I recently found another clue that she's alive - in the artbook. It's full of Jinx's scribbles and on the first page: "wanna know a secret?" "I am still here" and on the last "I'll be right back" "see ya!"
Yes! Also Jinx dying at the end would mean that only death can be her redemption, which would undo the point of episodes 7 and 9 - taking a leap forward means leaving few things behind / it is never too late to build something new.
I think one of the other issues at hand here is fairness. Why does Jinx get to live when so many innocents died by her hand? Why do all the other "bad" characters/characters who've done bad stuff (Maddie, Marcus, Silco) end up dead and she doesn't? There's also this idea that sacrifice is the ultimate "I'm taking my responsibilities" character development for Jinx in my mind. We're going from a troubled girl who has a hard time taking accountability ("someone put all these bullet holes in you", "well then he shouldn't have died") and just wishes to die meaninglessly, to someone who actually faces the consequences of her actions and gives her death actual meaning, that of saving her sister. That's why I think Jinx's death would have been more in line with the series. Like Walter White at the end of Breaking Bad, or Lelouch at the end of Code Geass (his death is canon for me). But at the end of the day, while my head believes she should have died, my heart is really happy she isn't.
@@krashme997 In a way you can observe death to be an easy way out for Jinx, a sacrifice which in a way is a cliche way to end a character. Marcus, Maddie and Silco never felt remorse for their actions and they would never change, unlike Jinx, who is a product of an extremelly harsh environment. Jinx was created by Powder to keep herself safe. She never cared though about actions of Silco or his vision for Zaun, she helped "him" when needed, like to watch cargo to run smoothly and defending from Fireflights or get a hexgem to show him her strength. People she killed were not innocent in her eyes - she killed Enforcers on Progress day and on the Bridge, killing Marcus among others, as she sees Enforcers as people who killed her parents. Weird as it is, since she did not plan that - all she did was for the Undercity; killing on the bridge ended the barricade put by Jayce, hitting the Council was inevitable since Silco never intended to give her up so we're back to square one, she ended thr Gray by blasting it onto Piltover - she brought back fresh air to the Undercity, saved Isha and Jinxers from Stillwater, united Zaun and brought everyone to the fight against Noxians. All of that showed her change and why she should be forgiven. As we did see what she was like in normal world of AU in episode 7... Product of environment.. Also killing Jinx is a bad idea since she is Arcanes most popular character, people would riot xD
@@krashme997 This is not a fairytale where everyone is either white or black, white of whom should win and black of whom should take a lesson. You can't call anyone purely good or bad and expect "bad" ones to lose. Caitlyn has done many bad things, too (e.g. a fucking war crime), but she got her happy ending.
What i believe is, having her die sends the wrong message, and is an incorrect developement. She did horrible stuff, killed people, having her escape punishment by just dying as a "hero" is horrible, at least for me. She(people) needs to accept her mistakes, own up to them and make them right. Having her go on a self healing journey, fight her demons is a good redemption, would make a great spinoff and it would send a better message. At least in my opinion.
This is probably the most well thought of the "jinx in alive" theorys. I may actually be able to hold tears because of this show; just wait a couple years guys(Ionia, Demacia, Noxus, and other regions)
Yeah. And I mean also its kinda obvious from the deleted scenes. If they were genuinely killing her off, it wouldn't have made sense for them to NOT include them, considering they'd be basically tying down all loose ends. Instead it's mutually beneficial for them to use the scenes retroactively/ as flashbacks for future character development and keep the finale of Arcane focused on the fight against Ambessa and Viktor. But let's call that "metagaming". The way I reached the conclusion from just the series is that Ekko broke the cycle for Jinx by showing her that Jinx has the potential to be good and that she is still just a damaged Powder in the end of the day. The reason she faked her death is because she realized that Vi was also stuck in the same cycle she was, and as long as Jinx existed in Vi's life, Vi would never really be able to move on.
@@00000005547 I sat on my chair for 7 minutes trying to make sense of this. Its also because I haven't had much time to really dig deep into the concept. I didn't realize that her "death" would almost be pointless to the actual story because of the previous 3 episodes. but I guess all we can really do now is dream right? Because Arcane is over
I def think Jinx is alive but now she's free. she's broken the cycle. I don't think it's a matter of her sacrificing herself for Vi but she did see an out; she also nearly blew herself up with Vi until Isha jumped between them. Jinx decided last minute to use her Shimmer speed to get into the vaults, but she would have been happy with the release of death. she knew Vi had Caitlin, Vander was completely lost to them now, Isha sacrificed herself, and she knows there's no way she can atone with the Pilties for all her years working with Silco and the harm she caused. it goes deeper than that as well; girl's got *a lot* of trauma. she's never been afraid of death; quite the opposite, in fact. she's always welcomed it (prob since the night she met Silco, when she inadvertently got Milo and Clagger killed with her good intentions). dont get me wrong-I love Jinx. she's my favorite. but i believe we should all have a choice to leave if we want it. it's not exactly like there are mental health services in Zaun and Piltover. between her manic delusions and ptsd, i absolutely understand where she's coming from. however, I'd be **shocked** if Riot/Fortiche killed their cash cow
This would all make sense if it weren't for Ekko's intervention and subsequent complete change of her appearance. If you break down her appearance in detail during the Battle of Piltover, you can see a lot of interesting things. Her body is like a canvas on which all of her internal changes are depicted. I can't describe everything, but at least some of it is something to think about. She used pink lines under her eyes and teeth on her hood, all of this refers to her childhood games with Ekko, and her childhood war paint. This can be seen as an act of accepting Powder as an important part of her identity, she no longer rejects her. At the same time, she uses parts of her past image, for example, her circus pants are now a bandage on her knee, her leather tome is cut off and covers the upper part of her chest, and she still has a leather choker around her neck. She has not abandoned her past as Jinx either, she accepts all of the parts of herself as one whole. This is also evident in the colors of the stripes on her body. Blue symbolizing Powder and pink symbolizing Jinx go parallel and eventually mix into purple. Green, the symbol of fireflies, also appeared in her image. She also dyed her hair from blue to turquoise, I don't know what that could mean. Аnd added a bright pink strand of hair, perhaps a reference to Powder's AU. Anyway, in the final battle she is already completely different, this is not the broken girl who is happy to die. This is a character who has been through a lot and accepts her difficult past path. And all these changes in her appearance would not make sense if she simply died or left.
@Dmitrorus I absolutely do think she accepted all the parts of herself, like you've said, but I don't think it made any difference in her outlook on living. I still think she's alive so it's a moot point but I also think she's okay with dying in service of saving Vi, the way she always meant to save everyone when she was a kid. it's because of the things you mentioned, her acceptance and healing of those parts of her, I see her being okay with making that sacrifice. she isn't doing it for the same reasons we always saw her trying to before: on the bridge, egging on Vi and Cait before Isha jumped in, in he home before Ekko shows up back from the AU. I guess it's just odd for me. I see Jinx as fine with dying but I'm pretty positive Riot is going to allow their moneymaker to be killed off, plus the airship, so I don't think she's actually dead even if it makes more narrative sense (*to me*) if she were
@@brokenfoxx Let's not forget that this is a fictional story. A character needs to have development, and there should be stages of development. A good example is her relationship with Caitlyn: from complete mutual hatred to attempts to understand and maybe even forgive each other. Even her desire to die changed throughout the story. And for the story to develop well, she had to overcome this desire and move on to something new. This is exactly what happened when Ekko talked her out of suicide. It is also important to take into account the game "Jinx Fixes Everything", which is also canon. In Act 3, you can see Jinx in the Firefly hideout, and there she says a very important phrase that now she knows what to fight for - for a better future for all. This is all an example of good character development. She also overcame her hatred for Piltover, for Caitlyn, for the Fireflies. She has gone through a difficult path from trauma, crimes, loss of meaning in life, finding it again in Isha, etc. And in the end we see the culmination of her story during the battle for Piltover. All of this simply will not make sense if she just goes back to self-destruction, as if all this character development did not happen. My theory is that they left the ending open to interpretation on purpose, so they could bait us with a sequel in the future. And her self-sacrifice at the end is the bait. If they just create a new story with new characters, they will have a hard time attracting most of the Arcane fans. But if they tease Jinx's appearance in this story, that we will finally see how she survived, and what this difficult journey led her to in two seasons of Arcane. Then all the fans will rush to watch, and I will be the first of them. So they "killed" their moneymaker just so that she would make them even more money.
