Your Local Lamppost

I enjoy things, but things I enjoy most are mythology, Zelda, animation, and other such delightful nonsense

[local-lamppost]

So, if Aiglamene had let Gideon use a chain, and Gideon somehow managed to get decent with both chain and sword in three months, would Harrow have let her use the Chain of Samael? Would Harrow tell Gideon that the chain she has been given is the Chain of Samael, or demand Gideon use this specific chain without further explanation?

I can see it being that, if the second instance were the case, Harrow might assume Gideon-who has a proven interest in weaponry-knows what the chain is and that that is the chain. Only Gideon has no idea, or just thinks it's a replica, because there's no way Harrow would entrust Gideon of all people use a holy artifact, it's just convenient for a bone adept's cav to have a spare pelvis on them. It'd be another issue for Harrow to be snappish at Gideon with due to a misunderstanding of just how much Harrow is trusting/bonding with Gideon, all the while Gideon treats it as a regular chain.

And how would Gideon have taken that? Being given a definitive symbol of the Ninth by Harrow, who insisted that she wield a chain. Entrusted with this symbol of the Ninth, it's strength and its heritage, that belonged to the Ninth's first cavalier. Would she take it as a call to arms? Would she reject it? She wants acceptance almost as much as she wants acknowledgement, and this would be a display of both, but how early in her development would she be able to accept such an outright display? Would she even be able to believe in its sincerity? We know Harrow would not just give out a relic like this, and on some level so does Gideon, but could she actually acknowledge it?

[local-lamppost]

So, if Aiglamene had let Gideon use a chain, and Gideon somehow managed to get decent with both chain and sword in three months, would Harrow have let her use the Chain of Samael? Would Harrow tell Gideon that the chain she has been given is the Chain of Samael, or demand Gideon use this specific chain without further explanation?

I can see it being that, if the second instance were the case, Harrow might assume Gideon-who has a proven interest in weaponry-knows what the chain is and that that is the chain. Only Gideon has no idea, or just thinks it's a replica, because there's no way Harrow would entrust Gideon of all people use a holy artifact, it's just convenient for a bone adept's cav to have a spare pelvis on them. It'd be another issue for Harrow to be snappish at Gideon with due to a misunderstanding of just how much Harrow is trusting/bonding with Gideon, all the while Gideon treats it as a regular chain.

And how would Gideon have taken that? Being given a definitive symbol of the Ninth by Harrow, who insisted that she wield a chain. Entrusted with this symbol of the Ninth, it's strength and its heritage, that belonged to the Ninth's first cavalier. Would she take it as a call to arms? Would she reject it? She wants acceptance almost as much as she wants acknowledgement, and this would be a display of both, but how early in her development would she be able to accept such an outright display? Would she even be able to believe in its sincerity? We know Harrow would not just give out a relic like this, and on some level so does Gideon, but could she actually acknowledge it?

[cyan-renegade]

When you have to do your families‘ taxes while your parents are arguing singing a boss battle theme in the room next door

[local-lamppost]

Spy x Family fans how we doing after getting Ch 120 Yor's *SPOILERS* and season 3 trailer within days of each other?

[local-lamppost]

[REDACTED]'s Father

Got a comment on this about my stating Twilight's dad wasn't abusive just overbearing and argumentative, essentially a tough love kinda parenting. No hate to the commenter, everyone's opinion is valid, and thank you very much for reading my dumb ramblings. I didn't even plan on making this an whole post, but then I realized how much I wanted to say about this topic. I just want to show everyone where I am coming from and why I would say he is abusive.

Now, we haven't seen much of this man and I do think some people give him too much flack, because he is correct about war being a terrible thing and not something children should treat as a game to glorify. With that said, he jumped straight to berating and slapping his son (yes, I know it takes place in a 50s/40s equivalency to our world and corporal punishment was more acceptable back then but it's still wrong). These are kids in a town close to a nation at a time where tensions are rising, adults are talking about war and the evil horned Ostanians; more than that, kids playing soldier is not something to take seriously. It's the same as playing police officer or firefighter. A kid will say things like "I want to be a soldier when I grow up" the same way they say they want to be an astronaut. They're a kid with kid dreams and a kid's understanding of what those roles are; and to a kid a soldier is the modern day knight in shining armor.

