Arcane s2 ep9 The Dirt Under your Nails
Added 2024-11-27 13:41:53 +0000 UTCLosing My MIND!!!!
Comments
Holy wall of text, Batman!
Kelvin James Landon
2025-01-01 03:24:30 +0000 UTCWould you like to share some insight on the parts you disagreed with?
Corvo Joka
2024-12-11 21:37:50 +0000 UTCThat's fair, it kinda turned into a bit of a novel along the way.π
Corvo Joka
2024-12-11 21:30:11 +0000 UTCI'll admit I only read about half of this comment, but the half I did read, for the most part, I agreed with!
Mosco Moon
2024-12-11 21:09:00 +0000 UTCAfter a couple days of reminiscing and re-watching: The biggest problem I had was that the conflict between Piltover and Zaun was somehow swept under the carpet for this Buff Mother/Pseudo God Viktor plot. Then I thought it was so-so how Cait was basically manipulated into becoming some kind of dictator, but didn't have to fear any consequences, she would have to deal with afterwards. On the other hand, apart from a small glimpse of Cait when the army was standing in front of Viktor's community, there was no real build-up to her change of sides, as well as there were only a few small moments of remorse, literally only one moment (or maybe two if you count the moment where she talked to Jink about "Our" crimes). I would have liked to have had a few moments where we got an insight into her thoughts and perhaps regret for how she treated Vi and to what consequences her actions led. Then I thought, the switchup from Viktor wanting to help, to Viktor wanting to rob everyone of their free will was too quick and drastic. I also found it frustrating that Skye was just on board with his madness and was just rolling with it. I think she could have taken on more of the role of the voice of reason for him. Then I thought it was unnecessary to give Vander and the girls hope that he might come to his senses, only to wipe him out completely. (It could be that Warwick survived, but whether he could still become Vander is questionable. However, it could serve as a catalyst for Vi and Jinx to find each other again by finally giving their father peace or, if possible, even his sanity back.) I would also have liked to have had more time with some of the supporting characters, such as the rest of the Enforcer team. Speaking of the Enforcer team; I don't know how I feel about Maddie. At first I thought her betrayal was pretty cheap (I still think so, to be honest) and that her portrayal just made a complete 180, compared to how she was portrayed in the first half of the season. She also repeatedly spoke out pretty much in favor of Cait calling off all these measures. However, after watching it again, I noticed that Maddie also included statements that could have cemented Cait's view of the demarcation between Piltover and Zaun and her position as Military Leader (dictator) in Cait's head and ultimately ensured that Cait stayed on that course for longer. At least that's how you could interpret it. (And talking about Maddie: I find her death kinda tragic as she is still quite young, early 20s it seems. And to be this kinda person at this age, means that she has been indoctrinated by the likes of Ambessa since a very young age. And despite that, no-one of her people even so much as flinches an eye for her after her death. ...No-One but Caitlyn, her enemy.) Another point of criticism was the scaling in which the plot developed, as I think that it didn't have to get to the level of a pseudo god, at least not in the course of 3 episodes. Finally, I would say that I think the season or the series in general would have benefited from more episodes. Maybe a whole season that deals with the aftermath of season 1 and the conflict between the Under City and Upper City, so basically a whole season of what the first three episodes of this season were. That way, more could have been invested in Cait's radicalization and the breakup between her and Vi and more in how that affects both of them. And maybe at the same time, it could have been made clear to some members of the Strike Team, as well as to Jayce etc., that the residents of the Under City are not beneath them or are somehow just criminals. And that could have been an interesting contrast between