Arcane S01 E03 Full Length Reaction

Rich, I can’t wait until I’m all the way through the show so I can just go full force into all the YouTube videos/fan art/MVs/edits/etc!!! :D And I seriously appreciate that you’re such a super fan and divulging fun facts while still being so courteous and cautious about spoilers. It really does make watching this show just that much more special getting insights from you all like that! And Jordan, OF COURSE, friend! I think I’ve said it before but I feel like you and I tend to watch shows through a similar lens, because we tend to come to a lot of the same conclusions about characters and laugh at the similar parts loll So I always look forward to seeing what you have to say! And you’re always sharing things in the dialogue that I missed because I’m too busy in my head thinking “OOH PRETTY LIGHTS” 🤣

I'd like to point out I've watched literally hundreds of hours of Arcane related content so it's not just me seeing things you missed. There are lot's of amazing analysis videos from talented youtubers and actually some music video edits by people who have a great eye will often match up scenes in very interesting ways and find shots in scenes that you otherwise don't notice because you're wrapped up in the show when watching normally. My Youtube recommended section is constantly filled with at least 1 or 2 Arcane AMVs

Rich House

Where does the line start for the mind-blown club because HOLY SHIT that’s so sick!!🔥 Like I noticed some absolute face value detail but there’s so much more symbolism and connection with everything we’re seeing here that I was way too teary eyed to focus on, that’s so amazinggg!!!! What a show! Rich is a frickin genius for catching on to all that! I can dream for sure LOL, it wouldn’t be even half as impactful of a show of course but it would make my heart stop hurting😂 also can I just say thanks so much for always hitting me back mate, I’m always like super late to the party or in this case just spewing my feelings in a not very well executed manor and you always have these really awesome, thoughtful replies! Yeah, just thank you!:)

Jordan

“I’m not gonna lie, that really f**ked me up🤣😭” ^ If I was going to do a 1-sentence review for this episode, this would have been it 🤣🤣🤣 The way they hit us with emotional punch after emotional punch in this episode was BRUTAL. And I agree that Powder’s voice actor stole the show at the end there. Ughhhh I can still hear her little pleas in my head rn and it’s going to make me cry all over again! 😭 Rich House was saying in one of their comments earlier that the voice actress was only like 11 or 12 when she recorded those lines 😱 That girl is never going to have trouble finding work again hahaha “And how cool that we got to see the true beauty of magic in one scene, then the catastrophic power it can have when used recklessly in another! “ Okay in regards to this comment of yours here’s another one from Rich that blew my mind in case you missed it: “If you want to push the symbolism more you can compare Powders falling to Jayce and Viktor floating. Both a result of the introduction of the arcane crystals but with the opposite effect, I'm sure there is some meaning behind that but hard to eloquently put into words. But the fact this new technology being introduced is literally lifting up those in power (topside) and yet it's devastating the people living in the undercity who are falling lower seems to represent too much to not be intentional.” LIKE DUDE. I understood the metaphor in my mind but didn’t even fully process that it was being expressed onscreen with the floating/falling. I agree that this show has some seriously fleshed out characters. Like you said, even Silco has this side to him that we as an audience understand and empathize with. 
AND LOL Jordan your hopes of episode 4 being a dream reveal for episode 3 just made me laugh out loud. In a perfect world 🤣😭 Super stoked for all the non-dangerous shenanigans the gang gets up to the rest of the season :D :D :D Lol can you imagine if episodes 4-9 of Arcane just turn into a kids’ show that lectures us on safety standards and the importance of emotional regulation? lmaoo

STOP IT RIGHT NOW. Omg how did I not realize that before!? Honestly it kind of makes me angry how amazing this show is lol. Arcane is like the popular girl in high school who's also NICE. It feels against the laws of the universe for something to be so perfect 🤣

Oh my gosh I totally understand the busy schedule life. I'm so honored that you were able to carve out time for this show though and love having you here for the ride :D

Oh, I will ABSOLUTELY be rewatching this show (probably many times over) on a bigger screen :D

Oh my god, yes. My throat was BURNING this entire episode 😭 And LOL I didn’t even notice I did that until you pointed it. It was absolutely an unconscious safe-space mechanism 🤣 The sleeves will shield me from the pain!!! You were spot-the-heck-on with your episode 3 tears prediction. I feel like there’s only a handful of times I’ve been this emotionally drained after watching a show/movie, even with my cry-baby nature haha. And it didn’t even cross my mind that they may be showing potential outcomes during the bomb scene, but that same shock value was definitely there for me too. Like this CANNOT all be happening rn. Noooooo I’m so sorry you came to this episode for a “pick me up” 😭 What luck! Well hopefully with the new episode of TOH coming up and my episode 4 early release this week you’ll feel at least a little better!? I love the SVTFOE throwback 🥺💖