@@Dmitrorus you can still have character development with those self-destructive behaviors. suicidal ideation doesn't just magically go away and disappear like that. it's almost insulting to act like it does (although wouldn't it be nice?). sure, she's come to terms with her past but her past is still part of her; it's not like this was just some fleeting thought she had once. it's been a constant struggle for her. the lyrics for Wasteland couldn't be more on point. and whether she's dead or she survived, Jinx is free. if she survived, she also [presumably] broke her cycle and is free and got the wish of her little girl's heart: to ride on an airship, off to Noxus (that's where we're going next, right? I've only seen memes, I tend to avoid trailers). while I'm not one to rag on creators (I feel, as an audience, we aren't entitled to anything and should be grateful for whatever we get), there was sooooo much that got skimmed because of the decision to keep Arcane to a two-season series and it ultimately hurt the narrative. even making this second season longer, or the episodes longer, could have fixed this. I don't think we'd have gained anything by spending more time in TimeBomb but more with Cait and her processing her grief, her breakups, her mistakes... Jinx healing, grieving Isha, reconciling with Vi (at least something there would have been better), a connection with her and Ekko after he stops her but before the fight - but not enough to show they're gearing up for it because that drop of them coming in works great - just something more than a cutaway; show it isn't that suddenly she's now all rainbows and unicorns and not struggling but she's willing to try... something. it's not enough for me to be angry with Fortiche and Riot because there are so few shows that are this good, that spark discussion this way, that can be viewed and interpreted in different ways and they're still good ways... but I feel like there's a lot we were cheated out of too. the most vocal fans are the worst enemies of the fandom. if there hadn't been as much pressure to produce a product, it wouldn't have been rushed like it was and I feel like I've forgotten something now!
Yeah, sure, yes. The themes and narrative undercurrents of Season 2 work better and become clearer if you decouple it from the themes and writicng devices of Season 1. The duality, the parallels, the matching pairs everywhere in te structure. Season 2, in very Arcane fashion, flips their own established tricks and methods and moves into something close, flamiliar, but also new. So the narrative throughlines are not dependant on the same framework as before. Also! Finally! Someone getting ever close to finding and expaining that elusive, mysterious entitiy -- the Schneeheart. Well done.
I agree that you have to view season one and season 2 as separately, narratively. I just think they are trying to do completely different things and that both succeed, it just depends on which kind of story you like more, grounded or fantastical
Makes sense that she would be at Bilgewater. That place is a pirate fortress. An outcast haven for all kinds of the disenfranchised. She’d fit right in.
@@neofulcrum5013 Especially since the Arcane original idea had Powder leave Piltover/Zaun and head to Bilgewater via an airship. But they changed it. Considering an airship at the end does fly over the sea, it could be indeed she is heading there.
@@anabrans2 I think she is on that airship to Bilgewater, because the creators mentioned all spinoffs we all heard off (Demacia,Ionia,Noxus) but they also mentioned Bilgewater. I think that we will see Jinx and Ekko in the Bilgewater spinoff since creators sead they want to continue there story.Or posibly (but I 100% belive it will happen) that we will se Jinx and Ekko in a movie.
totally agree with your take! Her being able to walk away was the highlight of her character development while Vi's (albeit forced by Jinx's decision) was to be able to let her go and not run after her.
On first impression, I thought she died. I was really sad about it, and thought back to Singed saying, "Sometimes death is a mercy". She had so much pain in her life, tormented by her past mistakes and memories. I thought that maybe her ending there saving Vi, the person she loved the most, was kind of poetic. But after seeing hints of her survival, I think that it fits much better that she starts a new story by walking away than by ending her story through death. It continues with her final arc with Ekko pulling her back from the abyss and showing her the light. I know we will see Jinx again, and I hope it's in a more "Powder" capacity, like running a repair shop in Bilgewater or something. But more than anything, I want to see Vi and Jinx restore their sisterhood after they've let go of the past and come to terms with who they are now. Sadly, I don't think that will happen in any official sense.
Great video! I completely agree. Jinx dying doesn't resolve her or Vi's story at all. Her surviving and leaving does. I love it, and I do hope we see her in one of the later series, just in an episode or two. If we never see her and Vi reunite, that will be okay, although I do think that conceptually speaking, Jinx and Vi can and will meet again eventually, maybe years down the line in-universe whether we as an audience get to see it or not. Once they've both matured and forged their own paths.
Great analysis. This view could definitely fuel future storylines with Jinx. Given the new League trailer that focuses on Mel and the possibility that it could also represent a new Arcane series in Noxus, maybe Jinx could see the involvement of outside influences of the events in Piltover and Zaun. Jinx leaving in the airship could be her going to Noxus to help right some wrongs at the source. Jinx worked with hextech a lot and perhaps developed a connection to the arcane, which perhaps gave her insight. Yes, lots if speculation there, but thats how stories develop. If Jinx somehow worked in the background of the new series, helping people like a lone wolf type character, trying to redeem herself, that would be interesting. Or she could team up with Mel, who was forced to kill her mom somewhat like jinx was forced to kill her dad. The writers could carry an angst through the season of jinx not being able to reconnect to vi (through visions from hex tech or machinations of the black rose). Lots of cool options. Let us all pray for Arcane s3 regardless.
While she doesn't need to actually appear again (I think as far as Ella Purnell knows she's done with Jinx), her being alive and leaving Piltover means that while she wants that city behind her, she is looking to "build something new", find a new start. I really do think there's a beauty to her leaving, it doesn't mean all of her flaws are fixed, that she's perfect or anything, but what it resolves is that core flaw of hers that led to all of this. She doesn't NEED anyone anymore. These people that she clung to and crumbled when they were taken away from her, she can finally shoot for a life that doesn't revolve around them. Vi, Silco, Isha. She's achieved what she needed most to find happiness: emotional independence, and while imperfect, she left those things behind without spite, but with forgiveness, remorse and fondness. If Jinx had ended up with Ekko for example, I think narratively that would spoil this super important aspect of her character development, just trading in one emotional dependence for another, not to mention how they could show she could ever accept who she's become in a community where Jinx just doesn't seem like she would fit into. Until shown otherwise by some new show, my headcanon is that Caitlyn and Vi know on some level that she made it (that the monkey-head Caitlyn fiddles with isn't just like something she randomly found on the battlefield, but something that Jinx made sure found its way into their her and Vi's hands, since you know she's still actually a wanted criminal in Piltover and can't just show her face around freely), and narratively for me, Vi's cries of anguish as she falls away is that intense release of finally having to let go of her (which will never be undone, unlike the belief that she's dead), and then to accept what happened in the past and understand there's no fixing it, only moving past it to something new, lending significance to her humming "Dear Friend" when she never did before before affirming her commitment to Caitlyn (as well as Caitlyn calling her "Violet" for the first time).
I do believe wasteland could actually be meant for vander in that scene. If you look at the lyrics it is about laying down once there is nothing left to fight for or protect and that’s not really jinx’s thing but it fits perfectly for vanders character. Now my cope theory: the song isn’t completed and we don’t get to hear the full, more hopeful lyrics because just like the song jinx’s story goes on after the show.
I think this is why I find “Jinx Lives” a more satisfying ending. If she does move on and fly somewhere new, then it shows she is letting go of the past rather than succumbing to it and letting it kill her.
The dumbest ending to the most beautiful series. There was no reason for Jinx to sacrifice herself. By this point, she had healed all her emotional trauma, accepted all aspects of her personality, restored all her relationships. She fought for Piltover, which she had hated her entire life. She united with the Fireflies, whom she had previously mercilessly killed as enemies. She even restored her childhood connection with Ekko. Even Caitlyn was ready, if not to forgive, then to understand Jinx and give her a second chance. And after all this, what is the point of sacrificing herself? It makes her efforts, all of Ekko's contributions, Isha's sacrifice meaningless. And how could she interfere with Vi's happiness? Vi would have been so much happier if she knew her sister alive. And she doesn't have to choose between her sister and Caitlyn, where did the need for this choice come from? Caitlyn showed mercy and empathy and allowed Vi to release Jinx from prison, she showed that she respected Vi's bond with her sister and was willing to give Jinx a second chance. This is a wonderful development of the theme of their complex relationship, which now loses all meaning. Walking away is not breaking the cycle, it's cowardly and childish, real character development is about accepting your difficult past, not running away from it. Forgiveness is the real break of cycle, as shown in the alternate universe between Silko and Vander. And while we know Jinx survived in the end, if she stays dead to Ekko, Vi, and even Caitlyn, that's bullshit.