His problem also doesn't stop at the kind of game his son was playing, but the fact that he was out with his "little friends again" instead of studying. He outright calls Redacted a "coward" that the army wouldn't want (something a kid could very well misinterpret as being told no one wants you) and blames his wife for their son's behavior when she gets upset with her husband for hitting their son (which is implied to happen fairly often as his wife asks "why do you always have to be like this?").

He also shows no guilt over his actions; he doesn't give his son money or offer to go to the fair together as an awkward dad apology, but because Redacted seems to be acting exactly as he wants him to (putting his studies over his friends/war games).

Now this is all from Redacted's perspective, so maybe the parents have a talk where dad says he is planning to have a proper chat and explain himself and his reasonings, but as this is implied to be a reoccurring argument between father and son I'm inclined to believe the father is not the type to have those chats.

Lastly, I think I could cut the guy some slack if it were not for the fact that he didn't need to act like an ass to get his point across!

The old croquette lady is able to calmly explain that war is bad, Ostanians are people too, that rumors about them are just rumors, and the world is better if kids can simply enjoy croquettes instead of guns in the same amount-if not less-page time as his father.

Redacted is a smart kid who can learn and grow if the "why" of something is explained to him, not just told something is bad, he's bad for acting like a kid with his friends, hit, and further insulted.

Another note I think needs to be explored by more people is what modern day Agent Twilight believes in regards to a child's sense of comfort and safety within a family; which is entirely attributed to his mother.

I know he is trying to reassure Yor (for the mission of course), but it also has never seemed to cross his mind that fathers are supposed to represent that too. This could be him distancing himself from Anya, he cares for her and protects her, but excuses it as for the mission and not because he sees her as his daughter. More likely it is simply that it isn't Twilight's belief that father's are supposed to be there for their children outside of providing for them a house and resources, which the mother then uses to make a safe and happy home.

To put my perspective together from all of this, I think Redacted's father is correct in his opinion about war (his son even comes to agree with him) and that he is not a wildly violent man who comes home drunk to randomly beat his kid half to death. That being said, his go to for raising his son is not proper communication but reinforcement of his wants for his child (studying), belittling his interests and friends that are outside of his wants, and feeling perfectly justified hitting his young child without any signs of regret. I don't care what the time period is, I don't care that he's under a lot of stress from work and the world around, that is something a non-abusive parent would not do. The argument of this being a exception to his parenting, not the rule, also cannot be used as we have it from both parents that this happens fairly regularly. Honestly, you could take out the hit and I would still think he is abusive, just not in a physical sense; he belittles and insults his son, sees Redacted's friends as a distraction, and thinks his wife comforting and treating their child as if he were a child is the same as spoiling Redacted. The hit is essentially shorthand for the reader that this guy was not a good father for Redacted in case his other behavior left any room for doubt.

Anyway, now I have to write something about Loid's parenting versus his father's because wow those parallels. It's not a 100% that Mr. Redacted's Father (Re-dad-ted?) is dead, though he probably is in my opinion, but no matter the answer to that there is always a chance for more flashbacks to show us more of what he was like and his relationship with his son. I am open to having my opinion of him change and welcome people to rebuttal any of my arguments. That's what makes it all so interesting and motivates people to write nonsense like this!

Again, to the commenter, please don't take any of this as a slight of any kind. This is a discussion and explanation of my own viewpoint. In fact, I would like to thank you, as now I am even more hyped to not only look back into Loid's parenting of Anya but also the new trailer/season which will include Redacted's story. Please have a lovely dad.

[local-lamppost]

I'm still processing everything that is Yor right now, so I'm gonna talk about Loid.

Twilight is the best and brightest agent that WISE has to offer, but he is also a child soldier who lost everything by age ten (and even when he finds out his childhood friends are alive they go on to die in their next mission). Even before the war, [REDACTED]'s household was difficult, what with an overbearing/abusive father and the shouting matches his parents would get into.

