Okay... This is longer than I thought it would be...
Probably the second most important relationship I liked in Arcane was that of Silco and Sevika.
They're not shown together as much in the series as I probably would have liked, but surprisingly, these moments are done so well and in such a balanced way that you don't feel lacking in what you're shown. Otherwise, how do you explain that even with the small number of scenes, you still have a definite picture of their relationship.
Right away I want to draw a parallel with Benzo.
Sevika was to Silco what Benzo was to Vander. Of course, with adjustments for Silco's character... Their relationship may not be as showily matey, but neither is Silco the good-natured big guy for the likes was Vander.
Actually, like Sevika, she is close to Silco in character and their interactions are within those characters.
We can observe, however, that this companionship with Sevika is far different from that of the others. I dare say that Silco considers her an equal, not just an executive henchman, and there is even evidence of that.
Many call Sevika a traitor because she betrayed Vander, but I fundamentally disagree.
Traitors stab in the back, literally or metaphorically, but no such thing has been seen for Sevika. Instead, she openly tells Vander that she's not happy with the way he's running things, he's weak, and she doesn't hide her withdrawal, literally saying "I'm playing against you now, know it."
So it's extremely ironic to hear Vi say "traitor" considering that Vi would then give her sister's name to the Council, literally pointing them to the target and in the future defecting to Piltover's side becoming part of what she hated.
Probably the first thing worth noting is the fact that literally just by going over to Silco's side, she immediately rushes forward without a second thought to take the hit on herself when his life is in danger.
Strange, of course, if this is the first time they've seen each other... What if it's not the first time? I have a suspicion that Sevika, knew Silco before, probably even participated in his and Vander's rebellion, judging by her words.
"The Vander I knew, the one who built the underground, wouldn't be afraid to fight."
So she must have been aware of Silco and his ideals... But why didn't she go to him sooner? Here I have a suspicion that Vander could have hidden his betrayal (and told the truth only to Benzo, as a close friend) and told everyone that Silco was dead... until Silco decided it was time to rise from the bottom. That would explain why Vander kept quiet and didn't tell children about his past.
In any case, it takes a damn good reason to risk your life for another without a second thought. That gesture alone says enough about Sevika. She couldn't have known whether or not she would survive the explosion, and yet she considered Silco's life more meaningful than her own, which also speaks volumes about Silco himself as a leader. When people believe in you enough to willingly risk themselves for you, it's clearly for a reason.
This alone already takes her out of her status as a mere traitor, making her reason for leaving more weighty and meaningful if she put her life on the line for Silco, practically at the beginning of the series.
By the way, this gesture does not go unnoticed.
In the next moment, when Silco comes to his senses after the explosion, we are shown him looking down, and then the next shot with Sevika, after which, Silco orders Descard with an angry pressure in his voice:
What did he feel at that moment?
A man who was betrayed, labeled a monster for his beliefs, hardened because of this, a man for whom no one will stand up, accustomed because of this to seek strength and support only in himself...
And suddenly, years later, death rushes upon him, seemingly inevitable, but suddenly someone becomes between him and it, risking his life... for him.
What does he feel at that moment? What does he feel when he sees a man risking his own life?
Surprise? Gratitude? Rage?
No wonder Silco gives the order to kill the perpetrators (as he thought) of this explosion.
In the aftermath, years later, you can trace that in her interactions with Silco, Sevika allows herself more than the right hand of King Zaun even if that hand is very executive.
In the scene in episode 4, she directly declares to Silco that Jinx is the problem that caused the operation to fail, knowing full well at the time that Silco and Jinx are already in a close relationship, so it's easy to predict Silco's further response.
You can see it in her reaction when she realizes what Silco is about to say to her.
The "Damn, that tone again" look on her face and the annoyance, the powerless anger ... because she's seen this kind of thing before and it didn't end well (Vander).
Besides, in... 8-10 years, I think as Silco's right-hand man and bodyguard, she's obviously seen him take care of Jinx more than once. She just can't miss a certain pattern of his behavior, simply because she often has to be around him (as a bodyguard) and see how he behaves in one situation or another, when it touches Jinx and when it doesn't.
And it's easy to read it on her face in this scene.
The realization of what she said and to whom, and the realization of why Silco can't hear her.
What else is so special here? Namely all of Silco's behavior, too. He only told Sevika off for what she said... a small thing, considering what he's done on other occasions like this... what? Ah, yes....
The nonverbal threat of reprisal. (Episode 5, conversation with Marcus)
Choking. (Barons, especially Finn in episode 7)
Threatening to harm a child (and again, an unobtrusive threat of reprisal).
(Funny how Silco created a situation where he puts Marcus in his seat, like in episode 5)
In the next scene, we probably see one of the first clear illustrations of their relationship. Perhaps the whole scene is like this...
Sevika is sitting on the couch having a drink, which looks pretty informal, especially considering what state Silco is in right now. Vi has escaped, literally slipped out of him hands and where she is is unknown... and now the news that the Barons are having a meeting as well.
"I've had enough headaches."
An important fact worth noting here is that Sevika, the second person after Jinx in front of whom Silco allows himself to show emotion, which is a gesture of trust on his part. And in this scene, Silco lets her see him tired, irritated and, suddenly, indifferent to him own responsibilities... all because of Jinx.
Even Sevika is surprised, you can hear it in her voice.
At this point, Sevika calls out to Silco, to which he responds with obvious annoyance and a touch of aggression. This slight loss of control, which he can afford in front of Sevika, is a special gesture from Silco.
But what's even more admirable is that she can clearly see Silco losing control, and not just over himself. His attachment to Jinx is so strong that he's willing to neglect his responsibilities for her, and Sevika sees it well.