Cait, who is completely losing herself in her hatred of Jinx and the loss of her mother, and her team, who eventually turn away from her. (Except for Maddie, where the gears for this betrayal later on could have been set in motion.) In the same way, Viktor's descent into madness could have been hinted at more in shallow, interspersed moments, which could then have become the main focus of the third season, as well as how Ambessa makes use of that. Instead of just marching up there, as it happened in the series, and asking Viktor, who had been against weapons up to that point, to turn her soldiers into weapons, for which Viktor then was just on board. Then I kinda feel like it should've been Ekko on that Council seat, instead of Sevika. He's young but the community he built was thriving. Unless they offered him the seat and he declined for his own reasons. And talking about Ekko; While people talk a lot about Powder's Pain (in the first Act of Season 1), no-one talks about Ekko's pain. Not only did he loose his parental figure as well, right before his eyes, but all his friends died (Vi to his knowledge as well) and his childhood friend (and crush) bundles up with the man who killed them and starts working for him. Despite all that, he turned his sorrow and trauma and loss into the ambition the prevent others from having to feel the kinda pain he has to endure, creating a save haven. But he still lost his love again in the end. And talking about people's pain: With Cait's question, if Vi is still in this fight, I don't think she meant the conflict between Piltover and Zaun but rather just life. We started with Jinx wanting to end everything after all her pain and loss in the beginning of this episode. It wouldn't be a surprise if Vi was at a similar point after everything that happened to her. I mean remember what Powder said? "Vi was strong because of her fear of losing everyone." And now, after loosing her Parents as a child, for which she was more present than Jinx in that moment, due to her being the older sibling, then losing all her new siblings and father just a couple of years later, being thrown in prison as a teenager, knowing that she failed to protect her sister and with no way of certainty about her fate, being abused daily in prison 'till adulthood and further on, then finding her sister again, finding out that she was partially responsible for said sister to become completely unstable, then the events of the Season 1 finale and everything that happened this season to her. Her love just threw her away, she fell in a cycle of self destruction, but then got the chance to reconcile with her sister, finding out her father is alive and maybe even savable only to get that ripped away from her again, not once but twice. And she lost most of the new friends she made. Additionally; to her knowledge, Jinx had to sacrifice herself, because Vi didn't listen to her when she told her to step away from that platform, while she was mourning her father all over again. It's not a stretch that she might not have the energy to keep going after all of that, and I think, if it wasn't for Cait in the end and possibly Ekko, she genuinely wouldn't. Anyway, so again, in conclusion: ARCANE is simply phenomenal but with even more ARCANE, it could have been even better, just for the pacing (which isn't bad at all anyway, some things just fell short). And since there are still so many loose ends and how it felt more like the end of a season and not the end of a series, I hope that even though it was said that ARCANE was over, these storylines and the stories of all these characters will simply be continued under a different name. So ARCANE is over, because the overarching theme, the common thread of the plot 'The Arcane' is over for now. But the next series will continue the stories of Vi, Cait, Ekko and Jinx, but then named after the next common thread.
Corvo Joka
2024-12-03 23:19:16 +0000 UTCIn episode 6, Medarda tells Caitlin Noxus prizes strength above all else, defining it by three core principles: Vision, Might, and Guile. She says sheβd discovered a fourth principle that heightens all others: Sacrifice. In the last episode, Caitlin sacrifices her eye to defeat Medarda.
