Vi's journey broke my fucking heart and I do not see anyone talking about it, so I will.
The Writing In Arcane Was Very Good, Actually (SPOILERS)
The core of her character is that Vi lets herself be hurt. Again and again, and she asks nothing for herself. In S1E2 when she's talking to Vander, she says "I grew up knowing I'm less than them, that my place is down here. I want Powder to have more than that, and I'm willing to fight for it."
Not "I want more than that." She says "I grew up knowing I'm less" and even then, she's already accepted it. It's fine if it happens to her.
When Jinx blows up the council, again it's "I can do this alone, nobody else has to get hurt." She doesn't want the badge, but she takes it anyways because if she doesn't, Caitlyn will be hurt. So it's fine if it's her principles that get tossed out. It's fine if it happens to her.
When Caitlyn hurts her, again - she directs all the harm at herself. She doesn't grab Cait and beat the shit out of her for hurting her. She goes and becomes a pit fighting alcoholic so that she can keep the pain where it belongs, with her. It's fine if it happens to her.
And then... Jinx comes to get her, and they get Vander. She gets to see Jinx be a big sister, try to carry more so that Isha could carry less. And she sees Jinx lose what she lost. (I want you to hurt like you hurt me today and I want you to lose like I lose when I play.)
She tries to help Jinx again and she gets hit with another betrayal. Except this time... Jinx wants to make the same choice Vi always makes. "You don't need to feel guilty about being happy. You deserve to be with her." She's no longer judging Vi or resenting her, because after Isha, how could she? She understands Vi. She understands her too well.
When she's completely broken down, Caitlyn comes in. And Caitlyn isn't upset or angry, no, Caitlyn knew she'd go to her sister and planned for it. Caitlyn accepted her and her need and put aside her own need for revenge.
This is followed by the best sex scene I've ever seen. Now, you have to understand that sex scenes make me uncomfortable, so this is like, high praise from me.
Vi expects to be punished. "Say it. 'I told you so.'" She is literally imprisoned by her mind (wow, filmmaking 101!). And she expects to be taken out of there, to be put back into the fight (like the first time Cait set her free) so she can be hurt and be useful.
And instead, Caitlyn opens the door and steps inside. Into Vi's prison ("Walls of self-doubt and accepted limitation.") To give her understanding and love and most importantly, time. They have more important things to do. There's an invasion coming. And still, Caitlyn puts Vi first.
And Vi lets her. She initiates it, she leans into the comfort and intimacy being offered. It's actually beautiful.
(And then Jinx comes back to help, too, - healing that wound - and even though she loses her again... she can allow herself to move on and be happy. Like she never could before.)
(And we know Jinx survives, but she leaves because yes, sometimes you have to walk away. Sometimes meaningful healing can't happen if you're stuck in the same situation.)
(And Caitlyn figures it out, but doesn't tell anyone. She learned how to forgive and move on, and she's letting Vi do the same.)
"You've got a good heart. Don't ever lose it, no matter how the world tries to break you."
thinking about caitlyn kiramman and how her lack of words are so fundamental to the end shape of her character. cait doesn’t say “i’m sorry” when Vi yells at her about being Ambessa’s puppet, she yells “i know” because she’s intelligent enough to see the spiral of events but not enough to know how to stop it. she doesn’t say “i’m sorry” but the very next scene she attempts to make peace with jinx. she doesn’t say “i’m sorry” but she calls off the guards so Vi can secretly try to save her sister—a terrible plan but one that Vi needs to do.
caitlyn isn’t surprised to find that jinx escaped. she expects Vi to be locked away by her sister so that she won’t chase her. because that’s the doomed tragedy of them.
everyone knows Jinx can’t be saved except for Vi.
Vi wants so badly to believe her love will somehow save her sister but it never will. her fatal flaw is that she will always try and she will always fail. and then caitlyn knows Vi will unjustly blame herself, so she’s there at the cells to ground her and remind her that this is how it’s always been. you’re getting predictable.
and then vi finally understands that caitlyn pulled all the strings for this. that she gave her another chance to open a cell and go after her sister, even knowing it would never work. it’s an apology and it’s cait saying “i know who you are.”
caitlyn kiramman doesn’t use words, she takes meaningful action because she’s only half the charismatic councilor her mother wanted her to be. she’s grown up an outsider and keeps a careful mask for everyone except violet, which is why season one opened her up so magically. she’s naturally stoic and reserved but she’s bold.
and then vi has to kiss her right then in the cells. because meaningful action means so much more than words to someone like her, who just wants to be of service to the people she loves. what caitlyn did was a reciprocation of her love language. and then Vi acts more by instantly showing her love, giving caitlyn all her love, because she’s the only person in this story willing to accept it. without hurt or heartbreak, vi can pour this massive heart she has into the only hands capable of understanding it. of being tender with it.
because caitlyn knows that vi is devoted to such a massive fault, but it doesn’t deserve to be punished. not any longer.
caitlyn kiramman doesn’t use words, but she keeps the burden of jinx locked away in her heart. all so that vi can finally know what a safe home and peace feels like ♥️ AUGH
I can't wait to live the rest of my life being spoon fed AO3 fics for CaitVi after this. I'm hoping for long form aus, canon divergences, post-canon shit, all of it.