Silco saying "I think the cycle only ends, when you find the will to walk away" is so important to this whole thing. At first, Jinx in her broken, depressed and suicidal state takes this as ending herself to be ending the problem, but Ekko convinced her otherwise. The ship at the end sailing away with Jinx possibly being in it makes so much more sense as an ending than her simply dying
It wasn't Silco , it was her sick imagination. It was her own thought, which was completely wrong. Ekko was able to talk out of her from this wrong decision and give her a new thought. Also, in my opinion, the strongest statement was made by Silko, but Silko in an alternate universe. His statement of forgiveness could have become the main moral of the whole story.
Yes! Agree with this. Also dislike the idea that Jinx has to die so the cycle breaks or whatever. She was never the sole cause of misfortune in zaun/piltover. It would be reaffirming that Jinx is actually a jinx if we went with that idea, when in reality that's all in her head and there's so much more to people's suffering in arcane.
There's always been this question in my mind: if Jinx does make a comeback, what is going to be her character arc? It kind of feels like we reached somewhat of a conclusion with her. My best bet would be another Vander arc, more satisfying this time. Why do I think that? 1. Vander kept some of his original design in S9 instead of fully turning onto a robot like the rest. This makes me think he did retain some of his humanity anyway, just like with Viktor when the arcane took over. 2. Vander kept moving after Viktor's death, even though all the other puppets fell apart instantly. Why, if it wasn't for another force driving him. That of the beast, maybe, but if the beast remained, why not the human as well? 3. The flashback right before(or was it after?) Jinx's explosion, in which the only character awake was Vander, so most likely from his perspective. He also did have a flashback when he recognized Vi in ep.5, so what was it this time? One could say it was just there to embellish the scene and make it more tragic, but knowing how Fortiche/Riot like to give a deeper meaning to everything beyond just esthetics, I somehow doubt it. 4. No way he died at the end. Not from that grenade. They never showed his body either, and unless they quickly gloss over it in the next spinoff, just ignoring it would be a major plot hole. He's definitely making a comeback one way or another.
I think Jinx will show up in the spinoff about Noxus-Ionia war. She probably won’t get much screen time and will return to Zaun by the end of the spinoff. Also, if the rumors about a separate Arcane spinoff focusing on its characters are true, it’s possible she’ll head to Ionia with Ekko. In that case, they might travel to eastern Ionia, far from the warzone, where some Ionian characters could also be explored. My focus on the Jinx/Ekko duo makes sense because, after s2e7, these two became super popular within the community. Plus, the Arcane showrunner has shown interest in continuing their story. I doubt Riot would miss the chance to capitalize on this, so I think we’re bound to get a couple of spinoffs in the next 2-3 years. Now, about Vander: 1. Yes, he kept part of his humanity. When Singed discusses Vander’s situation with Ambessa, he mentions that if Viktor fully heals Vander’s mind, the plan to create a monster army won’t work. I think the memories Viktor managed to restore left a permanent mark on Vander’s mind, like fingerprints pressed into his consciousness. 2. Building on that, both the beast and the man are still there. The problem is that Vander already struggled to keep himself in check, and now, with so few memories left, he snaps out of it too late-like when he falls with Jinx. In the new Arcane skin in LoL, Vander/Warwick cries when teleporting to base and seeing a blue-haired doll, which hints that he remembers Powder. 3. Yes, that flashback before the explosion is from his perspective. It shows that Vander, like any decent father, instinctively cares for his daughters. In s1e3, he saves Vi from the fire, and in s2e9, he saves Powder from the explosion. 4. He’s practically immortal. He’ll probably appear in one of the spinoffs set in Piltover/Zaun, at least as a mention in news reports about groups of torn-apart thugs. There’s a good chance Vi and Caitlyn will try to stop him.
@@padawan7756 @krashme997 You two have the best theory so far for how Jinx could have survived. The pink streak of light doesn't really mean anything, if you watch the scene where Jinx tries to blow herself up with that grenade for the first time, you can see that that streak of light comes out first. But the flashback before the grenade explodes at the end is definitely Vander's memory. He could remember Powder anv Vi together, and even in his seemingly completely changed appearance, his paternal feelings could have given him the strength to save her one last time. At the same time, he definitely survived himself, the explosion of such a grenade is not enough to kill him or even seriously injure him. This explains why Caitlin only found a grenade fragment in the end, and why she is studying the plans for the hextech gate. The only thing I would like to add from myself, and this is not even a theory, rather a hope that this is how it will be in the end. When Ecco is sitting alone in the very spot where he kissed AU Powder, he lights the paper with (probably) her name on it and watches it fly away. At this point, the coolest plot twist would be if Jinx showed up behind him, injured but alive. I would also like to see her interact with Caitlyn in the future, at least a little. Their journey from complete mutual hatred to something else for me one of the most interesting story arcs. Journey to new opportunities to understand your enemy, to give a second chance to the most broken person, to come face to face with the consequences of your terrible crimes. Their dynamics from complete opposites to mirror images of each other. It all seems unfinished and unsaid, as if their journey was cut off halfway. I really wish that it would not remain like this, but at least somehow continue.
according to Necrit, Arcane didn't show everything. Piltover and Zaun are still the same city, not separated (yes, in arcane both cities are Piltover, politically speaking). Christian said that Renata Glasc will appear later, replacing the chem-barons that died during the series. And one important event still didn't happened: a giant explosion on the bridge that finally separates the two cities, and Zaun gets independency. So if things go well, we certanly will have another TV show that returns to these two cities.
the only reason she went from the suicidal girl who didn't want to be a hero at all to someone totally opposite to what she's shown since the series, a hero, is her discussion with ekko, which probably lasted for days before he convinced her to be the jinx we saw at the end of the series, in a long and methodical way, she had to be given a reason to live, (even to eat), then a reason to fight for zaun, all these problems can't be solved in just a few minutes, or a few hours, and even less with a single sentence, all his sentence did was prevent her from committing suicide in ekko's presence, it's her discussion with him afterwards that's the key to her transformation, she's become literally ekko, nothing to do with what she was. Reducing her transformation to what we saw on screen is way too simplistic, it means not understanding Jinx's psychology since the beginning of the series.
I agree with you. For the record the makers of the show did write a scene with Ekko talking with Jinx and convincing her to join the fight against Ambessa. Supposedly it would have included him telling her about the good version of her he met in the other universe, them designing and building the airship and weapons, and even the two of them putting warpaint on each other, which would have been super adorable. But that scene got cut because they felt the last episode was already to long. It's an absolute crime that we didn't get to see that. Granted Jinx and Ekko's entrance in the battle was five different kinds of badass and the prep scene would have undercut the surprise, but still, like you said, we should have gotten to see the emotional catharsis that compelled Jinx to finally take on the role of hero. If Jinx ever does appear again, in one of the spin-offs they're rumored to be working then hopefully they'll use that as an opportunity to finally show us that scene. They could make it a flashback that would show the audience how Jinx has grown and where her character is now. That would be absolutely perfect.
@@vertiac an extremely important scene, fundamental to the development of jinx, the very fact that they decided to remove it for this “surprise” gives the impression that people are more interested in the superficial than in the development of the characters we've been following since the beginning, and the worst thing is that they may be right for most people, they just want spectacle without any real consistency, it's sad.
When I watched the last episode, i IMMEDIATELY knew she was still alive- because the last scene whete they are putting papers into the bowls, 1- Vi didnt put any papers nor was she terribly sad. 2- Ekko only put ONE paper into the bowl which I took only for the tiny professor. And 3- with her speed she could've EASILY slipped out of Vanders grip. So yeah, thats what I tool from it.
