision in bringing Jayce into the council was a bad one, I do think she had the best intentions. One of my personal favorite scenes is with her red and yellow painting of the ships. The ships are red, a color the adorns a large portion of her Mother's attire and other Noxian soldiers. The yellow background likely represents Piltover. To make a long story short, in this scene she throw huge splashes of vibrant gold paint all over the red ships, and takes off her Noxian ring. She's making a statement and fully commiting herself to the guidance of Piltover, even if at times she makes mistakes, in her case that she makes many.
"I wanna tell her 'its okay, take a deep breath. You are no longer the little girl that can easily be influenced or hurt'." I NEEDED so much to hear this, it almost made me choke on my tears. I grew up under horrible circumstances, mostly I suffered from the hands of my mother. Years ago I cut off all contact but these days I'm thinking about meeting my mom again, to maybe mend things because the thought of her dying in the future whithout having a chance to talk to each other again is horrifying. She suffered the same way I did in her youth, and even though she promised to herself that she'd never repeat her own mothers mistakes she just put me through the exact same hurt and trauma. I understand her pain and suffering (even as an adult she was haunted by it) but of course I can't forget what she did and said to me. So, thank you so much for saying these words!! 😭 I waited so long for someone to tell me this. I know technically you were talking about Mel but your words moved something in me.
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I love the theme with daughters in this show.
"You weakened me." "Is there anything so undoing as a daughter?"
Yes and Yes my fav lines
I also love "I would set the world ablaze to protect our family" and "They offered me everything, all in return for you. They can all burn."
The parallels!!! God i love this show
And on an archetypical level a daughter, as a "young and innocenti girl" could very well represent someone's vulnerable side, one that makes them more human and empathic
The parenting in this show is so poignant.
Understanding how trauma is passed down onto the next generation and how it can make it harder for the current generation to not only survive but thrive in life.
(Something that should be shared with parents nowadays. They way they were raised will not always work for their children, because every person is different. Well said there!)
I like how the show shows all of the main characters as both adults and children. The audience can see if the characters matured or was still stuck in their childhood mindset… Seeing the backstories really add depth to the characters, the plot and the lore, even. I’m looking forward to season 2! ♥️
I'm so happy to see you going over Mel! I feel like people only see her as Jayce's hookup, and she has such a deep character
she is so deep
@@heyimj662 Jayce isn’t a baby he’s a grown ass man he can handle himself
@@heyimj662 he's a grown ass man 💀
@@heyimj662 hey at the start I thought this too. But Arcane does a very good job of fleshing out their characters. We see why she is the way she is because of her upbringing. And if we were in her position and with her past, would we have chosen and acted differently?
Mel defense squad checking in. Absolutely. One of the things that Arcane does really well is drawing the audience in as initially presenting characters as well known tropes, and then showing that the characters are more than their tropes. Mel starts off as the corrupting mentor and seductress, but with Mel (unlike the rest of the cast) the audience seems very unwilling to see beyond her initial presentation. Like the most manipulative thing Mel does to Jayce is put him on the council, but realistically who else could be placed on the council to do what needs to be done (keep Hextech going and protecting Piltover)? In the scene during the concert, Jayce had just made himself an enemy of all the movers and shakers of Piltover (except for Heimerdinger) and she gave him information crucial to his ability to survive on the council and achieve his goals. Jayce has always tackled challenges head-on, and so it’s absolutely in character and not him being manipulated that he takes that information and runs with it. I could go on about Mel for whole paragraphs. She’s every bit as much of a complex character as the rest of cast, and I love her.
What I find fascinating is that Ambessa (Mel's Mother), while definitely NOT a reasonable person in the traditional sense, IS genuinely trying to be a good Mom and Mentor in her own way, she's just so deep in Noxian ideals to realize she's causing more harm than good in regards to her relationship with Mel. Plus you can tell she absolutely HATES that her own child sees her as a Monster, but she feels she must do what she has to in order to protect her Family and Home.
i feel the same way.
As a lore fan, if Noxus in Arcane is much the same as it is in the LoL universe, Ambessa is probably one of the more laid-back Noxians and if they tried it Mel's way, they'd ALL have been long dead a while ago. Especially if the man Kino crossed is who most of the fanbase thinks it is.
"What I find fascinating is that Silco (Jinx's 3rd father), while definitely NOT a reasonable person in the traditional sense, IS genuinely trying to be a good father and mentor in his own way, he's just so deep in Zaun ideals to realize he's causing more harm than good in regards to his relationship with Jinx. Plus you can tell he absolutely HATES that his own child sees him as a monster, but he feels he must do what he has to in order to protect his Family and Home."
God I love the parallels in this show.
I couldn't have said it better. I want to add though, when Ambessa told Mel the real reason she cast her out; the fact that she felt Mel 'softened' her, it feels like Ambessa saw for the first time in her daughter: an alternative to the path that was laid out for her when she was young. As if Mel were choosing the path that she herself wanted to take but felt like she had no option. This I'm sure brought back a lifetime of memories and regrets she has from being a Wolf for so long, and out of a moment of impulse made the decision to send her own daughter away instead of guiding her. That line alone though showed me Ambessa made the decision she felt would give Mel the Fox her best chance in life; a bureaucratic position in a (compared to Noxus) passive city where she could hone her skills.
I fcking love this show dude.
Thank you Georgia for the perspective.
💛
@@f7forever That's actually a really cool take. She even says as much. "I sent you away to grow yourself, and you have."
I think she honestly knew her daughter wouldnt last in this world of Noxus that they had set up. So banishment was the only choice. I agree that I dont think it was as malicious of an act as it seemed at first, and like you said, perhaps Mrs. Medarda was a bit envious of this path that Mel could now take and still thrive.
I find it interesting in that Mel always wears pure white with gold adornments, but when her mother comes to visit she's in straight black (but still has the gold adornments).
great catch
Wanted to look powerful
Mel's painting, even though it was never mentioned in the show, is of Noxus.
She created it because she longed to be together with her family again.
But when she painted over it, she rejected being part of any of it, even before taking off the family ring.
yes she knew at the point she gold painted it where she stood
Plus, Mel herself has mentioned it.
Even while exiled, a part of her still loves them.