I did that at the end of act 1, by golly I'll do it again.
Sidenote: I have read quite a lot of Piltover’s Finest over on AO3. I am compiling this list mainly for myself to keep track but I would also like to share my thoughts as well as recommending them to people. I will also mark if they have explicit content. The list can change, and I will add more if I missed something or I found something.
Favorite Authors
DreamDrop @dreamdropxxx
Personal Favorite Story: What a Big Surprise
Comments: Very soft, very adorable stories. I can certainly feel the passion and the love in these stories. Their Cupcake is one of the most Kudos Caitvi story and it’s for a reason; I personally couldn’t stop grinning from beginning to end with Caitlyn’s crush onto Vi in this story but my personal favorite from this author is What a Big Surprise. In the show, even though I have watched those moments countless times, this story has brought out a more in-depth look behind Vi’s thoughts. And the last chapter brought tears to my eyes.
JynErsoinNYC
Personal Favorite Story: Silver Spoons
Comments: I love every day life stories. I love wholesome stories and that is what Silver Spoons is. This was the most visited story I ever went back to, and it’s for a good reason. These snapshots of Vi and Caitlyn’s relationship just makes you smile throughout the entire thing. The dynamic is very natural and I love that they’re long time friends before they are lovers. Their collection of roses are red, violets are blue are down right cute. It is a reimagining of Teen Vi and Teen Cait meeting each other, with a bit of teasing from Mylo, Clagger, and Powder.
taq – twitter: @undetaqted
Personal favorite story: (I have) what you want
Comments: I often am found speechless when it comes to Taq. They have the most brilliant and satisfying stories. (I have) what you want is more on the light heart scale but I really appreciate the interaction as well as the callback to Vi and Caitlyn first met. Their other stories, their other collections, are very intriguing - anytime they post a story, I immediately rush to read it. They have a way with words and it feels like I’m actually seeing the scene from the character’s POV.
Favorite Stories
A Mixed Martial Arist and a Journalist Walk Into A Bar by Misthios
Sleepless Nights (Contains: Sexual Content)
Comments: One of the best AUs out there. The dynamic and interaction in this feels so incredibly natural - I adore the little texts between the two. They are well written and extremely captivating. I go back to this AU every night because of how much I enjoy reading them. The relationship with Vi and Caitlyn goes past the surface level and I love every parts of it. It has great moments with their parents, their relationship discussions, their every day life, it just feels real.
Bruises by K0garashi
Comments: Vi likes to block with her face. I enjoy reading this character study of Vi, why she does things alone, why she tends to her wounds alone, until she met Caitlyn and realizes it’s okay to lean on people.
Plus One by wiseturtlebear
Comments: Fake dating AUs are one of my favorites AU and I enjoy it even more when it’s wholesome. This is exactly what Plus One is about. I adore Caitlyn’s parents in this one but I am absolutely amazed with the banter and the interaction between Vi and Caitlyn. Plus there’s dogs in this story.
What Could Have Been: An Arcane Reimagining by NatDammit
Comments: This is another ‘what if’ story if teen Vi and teen Cait had met earlier. A reimagining of their relationship and of the show as well as the effects if it didn’t happen the way it should. It is super thrilling, I enjoy reading these types of canon divergence and this one is a definite nail biter. I have no clue what will happen next and it keeps my attention on the entire time. Plus teen Vi and teen Cait are freakin’ adorable.
i’ll lean on you (and you lean on me) by UmbreonGurl (twitter: UmbreonGurl)
Comments: Fluffy, domestic, sweet tooth god I love those yeah piggyback into bed stories. I recommend checking out the twitter for more snippets of the author’s writing as well as more Caitlyn x Vi moments.
Hello I'm still alive. Just life got busy and I got lazy lmao. Im still up and arms living my last years in college. Can't believe I started tumblr off of Naruhina from Naruto haha. On a hiatus from Japanese films and dramas right now. Been into Arcane right now and just lurking the tags. I also dabbled into Life is Strange 1 and 2 earlier this year. So yeah that's a life update. See y'all whenever and whomever reads this sometime again!! I'll be back lmaoo
Synopsis: Ren Takahashi (Masaki Suda) and Aoi Sonoda (Nana Komatsu) were both born in 1989. They met for the first time at the age of 13 and became each other's first love, but they separated. At the age of 21, they met again. They were unable to undo their past. Now, they are 31-years-old.
Thoughts: A multi-year story of personal struggles and setbacks. I came for the love story but really fell in love at the second half of the movie that emphasized on growth from life's setback. We take hold on the happiness right in front of us and that isn't such a shame to do so but its a rather beautiful and strong way for a person to accept their loses and move past beyond it. Movie really gave some Ls on their ideals but they made do of what they wanted in the present and got through the messy Heisei era they were born into.