Tabatha Cat
2024-12-01 01:05:45 +0000 UTCI find this last Episode (and a bit of the later half of the season) a bit unsatisfying. First the conflict of the Upper and Under City is swept aside, Cait is so consumed by hatred and sorrow that she hurts Vi and is basically manipulated in becoming a Dictator and doesn't have to face/work out any consequences from that, then some timy whimy multiversy stuff is happening, the story goes completely off the rails, they kinda neglect Jinx's mental instability, Cait is suddenly cool with betraying the buff mother, without much build up to that, Victor becomes insane and Skye just rolls with it the whole time (which is quite frustrating, I would've liked if she at least try to take on the voice of reason for Viktor) and then is fine buzzing off, the buff mother plot completely takes over, I'm so-so about Maddie's betrayal, I actually find it quite tragic in a way, but that was also dealt with in a couple of seconds, they bring back Vander just to kill him with Jinx (Edit: I retract Jinx, who's most likely the pink streak zooming away from the explosion) again (and what happened to "This man's worth saving." HUH VICTOR?!) AND THEY END IT LIKE THAT?! "I'm the dirt under your nails." AND THAT'S IT?! THEIR STORY IS OVER?! We'll just jump to a group of other people for our next Arcane Series?!! Sorry but that's so frustrating! I dunno, it just feels like there should've at least been another season for build up and conflict resolving before it came to all this. I'm not even sure it should've come to stuff on this scale in this story in the first place! It just feels like it should have stayed on the scale of season 1 or at least under pseudo space/time god level and not be so spread out on so many different story lines at once. That or another season after this! Whatever they do next has to somehow pick up, what transpired here and resolve all these loose ends. And most importantly, give me more of these Characters! So I hope they just continue the Stories of these Characters under a different name.
Corvo Joka
2024-11-29 21:52:22 +0000 UTCAgree. I think in the last episodes they told a beautiful story well, but it was the wrong story to tell. Imo it was a mistake making Viktor and Ambessa an existential threat to justify Zaun joining the fight, it should've been reasonable for Zaun to sit out. Instead of getting a Jayce speech on how they need to join for their survival, I think we should've gotten scenes with Caitly, Ekko, Savika, and Vi were Caitlyn has to face what she did between episode 3-6 and somehow earn Zaun's help. The show is amazing at making call backs, a scene that calls back to the Ekko, Vi, Cait scene where Cait gets to see the harm she's caused and maybe Ekko throws back the "your people hunt us like animals" I think would've really helped give closure. I also think that making Viktor's threat level so high hurt Vi in act 3. Her contribution were all on her emotional connections to Cait and Jinx. All those scenes were great, but it felt like Vi had little relevance to the plot of dealing with Viktor/Ambessa. To your point about Jinx convincing the undercity being a needed scene. I agree and also in the tie in mini game (Jinx Fixes Everything), Jinx uses her time in the Firelight base to think back on Isha, I think that would've been a good addition. A very common reaction after episode 6 was "what happened with Isha", and ime many people didn't get to closure they need with Isha. Jinx talking to Ekko about Isha, and maybe adding her to the mural would've added so much closure. Also agree with your last point, even if I wasn't on board with all their decisions the show as a whole was a labor of love that I'm not sure we'll ever get to see again.
Half Eaten
2024-11-29 02:52:37 +0000 UTCthe 3/6 eyed raven is associated with swain from LOL
LucifersAG
2024-11-28 17:59:52 +0000 UTCWhen they inevitably release the extended βcellβ scene, you need to do a Patreon exclusive reaction π€£
HeroNotFound
2024-11-28 09:13:27 +0000 UTCYou're so good at making predictions. More than ever, I'm impressed with how often She-Ra and the Princesses of Power was able to surprise you.
Tabatha Cat
2024-11-28 02:42:23 +0000 UTCas someone who has Jayvik ingrained on my soul, I SOBBED throughout like half of this episode. I'm SOBBING as I write this rn. I cried over a 30 second edit of them to the song "me and my husband". they hurt me SO BADLY. also when they are touching foreheads there's a single frame that has them framed in the explosion that looks exactly like a butterfly (that also doesn't show a gap in their foreheads as if they were kissing) also, I'm STRONGLY upset that Singed not only survived but got a happy ending. after all of that he got his daughter back. he indirectly and/or directly caused most inconveniences in this show. the main one being shimmer which ended up killing benzo and leading to Powder/Vi's entire family dying. He did not deserve that happy ending, even though he's the only one who got a completely happy ending because everyone else lost people. something that's also sad for if Viktor/Jayce don't come back in the spinoff or don't come back to piltover is that everyone (except maybe Ekko) probably thought that Jayce and Viktor died fighting. Viktor will be remembered as a conquerer, as a monster. little to no people wrote Viktor's name in the notes (I like to think that Mel or Jayce's mother wrote Viktor's name). oh and suddenly I'm crying over them again π₯Ή I know I wrote a lot but ONE MORE THING: at the end they had shown the airship, similar to the one that powder claimed that she would ride back in episode 1 (I don't think those airships were ever mentioned again aside from maybe episode 4 or 5?) so I really think that airship has jinx on it, and that's her "walking away" to stop the cycle of killing.