I’m not gonna lie, that really f**ked me up🤣😭 I feel like I need a nap or something after that holy smokes, that was WAY more brutal than I was expecting for episode 3🤒 I thought I had to pause for a sec after Vander died you know, dry my eyes, get some composure going for the last few minutes, like that’s the worst of it over, RIGHT?! then POWDER SHOWS UP. That scene with her and Vi has got to be THE MOST awful, heartbreaking, soul crushing thing I’ve seen in a long time. The way she walked in with so much optimism and excitement, like she’d finally proven herself💔 and then the subsequent confrontation which I will not be getting into because I genuinely might start spiralling. Powder’s voice actor was just killllling me with those line deliveries, DUDE when she said “I need you” that was it for me✌️😢 I’m looking for someone to blame right now so screw that guard who stopped Vi from going back, I know he was probably right but I don’t care I’m angry and upset!🤣 Tragic doesn’t even begin to cut it. I just can’t shake the thought that Powder’s always gonna think her sister never came back for her, literally makes me wanna curl up in a ball😭 Everything was executed to perfection though, especially the visuals as you mentioned, but of course every aspect! THAT explosion, where it went through each individual one in slow motion, that was INSANEE!! I loved everything going on with the hex tex crew, once again the visuals and sound when they finally got their experiment to work were so stunning!!! And how cool that we got to see the true beauty of magic in one scene, then the catastrophic power it can have when used recklessly in another! It’s so crazy too, when I first saw that guy (Vander’s brother) I just thought oh, your standard evil dude. This show is so good at making everyone a real person who’s pasts have shaped them all the way to today, the writing reveals something about them or some gem of who they used to be with almost every conversation, it’s really such a treat to watch this I’m so happy I’m here! Sorry this review was a hot mess, it’s definitely reflecting its creator😅 I just needed to say something because I cannot stop thinking about this gut punch of an episode! Props to you for doing a full on review after that!🔥 I loved running through the episode again, that’s what I do to be able to write these and remember everything I wanna say! Omg I just saw that you posted episode 4 holy shit thank youuu!! I think I’m gonna watch that now in the hopes that they reveal that episode 3 was all just Powder’s nightmare, Vi’s gonna wake her up and the whole gang’s gonna go have a cute, non dangerous adventure, yeah??😭🤞😂 p.s. hope the ramen was good, now I really want ramen!!

Jordan

If you want to push the symbolism more you can compare Powders falling to Jayce and Viktor floating. Both a result of the introduction of the arcane crystals but with the opposite effect, I'm sure there is some meaning behind that but hard to eloquently put into words. But the fact this new technology being introduced is literally lifting up those in power (topside) and yet it's devastating the people living in the undercity who are falling lower seems to represent too much to not be intentional.

Rich House

Holy fucking shit...this episode... You know that feeling when you're about to cry and the muscles in your throat start hurting?! I had that feeling for like 70% of this episode... I did like a few little cries like 4 times during this episode but as soon as the ending song started playing I started bawling. You know what also broke me, when you pulled your sleeves up to your hands in this like little, safety blanket, self-hug want to disappear into my safe space moment that was so vulnerable and precious 🥰 I was already going through all the feels with the episode and then seeing your state of turmoil made things even more emotional. Honestly after watching this I kinda feel like I need an Alycia hug where we cry into each others shoulders and mumble short phrases to remind the other of moments in this episode that make us cry even harder lol. Well at least my prediction was spot on for tears by episode 3 lol. Not sure the last time I felt this emotionally exhausted after watching anything this was the bomb if you excuse the inappropriate terrible too soon pun. I wasn't even sure at first what was going on during the explosions it kinda looked like it flashed through a bunch of possible futures where you saw some of them die and stuff because my brain was like "no way this is all one timeline - too much terrible stuff is going on to all be in the same timeline" 😁 I did a double-feature this week because last week I felt good so I kind of banked an episode to watch when I need a pick-me-up and I felt like a time like that was coming up so I waited to watch these 2 episodes. And after years of various illnesses plaguing me I finally broke down...yesterday...in public...at the grocery store check-out. So I was like "I know, let's watch some Arcane with the lovely Alycia that will cheer me up" 🤣 Damn it's not even 11am and I don't want to deal with the rest of my day now..like at all 😁 I needed a cuter more wholesome avatar after this so Staaaar Butterflyyyyy to the rescue hrhr.

