The show opens seeming to focus on the Firelights. They are an unknown faction who seem to have something against Shimmer. They have as strong 90's punk look to them. Cait and Vi have burlap bags over their head and are not sharing any real details with each other. One of the Firelights comes in and takes Vi away. The bag is pulled from Vi's head and then she meets the head of the Firelights, Ekko. They argue, but make up and are just happy to see each other. Ekko takes her into a small paradise that the Firelights had built. They have a massive tree in the middle which is a big surprise for anything in the lanes. Ekko explains that Powder doesn't really exist anymore, there is only Jinx who answers to Silco. He then goes to show Vi one more thing. It's a mural of everyone the Firelights have lost to build their sanctuary.

 

With Viktor, we get to better meet his first mentor, now referred to as Singed. This man offers Viktor a variant of Shimmer, promising it will help one survive a violent transition. He also makes note of Viktor and his impending death. Singed remarks that this variant of Shimmer comes at a cost, that Love and Legacy will no longer be his. He also makes a curious note of this is why he parted ways with Heimerdinger. When we catch up with Viktor, things are not going well on the bridges. People are assaulting the blockades on the bridges leading out of Piltover. Viktor is just sitting on a bench as Jayce comes up to him. Jayce's concern about those who reside in the Undercity is very apparent in their conversation.

 

With Jayce, it starts as he is working on at what seems to be a forge. Mel joins him, pressing to get some truth from him about what's on his mind. Unsurprisingly, the personal cost of having Heimerdinger retire from the counsil. Mel promises to help with the politics, stalling them so Jayce can work on a cure for Viktor. Jayce does remark on the absence of his two close friends, Caitlyn and Viktor. With Viktor, he treats this as a regular occurrence. With Caitlyn, it is a bit more surprising to him.

 

Silco and Sevika talk. She passes along that the governing body of Zaun, the Chembarons. Silco just regards it as a headache, but Sevika makes it clear. Silco starts to leave to find Jinx, but she suggests to him to simply let Jinx return to him in her own time. The pair head off to the meeting. Before they arrive, we hear one of the Chembarons (Finn) talking about seizing control from Silco. The barons are concerned about the border issue, but also are talking about cutting a deal with the Gemstone to open things up some. Silco calmly remarks that Jinx will deal with the border issue. Then he enacts his plan, reinforcing his iron grip on the Chembarons. They all owe him deeply for what he's given them and they serve him is plainly the message.

 

When we catch up with Jinx, she is hearing Mylo's distorted. Jinx is then working on stapling the gash on her leg closed. She slowly is piecing things together about what is going on. When she appears again, it's as Silco about to administer his “medicine” to his eye. Jinx jumps on him, talking the apparatus and interrogating him (for lack of a better word). He explains his end, that he was protecting her. He does also urge her to complete the weapon. She gives him the dosage in his eye and then vanishes.

 

We do get a scene with just Mel. She gets word that those overseas are starting to think Piltover is vulnerable. Mel remarks that Jayce isn't ready yet. She also gets a missive with a seal on it, possibly from her family by her reaction.

 

We do get back to Caitlyn about the middle of the episode. Vi comes in, uncuffs her and removes the bag from her head. Ekko simply promises her a path back to the Topside and nothing more. Cait did seem surprised that Vi knew Ekko. It's when Ekko reveals the Gemstone that things got interesting. Caitlyn makes a strong push to have him relinquish it instead of using it against Silco. Ekko agrees, but stipulates he's the one who'll turn it over.

 

There is a scene in the Hextech lab. Vitkor has begun dissembling the grenade, remarking on its construction with Mel and Jayce there. Mel does ask if this person could crack Hextech but Viktor regards it as leap. He does also find the construction of the device inspired. Mel is making a stronger than usual push for Jayce and Viktor to start using Hextech to building weapons. Both are against it. Mel does reiterate it's defensive, but Jayce is clear it would shatter any chance for peace. Jayce does start to consider it while Viktor remains adamant about not using Hextech for war. Viktor does accidentally arm the grenade, but just as quickly defuses it before it explodes.

 

There is a curious montage during the episode after Viktor and Jayce talk. We see Viktor carving runes into his brace in their lab by the Hexcube and pull out the variant Shimmer. Jayce is reading a book. There is also a small cloaked figure making their way toward the Undercity as well. Viktor gets ready to inject himself, Jayce hugs his Mom, talking about what he's never considered and the small figure, confirmed to be Heimerdinger, slips past the blockade and heads into Zaun. Viktor injects himself, cuts open his palm and reaches for the Hexcube. The cube pulls him him, drawing more and more blood from him, but also putting something within Viktor.

 

Vi, Ekko, and Cait make their way through the tunnels to return to Piltover. They see the bugs we've seen throughout the episode and learn they're called Firelights. Vi remarks she's never seen so many. The trio emerge onto one of the bridges on the Piltover side with a fog covering the area. Before they leave the bridge, Vi stops. She tells Cait and Ekko she needs to find her sister and try to reach her. We learn that Jinx is watching from higher up on the bridge, hearing the distorted voice of Mylo giving voice to her fears. Vi walks away as Cait and Ekko make their way toward the end of the bridge. The pair get caught with spotlights turned on them. Cait appeals to Marcus, stating she has proof of Silco's involvement. Marcus approaches then attacks once he sees the Gemstone, shooting Ekko, knocking him to the ground. Strangely, a large flock of Firelights come forward as marcus points his revoler at Cait. One of the Firelights settles on the end of his barrel, revealing its mechanical nature and then explodes. The rest of the Firelights in the area do just the same. During this, Vi can be seen running toward her friends. After the chaos of the blasts, Jinx is seen walking toward the remains of the blockade with everyone else knocked to ground, some dead, some dying, and only a few alive, but injured. She collects the Gemstone then sees her sister and Cait. Jinx goes on the attack when she sees Vi helping Cait, nearly shooting the pair. They are saved by Ekko charging in, taking back the Gemstone and passing it to Vi and Cait. That pair leave as Jinx and Ekko square off against each other as the episode ends.