Mel isn't just mad at Moma-darda for a boundary violation. Moma-darda pushed Jayce into a mindset of rushed action and necessary confrontation, resulting in Jayce killing that kid. Mel is furious for the unnecessary emotional damage Jayce was set up to take
This. Mel knows Jayce has a capacity to become like her mother and is actively trying to prevent that by moulding him into a fox, her mum was undoing her efforts by pushing him to "know death".
It's so sad that so many people label Mel as a morally grey or downright evil character because of her manipulation of Jayce. But if you understand the context of her upbringing (ESPECIALLY if you know League of Legends lore and what Noxus as a nation has done; they have chemically bombed several nations) her desire to better the world and separate herself from her lineage is very understandable.
At the end of the day, he's a grown man who can make his own decision, calling her a manipulator is a diservice to both of them in my opinion
@@monicacreator3168 also they act as if Jayce didnt get what he wanted, although Mel manipúlate him it was so he could get the chance he wanted to make something big she help him and get something for her it was a win/win situation
@@monicacreator3168lmao this is dumb, with this logic no one can really be manipulated unless they’re underage
I'm so happy I found your channel.
One scene that completely changes Mel's character for me is on Episode 6 when Jayce opens up about Viktor to her. First the start of that scene is amazing... because you can clearly sense how pissed she is at him for leaving in the middle of the night. Then he starts to talk about Viktor and you can see how uncomfortable she is. I've seen people say that she looks bored and dismissive... but to me it's because she doesn't know how to act. She have until that point played the cunning political Fox. And this is someone she clearly doesn't know how to do. She also opens up to him. And for the first time her guard is down, it's the first time we see Mel the human being and not Mel the councilor.
I love how this show can make me empathize with every character.
So well said thank you for this wonderful analysis. I fully agree
I absolutely love the way you somewhat cosplay as the characters you're analyzing. Your outfits are always amazing and beautiful.
thank you Kayle this one was a lot of fun to do also
Golden freckles for the win!
I was just struck with a parallel- When Ambessa is saying Mel weakened her (as a leader):
"Is there anything so undoing as a daughter?"
beautiful, gave me chills reading that
I noticed it, too. Vander's relationship with Vi, Silco's relationship with Jinx, Ambessa's with Mel... not to mention Marcus' last words being "tell my daughter I love her" and Caitlyn's mother always trying to support her daughter.
Arcane is a story about daughters.
@@chaiky6556 damn I didn't think about Marcus!!!
The parallels of both parents/mentor shaping their kids. Yes it scream in volumes of similar yet different actions going to the same route of uncertainty
Ambessa's "Such drama" reaction to Mel is basically just my parents everytime I point out something offensive they said to me
I hope you get heard as well
@@GeorgiaDow thank you! But being an Asian sucks, so I doubt it 😭
@@vangoghsnight4268 I wouldn’t know, since I’m not Asian, but I’m 90% sure that prejudice is the reason why “being (insert race here) sucks.”
Prejudice sucks.
@@paulchapman8023 I get where you're coming from.. but guy is clearly frustrated due to cultural norms surrounding his situation. No need to pull out the flags when not needed.
Let's just empathize with him where he's at, and go from there.
@@HighPhoenix1754 Fair point. But I don't think Asians have a monopoly on those cultural norms either.
In that last scene, I was very proud of Mel, going against her mother and Noxus to support the man she loves and do the right thing for the new home that she's grown to care for. Of course, she's not a saint, she's made some questionable decisions, but she made the honorable choice in the end. I hope that glowing armor of hers managed to protect her from Jinx's missile and that we'll see more of her and her mom in the next season. Moving on from that, do you think you might do a video on Mel and Jayce's relationship similar to how you went over Vi and Caitlyn's?
I think I will do jayce and mel also and I love her gold armor or tattoo i hope she makes it
The fact you said Mel and Jayce have a relationship, while true, is probably going to get you an angry mob of fangirls at your door.
I think she will die, Jayce will be saved by standing right besides Viktor, who will involuntarily manifest a force field through the synthetic limbs that he acquired from the Hexcore. That will trigger a Noxian invasion of PnZ, and probably would make Jayce hate on the undercity.
@@ajguevara6961 I at least know we still need to get to the part where J + V hate each other
@@ScorpionViper1001 They really do, though! They're exactly what the other needs - he helps her be more open and channel her emotions, and she helps him be less impulsive and more of a strategist, they effectively communicate with each other and it seems like they have a good thing going physically as well... Dismissing their relationship as toxic because she's persuasive is just denial.
After watching this I think there's definitely a theme of the tragic side of parenting/mentorship (in addition to all the other things somehow crammed in this show). Ambessa couldn't make Mel into a proper Noxian. Silco couldn't make Jinx whole. Heimerdinger couldn't make Jayce and Victor see how dangerous hextech was before tragedy struck. Greyson couldn't make Marcus understand how to properly work with the Undercity to keep the peace.
Sometimes you can't save your children. They're going to make choices whether you like it or not, even if they're wrong, even if it breaks your heart.
So well said yes
And Vander couldn't make Vi into a peacekepping leader
@@Let_Toons i actually find this particular example really compelling because vi sort of DOES become this person. She has the beliefs and moral code vander instilled in her it’s just that she doesn’t have the power to change things as she wishes she does. The lack of peace is out of her hands despite her best efforts.
@@hanaeltantawy145 Vi does not escape the tragedy, they all learn the lesson just after a first failure always bloody and dramatic
Marcus already started changing his mind right after Greyson's death and he "saves" vi's life after that (in an excruciating way that makes me wonder why, but whatever) but already gone too far
Jinx decides to fend for herself and no longer sickly need recognition (to see if it works but she pushed Vi away for this purpose anyway) but it's after Silco's death
and Vi is almost a perfect big sister especially considering the context in which she grew up but she lied to Vander after his speech on "the responsibilities as a leader" by telling Jinx to keep the blue stones and that it would be "their secret" and well.. . we know where it led .
I like to call it "The Undoing of Daughters"
Come to think of it we haven't seen the son equivalent. Our boy Jayce is the only male we even see the parents of.
13:21 highlighted a new angle for me.
Mom sending Mel away was an unintentional insult. She knew Mel wouldn't survive Noxian politics so she sent Mel to someplace whose politics she could survive.
She couldnt protect Mel from the Noxia she built at the same time she works to build it. So she sent her away, because protecting their pups is what wolves do. So many new dimensions all the time.