Hey the devastation, trauma, and hopelessness really pops if you watch it on a bigger screen. ;-)

MrHHH

Thanks! It's great to be here! Things have been really busy for a while, so I haven't been able to keep up with a lot of the things I would usually watch regularly. Seeing you react to this show though, was something I just had to make time for, lol.

Malcolm Ferguson

OH! And to answer your question about the songs- yeah, I can't say I've played Goodbye quite as much 🤣 I feel like it's a good one to listen to if I ever need a good cry or want to get inspired to write a really emotional scene. It's so hauntingly beautiful.

Take your time! We'll be here to discuss when you get around to it 😎💖

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

Oh my gosh if I had known what was in store, I would have brewed myself a nice chamomile tea or something instead 🤣 My nervous system was ill-prepared hahaha Thank you so much for the kind comment :’) Thank YOU for being here and I’m so happy you’re enjoying the ride as much as I am

Like you said, to each their own! That's okay!

Oh, absolutely. I fell in love with the world and with our main characters right away in episodes 1 and 2 but this is without a doubt our catalyst episode. I don’t have a freaking clue where this show is going to go from here. But like you said, I doubt this is our only “cryer” episode in store hahaha 😅

LOL okay it is so nice to know that I’m not the only one. I can be kind of a crybaby so I wasn’t sure if I was just being dramatic or if this episode was really that devastating. Apparently it was because so many of you have said it hit home for you too! And I’m cracking up reading this comment. I can only imagine being on the other side of it 🤣 I was telling Tim in one of the comments above this that I really want to watch other reactors’ videos to this show once I’m through it. Because it would be so fun to see someone else go through the emotional rollercoaster!! I can totally see why so many people voted for this show; It really is such a great one for someone to react to.

I'm so happy to have you here, Malcom! Thank you for watching along with me, again 🥺

I am right there with you. Although I was devastated emotionally by Vander’s death and sad to see Grayson go too, I was absolutely floored that Milo and Claggor died. I think you said it perfectly- it felt like we had established something of a dynamic for the show in the first 2 episodes and everything we knew so far was wrecked in this episode…which is AGAIN just absolutely incredible writing. We’re feeling that same loss that Vi and Powder are because we got to know these characters and feel safe that we knew where the show was headed. But NOPE 😅 Silco to me feels like a villain who started off with good intentions but lost his way. I think the change he wants to see in the world is understandable but his tactics are out of hand. The moral conundrum of “the base violence necessary for change” is an ethos discussion worth having, of course, but I didn’t get enough sleep last night to have it here and now 🤣🤣

Also that is incredible that the voice actress was that young when she played Powder!!! What the heck!?! I bet she's working all the time now

Okay I’m so glad I’m not the only one! I was like- maybe I’m taking this all too heavily lol. It is just a show after all. But there’s something about the emotional pull of these characters that is so raw and tragic and beautiful. I can’t help but be invested! And thank you so much for the Silco/Vander clarification! I was skeptical that they were biological brothers until Silco said “brother” AGAIN to him. And then I figured he wouldn’t have said it twice if they weren’t actually related. But I suppose going through whatever they did together would make their ties as strong as brothers. AND OMG I MISSED THE PARALLELS AND I’M LOSING IT RN. My god every time I think this show can’t get more perfect IT DOES 😱😱😱 As far as your and Tim’s comments on the ending, I think you both expressed it so perfectly. It’s absolutely a test of our human compassion. These are children (Vi a bit older, but still) that experienced tragedy as even younger children, grew up in an unstable, emotionally unregulated environment, and made decisions rashly in the wake of now, more tragedy. I think given their upbringing and the retraumatizing circumstances, they both acted exactly as I would have expected them to. Even if I don’t *agree* with their actions from my high-and-mighty privileged seat as an audience member, there wasn’t anything that happened in this episode that felt out of character to me. It was perfect writing for imperfect characters. But… that’s just my humble opinion of course 🙈

Still, I'd rather see this kind of family issue than the one in Game of Thrones, and yes, I'm talking about THAT issue.

The Amish Electrician

Man I am so behind, but I'm gonna catch up for sure!

Neon Jay

Brilliant episode and brilliant reaction. I was worried for your physical health after you said you had 2 coffee's and then were going through this ep for the first time haha. Thank you for all your efforts and I'm just happy to be here!

Robert Cannon

*respect knuckles thrust forward*

Julian Q

This is only the third episode! The fucking 3rd!!!!! I don’t have the time to write what I want to write. Give me a sec. I’ll make it worth all your while!!!