Yes, absolutely yes. Her arc is clearly left open as it is Vi's in a different way. Vi couldn't let go of her sister because she alwayd fights for her family. Jinx could not fix the breach created by her reckless act of selfish desire to push forward her gadgets and be useful for her family, but in the end she is able to save Vi and make a symbolic sacrifice to atone for her sins of the past. "Vi used to tell me I could fix anything". However, both are yet to find purpose in their own lives, build something new "something worth fighting for". For Vi It's Caitlyn, which would speak for her own desires. What about Jinx? That's the open question. And I believe it might be answered in time. Thanks for the video.
The themes and undercurrents of Season One are there. It's just that Season Two brought additional ones to the fore to explore while also working with what came before, although admittingly to me it seems Season Two was too overstuffed as a season to explore it all in a way as clearly like Season One. Still I think it's important to look at Season Two as a half of the whole show that is Arcane and see how the two seasons are two halves of a whole. Two halves of a whole that each do their own thing. Also in regards to Jinx living while breaking the cycle, she not only broke the cycle that she was stuck in but what Vi was also stuck in. Vi could never settle down and live for herself for a change, always putting others before herself; be it Caitlyn or Jinx. But she could never move on and goes into a depressive spiral when both are lost to her, resulting in a pit fighting phase. By removing herself from Vi's life, she ensures that Vi can finally live for herself and fall in love fully with Caitlyn.
Yes, fully agree! Jinx actually dying would would be really unsatisfying and would make several key moments in S2 feel useless. For example, Isha's sacrifice would be for nothing, as she saved Jinx's life, both psychologically and physically. Jinx dying would make her sacrifice 100x less impactful and beautiful. Not to mention Ekko saving Jinx and all the Timebomb fan theory. It would be a devastating kick to the balls if they just decided to kill Jinx off since it is almost guaranteed Jinx and Ekko developed a good relationship off screen. There are also of course meta-reasons why they want to keep her alive.
i agree jinx is still alive, its heavily hinted. but i wouldnt make conclusion because it shows no character development. some characters dont develop, not every character needs to along their journey
I'm just wondering when Jinx will become the Jinx from the game, since Arcane is supposed to be canon. Despite Lol Jinx having all ten fingers and Caitlyn not missing an eye.
League champions should be separated from the characters of arcane and future shows. Champions are really just concepts with a few lines of dialogue and lore. It’s just not the right type of game to have in depth characters. I see the league champions as kind of a exaggerated and shallow version of the real characters.
Problem. The cycle is broken already. Before the finale. The story just for the most part, doesn’t make sense. It’s just dumb. So of course, she has to live, because this just doesn’t make sense as her end point, although I don’t know where it’s going to go. However, your ending hurts Vi quite a bit, since it means she has no agency whatsoever which she didn’t have much to begin with. Jinx’s ending is, according to Christian, the only way to end things because she can’t have a happy ending. They already understand each other, but a happy ending for her in regards to Vi and Cait impossible. That’s it.
Honestly I wish jinx and ekko went together just think about it ekko doesn't really have anyone at the moment and is practically the only thing giving jinx hope if they decided to break the cycle together I would be squealing and kicking my feet I genuinely think jinx needs ekko to heal and let's be honest now echo is down bad for jinx
Sui slide is never the answer, and it just causes so much more pain So I'd say irl killing is a cycle too and you need to learn to heal and adapt to Trauma and build something new and safe(er) I believe that's where her story arc did conclude for the viewer I love schnee but the writers are too good to end her on a suislide ending after all the setup for her conclusion, Ekko even pointed that out for us viewers I've been saying she's alive since day one and my friends have made fun of me for copium, but that's not it 😂😂 She has to live, else they fumbled one of the best storylines in the show for a generic Disney ending or some bs
I think it was a poor choice to play Wasteland the second time. If we're supposed to understand this is a sacrifice and not an "escape", there needed to be real work done to show Jinx wants to live. It's like if this world is a Wasteland, why did you fight for it? If you're unwilling to let this world go, why should it let you go?
The song is actually longer than what we hear. Maybe it's supposed to be a hidden clue but in the last part of the song wasteland the lyrics change from "please let me go" to "don't let me go" and from "I want to try" the song ends hopefully if you listen to the entire thing. We only hear the first part in the scene but the ending is choosing life not death.
I saw people saying that the song being played again at the end is actually meant to be a reflection of vi more so than jinx and it makes perfect sense if you read through the lyrics with her in mind
I get where your coming from but I actually really disagree with this. Wasteland at the very end changes its chorus to reflect someone who finds the will to live. The song goes from repeating please let me go, to don't let me go. I think the song shows someone who is despondent and has lost the will to live but finds it again. Just look at the stanza preceding the final chorus I'm not ready to face it Don't go saying goodbye There's a beauty in changes And I wanna try Jinx wants to try and change, I just don't think she understands how. I didn't include it in the video, but I also believe that Ekko told her what happened in the AU. She leaves the prison determined to take her life because according to her "There is no good version of Jinx" but after hearing that there IS a good version of her, she decides there is another way for Vi to be happy.
@@flowchartkenYT I was aware that Wasteland has a more optimistic tone overall, and in a different version of 209, there could have been a scene where they play the other part as a sort of reprise to show Jinx's evolving worldview. But just like deleted scenes aren't canon, those more optimistic parts don't factor into the show. They chose to play the parts they played and chose to not play the parts they didn't play. And it creates a tone where Jinx is returning to the self-destructive 208 mindset she had before. To sort of deconstruct the lyrics into a thesis: "Please let me go." Why do I need to let you go? "This world is a Wasteland." Why is it a wasteland? "I know it's my fault that I'm here all alone." What? What was the point of the preceding episode then? The only way I can truly justify it to myself is that the song is diegetic both times we hear it. We know Jinx is listening to it at the beginning of 209 because we hear it playing on her phonogram as Ekko intervenes. So Jinx wanted it to be the last song she heard before she passed. Then at the end of 209, she had made the choice to sacrifice herself and her end is inevitable, so she "plays the song in her head" to try to comfort herself in her last moments. That's obviously quite sad, but it's very human to try to make peace at the end. If that's true, though, it sort of calls into question the idea that Jinx saved herself from the explosion.
@@blalmon I think they do factor into the show as in, the lyrics contribute to the canon, even the parts that are not included in the show. That is the beauty of it all imo. Take for example Isha's Song, like 99% of the audience outside of China will not understand this song or the message if you don't dive into the lyrics. Not to mention the lyrics to Ma Meilleure Ennemie, which elevates the episode to a whole new level. You said it yourself, Jinx actually sings this song to herself in a sense when she is falling with WW. But in those final moments just milliseconds before the explosion, she decides "I'm not ready to face it". Most of us agree that Jinx is actually alive because of the clues they show in the final moments of 209. The omitted lyrics is just another easter egg/clue that further emphasizes this.
I think I'm the only person who doesn't want to see Jinx in another show anytime soon, maybe never again. Like, she has her arc very well built and closed in the 2 seasons, we already saw her origin, how she is when she's at her worst and when she's stable, what she'd do in a normal life living with Isha and the AU episode, we saw her closing her arc with her sister and she had her own closure making peace with herself as well and being able to move on with her life. So I really don't need to see more of her when there are so many more interesting characters to tell their stories. Please, let Jinx be free away from our screens.
I recently found another clue that she's alive - in the artbook. It's full of Jinx's scribbles and on the first page: "wanna know a secret?" "I am still here" and on the last "I'll be right back" "see ya!"
how thats really interesting do you have a link to it?
Plus in the Artifact Edition of the book there is Jinx's handwriting saying "I live" all around the box
@@hardbasskvass597 Daamn that's cool, they are beating the glorified suislide thing with this one hahah
im currently looking through the artbook and cant find shit
@@fluffy8833 Sorry, I don't have one.
Yes! Also Jinx dying at the end would mean that only death can be her redemption, which would undo the point of episodes 7 and 9 - taking a leap forward means leaving few things behind / it is never too late to build something new.
This. You can't just kill her after giving us a glimpse of building something new in the beginning of 209.
I think one of the other issues at hand here is fairness. Why does Jinx get to live when so many innocents died by her hand? Why do all the other "bad" characters/characters who've done bad stuff (Maddie, Marcus, Silco) end up dead and she doesn't?