Mel is my absolute favourite. With her past traumas and family issues, she's so much more layered and good hearted than most people think. thank you so much for talking about her!! 💗
she is wonderful
I definitely started liking her as a character after these moments.
Something that really intrigues me about Mel is that almost everyone I’ve seen who watches this are really suspicious of Mel and build up this character archetype in their heads of this seductive, political power player who only cares about the influence they wield and I think the series plays into that for at least the first 4 episodes and genuinely plays Mel like that with honesty, she is after all these things, but then the series slowly starts to peel back the layers of her character that they set up with the line in her first appearance about being the poorest in her family despite being the richest in Piltover, and they sort of reveal it through her romance with Jayce that at first seems like some sort of power move, but then through the way she acts she subtly shows the audience that those feelings are genuine as we start to learn more about her, and this just keeps building and building every scene she’s in all the way to her last scenes with her mother and on the council. Every scene she’s in shows us something new about her and by the end you see that she’s such a complicated person, but ultimately a good one, with a strong moral compass, a developed sense of empathy and the smarts to play the game, being both the “fox and the wolf” in her own way.
And at the end taking off her family ring is such a tiny, yet monumental thing for her that mirrors what Jinx is going through at that same moment, only where Jinx is falling into this mental decline as she rejects her long lost family, Mel is rejecting her long lost family in a display of self improvement. While Jinx would have been far better off accepting Vi back into her life but thinks the opposite, Mel is better off pushing her mother out of her life and she knows truly why she needs to.
And looking at the series as a whole, they reflect each other even further, as an inverse of each other’s stories. We are introduced to Jinx as an innocent, lovable little girl who is corrupted over the course of the series, doing these unforgivable things until the point where she becomes practically a villain.
Mel is virtually introduced as a seeming villain and she instead has a positive arc, growing more and more morally and empathetically conscious until the point where she also faces her demons and yet overcomes them in a healthy way.
Two women, one being destroyed by her abandonment issues, one facing them and coming out stronger.
well said
Mel and Jinx parallel? God this show has it all. I'll be honest I wouldnt be surprised if there's some sort of parallel between each and every character. I read a new one that blows my mind every day.
Mel never went trough such a trauma that Jinx did, yeah her childhood was traumatic but nothing to the extent that Jinx had o go trough,big difference is already that Mel was born rich and had everything she wanted while Jinx was born in tough and unforgiving undercity in my opinion its not even her fault at what she became ,Powder would have never survived the cruelty of Zaun also there are no psychatrists ad therapists in Zaun....so there was never even a chance for Jinx , maybe if she would have been born in Piltover....or in rich family like Mel but sadly she wasnt , I didnt like how undercity was portrayed as full of criminals and villains while politicans and rich people in the show were framed as heroes I see Mel and Jayce as villains as well, they dont commitviolent acts like Jinx but Jayce was blinded by her ambition and incredibly irresponcible, most of the things that happened in the show...even the monkey bomb explosion are actually Jayces fault , he even broke the law and Mel is incredibly corrupt , I am from a country that was oppressed and occupied for over 40 years because we had government that also closed their eyes and didnt care what people are going troug , I hated the fact that Mel knew that people are dying in the Undercity and are being oppressed and poisoned but she chose to ignore it , soo many people died and got hurt thanks to this ,yeah Mel and Jayce made the right decision in the end but it was already too late, but thats just my opinion ,as I see it there are no heroes or good people in this story anyway :D Ekko is the only one who comes close to being a hero
@@HK-gm8pe seeing innocent people die by the person you trusted most, and getting cast out by that same person isn't traumatising in your eyes?
@@HK-gm8pe there is no measure of how much trauma is worse than the other however. Mel's trauma doesn't take away from Jinx's the same way Jinx's doesn't take away from hers. They both were dealt heavy cards and went through journeys dealing with them
An interesting note about the scene with Ambessa (Mel's mom) and Jayce is for most people, having no clothes is a sign of vulnerability or shame. But for Ambessa it's almost like a power move, she is showing off her scars and her muscles and it's like her saying "look at how strong I am, I am stronger than you, more experienced." I just thought it was something interesting despite the strangeness of the scene.
it was a complete power move
21:20-21:55 One more thing about the painting scene is that painting is of The Immortal Bastion, the capital city of Noxus. Mel defacing it with gold, one of the national colors of Piltover, is a major artistic statement to her mother about where she truly feels she belongs.
To be correct Noxus Prime is the capital city, Immortal Bastion is it's ancient center part) And knowing the history of the Bastion, all the horrors and danger behind its walls, how many characters were tortured there and how the darkest parts of Noxian past are connected to this fortress - the painting looks even more symbolic, I think.
@@МарияСизова-г9м I mean technically the formal name of the capital is Noxus Prime, but everyone who isn't being super official calls it The Immortal Bastion. Definitely agree on the extra symbolism too.
so well said
Great analysis! Mel is a super smart character that wants to see Piltover prosper. When the hexgates were compromised, she suggested making Jayce a counselor even though the other members of the council hated the fact that someone else is given the same powers as them. But Mel didn't care as it was best for Piltover's safety. When Jinx gets the gemstone, Mel is in favor of making Hextech weapons to defend Piltover even though she hates war. She always considers the good and bad of every option available. I think she is a fox till the only option remaining is to become a wolf.
" I think she is a fox till the only option remaining is to become a wolf" awesome statement yes
A lot of people forget Mel's position, a leader of an independent free trade city, arguably the real power of the council as well. What keeps that city and her ideals alive from other powers? All the predatory exploitative actions Mel does is likely for the sake of keeping her city running, and independent.
5:40 this can apply to Silco too. He gave Jinx the same experiences that he had (the clearest example being the baptism) because it made him a strong man and he assumed that it will make her strong too. But the only thing he did was cracking Jinx’s mind and turning her into a living weapon
God, I love Mel. The way they frame her to be a potential villain/manipulator, only to show her truth and develop her so much in the final arc is genius. One of my favorite characters in s1 and that's a very high bar to meet lol.
