Arcane Ep 9, “The Monster You Created” Recap and Review

Jayce resumes immediately where we left last episode, at the end of the first big raid on Silco's factory. He is torn up about having to kill the kid, and Vi is explaining things to him very straight forward. Jayce tells her to take off the gauntlets, Vi clenches her fists instead. Jayce stands down, but leaves with “You won't make it alone.” The pair part ways and Vi does show she feels the death of the child before smashing open the Shimmer vat at the heart of the factory.

 

Silco and Sevika are in the raided factory, looking at the damage. We get the name of another of the Underbarons, Renni, the mother of the child killed by Jayce. Silco offers a form of condolences then asks Sevika to help Renni with the child's body. Finn is there, just lighting and extinguishing his lighter.

 

Later, Finn, Renni, and Sevika come into Silco's office. He casually dismisses them initially, but they come in and talk about how Silco has lost his way and place. Silco talks of loyalty, Finn and Renni listen while Sevika silently extends her arm blade behind Silco. She strikes, cutting Solco's glass, but also Finn's throat. The message is clear from Silco, and he lets Renni leave with her life. He does ask Sevika if she was tempted, and she says “No,” and warns that Finn won't be the last.

 

With Viktor, the scenes start with him looking at Skye's glasses, silently crying. The rest of her is just dust, with her clothes scattered nearby. He reads some of the note she ha d written for him before crawling over to the Hexcube. He grabs his stool, intent on smashing the now trilling and pulsing Hexcube before dropping it. He tries to walk away but the Hexcube sends a shock through his enhanced limbs, dropping him to the ground. We catch up with him in a bit, as he scatters Skye's ashes from his hideaway in the wall. He does look down and moves toward the ledge just before Jayce comes up on him. The pair reminisce before Viktor asks Jayce to destroy the Hexcore.

 

We get to Ambressa again, swirling her wine. She is talking to her companion about Noxian Wine before Mel comes storming in, swatting the wine glass from her mother's hand and ordering the companion to leave. To his credit, while confused, he didn't leave until Ambressa told him to. After a short exchange, she also tells her guard to leave her with her daughter alone. Mel wants her to leave Jayce and her city alone. Ambressa does actually start to clear the air between the pair of them and Mel is taken aback by it.

 

Jayce isn't alone much anymore, but he does start on the ramparts of Piltover alone. This is where Silco finds him. Silco gives him a list of demands and explains that Jayce is showing his hand, his fear, having led the assault then calling for a parley. Jayce shows getting political aptitude here, explaining his demands of Silco: halting Shimmer, surrendering Jinx, returning the Gemstone. Zaun has blanket amnesty, unlimited access to the Hexgates, and sovereignty on the table for that. Both sides can get what they want, it is just a matter of paying the cost. Jayce makes it clear that, he thinks, Zaun would lose a war with Piltover.

 

Ekko and Heimerdinger make their way to the Firelight's hideout. Heimerdinger is impressed by what they have done, Ekko tells him a bit about it and gets his leg set. But this is a more stand alone scene bookended with darkness.

 

Silco sits at the foot of a statue to Vander. He shares his problems with the ghost of his friend, lamenting how easily Jayce stated the cost of Silco's demands. He makes a few remarks then the camera pans to the back of the statue, revealing the Shimmer-infused Jinx.

 

It then jumps over to the Last Drop with the Shimmer Guards in front of it. We see the patrons being rowdy and horsing around with each other, the front door in most of the shots. Then someone comes through it as another heads over to the jukebox. That person, as the song starts, is revealed to be Vi in her Gemstone Gauntlets. The whole of the bar is quiet just before the music starts slowly. Sevika tells everyone else to get out of the bar. The pair of women square off, load up their weapons of choice and have a fight in the bar. The pair plainly go a few rounds, both doing serious damage to the other. Sevika manages the knock down Vi just before her arm powers down and the Shimmer seems to wear off. Vi gets a little inspiration from someone as Sevika reloads and the pair step up to the next bout. Vi finds a defensive power of the mining gauntlets. She uses that to turn the fight against Sevika and take her down, destroying the mechanical arm in the process. She start stumbling toward her next target: Silco when Jinx ambushes her and knocks her out.