There's also this idea that sacrifice is the ultimate "I'm taking my responsibilities" character development for Jinx in my mind. We're going from a troubled girl who has a hard time taking accountability ("someone put all these bullet holes in you", "well then he shouldn't have died") and just wishes to die meaninglessly, to someone who actually faces the consequences of her actions and gives her death actual meaning, that of saving her sister.
That's why I think Jinx's death would have been more in line with the series. Like Walter White at the end of Breaking Bad, or Lelouch at the end of Code Geass (his death is canon for me).
But at the end of the day, while my head believes she should have died, my heart is really happy she isn't.
@@krashme997 In a way you can observe death to be an easy way out for Jinx, a sacrifice which in a way is a cliche way to end a character. Marcus, Maddie and Silco never felt remorse for their actions and they would never change, unlike Jinx, who is a product of an extremelly harsh environment. Jinx was created by Powder to keep herself safe. She never cared though about actions of Silco or his vision for Zaun, she helped "him" when needed, like to watch cargo to run smoothly and defending from Fireflights or get a hexgem to show him her strength. People she killed were not innocent in her eyes - she killed Enforcers on Progress day and on the Bridge, killing Marcus among others, as she sees Enforcers as people who killed her parents. Weird as it is, since she did not plan that - all she did was for the Undercity; killing on the bridge ended the barricade put by Jayce, hitting the Council was inevitable since Silco never intended to give her up so we're back to square one, she ended thr Gray by blasting it onto Piltover - she brought back fresh air to the Undercity, saved Isha and Jinxers from Stillwater, united Zaun and brought everyone to the fight against Noxians. All of that showed her change and why she should be forgiven. As we did see what she was like in normal world of AU in episode 7... Product of environment..
Also killing Jinx is a bad idea since she is Arcanes most popular character, people would riot xD
@@krashme997 This is not a fairytale where everyone is either white or black, white of whom should win and black of whom should take a lesson. You can't call anyone purely good or bad and expect "bad" ones to lose. Caitlyn has done many bad things, too (e.g. a fucking war crime), but she got her happy ending.
What i believe is, having her die sends the wrong message, and is an incorrect developement.
She did horrible stuff, killed people, having her escape punishment by just dying as a "hero" is horrible, at least for me. She(people) needs to accept her mistakes, own up to them and make them right. Having her go on a self healing journey, fight her demons is a good redemption, would make a great spinoff and it would send a better message. At least in my opinion.
This is probably the most well thought of the "jinx in alive" theorys. I may actually be able to hold tears because of this show; just wait a couple years guys(Ionia, Demacia, Noxus, and other regions)
Yeah. And I mean also its kinda obvious from the deleted scenes. If they were genuinely killing her off, it wouldn't have made sense for them to NOT include them, considering they'd be basically tying down all loose ends.
Instead it's mutually beneficial for them to use the scenes retroactively/ as flashbacks for future character development and keep the finale of Arcane focused on the fight against Ambessa and Viktor.
But let's call that "metagaming". The way I reached the conclusion from just the series is that Ekko broke the cycle for Jinx by showing her that Jinx has the potential to be good and that she is still just a damaged Powder in the end of the day. The reason she faked her death is because she realized that Vi was also stuck in the same cycle she was, and as long as Jinx existed in Vi's life, Vi would never really be able to move on.
@@00000005547 I sat on my chair for 7 minutes trying to make sense of this. Its also because I haven't had much time to really dig deep into the concept. I didn't realize that her "death" would almost be pointless to the actual story because of the previous 3 episodes. but I guess all we can really do now is dream right? Because Arcane is over
Really well thought out. Both parts, Jinxes and Viktor's. Thanks!
Love this way of thinking about it, makes a lot more sense than other videos I’ve seen on the topic
I def think Jinx is alive but now she's free. she's broken the cycle. I don't think it's a matter of her sacrificing herself for Vi but she did see an out; she also nearly blew herself up with Vi until Isha jumped between them. Jinx decided last minute to use her Shimmer speed to get into the vaults, but she would have been happy with the release of death. she knew Vi had Caitlin, Vander was completely lost to them now, Isha sacrificed herself, and she knows there's no way she can atone with the Pilties for all her years working with Silco and the harm she caused.
it goes deeper than that as well; girl's got *a lot* of trauma. she's never been afraid of death; quite the opposite, in fact. she's always welcomed it (prob since the night she met Silco, when she inadvertently got Milo and Clagger killed with her good intentions).
dont get me wrong-I love Jinx. she's my favorite. but i believe we should all have a choice to leave if we want it. it's not exactly like there are mental health services in Zaun and Piltover. between her manic delusions and ptsd, i absolutely understand where she's coming from. however, I'd be **shocked** if Riot/Fortiche killed their cash cow
This would all make sense if it weren't for Ekko's intervention and subsequent complete change of her appearance. If you break down her appearance in detail during the Battle of Piltover, you can see a lot of interesting things. Her body is like a canvas on which all of her internal changes are depicted. I can't describe everything, but at least some of it is something to think about. She used pink lines under her eyes and teeth on her hood, all of this refers to her childhood games with Ekko, and her childhood war paint. This can be seen as an act of accepting Powder as an important part of her identity, she no longer rejects her. At the same time, she uses parts of her past image, for example, her circus pants are now a bandage on her knee, her leather tome is cut off and covers the upper part of her chest, and she still has a leather choker around her neck. She has not abandoned her past as Jinx either, she accepts all of the parts of herself as one whole. This is also evident in the colors of the stripes on her body. Blue symbolizing Powder and pink symbolizing Jinx go parallel and eventually mix into purple. Green, the symbol of fireflies, also appeared in her image. She also dyed her hair from blue to turquoise, I don't know what that could mean. Аnd added a bright pink strand of hair, perhaps a reference to Powder's AU. Anyway, in the final battle she is already completely different, this is not the broken girl who is happy to die.
This is a character who has been through a lot and accepts her difficult past path. And all these changes in her appearance would not make sense if she simply died or left.
@Dmitrorus I absolutely do think she accepted all the parts of herself, like you've said, but I don't think it made any difference in her outlook on living. I still think she's alive so it's a moot point but I also think she's okay with dying in service of saving Vi, the way she always meant to save everyone when she was a kid. it's because of the things you mentioned, her acceptance and healing of those parts of her, I see her being okay with making that sacrifice. she isn't doing it for the same reasons we always saw her trying to before: on the bridge, egging on Vi and Cait before Isha jumped in, in he home before Ekko shows up back from the AU.
I guess it's just odd for me. I see Jinx as fine with dying but I'm pretty positive Riot is going to allow their moneymaker to be killed off, plus the airship, so I don't think she's actually dead even if it makes more narrative sense (*to me*) if she were
@@brokenfoxx Let's not forget that this is a fictional story. A character needs to have development, and there should be stages of development. A good example is her relationship with Caitlyn: from complete mutual hatred to attempts to understand and maybe even forgive each other. Even her desire to die changed throughout the story. And for the story to develop well, she had to overcome this desire and move on to something new. This is exactly what happened when Ekko talked her out of suicide. It is also important to take into account the game "Jinx Fixes Everything", which is also canon. In Act 3, you can see Jinx in the Firefly hideout, and there she says a very important phrase that now she knows what to fight for - for a better future for all. This is all an example of good character development. She also overcame her hatred for Piltover, for Caitlyn, for the Fireflies. She has gone through a difficult path from trauma, crimes, loss of meaning in life, finding it again in Isha, etc. And in the end we see the culmination of her story during the battle for Piltover. All of this simply will not make sense if she just goes back to self-destruction, as if all this character development did not happen. My theory is that they left the ending open to interpretation on purpose, so they could bait us with a sequel in the future. And her self-sacrifice at the end is the bait.
If they just create a new story with new characters, they will have a hard time attracting most of the Arcane fans. But if they tease Jinx's appearance in this story, that we will finally see how she survived, and what this difficult journey led her to in two seasons of Arcane. Then all the fans will rush to watch, and I will be the first of them. So they "killed" their moneymaker just so that she would make them even more money.