This all to say, any and all of Loid's emotional intelligence comes second hand from books and training, but even with this training he's never had the chance to develop his own sense or understanding of himself; which is a strength for the infamous Agent Twilight, but scary and confusing for the man underneath.

There is the joke of "How smart can Twilight be not to notice Yor's oddities/feelings/care for his own family?" And the tragedy is that a man of his intelligence should be able to tell, Loid was just never given a chance-and likely discouraged-to process his feelings and grow beyond that traumatized child soldier, so good at playing pretend.

Lastly there is the fact that Twilight has gone on honeypot missions and engaged in long term relationships to get to targets. I mean, he was able to threaten that secretary back in episode/chapter one by his knowledge of all the marks on the daughter's body. I doubt there was an info notice on that at WISE. So Twilight does know how to go through the steps of a relationship, how to engage in the physical aspects, but any internal feelings were exempt. It was never what he-Twilight/[REDACTED]-wanted, but what would Robert or Lionel or so on and so forth; and even their wants were curtained to the desires of his targets.

This is all to say, this poor man has no idea what he is feeling nor how to comprehend any of it, which is going to send him spiraling and only make Yor more concerned for him; and the cycle goes round and round.

To put in a little prediction, or at least my hope, I think Sylvia is going to have a talk with Twilight about his feelings. Handler was once married with a daughter, is traumatized by their loss and is only ever functional when it comes to her work (and more recently Aaron). It could even be argued that her and Twilight have had reversed developments; Sylvia being a family woman with a spouse and child, only to become the Iron Lady after their loss. Meanwhile it was loss and a mission that had Twilight bring his family together and as a result developed these bonds into a reality.

[local-lamppost]

Yor's Paying Attention Now

I think what might just be the most important development of this chapter is that Yor is beginning to pick up on Loid not expressing himself/wearing a mask. For the longest time she's left him alone, trusted Loid to look after himself, and they're friends but he's a grown man and doesn't need her to look after him like she would Yuri; that focus is better spent on Anya.

However after the Mole Arc she's seen Loid slip, Twilight slip. It was a reminder that Loid's just a man, no matter how put together he seems. No matter how much Twilight tries to reinforce his aloof barriers from Yor-keep her relegated to fake wife/convenient co-parent/kinda friend(?)-it can never work like before, because Yor knows that he is hiding and struggling.

Now not only is Yor wanting to stay with the Forgers, wanting to be someone Loid can rely on, but she wants- no, cares about Loid's view of her. Yor now knows Loid puts on a front, but is no longer content to leave him to it for both selfless (making sure he isn't overworking/collapsing again and being someone he can rely on) and selfish (wanting to know his opinion of her and his thoughts on their relationship) reasons.

None of this is to say that Yor is an expert on reading people-she very much is not-let alone Twilight, but I think she's going to start picking up on cues. She isn't dumb and the two are close (both in proximity and they're friends, even if Twilight would say otherwise), if anyone is going to be able to truly pick apart the mask of the 'Perfect Dr. Loid Forger' it would be Yor. Not just in the sense that Fiona can see the difference and overlap of Loid and Twilight, but see through both facades to the core of the man who [REDACTED] has become.

[local-lamppost]

My Sonic 4 Villain Theory

I know logically the villain will have something to do with Chaos, but let me offer an alternative: Stone.

Stone being the villain is an idea I've seen thrown around, but let me put my own hat in the ring of what he would be doing.

An angry and grieving Stone wants vengeance on Sonic and friends for not saving his Doctor. He decided the best way to enact his revenge is to fight fire with fire. He knows that the only one who was able to soundly beat Sonic was Shadow, so he goes searching. He either finds a grievously hurt Shadow that he puts in a healing stasis or a bunch of Shadow's quills (either in military wreckage or amongst Gerald Robotnik's belongings), and proceeds to build an army of metal Sonics powered by Shadow's quills.

I personally lean more towards Stone finding a weakened Shadow and forcing him to produce energy, maybe using special inhibiter rings or something. I think having Shadow-who's completely done with the revenge business-be an angel on Stone's shoulder could be an interesting concept, especially since Shadow was was both loved and used by two different Robotniks.

We could also have Omega be Shadow's prison guard who comes to care for him and actually help Shadow recover.