They in their own ways and forms carved out their happiness even better than their ideals in the youth, one that can make them happy in the present which is the most important time to be happy. Yet somehow that single red thread of their ideal happiness of the past manages to overcome the ebbs and flows of their lives. Time and time again that thread gets pushed towards each other and pulled against each other but they still remain connected in some way or form and did continue moving forward to the future on the same path and eventually arrive in future that is now and yet still continues to be one single thread that is called fate. They lived, they laughed, they cried, they fell, they rose, they conquered, they persevered for that one hopeful thread.
Once the characters were established, the story involving their growing pains were so inspiring to see. Pretty interesting to see this film edge out before the coronavirus started as the film did not hold back on the locations of filming. From Hokkaido to Okinawa, Singapore even. The volume of people in the shots and events was really refreshing to see especially the fun they were having. I also like that they film did a service to almost every character in showing their happiness.
Overall I got what I expected of a Masaki Suda and Nana Komatsu flick. Typical for both of them to have their character archetypes the way they were as that's their best roles haha. A heartfelt movie of an 18 year story done humanly and grounded well.
Movie reviews will be unpredictable here. Online classes have become engaging all of a sudden which causes me to not post some reviews but right now I got time soooo movie review incoming.
With Mugiko || Mugiko-san to || 麦子さんと || My Little Sweet Pea
People have so many circumstances that keep us apart. Despite all of that, we still open our hearts to love and that is so fucking beautiful to me right now. In this story its of a parent and child situation. Circumstances have pulled them apart and things got complicated..
Throughout the movie we see the story unfold, in a different and melancholic type of way. I can't describe it other than melancholic because we see the repairs of the relationships on the daughter's side be triggered by the the flashbacks of her mother's influence in her mother’s hometown.
And not only that, she sees other people's circumstances those people part or disagree with their loved ones but with those circumstances that doesn't keep those people to stop loving their loved ones.. Her and her brother are kinda like that, they had their own circumstances in their PoV, and their mother had her circumstances in her PoV but still that didn't cause them to lose their hearts and be heartless to their mother......even though it was too late.
What really kept this very sincere vibe is that the shots taken were more like a documentary style than a cinematic style if it makes sense but for me that just added towards the genuinity of the story. Acting wasn't too stellar but it wasn't too off to take away from the vibe and subject matter of the film.
The ending sequence was fucking *chef's kiss*. The incorporation of all the film's characters doing better and smiling plus our mc and her brother finally getting along with their mother into a city pop track.
Omg that moment really made this film even better due to the fact that it felt like a film centered around that track kinda like how some Japanese films are centered around a band's songs. That kind of thing. Very quaint film but it hits those strings very subtlety well.
Gave this personally a 9/10 just for me personally.
Oh man this is a DEPRESSING movie. From start to finish all down hill. Very tragicomedy like almost like how the title itself is. Sometimes we keep up appearances just for the sake of "stability" then time passes and we never really realize that the "stability" we thought we had slowly had the standards lower and lower and lower. Its a sad reality that hanging on to this state of "stability" are often the most damaging things to do when keeping things for the sake of this "stability". This movie focused on a relationship side of hanging on to "stability" and it really showed it through and through, how everything eventually became a theater show and not a loving relationship. How every joyful day became an acting audition, how every loving moment became the careful management of props, and how love turns into a hollow cesspool..
This goes to show the harsh realities of that ongoing lifestyle. How damaging and sad it can really be. I've seen it first hand but on a calloused point of view. Things semi-worked out in our end but its still very damaging to stay in that "stability"
Acting was so on point that it I felt TERRIBLE when the scenes were made to be felt like that. On and on throughout the movie the theatre play that their relationship ended up becoming such a depressing sight that it made me say "man I don't wanna end up like that" Really is HAHA
Yamazaki Kento, Matsuoka Mayu are such powerhouses in the acting department its CRAZY how great their acting in this film. Love the simpleness of the set scenes and emphasizes the focus on the character interactions and not the vibe and feel of the movie..
"if a sorry would negate everything that came before, I could tell you the worst stuff and then say sorry afterwards and you'd not be able to be angry with me". Just one of the quotes that really really drives the point home. Watch it to see the reality of toxic relationships..
Sometimes those who have less offer more humanity than those who have more. You can't buy being a kind person. In the movie we see the people who have not much to give continue to give what really matters to our depressed mc. A shoulder to cry on..
These people continue on to help our mc and our mc eventually ends up helping them over the course of the film. The relationship of the mc and these people are lovingly portrayed despite a realistic and honest take. I honestly found it endearing that they lifted each other up and not in a sunshine & rainbows manner but a realistic and honest way. They also did not shy upon showing the imperfections of these people that help our mc. All of the main characters had their own predicaments to face yet they still continue helping each other..
Despite all the mistakes these people make to help their situation, our mc still gives back what was given to him to rise up. He himself knows that they really need what they gave him when he was down...and that is kindness. The light may shine only there.. but we can be the light that shines for other people there. What a nice film that portrays the reality of economic difficulty and how it pushes people deeper into their own issues. The lowest point all you rely on is your humanity and in their lowest points we see the rawness...of the humanity shown in the film. It may not be perfectly right but its perfectly human. I love these brooding festival films about the rise from a struggle portrayed in a grounded and realistic sense. Has some mature content so be warned. Definitely a quality film for me..