@@Dmitrorus you can still have character development with those self-destructive behaviors. suicidal ideation doesn't just magically go away and disappear like that. it's almost insulting to act like it does (although wouldn't it be nice?). sure, she's come to terms with her past but her past is still part of her; it's not like this was just some fleeting thought she had once. it's been a constant struggle for her. the lyrics for Wasteland couldn't be more on point.
and whether she's dead or she survived, Jinx is free. if she survived, she also [presumably] broke her cycle and is free and got the wish of her little girl's heart: to ride on an airship, off to Noxus (that's where we're going next, right? I've only seen memes, I tend to avoid trailers).
while I'm not one to rag on creators (I feel, as an audience, we aren't entitled to anything and should be grateful for whatever we get), there was sooooo much that got skimmed because of the decision to keep Arcane to a two-season series and it ultimately hurt the narrative. even making this second season longer, or the episodes longer, could have fixed this. I don't think we'd have gained anything by spending more time in TimeBomb but more with Cait and her processing her grief, her breakups, her mistakes... Jinx healing, grieving Isha, reconciling with Vi (at least something there would have been better), a connection with her and Ekko after he stops her but before the fight - but not enough to show they're gearing up for it because that drop of them coming in works great - just something more than a cutaway; show it isn't that suddenly she's now all rainbows and unicorns and not struggling but she's willing to try... something. it's not enough for me to be angry with Fortiche and Riot because there are so few shows that are this good, that spark discussion this way, that can be viewed and interpreted in different ways and they're still good ways... but I feel like there's a lot we were cheated out of too.
the most vocal fans are the worst enemies of the fandom. if there hadn't been as much pressure to produce a product, it wouldn't have been rushed like it was
and I feel like I've forgotten something now!
Perfect explanation 🙌
Yeah, sure, yes. The themes and narrative undercurrents of Season 2 work better and become clearer if you decouple it from the themes and writicng devices of Season 1. The duality, the parallels, the matching pairs everywhere in te structure. Season 2, in very Arcane fashion, flips their own established tricks and methods and moves into something close, flamiliar, but also new. So the narrative throughlines are not dependant on the same framework as before. Also! Finally! Someone getting ever close to finding and expaining that elusive, mysterious entitiy -- the Schneeheart. Well done.
I agree that you have to view season one and season 2 as separately, narratively. I just think they are trying to do completely different things and that both succeed, it just depends on which kind of story you like more, grounded or fantastical
THIS IS WHAT WE NEEDED.
Thank you for this video
Makes sense that she would be at Bilgewater. That place is a pirate fortress. An outcast haven for all kinds of the disenfranchised. She’d fit right in.
@@neofulcrum5013 Especially since the Arcane original idea had Powder leave Piltover/Zaun and head to Bilgewater via an airship. But they changed it. Considering an airship at the end does fly over the sea, it could be indeed she is heading there.
@@anabrans2 I think she is on that airship to Bilgewater, because the creators mentioned all spinoffs we all heard off (Demacia,Ionia,Noxus) but they also mentioned Bilgewater.
I think that we will see Jinx and Ekko in the Bilgewater spinoff since creators sead they want to continue there story.Or posibly (but I 100% belive it will happen) that we will se Jinx and Ekko in a movie.
totally agree with your take! Her being able to walk away was the highlight of her character development while Vi's (albeit forced by Jinx's decision) was to be able to let her go and not run after her.
Well thought and explained!
Well thought out, articulate, and something I totally agree with
Great video btw ye shnee does great job with analysing the series
schnee is one of the reasons I started making arcane content. Really like his videos
@flowchartkenYT ye im always waiting for when he uploads
On first impression, I thought she died. I was really sad about it, and thought back to Singed saying, "Sometimes death is a mercy". She had so much pain in her life, tormented by her past mistakes and memories. I thought that maybe her ending there saving Vi, the person she loved the most, was kind of poetic.
But after seeing hints of her survival, I think that it fits much better that she starts a new story by walking away than by ending her story through death. It continues with her final arc with Ekko pulling her back from the abyss and showing her the light.
I know we will see Jinx again, and I hope it's in a more "Powder" capacity, like running a repair shop in Bilgewater or something. But more than anything, I want to see Vi and Jinx restore their sisterhood after they've let go of the past and come to terms with who they are now. Sadly, I don't think that will happen in any official sense.
I really like your take on this and I totally agree
Jinx needs survive < Timebomb needs to survive
Great video! I completely agree. Jinx dying doesn't resolve her or Vi's story at all. Her surviving and leaving does. I love it, and I do hope we see her in one of the later series, just in an episode or two. If we never see her and Vi reunite, that will be okay, although I do think that conceptually speaking, Jinx and Vi can and will meet again eventually, maybe years down the line in-universe whether we as an audience get to see it or not. Once they've both matured and forged their own paths.
IDC who says what, this is the greatest series of all time!
Great analysis. This view could definitely fuel future storylines with Jinx. Given the new League trailer that focuses on Mel and the possibility that it could also represent a new Arcane series in Noxus, maybe Jinx could see the involvement of outside influences of the events in Piltover and Zaun. Jinx leaving in the airship could be her going to Noxus to help right some wrongs at the source. Jinx worked with hextech a lot and perhaps developed a connection to the arcane, which perhaps gave her insight. Yes, lots if speculation there, but thats how stories develop. If Jinx somehow worked in the background of the new series, helping people like a lone wolf type character, trying to redeem herself, that would be interesting. Or she could team up with Mel, who was forced to kill her mom somewhat like jinx was forced to kill her dad. The writers could carry an angst through the season of jinx not being able to reconnect to vi (through visions from hex tech or machinations of the black rose). Lots of cool options. Let us all pray for Arcane s3 regardless.
While she doesn't need to actually appear again (I think as far as Ella Purnell knows she's done with Jinx), her being alive and leaving Piltover means that while she wants that city behind her, she is looking to "build something new", find a new start.
I really do think there's a beauty to her leaving, it doesn't mean all of her flaws are fixed, that she's perfect or anything, but what it resolves is that core flaw of hers that led to all of this. She doesn't NEED anyone anymore. These people that she clung to and crumbled when they were taken away from her, she can finally shoot for a life that doesn't revolve around them. Vi, Silco, Isha. She's achieved what she needed most to find happiness: emotional independence, and while imperfect, she left those things behind without spite, but with forgiveness, remorse and fondness. If Jinx had ended up with Ekko for example, I think narratively that would spoil this super important aspect of her character development, just trading in one emotional dependence for another, not to mention how they could show she could ever accept who she's become in a community where Jinx just doesn't seem like she would fit into.
Until shown otherwise by some new show, my headcanon is that Caitlyn and Vi know on some level that she made it (that the monkey-head Caitlyn fiddles with isn't just like something she randomly found on the battlefield, but something that Jinx made sure found its way into their her and Vi's hands, since you know she's still actually a wanted criminal in Piltover and can't just show her face around freely), and narratively for me, Vi's cries of anguish as she falls away is that intense release of finally having to let go of her (which will never be undone, unlike the belief that she's dead), and then to accept what happened in the past and understand there's no fixing it, only moving past it to something new, lending significance to her humming "Dear Friend" when she never did before before affirming her commitment to Caitlyn (as well as Caitlyn calling her "Violet" for the first time).
I do believe wasteland could actually be meant for vander in that scene. If you look at the lyrics it is about laying down once there is nothing left to fight for or protect and that’s not really jinx’s thing but it fits perfectly for vanders character.
Now my cope theory: the song isn’t completed and we don’t get to hear the full, more hopeful lyrics because just like the song jinx’s story goes on after the show.
I think this is why I find “Jinx Lives” a more satisfying ending. If she does move on and fly somewhere new, then it shows she is letting go of the past rather than succumbing to it and letting it kill her.
