Arlo's character arc and analysis
Spoilers for the entirety of UnOrdinary.
Lil rant/sort of analysis? on Arlo (and why his character arc is my favorite) He started as an asshole- Preaching about order and getting pissed off at the ONE guy who didn't follow said order, (despite the fact that he did, in a way, Arlo just didn't know)
We also know a little later that he really admired Rei, someone who wasn't like him. At all. After that, he ambushes John and that backfires in his face, literally. He gets privately dethroned. And he begins to change.
Then he gets attacked in John's house. And discovers Spectre, which leaves him curious. But it's not his responsibility. But he doesn't call the Authorities either, which I find interesting. (This is probably because John said it and he's not going to challenge the guy that just dethroned him)
A little bit down the line, we encounter Volcan, who we later find out is Arlo's aunt, Valerie. Whom he admires and cares about. It also becomes clear to us, viewers, why he had a stick up his ass in s1 before John went Joker.
(Because he was angry at John for not being part of the hierarchy because he felt burdened with upholding the hierarchy all by himself, even if he didn't want to, he has to it's his duty, this probably was the way he was raised) Oh John and Arlo's relationship deserves another rant, but for the sake of this analysis, Arlo was finally treated like everyone else, like a low-tier, even though he was a god-tier. It was absolutely infuriating for him.
He was John's errand boy, much like the low tiers do some of the mid tiers homeworks and assignments.He apologizes for treating John like that. Why? Because now he knows how it's like to be treated like that and to avoid Remi getting beaten up. Because he wanted to honor Rei's request. His relationship with Remi, dare I say someone he considers a type of younger sister drives this forward, and plays a major role in some of Arlo's decisions. Although it's not like his apology matters. He still gets beaten up. So does Remi.
With this, he starts investigating Spectre, and the root of Seraphina's ability loss. Old relationships are rekindled. Eventually, he gets publicly dethroned. He no longer has to bear the role of King. And it's **freeing**. He wants to investigate EMBER, to get to the bottom of Rei's death, to Seraphina's ability loss. Heck, he even joins the Safe House to investigate Terrence. Until he meets his aunt again. Remi brands her as an enemy and leaves. He's not sure why, she's always been the caring aunt, the one who will protect him, and has the responsibility to help and protect others. Or that's what he thinks, anyway.
She (Val) discourages him from investigating Rei's death, and tells him to focus on himself. And he listens. Now, this to the viewers is infuriating, we know that she is part of EMBER, and that she probably killed Rei- but he doesn't know that. Not yet, anyway.
After that, Sera gets a note from Spectre to make a deal with them, and asks Arlo to accompany her. It makes sense, he's the strongest guy she knows that is reliable and has a decent relationship with her. He of course refuses, remembering his aunt. He is conflicted, everyone around him doesn't trust the Authorities, and he doesn't see why.He does. They have never failed **him**. (Why would they? He was being practically groomed to work for them)
He gets the tip that Seraphina is going to the deal alone, because she will go. This is when he decides to go. His responsibility takes priority. (Which is such a major part of his character, thanks Bahfev for telling me this). He gets attacked, dampened again, and gets some truth bombs, in the form of finding out that EMBER was created and backed by the authorities. He doesn't believe it. He loses his cool, but eventually accepts it, after thinking for a while too.
A few days later, everything boils, and John is at his most unstable, and attacks him and Remi. He tries to talk to him, to leave Remi alone, but it's no use. He escapes in the form of Seraphina and John gets suspended for a month. In that month Sera has to work with Spectre, and he finds out they know about the Rowden trip. He knows he and Sera can't deal with them alone, and that they're probably targeting Remi and Blyke. Two people he cares about. Especially Remi. He decides to screw his pride, and asks John for help. Indirectly.
He gets the hint, and they arrive at Rowden and try to not get anyone disabled. He stays with Remi, and eventually gets the message that Blyke's group was being targeted. And we all know what happened next. After John came back, he gave up the title of King, and so did Arlo. He was tired and ready to concentrate on his personal ambitions. (This was before the Rowden trip).
Shortly after that, he sees and meets Kassandra for the first time, before applying for an internship with the authorities. Remi eventually tells him that his aunt is part of EMBER, and that she killed Rei, which we know it's true, but he doesn't want to believe it, and they get into a fight. But he knows now. He starts working for the Authorities after a successful interview, which he doesn't feel excited about. Even though he had been working his whole life for this moment, he doesn't feel happy. It's not right. Then Zeke applies too and that hammers that sentiment.
This job leads to another fight with Remi, and making Rei a little less important in his mind.He is taken under the wing of Kassandra, and she becomes a mentor to him. Someone he can rely on, a good person.They bond over Rei, and she slowly becomes very important to him.He admits he did join the Anti Corruption department to flush out every corrupt EMBER agent, because he wanted justice for Rei.
Eventually he snoops around and finds out that the vigilante trio has been sentenced to readjustment, but doesn't find out enough about it. So he asks John. When he tells Arlo about that is like, he reacts with surprise, saying that readjustment is torture. And then apologizes to John, genuinely. Which the latter accepts. (This scene is one of my favorites tbh)
A little while later, he can't find Remi or Blyke, and can't contact Isen. He discovers that, well, Isen doesn't trust him. Despite what he has done for him. Oh and that Remi and co. Nearly killed an EMBER agent and they're probably going to get hunted down. He can't protect Remi if she is dead, after all. So he needs a promotion.
He infiltrates Spectre's base, and confronts a part of his past, in the form of Rein. Accepts it was his fault, and moves on with the situation. Arlo gets his promotion and his aunt saves him. Now, I have to establish something. His entire world view revolved around Valerie being good. The authorities having the responsibility to keep order and peace. A thing he enforced back when he was a king.
But, when a few weeks later, he gets asked by Valerie to organize a meet up with Sera, who he tipped off about the Authorities coming to get her- and during said meet up he sees her true colors- a cold and calculating woman who tried to kill a delinquent student in front of him- His perception of Val cracks. (Note: at this point Arlo sympatizes with vigilantes and doesn't consider them bad people unlike what his aunt said to him. This symbolizes his growth.) Arlo's perception of the Authorities cracks even more after John tells him about what the Bureau did to his family and loved ones. He couldn't believe it at first, but accepts it very quickly.
But... His worldview finally shatters when he sees the evidence that Valerie is Volcan. He gets shaken up. Of course he does. He is barely 18 years old. (I assume he is 18) Arlo and Kass decide to play the long con. And he throws it away after the Bureau raids Wellston- eventually betraying the Authorities, and throwing away his future. (As he said in the recap, he couldn't align with the authorities anymore, not after what he found out about them.) It was a future that was imposed on him, anyway. However, he gets captured, and brainwashed. His memories shatter.
And I wonder, what is going to remain of Arlo. Of the change he went through. I love his development mainly because it's so smooth and slow. It's natural. And it goes from one extreme to the other, but it's still Arlo. The character concept and core aspects remain the same.It's beautiful.
