#arcane 1x08

[evviejo]

VI in ARCANE 1x08 Oil and Water

[halyasgirl]

Something I find really interesting in Arcane is what is and is not normalized among the setting and characters, especially Silco.

In 1x08 "Oil and Water" Jayce and Vi raid one of Silco's Shimmer manufacturing plants, which Jayce is rightfully horrified to find staffed with child laborers who are caught in the crossfire. To Piltovan, and probably audience eyes, this is barbaric and a moral event horizon for a villain who would use children this way.

But none of the Zaunites are horrified, or even fazed. Even Vi, who loathes Silco and certainly wouldn't hesitate to blame him, sees nothing amiss. Child labor, even criminal child labor, is not considered a failing in Zaun. Vander and Benzo lovingly raised their children, but involved them in their burglary and fencing. What other life skills could they offer them? There do not appear to be any schools in Zaun and any economy is grey at best. It’s a neglectful parent who leaves their child alone on the streets of Zaun. As sick as it is, these children were comparatively privileged. Renni’s son was the child of a Chembaroness, and when Renni finds his body, she blames Silco not for placing him in harm's way, but for refusing to avenge him. And her rage brings to light the massive double standard Silco holds with parenting Jinx.

Silco is unusual among Zaunite parents in that he doesn’t use his child for any sort of work. The only "labor" Jinx does for Silco is nursing and in-house graphic design, and any involvement she has in his operation is at her own behest. Albeit in a very twisted way, it’s traits that could make Silco a “good” parent that draw confusion and resentment in Zaun. He takes note of his daughter’s interests and gets her the resources to explore them. He goes out of his way to nurture the talents she chooses and tries to guide her to a path he thinks will be fulfilling. And when she struggles, he puts her first, before business, politics, or even others’ well-being and safety.

Many things about Silco make him a typical Zaunite man. He employs child labor. He wears makeup. He’s disabled from some aspect of hard living with few resources. He chain-smokes in self-destructive defiance of every other toxin in his environment. He hates Piltover.

But for all his hatred, Silco dresses Piltovan, in sharp clothes lacking Zaun’s asymmetry motif. He’s unusual not for wearing makeup or being disabled, but for using makeup to try and hide his disfigurement, his Zaunite asymmetry. And his treatment of people, good and bad, is very Piltovan in Zaunite eyes. 

[friendlybomb]

I love this scene so much. Who doesn't? It's so emotional, and I could have watched caring dad Silco for another two hours, honestly.

But in its theatricality, it reminds me of the slow-motion rocket flight in Ep 9. And I can't help but laugh, imagining how after this lyrical pause, somewhere off-camera, Silco suddenly breaks into a gallop to run to Singed—after all, when your daughter is dying, every second counts.

[elivanto]

[xifoe]

don't mind me just thinking about how silco absolutely falls apart when he finds jinx on the bridge, hurt and unconscious and severely injured and he takes her in his arms and sees vi. thinking about how his eyes seem to tell vi that she's my daughter. stay away. and then he carries her all the way to the undercity to singed, the only person he knows could save her life. thinking about how he's absolutely panicked, and when he hears jinx, conscious again for one split second, he immediately calls her name and rushes to the table she's laying down on. thinking about how he gently cradles her face and kisses her forehead. thinking about how he has to be drugged unconscious because he can't watch jinx in pain. thinking about how when he wakes up again and doesn't see jinx, about him tracing the scraping marks on the table and even in his half-drugged state his first reaction is to threaten singed with a knife because where is his daughter. thinking about them™.

[cherryblossomshadow]

Finn's Lighter

Okay, so this detail had me howling with delight, and it’s not even that subtle. But the lighter?

How Sevika accepted Finn's deal by letting him light her cigar?

Then, he kept flipping it around her to remind her?

Then, instead of betraying Silco, Sevika killed Finn ...

... and used Finn's lighter to light Silco's cigar?

Then, during the finale, Sevika used it herself to light her own cigar!!!

I just think it’s neat !!!

[evviejo]

VI in ARCANE 1x08 Oil and Water

[evviejo]

ARCANE Vi in Welcome to the Playground // Dirt Under Your Nails Powder in Welcome to the Playground // Jinx in Dirt Under Your Nails Jayce in Some Mysteries Are Better Left Unsolved // Dirt Under Your Nails Caitlyn in Everybody Wants to Be My Enemy // Dirt Under Your Nails Viktor in When These Walls Come Tumbling Down // Dirt Under Your Nails Mel in Oil and Water // Dirt Under Your Nails