Julian Q

I have to be blunt ... while it's well done, I'm just not finding it all that interesting. To each his own, I guess. I'll give it another episode...

The Amish Electrician

And this was the episode that really showed me how great the writing was for this show. Silco could have easily been some 2 dimensional bad guy. Instead, seeing what Powder was going through, instantly emphasized with what she felt. And became someone he wished he had back when he first fought his brother. Yeah, there's a couple episodes in this that really hit you hard.

MrHHH

Yes. Yes I cried. Because that is the only appropriate response. Wow. Every time you said that you were stressed or emotionally wrecked while the episode wasn't over yet... I swear I winced every time, knowing how you were gonna feel five minutes from then.

Ganaroth Les

While I enjoyed the first two, this was the episode that really got me hooked. All I could think was “Where do we go from here?!” I mean… half the cast died! While Vander’s death didn’t exactly shock me (he seemed like the kind of character who WOULD die at some point), it was still really sad. He was my favourite character in these first three episodes. Grayson’s death was also kind of sad. I quite liked her character – as you said, she was the most reasonable of the enforcers we had seen, and provided an interesting link between the two worlds. Plus, I love her voice actress, Shohreh Aghdashloo. The deaths that really shocked me though, were Mylo and Claggor. I did not see that coming at all. The two of them, along with Vi & Powder felt like this cool little group of rebels, who I assumed we’d be spending the whole show with. I did not expect that group to be cut in half like this, 3 episodes in! The thing that REALLY hooked me though, was the ending, where Silco took Powder under his wing. I’ve always loved stories about childhood friends-turned-enemies, and this one is particularly effective, because the show has shown their friendship so effectively through these first three episodes. So, I remember being really intrigued about where that was going to go after this episode. Also, I have to say, Silco is a great villain, because as bad as he is, and while I don’t agree with the things he does, I can honestly see where he’s coming from. I’m really enjoying experiencing this show again with you. Can’t wait ‘til next week!

Malcolm Ferguson

Yes I agree completely, what surprised me is I think it might be even more heart breaking when re-watching the series. Can't praise Mia Sinclair Jenness enough for her voice work for Powder, I think she was either 11 or 12 when recording it and she completely nailed it.

Rich House

I find it pretty much impossible to blame Powder or Vi and I have compassion for both of them. I've seen people blame Powder and I can sort of understand it, based on how destructive her end result was. But to me that's missing the forest for the trees. Maybe some of this is because I can connect and identify with some of what she's gone through. Her attachment is so anxious and she's so terrified of abandonment and of not having any worth, that she'll go to almost any lengths to avoid it and prove herself so she's accepted and won't be cast off. All of those things basically came crashing down on her not only once, but twice in the same episode. After Vi made her stay home when they went to rescue Vander, she felt abandoned and useless and was basically having a full-on trauma response / panic attack. Then in the end after she found out what she'd done and Vi walked away from her, Powder felt the exact same things. She was worthless, couldn't do anything right, had caused the death of family members, and was being rejected and abandoned by the person she craved acceptance and love from more than anyone else in the world. I don't even blame Powder for latching onto Silco. I've seen people scoff at that, but to me it makes complete sense. She was utterly traumatized and rudderless. In her panic over (perceived) abandonment, she immediately latched on to the closest human soul who showed her even the tiniest hint of compassion. To me it's the emotional equivalent of someone who's stuck in a river that's heading for a waterfall. Is that person going to be discerning about what they grab on to in order to get out of the river and stop them from going over the waterfall? Nope. It's incredibly heartbreaking.

Tim

I think almost everyone gets wrecked by this episode, we get Jayce and Viktor sprinkled in for some lighter moments but otherwise it's non stop tension and emotion. I think Vander and Silco were more brothers in arms in a shared cause then biological brothers but still very close. There are number of parallels they make visually between Vander and Silco and Vi and Powder. Powder falling mirrors Silco drowning, Vander grabbing Silcos throat on the bridge matches Vi grabbing Powder. The ending between Vi and Powder really tests peoples ability for compassion and understanding for each of them. I've seen everything from hating Powder to hating Vi and all sorts in between. But it's always nice to see someone not immediately throw blame at either of them, I think almost everyone is rooting for Powder to do something after Vi is beaten by Deckard. If you played "Our Love" on repeat I'm curious how you feel about "Goodbye", its use at the end really imprints the emotions of the scene onto it for me so I can't imagine you felt like playing it constantly.

Rich House