Great video, Georgia! Keep at it 😁
thank you
Mel is in my opinion the best character in Piltover. Her development and upstanding against her mother were really well executed and interesting
Mel is on my top 3 Arcane characters list, such a nuanced person on top of being drop dead gorgeous. BTW that makeup and styling, Georgia, is 👌.
thank you
Something that really interests me is the way that Councilor Mel is able to enact the plan she had as young Mel. Young Mel describes her ideal regent as having a kind face, charmingly clever to her subjects, and pliable to the Medardas.
All of which are evident in Head Councilor Jayce: a good-hearted scientist whose inventions have garnered the love of the Piltover citizenry, and whom is thrust into a position of leadership and political games under Mel’s instruction.
oh very nice one
Oh yeah! But even though she mentors him, she never once takes away his agency, he is always free to make his own decisions for better or worse. Something that her mother would never allow.
might also be referencing the guy she gives the puzzle box to
‘Social Engineering’ is such a good phrase for Mel’s character. She is excellent in a Communications role like a Councilwoman, so I love the phrase for Mel. She has a talent for navigating in a social setting. I feel like Mel was - in my opinion - an Upgrader, in terms of Jayce. She saw potential of who Jayce could be and molded him, upgraded him into that version she sees in her vision of him.
But beside that, her relationship with her mom was powerful. Her mother is shameless but entertaining to watch and probably a nightmare to live with though!
Thank you for the reaction video! Im definitely watching more of your videos! Arcane is so good, I need more content 🙏🏽♥️😃
Mel's Mother taught Mel that there are people like her in the world. In response adult Mel has built herself a piece of the world that she dominates and controls. I see the adult interactions of Mel and her mother as a battle of two alpha's in a territory dispute not one of Mother vs bratty women child. Adult Mel is every bit as formidable as her mother but done different through strategy and political maneuvering. It is a recurring theme in the show. Young people with new ideas trying to replace the old guard. The two coups one in the council, one in the gang structure and this one between Mel and her mom being the transition of iron fist rule to statesmanship.
Well said
Your analysis made me realize there's some parallels between Mel's arc in Arcane, and Zuko's arc in Avatar The Last Airbender. Both were exiled essentially for being too soft for their ruthless parent (though the motivations for the exile were drastically different between them), both started their arcs wanting to prove themselves worthy of their family, both were offered a return to their families in exchange for being who their parent wanted them to be, and both end up rejecting that offer in the end.
i havent seen avatar yet
@@GeorgiaDow Ah. My comment spoils a character's general arc a bit, but I think you'd really love the series, and you'd have a lot to dig into and analyze in it. All of the major characters get some solid characterization and/or development across the series, but there's one character in particular that I think a lot of fans of the series would enjoy your analysis and insight on.
You actually have reminded of the scene in the council, when Mel is taking off her family ring, and the light shines on her - she she stepped out of the shadow of her mom and being her own.
beautifully said
I would still like to see your take on Vi on her own, rather than in the context of her relationships with Jinx or Cait. Her trauma is expressed in a much more muted way than Powder's, but that doesn't mean she's any less affected by what happened to her and I think that's worth its own analysis.
i think i will
Yea especially with how views powder. First from saying she could do parkour when she was 7 even tho in episode 1 she barely could, to thinking powder was being held by silco, thinking powder had to work for him because she has to. As much jinx puts vi on a pedastal, vi does the same with powder
Yes! If I had to pick, Vi is my favorite character. She's been through so much and it always hurts me to see people saying she's a horrible person/sister
@@GeorgiaDow There's too many and at the same time too little about Vi. We only know her as Jinx's Sister/parental figure, and the roughish cat fang hot tomboy head strong. We have yet to see what's deep in Vi's mind we only get the glimpse of their mother and the house Vi destroy. It somehow has subtle symbolic and the way she described their home as not as worse like it used to means we have yet to explore Violets true backstory
@@GeorgiaDow yessssss!! I would love to see that bc vi is also my favorite
When Ambessa says "such drama" and basically undermined Mel expressing herself, it really struck a cord with me. And I was angry just as much as Mel. I feel like my mom does that too. Sees me as overreacting instead of actually listening. It sucks
I didn't know what to make of Mel for a number of episodes in the beginning but I was intrigued by her calm and cunning demeanor (also she's a literal fox appearance-wise so that helps lol). The annoyance she displayed waking up to Jayce not being in her bed was the first sign for me of those layers being peeled back. Then, her reaction to him laying his head in her lap and kissing her hand while lamenting about Viktor. It reminded me of being caught off guard in that same kinda way with my s/o (he's also very open and unafraid about showing vulnerability + affection).
I know this was meant as more a breakdown of Mel, but one aspect of her mother I found interesting is how she said that Mel "weakened" her. Ambessa would be disgusted at herself when she saw that Mel looked at her as if she were a monster. Ambessa did what she believed was necessary, yet Mel's disapproval seemed to awaken in her a sense of mercy and justice that she had long ago suppressed. Makes me think that as a child Ambessa was not so different from Mel. Ambessa learned to be very guarded with those feelings, such that they were reserved for those closest to her. She felt responsible for her son's death because she saw herself as her family's protector. She exiled Mel because it was the right thing to do for herself, for the rest of the family, and for Mel. She sent Mel to a place where she believed Mel would fit in, because society as it was in Noxus would have eaten Mel alive (and it seems this is just barely this side of a figure of speech).
she was her own woman
@@GeorgiaDow, was about to ask which she you were talking about, but it really does apply to both.
Yeah I also think that part of the reason that she banished her daughter was to protect her from the cut throat culture in Noxus
I would love for you to explore Mel and Jayce's relationship. They seem to have made each other better and help each other evolve. Even though, in the beginning, she only saw him as an asset and was manipulating him for her own ends. I belive they really fell in love along the way.
Maybe I'm just a helpless romantic lol.
Thank you for covering Mel. She has so much to interpret from the show and a character that I feel fairly close to.
mel is an amazing character
May I add that Mel is like a supermodel, beautiful and elegant. Then the voice just seals it all. Seriously this character is my favourite within the series.
as a league player, while watching arcane, i was only really interested in the in-game champions of the show. since mel isn't a champion, i never paid much attention to her character as a whole, and i just wanted to say you did an amazing job at putting a whole new perspective on her with this reaction video! i'm much more intrigued than i was before, and i'm tempted to rewatch the show with all of this new information in mind because it makes it that much better when putting the pieces together. as always, amazing video, i'm looking forward to more content!