 

Vi comes to tied up in a chair with a music that has sparklers on it. Jinx confides in Vi about the origins of Jinx, that it came from her and no Silco. Vi does seem remorseful of what led to the creation of Jinx, always calling her sister Powder. Vi finishes telling Jinx, Powder, that she is what kept her going in Stonewater. Vi just wanted to get back to her sister. Jinx then reveals where burned out warehouse where Silco took her in; the effigies of Mylo and Clagger, a bound and gagged Silco. Jinx makes a tense moment before revealing a cupcake with the Gemstone on it. She does state that she visited Cait before rolling Cait up to the table as well. She asks Vi who she should be: Jinx or Powder, in exchange for Caitlyn. Jinx shoots the Mylo effigy, breaking a glass that rolls within reach of Cait, shouting into a conversation only she can hear. Caitlyn breaks free and points Jinx's gun at Jinx. Tensions, and delusions only mount. In utter confusion we see Jinx fire her gun, shooting through a chair, just as Silco grabs a gun on the table to fire at Vi. The delusions and confusion end as the results of the quick draw are shown. Jinx makes her choice between between Powder and Jinx in front of Vi. Jinx makes a stand for herself and strikes against her own target: the council.

 

Jayce is next seen addressing the council with Viktor at his side. He is telling them off, only conceding to Mel about her being right. Viktor announces the deal from Silco, the offer of an independent Zaun. Every other council is shouting, Mel is in shock, and the inventors seem to just be weathering the storm. The call is made and the council does vote. The results are clear, that the council approved. The big problem the council faces is the rocket that slams into their chamber form Jinx. The results of this explosion are unknown and the fallout to be revealed next season.

Here we are, the finale episode of season 1. This episode brought a few things to a close. The siblings relations are brought to opposition, Silco is dead, and the council is attacked in their chamber. Heimerdinger has found a new place of innovation and Ekko a new mentor. Everything has shifted now. And of course, a big ol' mystery about what happened with that rocket that slammed into the Council's chamber that Jinx fired.

There is a very big problem with the Council getting a missile to their chamber: Survivability. Mel’s survival is very questionable since she was closest to the explosion. Viktor and Jayce have some distance, but they weren’t that far from Mel. There are just too many questions about the blast for anyone to have an idea beyond them. There is a lot at risk here for Piltover in just one strike.

Let's talk about Jayce. He is starting to show some aptitude for politics, in a sense. He admitted to making unsanctioned moves but made his agenda clear at the time. He is still learning clearly. The problem here is more the career politicians that he has to deal with as well. He made an impression on the undercity: Silco and Zaun, with the raid. He is likely pulling a bit of a bluff saying the offer was to spare the citizens from a defeat from Piltover. It was clear that the Enforcers need Gemstone Weapons to have anything of a chance, and even then, they’d likely need some training with them. He does want to end things in the best way for all parties, but he does see a window for potential peace. He wants Jinx, the person directly responsible for the blasts across the bridge between Zaun and Piltover. He knew he couldn’t get Silco, the head of Zaun, and have his deal stick. 

Silco is now off the board. Sevika might be the one to take over if Jinx doesn’t. She doesn’t seem like someone to take on running an organization. Sevika does at least. She’s got the sway with the Underbarons. It is still a question if she will go for the power and be able to hold it. It could just be that the Underbarons take over completely from Silco. It does mean that Zaun is going to survive Silco. This is one of those big mysteries that will unfold over the course of season 2.

I should talk about Vi and Cait. Jinx has forced her sister into an unenviable position of being in opposition. Vi does want to fight through and try to rescue her sister. That bond, that love, is still there. Vi doesn’t want to give up on her sister but everything is going to have them fight. She will do what she needs to from the look of things. They both know the other is alive now. It takes a lot to keep Vi from her sister. Until we hear Vi called Jinx, “Jinx,” she is still her sister: Powder. This is going to be a struggle in the next season.

Jinx has been an interesting character throughout this. She was doing okay as a kid. It just seemed like things went steadily downhill after she got taken in by Silco. She still has a brilliant mind. On top of that, she does plainly look at the world in a different way. Ever since Vi “left” her, it has haunted her. She is just rash, rushing from one thing to another. She doesn’t really give up much,  but she has become a pessimist, and likely a nihilist.

It's been a good bit of a ride to get there. I enjoyed going along with it. Likely to do this for season 2 as well, whenever that comes out. All we know about it right now is that it's in production. I doubt I'll pick up League of Legends from this but I will continue to enjoy the show. It remains just a beautiful show to watch. Some parts can be predictable but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I’m sure it will remain that anyone who knows the lore of League of Legends will continue to have leg up on the rest of us. So, lt’s find out what happens next season.


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