Peridot
2024-11-28 01:56:45 +0000 UTCThat crow was also seen when Mel returned from the Black Rose. Given Netflix's propensity towards canceling series after their second season...but before they complete their story...limiting this to two seasons was probably a good idea.
David Johnson
2024-11-27 22:13:26 +0000 UTCOn a lighter note, going full Entrapta on Viktor with "imperfections are beautiful" then one second later "the power of gay saves the day" was very She-Ra of Jayce
Azirapalala
2024-11-27 21:57:24 +0000 UTC...Well, I'm glad you weren't paying attention when Amanda straight-up spoiled the Maddie twist in the live stream. Also, there was that line from Ambessa to Vi in episode 6 about Vi's absence leaving a void in Caitlin's heart that Ambessa could fill.
SpaceNerd
2024-11-27 20:37:14 +0000 UTCIt's been days, and I still have very complicated feelings about the ending. It's difficult, because I'm attached to Arcane like I've never been attached to any other show, the animation this season managed to do even better than the last, the musics were fantastic, each episode was in itself a masterpiece, and I got emotional in ways I didn't think were possible. However, I feel like E8 and E9 mostly swept the social component under the rug. I was ok with a Zaun-Piltover team up on two conditions : the leading to the team up being believable, and the team up not solving everything afterwards. To me, the second condition is met since the ending is open : Sevika being on the council is a step towards Zaun's political representation and is huge symbolically, but deeper changes will be needed to free Zaun of Piltover's still very much intact exploitaiton (the look the Pilties on the council shot at Sevika is if anything an indicator of that) . The first condition, however, doesn't seem checked imo. It makes sense that Jayce would ask for the team up : he saw the nigtmarish au. Piltover following also makes sense : Jayce is a face of Piltover, both the "man of progress" and a former member of the council. However, Jinxers joining Piltover in E8, even before Jinx talked them into it, is lacking, to me, a solid explanation. Had we seen them being directly threatened by Viktor's automatons and Noxus, it would have made more sense - a speech they didn't even hear themselves and a threat that we haven't seem them witnessing doesn't seem enough. I also feel like Jinx convincing Sevika and the firelights to join in was a very needed sequence, as well as inner debates and true disagreements amongst Zaunites. For Zaun to team up with Piltover after being gased and suffering martial law, a ton of reasons and dilemmas were needed to be shown, and I don't have the feeling they were. The reason I fell in love with that show is that it was a social tragedy, where the class struggle component was not only "lore" or "background", but fleshed out the characters' psyches and made you understand every decision and them snowballing to catastrophe. Now, it doesn't completely disappear, since Viktor, the finale antagonist, is a product of that social tragedy. But in the end, that's pretty much what's left of it in the last two episodes. I agree that more episodes, or longer ones, would have allowed a slower pacing and really could have remedied that, and that leaves me even more conflicted. Now, Arcane will always hold a very special place in my heart, and I'm grateful I got to experience such care and love put into every animated bit, the unmatched narration in S1, which was still very good for the most part of s2, and the feels in both seasons. So still, thank you for the masterpiece Arcane (and sorry for the fucking essay)
Azirapalala
2024-11-27 20:31:33 +0000 UTCThe streak of pink you saw was definitely Jinx
Kyasemi
2024-11-27 19:34:44 +0000 UTCSo this is LoL lore, but since it ties in with the show, its a fun fact. Ravens (Most iconic being a multi-eyed raven) are a major part of Swain's themes, one of the LoL Champions from Noxus. Seeing his raven at the end, with a lot of stuff still unresolved, has garnered a lot of speculation that the next show is gonna be Noxus-centric.