 

 

Time to look at the episode more at its parts then what happened. Ekko's come back, maybe not for good, but he did reappear. Jinx continues to have issues, but also proves she is a risk to anyone she's aligned with. Vi and Cait start making their way out of the Undercity to reach Piltover. Heimerdinger has a cameo in this one as well. We also learn more about the power structure within Zaun, with the Chembarons and the control that Silco has.

 

The episode opened with a good reveal: Ekko alive. He's been busy working against Silco's gang as the leader of the Firelights. He's been fighting against Silco and stopping Shimmer from reaching beyond the Undercity. Hearing that everyone there had suffered because of Shimmer did give some insight to the why of the gang. They want to build up the lanes, make it something better than it is. The tree having grown in the underground worked as proof of that. This area is giving greater hope to everyone that is a part of the Firelights. That they could escape from the pollution and corruption of the Lanes to somewhere safer for everyone. It is clear that they do see Shimmer as the biggest evil because so many of them had to fight through their addiction or having lost friends and family to it.

 

The Firelights were something in this episode. These strange green-glowing insects proved to be something. We do see them throughout, lighting the way. Not only as the inspiration for Ekko's gang signature look, but as the device to destroy the blockade. The bugs go from a symbol of hope to one of destruction.

 

This Singed is a curious character. He remarks having worked with Heimerdinger to pursue what he'd been working on. He also offered a strange variant of Shimmer to aid in a metamorphosis of a physical body. Singed has long been working on Rio, giving her a chance to live beyond what she would have had otherwise. He could be the original source of Shimmer, since he had that variant on hand. For now though, it is hard to know since we don't know from Arcane who originated Shimmer.

 

Heimerdinger is a curious one in this episode. We see him leaving Piltover, the city he helped build in exile. The council didn't vote for that for sure. He's too important and is still a valued member of the elite. He did help found the city and I doubt they'd remove him completely. This means that he's intentionally choosing this. He has to put physical distance in to help himself here. Does make one wonder if he might look for Singed, if Heimerdinger knows he is alive. But right now, we just have seen him go into the Undercity, nothing more.

 

There is the matter with both Jayce and Viktor. Viktor will consult with all strata of society for his knowledge. Jayce has to keep to the upper levels. This was also the first time we really saw Viktor lie to Jayce about his friend. Singed did say parts of one's nature are resistant to change, but he did go on to say there were still ways for one to change. That rift I suspected is seeming to start forming. Viktor does adamantly stand on not using Hextech as a weapon. Jayce is considering it seriously through.

 

On the note of Viktor. The runes etched into his skin and his leg brace and his use of the Shimmer to bond more closely with the Hexcore. This is a big gamble. In all likelihood, he is going to survive. The question here is at what cost though. Singed was talking about forsaking love and legacy for survival with this Shimmer mix. He will undoubtedly be bonded to the Hexcore. It did seem like parts of the Hexcore were going inside him as his blood went into, and fed, it. We are going have to wait to see the result of that. Just the summary alone makes it sound like Viktor is going to do something to augment himself. Somehow his body is going to get fortified. This suspicion from the summary of the episode proved to be true.

 

Jayce and Mel do seem to be a good pair. It seems at least Jayce has feelings for her. Mel likely cares, but it's harder to get a read on her just yet. She is pushing Jayce to the fore as a political player and definitely pursuing something. It could genuinely be to protect Piltover. It could also bee that she sees something coming from what she knows and has heard. Mel is making a move through Jayce. It really is just a question of what right now.

 

Finally, there is Silco. He is very much the puppetmaster throughout this whole episode. While he does know where his organization is weakest, he also knows how to enforce his will on it. Seeing him confront the Chembarons told us a lot. He will remind people what they owe him; he will put his power structure at risk to make a point when needed. Silco remains one of the few people that can control Jinx to any degree. He is very much someone to keep an eye on, even if he won't be in any battles.

 

The fight between Ekko and Jinx is very well done, but also heartbreaking in its presentation. It flashes back to them as kids and how they'd play like this. Then it jumps forward to present time where they fight for real. Ekko makes it all the way to his old friend, pinning her to the ground. Ekko refuses to kill her, but Jinx tearfully arms and looses a grenade of hers. It ended on Ekko's watch stuck on a tick, and no sign of Ekko with a hurt Jinx.

 

Viktor has done something desperate to survive. The Firelights' leader could be dead. Vi and Cait have made it back to Piltover, but at a cost to themselves. The Gemstone remains the biggest key to this whole conflict though. Viktor and Jayce have a big moral choice to make: whether or not to weaponize Hextech to fight in the coming conflict with Zaun, the Undercity. Silco continues to work behind the scenes to line his pockets and those that work for him. There is still the question of what Mel is up to and what the letter was.