[local-lamppost]

Sonic 3 Initial Thoughts

So I saw Sonic 3 and I really liked it. Adventure 2 has my favorite story of the franchise so even a loose adaptation was great to see (they even referenced Shadow the Hedgehog by having Shadow's origins be a black comet).

The only part I had a problem with was how they shied away from everything being GUN's fault. Gerald was hired to create the a weapon, a life form that could also cure his granddaughter's illness. Then the project gets out of hand and GUN wants to cover it up, so they kill everyone and imprison Gerald to keep him working for them (and they later kill him anyway in an amazing cutscene). GUN spends the whole game doing their best to keep the cover up going and doubling down. They are the real bad guys. This is still in the movie but it feels glossed over.

I loved Maria and Shadow's dynamic. We didn't get too much time with them, but the way it was shown-that Maria was the only one in the facility that didn't see Shadow as a monster/alien/things to be studied and Shadow being someone Maria could play with. I wish they had included a line about Maria wanting to experience the world beyond where her grandfather went for research, that she and Shadow planned to explore the world first hand when it was finished, and Maria's last words of protecting the world. Being the world's protector despite everything the world has done to him is Shadow's most important trait and I feel like it could've been touched on more.

The fight between Shadow and Sonic was amazing. Shadow goading Sonic into killing him, pointing at his heart the same way Maria and Tom have done to each one, and that connection being what snaps Sonic out of his anger was perfect. Then going on to watch the sun (a still living star) rise over the earth while they talk. Gorgeous.

Knuckles and Tails were relevant! This is always something I worry about in sequels that add to the cast, but they were handled perfectly. Knuckles being the guardians and having the final say of giving Sonic the power. Tails being the brains and moral support, as well as peacemaker between Sonic and Knuckles. It all evened out very well.

Lastly, Stone and the Robotniks. While I have mixed feelings of him being alive in the movie's present, Gerald is a fantastic villain. His line of "You're not Maria, Ivo" was brutal. I was wondering how they would work out a living Gerald with access to a living grandchild still wanting to destroy everything, but having him purely treat Ivo as a shell throughout was perfect. Ivo himself just wants to be cared for, something he thinks only family can provide for him despite Stone being right there. It's this familial requirement for affection that allows Gerald to use him and for Stone to be forced out, and if they do bring him back (which I really hope they don't) what his new dynamic with Stone would be now that he knows Stone really does love him.

All and all, a great film and I'm excited for the fourth. I'm really excited to see how Amy and Metal Sonic are handled, especially now that SEGA is writing her as an actual character lately.

[local-lamppost]

Wicked Part 2 Theory

The biggest problem with splitting the movies between the two acts is that act 2 really is the Wizard of Oz's background political shenanigans. So how do you make another film that isn't just the Wizard of Oz or thirty minutes long? You make the Wizard of Oz thirty minutes longer.

Really dumb point, but hear me out.

Have Dorothy get involved with the story; show her bonding with Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Lion, with Glinda, and have her learn about the Witch through others. It not only would be a great way to reenforce just how effective Oz's propaganda is, but you could also have a plot of kind, empathetic, and honest Dorothy learn the truth and be outraged by being used by the bullies instead of standing against them.

The Tin Man and Lion are vehemently against Elphaba, so you can have the three arguing over the bucket and Dorothy accidentally splashes the water to still have her 'kill' the Witch. An infuriated and distraught Dorothy confronts and demands the Wizard grant her and her friends' wishes, because otherwise it would have all been for naught. Maybe she learned from Elphaba that the Wizard is a fraud in some way, so she send Toto to find the real Oz behind all the fanfare to confirm that-once again-Elphaba was the only one truthful to Dorothy.

This would also help with the "I'll miss you the most" line she gives to Scarecrow, because if he was giving her hints throughout and trying to stop the Tin Man's wrath towards the Witch with Dorothy. I don't think Dorothy would be in on the faking Elphaba's death plan, but I could imagine the Scarecrow talking about the 'girl' he loves and hint at weather or not Dorothy figures out that Scarecrow's 'girl' and the Witch are the same.