That is such a huge compliment, may have gotten teary reading it thanks
Arcane is a much better show than "just putting champions into a serie and bonking on it" it's deep, it's complex and it's a freaking awesome show, watching it "only for the champions" isn't doing it justice I think. I was a pretty big fan fo the game myself but I'm more some kind of "lore fan" right now and this serie is the blast for that ! there's geopolitical relationship explained, characters that could seems insignificant for the game (even though I could perfectly see Ambessa (or even better : Sevika !) make it through in the game as a champion)
If Riot plan to expand the serie in some kind of "league of legend cinematic universe" I'd be so Hyped ! There's tons of different regions and intersting characters ! and I'd love to explore it with more depth that what we have right now !
@@yozarahirvi4750 There is no "if" question, that is exactly the plan. They are taking the steps to make the world of Runeterra alive, making different kinds of games that feature all the different parts of the world. Now there just need to be some books.
Mel's situation with her mom really hits home, especially in the black community. Often time, black parents are stuck in their ways of doing what they were taught by their parents. In America, this is a direct result of slavery and segregation. It creates this perspective that the only way you will survive is by hardening yourself and your children to live. Yet just like in this case, you can see how it effects Mel's mom and, in Noxus, weakness is not accepted. Its always hard to address when you make decisions for the well being of your children, without taking into consideration how it will effect them emotionally.
Thank you I notice that myself with family
thank you for sharing more about this
So glad someone acknowledged this in the comments.
This is so true. There's so much intergenerational trauma that's passed from one generation to the next; fear and prejudice that was once literally necessary to survive. But does it make sense for our children to fear the world the way their ancestors did? When in so many ways, the world is different now? Not different enough, many would say. And that's the struggle. How do you prepare them for today, knowing everything that happened yesterday, and everything that could still happen tomorrow? Give them the confidence to move forward carrying our hopes and dreams, while knowing that they may experience opposition from all sides... what feels like all the time.
Yup
Okay two things first: THE outfit and makeup omg, it's gorgeous! And that Darth Vader reference, gave me chills, thanks for that moment... Amazing how you were able to get so much from four interactions, Mel really did become the person her mom wanted her to be, but without giving up her beliefs
Thank you for noticing and appreciating : ))
Now I want to see her divulge into Darth Vader’s character from the beginning to his end
@@Poke-ladd Darth Vader is my ultimate favorite character of all times so cheers to that, hopefully!
When I started the series, I saw this ultra-rich Goddess of a woman and thought "This is going to be an evil and manipulative person driven by greed" Throughout the season, she did nudge things in a preferred direction using her political power, and (Substantial) feminine wiles. However, she showed a willingness to show compassion and goodness however uncommon and inconvenient on the council. Ultimately, I like her, and it makes me sad that none of the Zaunites got to really know her well
I'm crossing my fingers that in some way both Medardas will come in contact with the Zaunites, i just think they can learn from each other and have so much in common too
I absolutely hated Mel when she was first introduced. I just looked at her as a grand manipulator trying to get her way. The show is so good though, and they managed to get me to completely flip my view of her. They have managed to make me understand every single characters actions and the beliefs that they have. Can't wait for season 2.
I didn't hate her, but I was extremely wary of her and her motivations. They did make her seem manipulative, until it eventually became clear she was trying to help Jace (and their interests for Piltover so happened to align).
I LOVE how dynamic everything is in this show! Ambessa, though she had limited screentime, still stood out to me. I didn't expect it honestly. She's not just this stereotypical tough woman with no heart.
she stole the show
Ayee Mel Appreciation! Finally!
yippie !
She seems really similar to Zuko in that when everything she wants is just right in her reach she lets it go to do what's right. Definitely gave me Zuko defecting vibes.
She's really a strong and interesting character. Thanks for shining the spot light on her and helping me appreciate her as more than just a side character!
Difference is that Ambessa is a MUCH better parent than Ozai.
Thank you for doing this one! Mel is one of my favourite characters and it's always frustrating to me when people take her on a surface level. There's deep trauma within her and she's struggling with the need to be validated by her family and rebelling against them.
I think Jayce is integral to her decision to finally take that last step and cut off all ties. He helps her channel the aspects of herself that she's learned to suppress due to her upbringing. He revives that idealism she shows in that flashback. He's openly affectionate and vulnerable with her, values her counsel and validates her. Most importantly, he doesn't ask anything in return except her company because he genuinely enjoys spending time with her, whereas she's always expecting conditions. You can tell that she's shocked and doesn't initially know how to handle his openness. She questions it. Then she confines in him about her exile and he immediately validates her, tells her that to him she's good enough. As they build their relationship, she becomes more openly emotional and physically affectionate like he is. And when her mother arrives and tries to mould Jayce the way she tried to mould her, she releases all of that pent up emotion at her. The armour comes off. She's scared that her mother will push Jayce towards becoming a wolf like she tried to do with her and she wants to protect him from that. When she takes off the ring she's not only choosing peace over war, but also Jayce's unconditional love over her mother's affection that comes with an assortment of ifs and buts. She finally realises that she doesn't need her family because she now has someone who values and accepts her fully. It breaks my heart that the final scene of the season is her smiling at her man in victory (that for her is more symbolic than just passing the vote on peace treaty, it's a victory over herself and her upbringing as well) because we might not see that growth come into fruition if she dies.
I’m just in love with these Arcane analysis videos!
hope you like this one
Loved this look into Mel and her relationship with her mother. There are many examinations of the idea of “not being enough” for one’s family (or predecessors/figures one values and respects) in this show. I love that Mel is one example of one rising above it and finding such strength in what she thought made her a disappointment to her family.
and we carry that with us
Mel's story is a fascinating journey of a political cynic discovering a moral idealism. At first she's probably just trying to use Jayce as an "investment" but gradually their relationship evolves her perspective. The final scene sees the culmination of her journey, when she removes her family signet ring -- signalling her final acceptance of her rejection from her family because of her values. She turns her back on her mother's demands and helps Jayce lead the council to the right, moral choice.
And there, at the moment of her greatest triumph, Jinx tears it all down.
The tragedy is perfect.
yes i agree
I really hope Mel survives to the second season. I love her a lot.
I think she will. In the last moments you can see her gold armor shine and activate may even save jayce and victor as they were close to her
Don’t worry, she will.
