Transcription
[Music] The last act of Arcane just finished up, and boy, do I have thoughts. I don't have nearly enough time to talk about this entire show, so all I want to discuss is Ekko.
My favorite episode has got to be episode 7 from season 2, which follows Ekko getting Miles Morales-ed into another universe. But instead of it being an intensely stressful period in the character's development, it's actually a breath of fresh air.
Throughout Arcane, there have been many "what if" moments. What I mean by that is moments that leave you thinking, "What if things went differently?" Moments so impactful that they leave you yearning for a different reality where they happen. They even explore this in the show when Jinx and Vi find Vander's letter to Silko. If he found this, everything might have been different.
For example, one moment from season 1 that really stuck with me was the time Marus Chlor forms Vi, letting Sil get to Powder. "What if" moments do prove the audience is engaged with the show, but what's so crazy about Arcane is they actually put it in an episode. In this universe, Vi and presumably Jace both died in the balcony explosion at the start of the series, preventing hextech from being invented and avoiding the deaths of Clager, Milo, Benzo, Vander, and even Powder to an extent.
In this reality, Ekko pretty much has it all. Almost everyone he cares about is alive, and Piltover and Zaun are living in harmony. It kind of reminds me of this one Justice League animated series episode where this thing latches onto the heroes, giving them a dream of the perfect reality, while the only way to escape is to reject it.
In Across the Spider-Verse, it's easy to imagine why Miles Morales would want to go back to his universe, but Ekko deciding to return home just for the sake of people needing him is incredibly heroic. I'm not confident that anyone else in the series would do the same.
"I have people back home who need me," and at this point, he doesn't even know there's a war going on. He just knows the people need him and is willing to return for that alone. Even with a get-out-of-jail-free card, he still chooses to give up this life and this relationship with Powder.
I'd like to take a moment to talk about how Ekko falls back in love with Powder because it's really well done. At first, he immediately attacked her, and honestly, I can't blame him. Eventually, he's able to tolerate her, but it's only after he starts to understand her pain and empathize with her that he really starts to open up.
I love the small moments between them. That dance scene made me cry, and watching the rooftop scene was powerful. If you're wondering why I said "fall back in love," it's because Ekko, like Powder beforehand, had a crush until she started talking to the gun, at least in League of Legends. I know the canons don't really line up, but that's just my explanation for why things go so quickly.
If you think of it this way, it makes their first fight in season 1 hit so much harder. Look how much is communicated in their [Music] eyes. Ekko gives this up to return to his admittedly a lot less pleasant reality, which to his surprise has gotten even worse.
Because he was able to come back, he was able to help win the war against Noxus in the Glorious Evolution. This isn't just to have Ekko in the last fight; before he shows up, Piltover was straight up losing. Only because he was able to bring the Firelights and Jinx into the battle were they able to win. That's ignoring him coming in totally clutch, saving Jace.
I also love the line Victor says before getting hit by the Z-Drive because it's true on so many levels. The most obvious part of Victor's line is the fact that the Z-Drive shouldn't exist because it's from a different reality. But I also like the idea that Victor's just so stung that a guy just invented a time machine, and not only that, but it's being thrown at him.
I also love the Z-Drive as a concept because in the world of Arcane, where so many small moments define the rest of the story, having a guy that can just go, "Um, actually, that didn't happen," is such a bold and crazy move to put in a story like this. It's so well done in the moment where Ekko saves Jinx, with the music cutting off in the rewind too.
They played it safe, adding the Z-Drive near the end of the series so you don't have the idea of Ekko constantly being able to turn back time linger in your mind. Part of what makes Ekko so interesting is the fact that he isn't the main character.
Of course, there are examples of side characters being arguably more interesting than the main character, but rarely do we see all the main characters be completely morally bankrupt, jumping between who they want to kill and who they want to save, while Ekko's the only consistently heroic and selfless one. It's an interesting choice, and they acknowledge it through the whole "boy savior" stuff.
In summary, Arcane's incredible, and it excels in so many areas. Even its side characters are interesting to break down, and I'm so sad it's over.
Anyways, I don't really make videos, but I had to say something about Arcane because if I didn't, I know I wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it. If you happened to come upon this video, it would be great if you subscribed. I loved making this, and I would love to do more.
Also, I forgot to mention, but it's hilarious that Jayon is out here just trying to survive. The guy really needs a break.