THANK YOU🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
The dumbest ending to the most beautiful series. There was no reason for Jinx to sacrifice herself. By this point, she had healed all her emotional trauma, accepted all aspects of her personality, restored all her relationships. She fought for Piltover, which she had hated her entire life. She united with the Fireflies, whom she had previously mercilessly killed as enemies. She even restored her childhood connection with Ekko. Even Caitlyn was ready, if not to forgive, then to understand Jinx and give her a second chance. And after all this, what is the point of sacrificing herself? It makes her efforts, all of Ekko's contributions, Isha's sacrifice meaningless. And how could she interfere with Vi's happiness? Vi would have been so much happier if she knew her sister alive. And she doesn't have to choose between her sister and Caitlyn, where did the need for this choice come from? Caitlyn showed mercy and empathy and allowed Vi to release Jinx from prison, she showed that she respected Vi's bond with her sister and was willing to give Jinx a second chance. This is a wonderful development of the theme of their complex relationship, which now loses all meaning. Walking away is not breaking the cycle, it's cowardly and childish, real character development is about accepting your difficult past, not running away from it. Forgiveness is the real break of cycle, as shown in the alternate universe between Silko and Vander. And while we know Jinx survived in the end, if she stays dead to Ekko, Vi, and even Caitlyn, that's bullshit.
Silco saying "I think the cycle only ends, when you find the will to walk away" is so important to this whole thing.
At first, Jinx in her broken, depressed and suicidal state takes this as ending herself to be ending the problem, but Ekko convinced her otherwise.
The ship at the end sailing away with Jinx possibly being in it makes so much more sense as an ending than her simply dying
It wasn't Silco , it was her sick imagination. It was her own thought, which was completely wrong. Ekko was able to talk out of her from this wrong decision and give her a new thought. Also, in my opinion, the strongest statement was made by Silko, but Silko in an alternate universe. His statement of forgiveness could have become the main moral of the whole story.
Yes! Agree with this. Also dislike the idea that Jinx has to die so the cycle breaks or whatever. She was never the sole cause of misfortune in zaun/piltover. It would be reaffirming that Jinx is actually a jinx if we went with that idea, when in reality that's all in her head and there's so much more to people's suffering in arcane.
There's always been this question in my mind: if Jinx does make a comeback, what is going to be her character arc? It kind of feels like we reached somewhat of a conclusion with her.
My best bet would be another Vander arc, more satisfying this time. Why do I think that?
1. Vander kept some of his original design in S9 instead of fully turning onto a robot like the rest. This makes me think he did retain some of his humanity anyway, just like with Viktor when the arcane took over.
2. Vander kept moving after Viktor's death, even though all the other puppets fell apart instantly. Why, if it wasn't for another force driving him. That of the beast, maybe, but if the beast remained, why not the human as well?
3. The flashback right before(or was it after?) Jinx's explosion, in which the only character awake was Vander, so most likely from his perspective. He also did have a flashback when he recognized Vi in ep.5, so what was it this time? One could say it was just there to embellish the scene and make it more tragic, but knowing how Fortiche/Riot like to give a deeper meaning to everything beyond just esthetics, I somehow doubt it.
4. No way he died at the end. Not from that grenade. They never showed his body either, and unless they quickly gloss over it in the next spinoff, just ignoring it would be a major plot hole. He's definitely making a comeback one way or another.
I think Jinx will show up in the spinoff about Noxus-Ionia war. She probably won’t get much screen time and will return to Zaun by the end of the spinoff. Also, if the rumors about a separate Arcane spinoff focusing on its characters are true, it’s possible she’ll head to Ionia with Ekko. In that case, they might travel to eastern Ionia, far from the warzone, where some Ionian characters could also be explored.
My focus on the Jinx/Ekko duo makes sense because, after s2e7, these two became super popular within the community. Plus, the Arcane showrunner has shown interest in continuing their story. I doubt Riot would miss the chance to capitalize on this, so I think we’re bound to get a couple of spinoffs in the next 2-3 years.
Now, about Vander:
1. Yes, he kept part of his humanity. When Singed discusses Vander’s situation with Ambessa, he mentions that if Viktor fully heals Vander’s mind, the plan to create a monster army won’t work. I think the memories Viktor managed to restore left a permanent mark on Vander’s mind, like fingerprints pressed into his consciousness.
2. Building on that, both the beast and the man are still there. The problem is that Vander already struggled to keep himself in check, and now, with so few memories left, he snaps out of it too late-like when he falls with Jinx. In the new Arcane skin in LoL, Vander/Warwick cries when teleporting to base and seeing a blue-haired doll, which hints that he remembers Powder.
3. Yes, that flashback before the explosion is from his perspective. It shows that Vander, like any decent father, instinctively cares for his daughters. In s1e3, he saves Vi from the fire, and in s2e9, he saves Powder from the explosion.
4. He’s practically immortal. He’ll probably appear in one of the spinoffs set in Piltover/Zaun, at least as a mention in news reports about groups of torn-apart thugs. There’s a good chance Vi and Caitlyn will try to stop him.
@@padawan7756
@krashme997
You two have the best theory so far for how Jinx could have survived. The pink streak of light doesn't really mean anything, if you watch the scene where Jinx tries to blow herself up with that grenade for the first time, you can see that that streak of light comes out first. But the flashback before the grenade explodes at the end is definitely Vander's memory. He could remember Powder anv Vi together, and even in his seemingly completely changed appearance, his paternal feelings could have given him the strength to save her one last time. At the same time, he definitely survived himself, the explosion of such a grenade is not enough to kill him or even seriously injure him. This explains why Caitlin only found a grenade fragment in the end, and why she is studying the plans for the hextech gate. The only thing I would like to add from myself, and this is not even a theory, rather a hope that this is how it will be in the end. When Ecco is sitting alone in the very spot where he kissed AU Powder, he lights the paper with (probably) her name on it and watches it fly away. At this point, the coolest plot twist would be if Jinx showed up behind him, injured but alive.
I would also like to see her interact with Caitlyn in the future, at least a little. Their journey from complete mutual hatred to something else for me one of the most interesting story arcs. Journey to new opportunities to understand your enemy, to give a second chance to the most broken person, to come face to face with the consequences of your terrible crimes. Their dynamics from complete opposites to mirror images of each other. It all seems unfinished and unsaid, as if their journey was cut off halfway. I really wish that it would not remain like this, but at least somehow continue.
How I wanted to see Urgot thirsting for justice and Glask industries taking over undercity and topside. Too bad it probably won't be shown.
according to Necrit, Arcane didn't show everything. Piltover and Zaun are still the same city, not separated (yes, in arcane both cities are Piltover, politically speaking). Christian said that Renata Glasc will appear later, replacing the chem-barons that died during the series. And one important event still didn't happened: a giant explosion on the bridge that finally separates the two cities, and Zaun gets independency. So if things go well, we certanly will have another TV show that returns to these two cities.
@@carlosleite7011I hope so😔
I really hope Schnee sees this video!
ngl big same
the only reason she went from the suicidal girl who didn't want to be a hero at all to someone totally opposite to what she's shown since the series, a hero, is her discussion with ekko, which probably lasted for days before he convinced her to be the jinx we saw at the end of the series, in a long and methodical way, she had to be given a reason to live, (even to eat), then a reason to fight for zaun, all these problems can't be solved in just a few minutes, or a few hours, and even less with a single sentence, all his sentence did was prevent her from committing suicide in ekko's presence, it's her discussion with him afterwards that's the key to her transformation, she's become literally ekko, nothing to do with what she was.
Reducing her transformation to what we saw on screen is way too simplistic, it means not understanding Jinx's psychology since the beginning of the series.
I agree with you. For the record the makers of the show did write a scene with Ekko talking with Jinx and convincing her to join the fight against Ambessa. Supposedly it would have included him telling her about the good version of her he met in the other universe, them designing and building the airship and weapons, and even the two of them putting warpaint on each other, which would have been super adorable. But that scene got cut because they felt the last episode was already to long. It's an absolute crime that we didn't get to see that. Granted Jinx and Ekko's entrance in the battle was five different kinds of badass and the prep scene would have undercut the surprise, but still, like you said, we should have gotten to see the emotional catharsis that compelled Jinx to finally take on the role of hero.
If Jinx ever does appear again, in one of the spin-offs they're rumored to be working then hopefully they'll use that as an opportunity to finally show us that scene. They could make it a flashback that would show the audience how Jinx has grown and where her character is now. That would be absolutely perfect.
@@vertiac an extremely important scene, fundamental to the development of jinx, the very fact that they decided to remove it for this “surprise” gives the impression that people are more interested in the superficial than in the development of the characters we've been following since the beginning, and the worst thing is that they may be right for most people, they just want spectacle without any real consistency, it's sad.