I’m sure Kaitlyn’s mother is a goner, like most of the people in the council room.
I absolutely adore this cosplay, it's stunning! It looks like you had a lot of fun with it!
Mel and Ambessa's dynamic and interlocking personalities were so fantastic...I was on the fence about Mel as a character until her mother came along. Watching the way her and her mother interact with one another really cemented their place in my heart.
I'm curious to see your takes on Jayce and Heimerdinger. They are my least favorite/least interesting characters so far, but every time I've come away from your interpretation videos with a new perspective to look at and more stuff to chew on, it leads to a newfound appreciation of the characters and I thank you for it. I went a little Arcane-drunk for a while (the quality of character development and relationships is in a league of its own), and your dives are giving me new material to digest even now. Thank you!
aw thank you so much. I did have way too much fun =) and i appreciated her more also after doing the analysis
I speak French but I will do my best to write this comment: excellent video! I really LOVE it! Also, everybody wants to find an excuse to " dislike " Mel because I think she is too complex for some people.
She is like Silco and Jinx but people doesn't want to share some sympathy with her. I don't understand why. Also, she is stronger than Jinx in a way because she tries to fight against her traumas and abandon issues. I'm sorry but As a young person Diagnosed with schizophrenia (so, a psychotic person), I really dislike Jinx for being so immature and she doesn't fully represent us at all even if she is fictional. I preferred her character in LOl. In arcane she is a kind of the cliché of tortured psychotic murder...
I know that us, neurodivergent person are not all the same but I don't like how fans only sens Jinx trauma and not Vi's or Mel's multiple traumas : seeing corpses at young age and for Vi seeing her adoptive family accidentally killed by her precious sister + being in prison (even if she was innocent she took responsibilities and it's very mature for a teenager).
It's like everybody are idealising Jinx and doesn't care about Vi's perspective or Mel's point of view.
Jinx is " cuter " so it's the only thing for some "fans" and LOL community.
Finally, thank you soooo much for your videos and objectivity!!! Not like other RUclipsrs who clearly have a sort of favouritism and a biased point of view due to the game. Thank you very much again❣️
you wrote so well I would never know it isn't your first language and thank you for the analysis.
I thought this series was over!!! I’m glad to see more videos about arcane
Oh i will still be doing arcane =)
finally, its about time somebody talks about this character. Shes definitely my top 3, along with Ekko and Powder.
Mel is one of my favorite characters from this show and I struggle with my own mother so it’s always great when I see a similar situation of a daughter standing up to a toxic parent
Mel is one of my most favourite characters, I've always liked smart characters because it's pretty hard to write a good one and Mel is perfect. You can see her influence in every council meetings.
yes and how she was paying attention to everything
Fathers and Sons. That hits home. I tried for years to tell my father (who with the benefit of hind sight was a fairly wise man) that I was not a younger version of him. Sadly he never understood, even to his dying day.
Mel is my fav character. The complicated relationship she goes through with her mother. As well as her wicked smarts. Hope to get more of her in season 2
lets hope her gold armour protects her
Thank you for bringing attention to her! I feel like she’s the character people sleep on the most when in reality she’s really deep and intriguing because I feel she’s so morally gray. We see her framed as a person who sort of allows for corruption to happen and utilizes manipulation in order to maintain her political power to someone who later on softens and looks out for Jayce and the interests of the people of Piltover in direct opposition to her family’s wishes. I really hope she survives, she’s definitely my favorite character.
I love mel!! she is way more than pretty rich woman. She is mature, beautiful and also smart... I hope to see more Mel in season 2!! (Could you also make separate video on Vi because I'd love to learn more about her avoidant attachment styles and understand her even more!
i think I will do one on just Vi also =)
I honestly didn't think you could make much with Mel, but this is really good, I hope Mel ends up being a champion in the game, but you know, doing that means she'll survive the explosion, so.... who knows
thank you really means a lot to me
viv chai also did a video of Art analysis and Mel and honestly if you like Mel, its goes into a lot
The gold *embedded in her skin* was glowing from *under her dress* ; I have no doubt in my mind she'll live. And since she was sitting close to Victor and Jayce, it might be full on forcefield around her.
Jayce was in the room with her; if he can survive, so can she.
Mel became one of my favorites characters of the series. I really hope she survives the missile so we could explore more of the arc between her and her mother
please react to vi! vi as a child was always pressured by vander to be responsible as an older sister and like he said after they robbed one part of piltover (mylo, claggor, vi and powder) whatever happens is on vi. he also says that vi fighting isn’t gonna get her anywhere, it’s just gonna cause more problems. which vi continues to fight. she also wanted the best for powder and more. she went through a lot and i feel so bad for vi. she spent a lot of time in a cell starving, being abused, and counting the hours as she mentioned in episode 9, jinx’s tea party. so yeah, sorry if this dosnt make sense, i’m bad at explaining lol but anyways this is a great video! i love mel, keep up the great work! :)))
mel is one of my favourite characters, glad to finally see a video on her
Mel, my beloved! So glad to see your episode on her. I was blown away by her beauty inside and out, her compassion and emotional strength that is shown in these episodes
I am loving all the videos coming out of Mel right now. Yours and Viv Chai are really good. I love type A characters and especially female characters who have a heart of gold hidden under their political cunning
so happy you enjoy it =)
Dude thank you for making this video because I see a lot of people down play Mel as just a manipulater or seductress which definitely pushes some stereotypes about black women in a negative light.
and she is so much more than that
Thank you for saying something, I thought I was tweakin'. Because the "Jezebel" perception of Mel is rampant in the fandom, and even these comments, and I'm sick of it.
@@Ebon_Sean yeah man it's getting fucking annoying and they kinda infantize jayce, making it seem like mel is predatory towards him. Which definitely push the sapphire/jezebel stereotype.
@@Ebon_Sean Same. It definitely is and it honestly sucks, here we have this somewhat rare representation of a complex black female character in an animated show, and everyone else either dislikes or unfairly categorizes her character into a very negative stereotype. I don't get how there are characters in this show that have done worse yet they're afforded complexity in discussions. Can't have shit ffs
@@chaaaargh It's the exact same dynamic we see when a white school shooter is remarked to have been "such a nice kid", while an unarmed black person is shot to death by trigger happy cops and there's an immediate reflexive clamoring for reasons they must have somehow deserved it. In both fandom spaces and real life, there's a general tendency for people to squint to find the humanity in white people no matter what bad they do, and search for the villain in black people no matter how good they are. It's exhausting.
