Arcane Season 1 Episode 7 Recap – The Boy Savior
BY Harris
Published 3 years ago
Bonds
We see the Firelights hideout, where Vi and Caitlyn are chained up with their heads wrapped. Caitlyn is angry at Vi for not revealing the identity of her sister. Vi is suspicious of Caitlyn’s true intentions in the Undercity, so she pries her about the glowing gemstones, but Caitlyn can’t answer.
One of the goons takes Vi to the Firelights leader. The leader takes out his mask — Ekko, who now looks gruff and battle-hardened.
He asks her about the gemstone. Ekko is suspicious of her — people don’t just get back from the dead, so he wonders if she’s working for Silco or anyone in Piltover. They argue back and forth, but Vi uncuffs herself and hugs him.
At the Lab
Back at their lab, Viktor talks with the alchemist Singed and asks for advice. Singed asks him about Hexcore and what it can do. The older man suggests he needs better subjects. He shows him a new variant of Shimmer and offers it to Viktor but warns him: the people of Piltover will shun him if he uses it.
Jayce is back at his forge, breathlessly hammering at his new creation. Medarda comes into his workshop. She asks him about the border shutdown, but he can’t answer straight. He’s troubled by what he had done to Heimerdinger. Medarda consoles him, saying she did the same with her family. Jayce is now free to do whatever he can with Hextech, but he’s still worried about Viktor and Caitlyn. Mel assures him she’ll help.
Sevika tells Silco about their frozen shipments. She wonders whether Marcus has turned on them. The Chem barons call Silco for an assembly, but he’s worried about Jinx. Sevika tells him she’ll come when she’s ready.
Jinx is back at her workshop — physically and mentally wounded. The voices in her head confront her as she tries to heal her knee. She remembers the enforcer’s name: Caitlyn.
Tree of Life
Ekko shows Vi their settlement, where a huge tree resides and a small community thrives. When the Lanes were flooded with Shimmer, they built their own place. Ekko tells Vi that Powder is lost, and Silco has taken hold of Jinx.
He shows her a mural of everyone they lost before, convinced that Powder is truly gone.
Back in the bridge, there’s a riot between the enforcers and Undercity folk.
Councilor Jayce meets Viktor there. Someone from the crowd throws a firebomb, and tensions rise.
Toxicity
The Chem barons meet with Silco, worried about their frozen merchandise. They ask him about his plan, but he assures them Jinx will take care of the border issue.
Sevika dons a gas mask and unleashes a canister of smoke into the room. Silco remains unaffected. The others cough and scurry for the masks Sevika is handing. Silco shows them how he all gave them a new life and how they have grown complacent.
Medarda is back at her chambers. People overseas are concerned about the threat from Piltover’s Undercity and how it can affect trade. She worries it’s too soon for Jayce; he isn’t ready. Her assistant hands her a note with a fancy seal.
Going Back
Caitlyn is freed from her bonds and is offered food. She shoves it away. Ekko stares her down but offers her a way back topside with Vi.
Back in his office, Jinx appears before Silco. She berates him for not telling her about Vi. Silco says he didn’t know; Marcus kept it secret from him. Jinx knew it for a lie; Silco had already known Vi was coming. Silco reasons Vi had come with the enforcer to get the crystal back.
Jinx wavers as he reminds her: he gave her a home and cared for her. He tells her they are family, and everyone else betrays them. Silco urges her to complete the weapon. Jinx disappears.
Caitlyn marvels at Ekko’s settlement. He tells her Silco has paid topside enforcers to hunt them. Caitlyn thinks it’s a misunderstanding, but Ekko doesn’t trust her. He shows her the gemstone. Caitlyn tells her what it’s for; the enforcers have become more aggressive because of its theft.
Ekko thinks he can help defeat Silco with the gemstone, but Caitlyn appeals to him. If he keeps it, they may not end the cycle of violence. She realizes she can help them with Jayce’s help.
Ekko does it in one condition: he’ll bring it to them.
Discoveries
Viktor inspects Jinx’s bomb. They suspect it can be used against them using Hextech. Mel suggests they build their own weapons to stay ahead. They go against her, arguing that’s not the purpose of Hextech. Heimerdinger would not allow it. Mel tells them the peace had already been broken and leaves them to decide.
They deliberate amongst themselves. Hextech was supposed to improve lives and not to destroy them. Viktor tells Jayce there’s always a choice as he leaves.
Viktor prepares himself to be the subject of the Hextech experiment. He injects himself with Shimmer.
Jayce confers with his mother as he decides to make the weapon.
Viktor cuts himself, reaches out for the Hexcore, and screams.
The Bridge
Ekko, Vi, and Caitlyn find a way to the topside.
When they reach the bridge, Vi hesitates. She can’t leave Powder again; she must try reaching out. Ekko hugs her and tells her not to get killed. She also hugs Caitlyn. Jinx is watching from above.
Jinx tries to convince herself Vi won’t leave her, but her voices disagree.
Lights shine on the three as they meet Marcus. Caitlyn offers him proof Silco is behind everything. Ekko distrusts Marcus, but he’s forced to show the crystal. Marcus shoots Ekko with his pistol and picks up the canister.
Vi runs to them as Marcus points the gun at Caitlyn. Jinx sees all these from above. Glowing bugs known as firelights come to the enforcers. One of them lands on Marcus’ gun — it whirrs and explodes in green light. A display of green fireworks ensues on the bridge.
Confrontation
Everyone is passed out on the ground. Jinx approaches them. She is humming the same song when they were young.
Caitlyn tries to stand up, but she is wounded. Meanwhile, Sheriff Marcus utters his last breath.
Vi helps Caitlyn up as Jinx picks up the gemstone canister. The sight of her sister angers Jinx, and she sees Caitlyn as a demon. Rage fills her as she unleashes her Gatling gun.
The two move away as Ekko hoverboards in to meet her. Ekko swipes the canister away and picks it up. He throws it to Caitlyn and tells them to run.
Anger burns in Jinx’s eyes, but Ekko is there to match her. They remember their past duels as kids. Jinx shoots her, but Ekko dodges and whips her with a pipe. They grapple on the floor, but mercy struck him at the sight of her bloodied face.
Jinx drops a grenade. They both fall on the ground as Vi gasps at the explosion.
Our Thoughts
The drama between characters is really great in this episode. I really like how they depictedJinx’ss neurosis. The acting between them and Ekko is superb as well. How they managed to make these two act so well to show their internal conflict is a marvel in animation. Honestly, it should be a new gold standard. I rate the episode 4.5/5.