Finally, you could include Dorothy in Glinda's dressing down of the Wizard and in a bit of development for Glinda. Dorothy tells Oz that he has to do something good in his life, that he has to help Dorothy after making her a part of his mess and having her kill the only person actually trying to do good.

With Glinda, Dorothy would act as a bit of a mirror and memory. Dorothy has Glinda's dreams and Elphaba's heart, Dorothy wants that somewhere over the rainbow but is not willing to sacrifice her family or the well being of others. You could have a scene before 'For Good' of Dorothy telling Glinda her values and Glinda remarking on how much Good-er of a Witch Dorothy would be, of how Dorothy is just like Elphaba in her morals and stubbornness. Glinda could even talk about her friend Elphaba without Dorothy realizing she means the Wicked Witch. Glinda would say how much she wishes she could be like her friend and Dorothy would tell her that she just needs to be the person her amazing friend saw her as. Then you have 'For Good' a scene or two later.

[local-lamppost]

I just know Ekko is never gonna tell Vi about the other world, because the second she puts two and two together that her death made everyone's lives better would be the end of what sad excuse of self worth Vi has left. I trust that Ekko knows well enough to not mention it.

[local-lamppost]

Act 3 Thoughts

Watched Wicked, came home, waited 20 minutes, binged Act 3. I do not recommend this lifestyle. Anyway...

I was so satisfied with where we ended up, but I would have also appreciated about 20 minutes to an hour more. It felt like some beats were skipped over, they wanted to get to specific endings and didn't have the time to wrap them up as neatly as I would've liked.

Maddie is a good example. She's a plant for Ambessa, okay but when and why did she become one? She couldn't have been one before Cait being named commander and when we next see her she's pushing for Cait to take power back from Ambessa. Did Ambessa just message her right after Cait and Vi started working together again as like a "the woman you love's actual love is back in the picture, you can either wallow or get revenge with me", but also made a smarmy remark about Cait 'at least being warm' or something. We didn't need to absolve Cait or villainize Maddie for their 'relationship' because they didn't even have a relationship-just a coping mechanism for Cait, similar to Vi's drinking. At best it was all unnecessary and at worst a waste of time.

Away from that, I want to focus on some good.

I am officially a JayVik shipper now. Them disappearing into a void together, encircled with each other, after Viktor spend however long within timelines/multiverses in hopes of finding a Jayce able to bring him back to his humanity? Come on, they needed to kiss. Especially after Jayce and Mel's low key break up. Honestly we were denied the three of them working together, because they would have been unstoppable.

Speaking of Mel, I love her. I love her design, her powers, her matricide, her taking command of Ambessa's armies, etc. I wish we could have seen more of her adapting to her new powers, finding peace with what she now is. There could have been a cool interaction with Viktor over how Arcane power has changed them both for better and worse.

I don't think Mel's story is done. With other characters, I can see them coming in for future story arcs as like, cameos or background details, but if the next LoL story is in Noxus I fully expect Mel to be a major player again.

Back to Jayce. I like Jayce, that could be my Arcane hot take, and I definitely want to write something more in depth on him. On all the characters really. For now, I'll just say that his determination to destroy everything he has built, because the only creation worth saving is his relationship with Viktor is just... glorious.

Viktor was amazing. I love Viktor in the lore, and they took his traits from the lore and amped them up to eleven. His body being destroyed and rebuilt, the process of which has chipped away his humanity and mutilated his dreams. He lives up to his own quote: "In the pursuit of great, we failed to do good. We have to make it right."

Ekko is a character I never realize I miss. That sounds mean, it probably is, but I am never the less so happy to see him every time. It's like finding the missing piece you didn't even know was lost: that is Ekko to me. His mini adventure in the parallel universe was adorable. Us getting to see what could've been alongside learning what matters most to Ekko, him getting a taste of a near perfect life and still choosing to return to his own time. That's why Ekko is the true hero of this story.

In terms of Jinx, I'll just say I'm not a hundred percent sure she's dead. The airship leaving at the end followed by her scribbled sign off, plus not getting a dead body shot. It was definitely left open ended. Her looking to do something good, to not mess up, alongside her fear of not wanting to try again because she is just tired of failure, of being a Jinx, was too real in many ways. I will go in depth on her at a later date.