Adrian_B
2024-11-27 18:27:06 +0000 UTCFor me I really love character development and exploration and season 2 really plays off that a lot so I prefer it to season 1 but it's close. I'm just impressed theybwere able to include Vi as an enforcer in a way that doesn't leave a bad taste in my mouth and came up with a way to help solve the problem with zaun and the oppression there in a way that really doesn't feel like an easy solution or a sudden and now political problems are solved because they fought together. I know others did but I did not expect maddie to be a spy either and I think it was handled beautifully with the reveal and then boom instant karma.
Suplee215
2024-11-27 18:17:00 +0000 UTCOH LOOK WHO IT IS, THE BOY SAVIOR!
William Timmins
2024-11-27 17:33:32 +0000 UTC"One day, I'm going to ride one of those things." - Powder's first line in the show.
Vintersaga
2024-11-27 16:37:45 +0000 UTCDid you catch the Anime smile when Maddie shoots Cait? Itβs a few frames, itβs really creepy.
Half Eaten
2024-11-27 16:35:54 +0000 UTCI loved this season. It is nice they ended it when they decided to. Itβs beautiful and brilliant and just surpasses itself in every episode. Arcane will be one of my most favourite shows ever and will be grateful to the animators, directors and writers, especially Amanda, and like Diego saidβ¦.. Peak Cinema. ππππ§
Liam Gradwell
2024-11-27 16:35:44 +0000 UTCI assumed Jinx was piloting that airship at the end
Chet Bliese
2024-11-27 16:00:04 +0000 UTCmaddie's betrayal just proves you can't trust an adorable, redhead, scottish, sapphic
bloodyshadow1
2024-11-27 15:56:22 +0000 UTC"I will always be with you sis, even when we're worlds apart" πππππππππ Long live best girl
Luke Teasdale
2024-11-27 15:40:15 +0000 UTCI'm genuinely impressed he managed to stay there the whole episode
Dafydd Mac an Leigh
2024-11-27 15:35:16 +0000 UTCAlso, that moment at 1:02:28 really feels like Transformers One in reverse: "You're done saving me."
Dafydd Mac an Leigh
2024-11-27 15:34:54 +0000 UTCSeason 1 of Arcane is one of the best animated series I have ever seen: a self-contained masterpiece, a perfectly-written tragedy, I've overused those descriptions at this point. Season 2, well...season 2 felt like an HBO series or a post-2012 Marvel superhero film: less concerned with character focus and narrative coherence that with jumping from holy-sh*t moment to holy-sh*t moment and setting up future series in the franchise. Not that there weren't some really good parts to the season, but overall it could not live up to the sum of those parts. I'm not going to knock anybody for enjoying the season more thoroughly than I did, of course, but only season 1 will ever be going on my DVD shelf.
Dafydd Mac an Leigh
2024-11-27 15:33:30 +0000 UTCHamish looking so sassy in the background!
Deynix
2024-11-27 15:09:18 +0000 UTCThis season fucks, hard. I think every episode had a sequence with an alternate animation style. The story felt larger but still managed to stay focused on the core relationships. I agree it could have used some more breathing room, but that's what fanfic is for. I could go on and on and on about all the little details but I'm not from the generation that can type an essay on their phone, so I'll leave with one parting thought - Savika's arc is subtle but interesting, as she grew from henchperson to leader. NGL when Caitlyn was looking at the archives and heart Vi singing, I thought we were going to get a time jump and see them in married sapphic bliss with a puple haired baby girl.
Ryan Porter
2024-11-27 15:08:11 +0000 UTCπ±π±π±
Valentina M
2024-11-27 14:57:15 +0000 UTC