When I watched the last episode, i IMMEDIATELY knew she was still alive- because the last scene whete they are putting papers into the bowls, 1- Vi didnt put any papers nor was she terribly sad. 2- Ekko only put ONE paper into the bowl which I took only for the tiny professor. And 3- with her speed she could've EASILY slipped out of Vanders grip. So yeah, thats what I tool from it.
Very good video, thanks
there is Alt powder who seems like she can play apart in the future of Jink's
Well duh genius, she helped create the z drive.
Yes, absolutely yes. Her arc is clearly left open as it is Vi's in a different way.
Vi couldn't let go of her sister because she alwayd fights for her family. Jinx could not fix the breach created by her reckless act of selfish desire to push forward her gadgets and be useful for her family, but in the end she is able to save Vi and make a symbolic sacrifice to atone for her sins of the past. "Vi used to tell me I could fix anything".
However, both are yet to find purpose in their own lives, build something new "something worth fighting for".
For Vi It's Caitlyn, which would speak for her own desires. What about Jinx? That's the open question. And I believe it might be answered in time.
Thanks for the video.
Hey I noticed that when Jayce and Victor do their little forehead boop it forms a sitting Buddha statue lol
lol your right it kinda does
The themes and undercurrents of Season One are there. It's just that Season Two brought additional ones to the fore to explore while also working with what came before, although admittingly to me it seems Season Two was too overstuffed as a season to explore it all in a way as clearly like Season One.
Still I think it's important to look at Season Two as a half of the whole show that is Arcane and see how the two seasons are two halves of a whole. Two halves of a whole that each do their own thing.
Also in regards to Jinx living while breaking the cycle, she not only broke the cycle that she was stuck in but what Vi was also stuck in. Vi could never settle down and live for herself for a change, always putting others before herself; be it Caitlyn or Jinx. But she could never move on and goes into a depressive spiral when both are lost to her, resulting in a pit fighting phase. By removing herself from Vi's life, she ensures that Vi can finally live for herself and fall in love fully with Caitlyn.
Yes, fully agree!
Jinx actually dying would would be really unsatisfying and would make several key moments in S2 feel useless. For example, Isha's sacrifice would be for nothing, as she saved Jinx's life, both psychologically and physically. Jinx dying would make her sacrifice 100x less impactful and beautiful. Not to mention Ekko saving Jinx and all the Timebomb fan theory. It would be a devastating kick to the balls if they just decided to kill Jinx off since it is almost guaranteed Jinx and Ekko developed a good relationship off screen.
There are also of course meta-reasons why they want to keep her alive.
i agree jinx is still alive, its heavily hinted. but i wouldnt make conclusion because it shows no character development. some characters dont develop, not every character needs to along their journey
Here is my theory: She isn't suppose to break the cycle, her tail is suppose to be a tragedy after tragedy.
2:11 Jinx pulled the pin on her grenade 4 times if you include the ending
Did I just find a new video essay youtuber to shout out in my next video? I think so
I'm just wondering when Jinx will become the Jinx from the game, since Arcane is supposed to be canon. Despite Lol Jinx having all ten fingers and Caitlyn not missing an eye.
League champions should be separated from the characters of arcane and future shows. Champions are really just concepts with a few lines of dialogue and lore. It’s just not the right type of game to have in depth characters.
I see the league champions as kind of a exaggerated and shallow version of the real characters.
Problem. The cycle is broken already. Before the finale.
The story just for the most part, doesn’t make sense. It’s just dumb.
So of course, she has to live, because this just doesn’t make sense as her end point, although I don’t know where it’s going to go.
However, your ending hurts Vi quite a bit, since it means she has no agency whatsoever which she didn’t have much to begin with.
Jinx’s ending is, according to Christian, the only way to end things because she can’t have a happy ending. They already understand each other, but a happy ending for her in regards to Vi and Cait impossible. That’s it.
Honestly I wish jinx and ekko went together just think about it ekko doesn't really have anyone at the moment and is practically the only thing giving jinx hope if they decided to break the cycle together I would be squealing and kicking my feet I genuinely think jinx needs ekko to heal and let's be honest now echo is down bad for jinx
Sui slide is never the answer, and it just causes so much more pain
So I'd say irl killing is a cycle too and you need to learn to heal and adapt to Trauma and build something new and safe(er)
I believe that's where her story arc did conclude for the viewer
I love schnee but the writers are too good to end her on a suislide ending after all the setup for her conclusion, Ekko even pointed that out for us viewers
I've been saying she's alive since day one and my friends have made fun of me for copium, but that's not it 😂😂
She has to live, else they fumbled one of the best storylines in the show for a generic Disney ending or some bs
Make sense
Just let her go
I think it was a poor choice to play Wasteland the second time. If we're supposed to understand this is a sacrifice and not an "escape", there needed to be real work done to show Jinx wants to live. It's like if this world is a Wasteland, why did you fight for it? If you're unwilling to let this world go, why should it let you go?
The song is actually longer than what we hear. Maybe it's supposed to be a hidden clue but in the last part of the song wasteland the lyrics change from "please let me go" to "don't let me go" and from "I want to try" the song ends hopefully if you listen to the entire thing. We only hear the first part in the scene but the ending is choosing life not death.
I saw people saying that the song being played again at the end is actually meant to be a reflection of vi more so than jinx and it makes perfect sense if you read through the lyrics with her in mind
I get where your coming from but I actually really disagree with this. Wasteland at the very end changes its chorus to reflect someone who finds the will to live. The song goes from repeating please let me go, to don't let me go. I think the song shows someone who is despondent and has lost the will to live but finds it again.
Just look at the stanza preceding the final chorus
I'm not ready to face it
Don't go saying goodbye
There's a beauty in changes
And I wanna try
Jinx wants to try and change, I just don't think she understands how. I didn't include it in the video, but I also believe that Ekko told her what happened in the AU. She leaves the prison determined to take her life because according to her "There is no good version of Jinx" but after hearing that there IS a good version of her, she decides there is another way for Vi to be happy.
@@flowchartkenYT I was aware that Wasteland has a more optimistic tone overall, and in a different version of 209, there could have been a scene where they play the other part as a sort of reprise to show Jinx's evolving worldview. But just like deleted scenes aren't canon, those more optimistic parts don't factor into the show. They chose to play the parts they played and chose to not play the parts they didn't play. And it creates a tone where Jinx is returning to the self-destructive 208 mindset she had before. To sort of deconstruct the lyrics into a thesis:
"Please let me go."
Why do I need to let you go?
"This world is a Wasteland."
Why is it a wasteland?
"I know it's my fault that I'm here all alone."
What? What was the point of the preceding episode then?
The only way I can truly justify it to myself is that the song is diegetic both times we hear it. We know Jinx is listening to it at the beginning of 209 because we hear it playing on her phonogram as Ekko intervenes. So Jinx wanted it to be the last song she heard before she passed. Then at the end of 209, she had made the choice to sacrifice herself and her end is inevitable, so she "plays the song in her head" to try to comfort herself in her last moments. That's obviously quite sad, but it's very human to try to make peace at the end. If that's true, though, it sort of calls into question the idea that Jinx saved herself from the explosion.
@@blalmon I think they do factor into the show as in, the lyrics contribute to the canon, even the parts that are not included in the show. That is the beauty of it all imo. Take for example Isha's Song, like 99% of the audience outside of China will not understand this song or the message if you don't dive into the lyrics. Not to mention the lyrics to Ma Meilleure Ennemie, which elevates the episode to a whole new level.
You said it yourself, Jinx actually sings this song to herself in a sense when she is falling with WW. But in those final moments just milliseconds before the explosion, she decides "I'm not ready to face it". Most of us agree that Jinx is actually alive because of the clues they show in the final moments of 209. The omitted lyrics is just another easter egg/clue that further emphasizes this.
First
I think I'm the only person who doesn't want to see Jinx in another show anytime soon, maybe never again. Like, she has her arc very well built and closed in the 2 seasons, we already saw her origin, how she is when she's at her worst and when she's stable, what she'd do in a normal life living with Isha and the AU episode, we saw her closing her arc with her sister and she had her own closure making peace with herself as well and being able to move on with her life. So I really don't need to see more of her when there are so many more interesting characters to tell their stories. Please, let Jinx be free away from our screens.