Caitlyn's arc is going to be argued about, no question. It needed more time (see the start of this long post) to make her point of her anger burning away, of it not being sustainable, hit harder. I would have made her realize what her anger was doing to Vi, have Jinx point out that they really are acting the same in their treatment of Vi, and use the whole Ambessa was literally stoking the fires of her hatred to help fit what time they had left. Honestly just have Cait learn Ambessa was the one behind the memorial attack, that would be a much better way to explain her anger diminishing enough to look beyond her own hurt to realize and take account of her mistakes.

Vi, as usual, needed more screen time. Not necessarily because her story would've been helped by it like in act two, but just because I wanted her to have more time to enjoy her life. I went into act three with the sole hope that Vi would have a nice day, only for her to loose everything again. The only people she has left are Cait and Ekko, and god help anyone who tries something against those too now. Her ending being the chance to finally rest, to lean on someone else, was beautiful. She is my favorite character and please let her have only good things in the future, she was traumatized in almost every scene this season please-

Nobody tell Vi that in a universe where she died young everyone else ended up living. It would destroy her.

Vi and Cait relationship was great. I wouldn't say it was rushed in act three, because it felt like it was where it should be for a final batch of episodes, if that makes sense. It felt like the set up was Cait being genuinely remorseful and Vi just wanting someone in her life who wanted her in return. It helps that they have great chemistry and that when given the chance they fit so neatly together. I think Jinx encouraging Vi to be with Cait is what sold it to me. Jinx realizing how much Vi has given/sacrificed and giving her blessing for her sister to be happy with someone she disapproves of; not to mention Cait pulling the guards from their posts to give Vi the chance to actually meet Jinx in order to have that conversation. All in all, it comes down to Vi's "I don't care" because that's really all there is too it for them. Vi is done being miserable and Cait makes her happy, vice versa. Cait is someone Vi can rely on, Vi is someone Cait can find strength in.

Spitfire round:

Sevika being made a councilor

Every single one of Mel, Cait, and Jayce's designs were 10/10s

Vi not being given an actual uniform, just armor and the gloves

Jinx cutting her hair further to match Vi

Ekko getting his crystal sword/bats

Heimerdinger dying after living a life where he could make his city something to be proud of

I was fully expecting Vander and Silco to kiss in that one shot

Everything with Benzo

Loris' name being said

Vi humming the song and the song being their mother's lullaby

Viktor being held within the Herald

Sky leaving so Viktor was free to bring Jayce to his space mind palace

Caitlyn's rifle never surviving

Fishman McBlue being the only one of Cait's soldiers to stick to his guns and stay loyal

Sevika and Shoola side eyeing each other

Vander and little Vi and Powder with the bunny

The bunny being a passenger on Jinx's balloon

Singed's messed up family getting a happy ending

[local-lamppost]

No gonna lie, I was really hopping for a scene of someone (Jinx, Loris, whoever) sobering Vi up Inigo Montoya style

[beaunydoorin]

[local-lamppost]

my headcannon is that Vi recently learned the word mongoose and now keeps bringing it up

[local-lamppost]

Maddie and Caitlyn and Piltover

Probably the most jarring twist of the Act was Maddie and Caitlyn's relationship. It seemed very sudden, until you take a look into the few lines from her in Act 1 and realize they all centered around Caitlyn. That Maddie was the first Piltie to 'dedicate her heart' to Caitlyn with Noxus. Maddie likes Vi because Caitlyn vouched for her and deems her 'one of the good ones' because of Caitlyn.

Let's talk about Maddie: she's an average young Piltie. She's Cait's age, give or take, and feels hurt both by the recent Zaun attacks and Marcus' betrayl. Caitlyn is the first person after all this that is trying to do something to fix the mess. Cait's a Kiramman, an inspiration, a fighter, and kinda sorta pretty. Maddie was starry eyed by Cait and couldn't see any problems with her actions or flaws because of this. When given the option to have Cait lead, she jumps at the chance.

