Arcane | S2 | Episode 3
Added 2024-11-15 14:00:16 +0000 UTCALL OF THE THINGS ALL AT ONCE. There's still 6 episodes. It's going to get S P I C Y
Comments
Dude, I absolutely wish I could analyze episodes like this? Do you have a process for this or does it just sorta come to you as your watching? This is genuinely such a phenomenal breakdown. Having watched Ep 4 (uploading shortly), without spoiling, you've got some very interesting stuff in here haha. The lyrics to the song too, that would make so much sense, especially given a line *redacted* says in episode 4 (why must violence be justified for peace), something to that effect, so the lyrics to the song definitely fall in line with that. Also, thank you for clarifying Ambessa. The recaps I watched did me dirty haha I completely forgot about Jayce and his hammer-doings haha
So Everdream
2024-11-18 13:38:13 +0000 UTCAnd re: the Ambessa double cross situation at the end- That chem-barron's son was already dead in season 1- Jayce killed him with his hammer by accident. Ambessa merely gave her the opportunity she needed to get Topside to enact her "revenge," but of course in reality Ambessa just wanted to use Zaun's attack as fire to incite Piltover to invade. (And, I think specifically- build more hextech weaponry, which she seems to Want.) I actually think she WAS originally just going to use Salo as a puppet as long as she could, but then Caitlyn stormed her way into that private meeting she wasn't supposed to be a part of to go "hey I'm storming the Undercity FYI :)))" and take the initiative, and Salo made that comment about how Caitlyn's very name seemed to command attention... Those moments + Ambessa's knowledge about Caitlyn's desire for vengeance tipped her over, I think. She sees someone she believes she can manipulate better than Salo in Caitlyn. And time will tell if she gets her way, or if Caitlyn can actually manage to see through her act.
Novantinuum
2024-11-16 05:38:55 +0000 UTCThis episode is insane. I genuinely have no idea how they managed to cover so much in one episode. So, my musings and theories at this point- Ambessa's militant and master manipulator nature suddenly makes a LOT more sense when you get to see more examples of her being INTENSELY protective of her family. (Despite Mel's dislike and distrust of her, the way Momma Medarda went to BAT defending her honor does show that she very much cares deeply about her daughter. Is she good at SHOWING it beyond looking out for her physical safety and not letting other politicians insult her? No, ahah. But I digress.) She's power grabbing, but it genuinely does feel like she's doing so out of a sense of this being the Only way she can keep them alive, given this yet-unknown to us threat she's dealing with, with the Black Rose folks. I kinda see her as like... Vander if he actually took up arms and outright went to bat to protect his adopted kids, rather than just play the purely talk mediation game. It's honestly a fascinating pattern I'm seeing in this show- there are a TON of parents who often choose horribly morally bankrupt things in order to try and protect their loved ones as best they can muster.... and they all interact with this moral struggle in different ways. Some, like Vander, do their best to keep their morality intact, and others- like the former police chief Marcus- are more than willing to deal in blood money if it keeps their child safe. Fascinating. Tastey. Spicy stuff. Now, as for Jinx... I get the strong sense that she genuinely wanted and expected to die in this episode. She expected her sister or Caitlyn to kill her. When Sevika blew the huge doorway that released all the stored gas, Jinx starts to shout something like "this isn't how it's supposed to-" That comment leads me to believe that her ideal plan was Maybe that Vi/Caitlyn kills Jinx, Sevika sets off the charge, Sevika kills Vi/Caitlyn if possible... and that, releasing all the stored up gas into Topside with the bright colors as her calling card would be her final act, her final gift to the people of Zaun. Her final fuck you- an act that not only subjects the folks "upstairs" to the same polluted air THEY often have to breathe, but strips away Piltover's ability to use the Gray against them ever again. But Jinx... Jinx is tired, and she wanted out. She didn't want the people of the undercity to have to suffer breathing that air, but she also didn't want to LIVE. Now, however... and thinking to how Jinx is seen waving a large flag in the intro... here is where I step into some theorization. As a result of this huge play of hers- which is SO obviously HER act, since it's smeared with all her trademark bright colors- I think a great bulk of Zaun is going to rally behind her in the spirit of revolution against their oppressors much the same way the people of the Lanes once did with Vander. She's gonna become THEIR Vander. But here's the issue: she never intended to see the aftermath of this bold act. So how will Jinx choose to respond to the potential of so many people looking to her for the next move? Aaaaand finally, hooo boy. That goddamn fight sequence near the end. What the hell. I have watched that scene way too many times at this point. And upon looking at the song's lyrics, I had a revelation about their POV... here is my pitch. I think this song is from the point of view of the Arcane itself. Like, here's some of the lyrics: "You summon storms, you play with nature Now watch it hurt you Why would you want to shape the world in your hands? You will never make it through" "How does it feel to reach the line that no one ever got to cross? Does it make you a god now? Every sin will be forgiven If you lay down your weapons to the ground" These bits, ESPECIALLY the final two lines, feel like warnings and commands spoken from the very magic that everyone is over-utilizing TO those who are actively misusing it. This plus all the glitching almost feels like... the Arcane is screaming out in pain because it hates the way mortals are utilizing it just to further their own selfish, violent, power-grabbing pursuits. And if that is indeed the direction they're taking this story in, which it very much from dialogue Sounds like it is, then OUGHHH I am so interested to see where things go next.
Novantinuum
2024-11-16 05:23:31 +0000 UTC