"But let's just say I didn't always see eye-to-eye with my old man... She'll come to you when she's ready."
Even with all her dislike for Jinx, the belief that she's nothing but trouble, nevertheless, Sevika accepts the fact that Silco needs Jinx and therefore says these words to him. She makes it clear with these words that she sees them as father and daughter, but Sevika wants Silco to pull himself together, or he will ruin himself... He needs to get down to business, Jinx isn't going anywhere from him.
And surprisingly, Silco listens to and accepts Sevika's words without any objections along the lines of "How dare you give me advice, I'll take care of it without you!" Instead, he sighs and calms down. Which also shows the level of their relationship, her words are not empty sound since Silco allows them to reassure him.
By the way, there was a relatively similar moment between Vander and Benzo in the beginning, when Vander comes to the shop. In both cases, the friend urges father to calm down, otherwise it will only get worse.
Also a rather interesting little scene in the elevator as Silco heads to the meeting, and remarkably allows himself a little annoyance.
Look at him. It's like he's cramped in his own body, he obviously doesn't want to be here right now... and again, he's doing it in front of Sevika.
The scene where Finn tries to undermine Sevika's loyalty.
He tries to play on her ego, but when he realizes it's a waste of time, he immediately switches to what Sevika really cares about - Jinx and the fact that she's a problem in the way of Zaun's well-being, because Silco has become too attached to this girl.
"Let's be plain, then. He's slipping. The undercity's devolving to chaos. And somehow, I get the feeling he isn't up there balancing booksheet."
After all, the same thing once happened to Vander, it was one of the reasons why Sevika left, she saw that this paternal attachment was ruining Undercity (Vander is not willing to risk lives, and the lives of his children as well, even for the greater good) . And now, in fact, the same thing is happening, Silco jeopardizing his own authority and everything he's worked for, making excuses for Jinx's failures every time... all because of his love for her.
"Jinx gets a whim, suddenly his spine's made of jelly."
Finn has hit a sore spot and you can see it perfectly in Sevika's face, after all, she's not iron and it really was something that bothered her...and she probably realizes that Finn is right now. Just like when she was right to say everything to Vander before she left.
The beginning of episode 9.
Silco and Sevika are at the ruined Shimmer factory.
Once again we are shown how Silco is protecting Jinx and how Sevika isn't even surprised. After all, she was waiting for those words.
Then Silco begins a dialogue with Renni, during which he discusses the importance of her sacrifice, and that her son died for the common good, not in the petty squabbles that so often occur here.
What's interesting is that when he speaks of petty squabbles, the camera shows us Finn, as if Silco is already assuming something... or expecting something.
All this conversation, Silco's reactions... Sevika closely watched... and Finn, which with one look tells her: "Look at what he's doing. He's not risking everything for Zaun, he's risking everything for Jinx."
After that happens is probably one of the most spectacular scenes that, I have to admit, made me fall in love with Sevika.
This scene is beautiful, like a scene in a theater... In fact, I think it was, and here's why.
When the trio of conspirators enter Silco's office, they absolutely ignore what he says, thus showing disobedience to his authority. Finn comes forward and Sevika demonstratively wipes his chair, but then goes over to Silco's side, which awakens in him mistrust (as in the audience, I first thought it was another betrayal by the henchman), she is still on his side?
"Today's the day you die, Silco."
The moment Sevika draws her blade (by the way, she does it right as Finn lights the lighter, as if Sevika were obeying a signal or even a silent order) and takes it over Silco, it's worth noting how Silco holds on.
"That's a risk I've known all my life..."
He keeps his head and neck bent, open at the back so comfortably open for a clean strike.
The emotion on Sevika's face at this moment also tells her that, what she is doing does not bring her joy, she is not stabbing another stuck-up upstart in the back, she is doing it with someone she cares about...
"But I still believe in loyalty."
And then the culmination, the punch scene, when everything becomes clear (by the way, the punch comes at the moment when Finn puts out the lighter, everything in the scene is aligned like clockwork).
I love the horror on Renni's face when she realizes that Sevika has remained loyal to Silco... because now she knows all their plans, which means now Silco will know them, too.
"Not for a worm like him."
The whole scene entirely, is a great warning, a warning for Silco.
I think Sevika deliberately played it up as if she was going to betray Silco away from the start. She wanted to show him how things could turn out if he continued like this and didn't quickly get situation (and himself) under control as before, if he wouldn't hear her words... And situation have really gotten out of hand, since even someone like Finn has noticed that Silco is being too lenient with Jinx and losing control of Zaun.
"But he won't be the last."
And she knows that for sure, because Finn himself told her:
"You're not the only one dissatisfied with his performance. There's bigger fish than Silco."
If for everyone else, Zaun is an enterprise, as Finn puts it, then for Silco it was a purpose in life, and that's one of the reasons why Sevika remains loyal to him.
Loyalty... Such words are unknown to dogs like Finn, whether loyalty to someone or to principles.
And yet, I say that's one reason... The second I believe is that an emotional bond has been established between them, after all, over the years they've been together.
After all... Sevika stayed with Silco to the end, even though Silco's relationship with Jinx was ruinous to him... because under exactly the same circumstances, she left Vander, considering him weak, while Silco, she tries to support him (in her own way) so that he does not look weak like Vander once did.
And a funny little thing.
In the scene when Sevika leaves Vander their dialogue sounds:
Flash forward to episode 9, the scene where Sevika has to betray Silco.
In this scene, Silco is just the opposite, looking afraid, but he is still more strong in Sevika's eyes than Vander.
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