I'm new here (from your Encanto videos) and can I just say....THANK YOU!!! Your analysis is spot on. Everyone saying Mel is a manipulator or I never liked/understood her character are weird to me because they can't bring up valid points for their hate. Politically savvy and diplomatic acumen is always readily understood or excused for ambitious, pragmatic men but here's Mel, who btw is right in her decision makings get hate from people who lowkey are jealous that she's smart, beautiful, ambitious, gets the guy that they wanted paired up with their otp.
All the characters in Arcane are complex and I gave each of them grace from the beginning because I don't think in black and white. There's alot to unpack for Mel. For e.g. She had the foresight in supporting Jayce and Viktor's research and what it might mean for Piltover's status/economy, after Jinx's attack she proposed Jayce as councilor because who better to lead an investigation for Hextech while protecting the Hexgates i.e economy through the shipping lanes. After jayce wanting to weed out corruption, she explained to him it's better to have a light touch, grease palms, that way everyone gets what they want. She suggests arming Piltover only after they realize that the undercity might be more dangerous than they gave them credit for (happens when you underestimate and over look people). She opts for peace because not only is it preferable to bloodshed, it's the moral thing to do.
I think she's seducting (have you seen her🤤) but not a seductress in the way everyone makes her out to be. She didn't weaponize sex she was attracted to Jayce and then fell in love with him after she found herself being vulnerable around him.
"The Medardas usually take from the world....we don't often find ourselves in a position to give something back". Mel wants Piltover/Jayce to succed and she wants to succeed, especially as the fox rather than the wolf. She wants to solidify herself and her way of politics as good enough, as sustainable. Subscribed ❤.
thank you for liking the channel enough to Sub and thanks for the wonderful breakdown as well
Mel is so underrated, so thank you for this reaction! I'm looking forward to your analysis of Jayce. There is too much hatred from the audience towards him, which, in my opinion, he doesn't really deserve. It will be interesting to hear your opinion about him with Viktor. I'm a little familiar with the game lore and I know what may happen next season, so the further relationship between Jayce and Viktor is very intriguing.
I wanted to say I really enjoy your Arcane character breakdowns. Mel turned out to be my favorite character because she started as what seemed like an ... amoral (for lack of a better word) opportunist, then through the course of the story became a very real, very rich and very endearing person.
she did become more layered as the show went on
Mel is easily in my top 5 Arcane characters, since I find her incredibly complex and interesting. But what I really want is your video about Jayce, since he is my favourite character and I think a lot of people missed his struggles throughout the show (for example his struggles with unwanted responsibilities or the impossible choices he had to make).
jayce is happening
Great video, Georgia! I love Mel. One thing that struck me about her was her desire for peace and how she sticks with her principles. I also was intrigued by her relationship with her mom. You did such a great job analyzing it - especially about the pain that Mel feels from being exiled and about how some parents, even when kids are adults, will try to make their children to be a certain way, see the world the same way they do, etc. Your videos always get me to think deeper about characters (even ones that I thought deeper about, like Jinx). I appreciate how empathetic you are and you are awesome. Keep up the great work! I need to catch up on more of your Arcane videos, but I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your reactions and also your videos about mental health generally too (like what to do if you can't afford therapy, forgiveness, and fear). Kudos. :) Have a great week!
Omg gurrllll, the HAIR, the NECKLACE, the BRACELET, ughhhh **CHEF'S KISS**
Ha thank you! was way too much fun to do also
I'm so glad you've taken the time to do this analysis. Mel gets very little attention in fandom for some reason when she's such an incredibly complex character with an arc that's very compelling, especially in its subtlety. She's definitely my favourite character, it's rare to get this kind of complex representation for Black women characters in animated series so I'm endlessly thankful for her existence. I'm excited to see if she'll make it in the next season and how she might shift now that being the fox has in many ways failed her. Will she be more susceptible to her mother's influence? Will she find a way to be both the fox AND the wolf? Thanks for your wonderful series, great analysis as always.
We know the reason why she gets less attention....but I'm immensely grateful for her too ❤
Agreed, her character is some much needed and appreciated representation. I honestly think that's why her character struck a chord with me the most, although I love all the characters in this show (so well written, really). It's a shame that the fandom is so quick to write off her character as manipulative (or in some cases, because she's with Jayce). A part of me is a little sad that there are few people that discuss her character outside of black and white lenses. It makes no sense to me.
It’s interesting that Ambessa thought Mel made her weak, in a way justifying Mel’s exile to herself. I think that harkens back to what you said about Ambessa’s parenting of Mel. She probably didn’t want to send Mel away but she’s so committed to keeping her land safe she will do anything, even send her young daughter away. And saying Mel made her weak was probably an easy way to justify her actions.
The accessories, the hair, the analysis.. you're making us bow down queen ✨
Aww
How amazing that a video about Mel (in particular her relationship with her mom) is posted on my mom's birthday, the same day that my mom starts watching Arcane.
mel is honestly my favorite character, I used to think she was trying to manipulate Jayce somehow, but when Ambessa came along, it became clear that her only intention was to do what she thought was best for Piltover
she is very interesting
I always love your cosplays but this Mel one is especially gorgeous!
i really was excited for this and how it turned out
Mel deserves all the love, so glad you covered her character!
Arcane is such a masterpiece. Every character is so beautifully human, full of pain and emotional and hope and passion! The attention to details that allow them to emote so the audience feels what we need to feel to understand each character as a person. The patent/child dynamics we see between Mel and Ambessa, between Jinx and Silco, between Caitlyn and her parents, it draws us in because it’s real, these are dynamics we experienced in our lives. Such deep beauty.
You’re insight into the psychology of what we are seeing adds so many layers to this masterpiece! You should be on the Arcane DVD set as a bonus track.
And OMG, I love your Cosplay!
I would like to see video about Ekko , I know that he didnt have a lot of screentime but he was the only truly good character in the show :) I hope that we see more of him and his story in season 2
ekko is very complex also
WHY NOBODY SAYS HOW SO FRICKING GORGEOUS YOU ARE IN THIS OUTFIT!!!??? OHH MAAA GOSHH
SO SO BEAUTIFUL😍😍😍
Thanks so much!!! I did love this cosplay it was so much fun.