Maddie is something of a trick with her introduction. She doesn't have a personal stake like Vi or Cait, isn't there to look after her new buddy like Loris (until told otherwise he is there just cause he is Vi's old man friend); she believes in combating Jinx. Peacekeeping in Zaun with gas and hextech weapons to go after one person, but oh isn't she so cute? Introduced in a halo of sunlight and being so sweet to Vi?

Maddie is a proud Piltie, who feels betrayed by Marcus and the Undercity, who wants to punish them and rebuild her home in topside. And yes, she feels betrayed by the Undercity, she consider's it a part of Piltover one way or another, and most topsider's are ignorant of why Zaunites are so upset with them. To Maddie, these attacks came out of left field.

What's interesting is that Maddie is anti-Ambessa, or at least pro-Caitlyn. You could see this as her being a moderate. She tells Cait that she can withdraw from Zaun and reestablish the council, but ends that statement by reaffirming Caitlyn as their leader, "The Enforcers, Piltover... I follow you". Cait and her military rule makes Maddie feel safe and proud in her city.

Onto Cait. Yeah, Cait's not necessarily using Maddie, but she is utilizing her. She's learned from her percieved mistakes/weaknesses and is keeping her work and personal life seperate. They have sex and talk about the state of the city, but Cait never talks about her feelings with Maddie as she did with Vi. Cait's an emotional person too. She was always quick to express herself to Vi, to Ekko, to her mother and father, to Jayce; but she is hurt and alone and can contribute both of those facts to her emotions (sans Jayce).

Begs the question of why Cait is sleeping with Maddie? But even that is simply her coping. It's her version of Vi drinking and fighting. It's stress relief and a quick way to at least make someone else happy. Cait also likes touch, so it stands to reason she'd find someone in her isolated state (Vi pushed away, father a living ghost, Jayce and Mel magiced away). Also, if Word of God is anything to go by, it's not out of character for Cait to find a pretty girl to fool around with.

Cait's main focus is still Jinx. Her mind is literally shown overlapping with her's. Maddie a tryst for the off hours, and even that's kept to the minimum as Cait would rather work than get any rest.

I do wish we could've gotten a scene of Cait replaying her interactions with Vi (think season 1 shower scene), but instead we have Maddie to contrast their relationship. Maddie is kind of the 'Piltover Approved' Vi; she's a red headed enforcer who loves her city, her council, the noble houses, and Caitlyn. She's safe and she's someone that Caitlyn doesn't have to put any excess energy into. Which must be gratifying for the surface levels of Cait's issues. Vi forces Cait to act better, to look inward and reflect, to consider other people and not just her own hurt (something season one Cait wouldn't have even needed another's help with).

The little detail of Vi not calling Cait a cupcake until episode 6 is also telling. At first it's likely Vi realizing the seriousness of everything, but it could also be that she disapproves of Cait's actions. Cait doesn't have that sweetness in her, or at least isn't allowing herself to act on it. When Vi does call her cupcake again it's not an endearment as it was by the end of season one, but a call out to what Cait has become.

Going forward, what's next? Vi and Cait aren't back together, but are together. They have to fight the Noxians (which was hinted at by Maddie herself) and help with the Arcane.

I kinda want Jinx to be the one to spell everything out to Cait; to tear her a new one. Jinx kept an eye on Vi during her pit fighter era, saw the drunk, broken mess that her sister became; a sister she is now on tentatively good terms with and will likely be a bit protective of after Isha. Something like, "I saw what happened to Vi after you guys split, she destroyed herself like you destroyed the city. I always thought I would be the one to break her, but you did a bang up job! Two of us have that in common, hurting Vi, but I'm trying now. So what does that say about you? None of this was Vi's fault, all she was trying to do was keep you from acting like me, ya know, deranged and violent? Huh, Vi-olent."

So in Act 3, Cait needs to be the one to get a kick in the ass and have that conversation with Vi. She needs to own up to her mistakes. How she was guilting Vi into the enforcers, how Vi was right about her loosing control and almost shooting a kid, maybe even for using Vi's affection for her against her. Vi will forgive her, she's Vi and has the self worth of a pebble, so long as Cait takes accountability and starts acting on any promises to change-again, why a shovel talk from Jinx could help set their relationship in the right direction.

[local-lamppost]

Act 2, Innitial thoughts, It's 4:30am

First of all: I really need to stop staying up late to binge this show...

SO!

Overall I feel a little bit of everything except happiness. It was all rather confusing and chaotic, which I think was meant to go along with the mess that the natural world is currently in, but is more likely a pacing issue. Act 1 could be quick in some places, but this act had far more 'trust me, happened off screen' moments and I'm not a fan.

Aside from that I liked it, my issue of pacing stems from me wanting to see more of these characters. Some were punished by pacing more than others. Viktor was fine, it was perfect A to B from where we left him to where we pick up; unlike Vi and Cait reconciliation.

Vi and Cait need a proper chat. I think Cait disagreed with Ambessa's plan of attack and would have found a way to disrupt things even without finding Vi. Cait's rage has simmered down it seems(still bringing up potential harm to innocents), her focus back on Jinx instead of the Undercity, so it makes sense for her to go against an assault on a peaceful settlement. Her finding Vi was just an added advantage.

The two of them haven't buried the hatchet. Vi must have something to say about what Vi has turned both cities into, and Cait has to acknowledge what her actions have done to her home and the woman she loves. I'm hoping them working together now is just a patch job for the bigger problem to be fixed in Act 3.

Vi and Jinx were adorable. I love that Jinx knew that Vi was pit fighting from the start, keeping an eye on her not out of care but just in case (maybe to get herself some money too, since she was betting on her sister) and that she immediately went to Vi after discovering Vander. The two of them felt like sister for the first time since season 1 act 1. Even their fight was less actively trying to hurt each other and more sibling brawl. It did work to show just how much of a mess Vi is, as she had trouble dealing with Jinx-who even on shimmer should be no physical match for Vi. I think Isha helped as a kind of filter between them, along with Vander. Jinx and Vi had to rely on each other for the first time ever, not even when Jinx was Powder did Vi rely on her. I think seeing Jinx older sister Isha put something into place for Vi. She sees that Jinx can love and care, and that give Vi hope.

And Isha... Isha who became a mirror of Powder, an off shoot of Powder that blows up an off shoot of Vander.

Non verbal characters in animation are always fun to watch because it gives the animators full control. Every gesture and expression has to add to something because there isn't any dialog to assist. A way to progress the story and give a character character through expression alone, and they knocked it outta the park.

Isha dying her hair, playing the monster game, drawing fake smoke tattoos, etc, all to imitate Jinx is adorable. I also love how she isn't just a tag along, but actively pushes Jinx into doing something to the point Jinx thinks she's in cahoots with Sevika. It's foolish to hope she lives, but god do I hope Isha lived.

Viktor is interesting. He is so unbothered by everything, with only the faintest sense of self remaining. I still think Sky is just figment of the Hexcore/Arcane, an avatar for him to play off of. His determination to help others at the cost of himself is that last strand that connects him to humanity, it's his hope and empathy.

And that's what Jayce kills, not the Arcane. There is not doubt in my mind the Herald survived, but Viktor is gone.

I know people are giving Jayce a lot of flack, but I'm holding out on learning what he experienced in his days/weeks spent inside the Arcane. It seemed to tear at his psyche, leaving him with the sole goal to destroy it's spread; and who was spreading it faster than Viktor?

We have yet to see Heimerdinger and Ekko return from the other side so, here's to act 3.

Confirmation on what Singed has been doing.

Lastly, Warwick. I loved the perspective shots with him, I loved his design and voice, and I love Vander. I did not realize just how much I've missed him.

The flashbacks with him, Silco and Felicia (Vi and Jinx's mom) were so bittersweet. Blister's a brimstone, what could've beens, and the promise of the future through children. The song and art for the sequence too was just heartbreaking; not to mention that Vander named Violet. It also seems to be confirmed that toddler Vi would hang out at the Last Drop with her folks, Vander, and Silco which is adorable.

I'm honestly not sure if Isha's attack will kill him, cause quite a bit of damage certainly, but he's been shown to regenerate quickly and from deadly attacks.

[local-lamppost]

Vi was getting too happy so something bad had to happen