The more the show progressed the more I fell in love with Mel^^ Also something interesting that came to my mind, because you mentioned Mel using painting as a medium to work through her trauma:
Jinx also "paints", but it doesn´t really help her to work through her traumas, it´s more of a sign that she´s still stuck in her childhood?
And here Mel is, painting of (probably) one of her most traumatic events hanging over her bed, painting of the fleet of the noxian ships that she had to leave behind..
Another thing: Mel´s mom probably did the right thing to send her daughter away, but at the cost of her love..
Silco kept Powder and had her love, but it ulitmatelty led to her downfall..
conclusion: it´s hard to be a parent and do everything right, also you can be a good and a bad parent at the same time?^^
it depends how you use the art and also which methodology. I believe that is the difference
This is a character that I didn’t expect you to do, but really needed. She has so many things that were pretty mysterious so watching this clarified quite a lot in my head and now hopefully understand her better. Thanks!
I really loved Mel. Soooo much was going on in Arcane that she kind of flew under the radar for a lot of people I think.
Excellent analysis!
This probably plays a part in Mel's choices. So mel wanted peace, and the mom wanted war and weapons when Jinx released the bomb on the counselors building. Now Mel's mom has a reason for war and getting the weapons made now, and mel probably would agree
I've said this elsewhere: the cinematography, editing, lighting, sound design, and just the total use of cinema language collectively is the best I've seen. Had Kubrick, the Coen Brothers, Kurosawa, David Fischer... directed this live action it would be considered their magnum opus. The reason you can pause this on literally any frame print and frame it and hang it on your wall isn't just the 'pretty drawing' but the framing and shot composition. I geek on this stuff and never have I seen it's equal from a 'cinema' perspective. Every scene, every cut, every shot just two hand chef kiss.
You're so good at noticing all of the nuances of human personality, you keenly address both their rationality, development, & emotional warfare.
Please don't stop making these kinds of videos, they're transformative. I think people who watch closely will get keen insight both into themselves & the plurality of human experience.
Thank you Georgia!
welcome and I will continue = )
When Ambessa talks to Jayce it's not just personal boundary violation. It's political boundary violation. She interferes into work of the council. It's Mel responsibility bigger then herself. She is responsible for people as politician. And her mom challenges that not only as mom but as politician to.
yaaaaaas! Mel was such a queen and unique character dising, and you look soooo pretty!
0:47 there is a third option. My favorite usually. Not caring. Why should others get to set the expectations for you. That’s your job a person
hahaha like that
@@GeorgiaDow thank you :)
I've seen arcane a million times.. and each one of your videos that delve into the psyche of the characters opens up a whole new range of emotions that attach me to the show even more. I love your videos and you are a true professional. Love the outfits too!
mel is such an interesting character to me. I generally liked her throughout the whole show, but I was so unsure how I should feel about her in the first two parts; but then once we got to part three, everything suddenly slid into place, and she became one of my favorite characters in the whole show. I can only hope/pray those gold plates fused to her skin end up being what she needs to survive the ending of season 1, because she is FAR too rich a character to only have one season of.
something i always liked about the mel seeing her mom again scene is she is the only one with her feet in a defensive position and she stands in front in opposition to her mom
My first impression of Mel: She's gonna use Jayce.
My last impression of Mel: I like her.
Great videos. It's enjoyable hearing you go through all these breakdowns of these characters.
One of my favorite things I love of Arcane is that everyone is...human. As a child I used to view characters in a white and black aspect, good vs evil, however as an adult, I'm seeing everything through a grey lense.
yes they are very grey and wonderful
First of all, another great breakdown of an oft overlooked character in the series. Pinpoint perfect cosplay as always, by the way.
I want to highlight something in that earlier flashback/nightmare. The mother is always in the dark despite the lighting. This means Mel herself subconsciously erased her mother's face out of her mind, keeping only her silhoutte because that's the moment that she lost her childhood, her mother's words about the world and her mother's action against the helpless child at the same age as her.
She is forced to grow up to keep up with her mother's expectation and still doing so when she came to visit, but this time she could look her in the eyes to stand up for herself.
thank you for this and the assessment
Firstly, your outfit is sick❤🔥💯👀.
Secondly, Mel is such an interesting and complex character, intelligent and cunning, everything you can imagine and even more, so I'm very grateful for making an episode about her💛. I loved it and can't wait for other reactions.
I would love to see video about Isabela Madrigal from Encanto 🌵
YAY
I can't believe I'm still learning new details! I never realized it was the necklace in blood painted behind Mel's bed
Neat detail isn’t it
@@GeorgiaDow yes! Thank you for doing so many breakdowns on Arcane, it's such a good and deep show and I've really liked learning even more 😊
I'm so glad that you're talking about her! I feel that out of all the characters, she gets looked over the least and in even rare cases people automatically blame her for all the Piltover political drama. While I do agree that her decision in bringing Jayce into the council was a bad one, I do think she had the best intentions.
One of my personal favorite scenes is with her red and yellow painting of the ships. The ships are red, a color the adorns a large portion of her Mother's attire and other Noxian soldiers. The yellow background likely represents Piltover.
To make a long story short, in this scene she throw huge splashes of vibrant gold paint all over the red ships, and takes off her Noxian ring. She's making a statement and fully commiting herself to the guidance of Piltover, even if at times she makes mistakes, in her case that she makes many.
"I wanna tell her 'its okay, take a deep breath. You are no longer the little girl that can easily be influenced or hurt'."
I NEEDED so much to hear this, it almost made me choke on my tears. I grew up under horrible circumstances, mostly I suffered from the hands of my mother. Years ago I cut off all contact but these days I'm thinking about meeting my mom again, to maybe mend things because the thought of her dying in the future whithout having a chance to talk to each other again is horrifying. She suffered the same way I did in her youth, and even though she promised to herself that she'd never repeat her own mothers mistakes she just put me through the exact same hurt and trauma. I understand her pain and suffering (even as an adult she was haunted by it) but of course I can't forget what she did and said to me. So, thank you so much for saying these words!! 😭 I waited so long for someone to tell me this. I know technically you were talking about Mel but your words moved something in me.