Here's a thought, Vi offends Cait's sensibilities by calling enforcers all criminal assholes in fancy clothes, but Cait very quickly finds out by talking to the Warden that from Vi's perspective, she's absolutely right. Vi has been routinely abused by the wardens, and has no reason to trust Cait as a result, so Cait offers the first gesture by getting her out. This achieves two goals, Vi's cooperation, and in a sense, creating an image in Vi's head of her as a person and not just another generic enforcer. Vi even mentions expecting another beating for refusing to help Cait, and when instead she's released it would have forced a cognitive dissonance into her head that not all Enforcers are the same, maybe this one is different
You can see this awkward moment when the gate opens, and Vi has realized she's been released. She doesnt know how to respond. You can tell she wants to say "thank you" in some way, or show her gratitude, but feels like it would go against everything she's already said to Caitlyn. So you're right, I think it was important for Caitlyn to show that first act of kindness to Vi, to soften her rough exterior. You can see in the next few episodes Caitlyn is constantly doing this. She does it again at the Firelights base, and again at the council meeting.
One of my favorite show-dont-tell scenes in this show was the moment when caitlyn goes up to the warden and he says he beats inmates who misbehave, followed by the scene where vi hears the warden's boots and she's visibly tensing with increased breathes, and then the confusion when she hears him walk away. Absolutely no violence shown whatsoever but it still hung heavy
And for Caitlyn: Vi shows her the reality of what Zaun is like, how some of the civilians there are still people (like that guy with glasses who got affected by Shimmer), their own version of corruption the undercity is experiencing (ahem SILCO), and how some people have hope that there can be peace for both cities like Ekko and the Firelights.
Not to mention that the warden offers to beat Vi for Cait without even any prompting, showing that Vi is 100% justified in her abused cynicism. She's been beaten so many times that the warden's lost count.
Caitlyn is a misfit. Vi is also a misfit, her theme even says so. Another thing they have in common in my opinion. Great analysis btw. You should make a part 2 on the bed scene with Vi and Caitlyn. It’s a very special intimate between the two.
I think the part where romance enters the picture is the fact that both of them in some way feel alienated from both communities. On one hand they do not associate and identify with the other’s part of town, but they also feel separation from their own. Not just in term of values, but on a personal level where Vi has almost no friends left in the undercity, hates what it’s become and she’s physically separated from her only remaining family, estranged for like a decade. Caitlyn’s parents just had her removed from the police force, she feels like her only friend Jayce is trying to shelter her as well and has risen up to her mother’s station, alienating her further. Both of them feel very alone at this point, so there is that natural desire people have for companionship that drives them to latch onto each other more strongly than they would otherwise.
Further supporting Caitlyn's opposition to deception and lying, in the brothel you can see that both the clients and the employees wear masks. But in the scene where she is flirting with the other woman you can clearly see she has a mask on her lap, but she refuses to wear it. She refuses to be anything but herself.
@@SwordTune no, not really. most of the people and videos I saw including UA-cam reviews only describes Caitlyn as either a bland character, just a goody two shoes, or just Vi's love interest. They don't realize that Caitlyn has more depth in her character other than those categories or stereotypes they put her into. Most reviews (atleast the ones I saw) can't mention Caitlyn without mentioning atleast one of those three things and not discussing anything outside of those, especially being Vi's love interest. I get that they are partners and all but most of the time people fail to see that Caitlyn alone is a well written character with her own story and depth and not everything about her revolves around Vi. Ironically, I found a review that sees and appreciates Caitlyn as an individual in a video called "Vi and Caitlyn relationship deep dive". This video does Caitlyn's character justice and recognizes that she is already a great character on her own. p.s. I'm not really good with words hence, my simplified original comment😅
@@TLove1015 Maybe it's just me posting comments that are basically this video and then people saying they agree. Even so, I see a lot of Cait fans out there.
Something I just realized after watching this was that Caitlyn was actually willing to lie/put on a mask for Vi. In the brothel we see her try to act like she works there but she's a horrible liar and unable to be anyone other than herself. When Cait and Vi are presenting their findings to the council Jayce asks if they knew who made the bombs that were used to attack their city TWICE. And without any hesitation or pause Caitlyn tried to say that they didn't, she tried to put on a mask of ignorance because she knew how much Powder meant to Vi. Your video essay helped me to catch that, I loved every minute of it
@@loneoakgrls Spoilers because im assuming that youve finished the show already: i dont really think that will happen. While it revolves mainly around Vi and Jinx, Caitlyn is a champion like all the other characters (ekko, jayce, viktor). It would be dumb if Cait was temporary since she plays a massive role in Vi's arc AND the world around them. Vi literally becomes the very thing she swore to destroy years ago, an enforcer (based on League lore) and there is no way Caitlyn played a big part in that. I think Caitlyn may become an even more main character now that Vi is going to most likely be staying in Piltover with Caitlyn in season 2, even with Silco gone, Zaun is still extremely dangerous, if not more than it was before. While I doubt Jinx will try to create an empire, she will definitely be a huge influence to Zaun, especially after ulting the councilors and starting a war (probably)
@@loneoakgrls Don't know if this is spoilers but warning ig??? They stick together, lots of voicelines about each other in-game, fighting together in cinematics. They're also partners in-game (with their work, although we can assume romantically too.)
OMFG this show is amazing. Just when i thought i couldn't find more added layers to this show, I realised that when Caitlyn said to Jayce "what happened to you?" She wasn't necessarily upset at him for suggesting war, but more so how he became the very thing she despises about Piltover: a scheming politician. You could tell she was already not that happy about the idea that he just accepted the role of councilor, no questions asked in episode 4. Now I finally know why. Thank you for this analysis.
I mean isn't jayce just the quintessential "straight guy awkwardly hitting on a closeted gay girl" in all of their interactions after the explosion at the lab? Mel literally enters his life the moment Caitlyn rejects him. It's just political lesbianism for gamers and I love it.
@@Todesnuss caitlyn rejects his job offer, so yeah he did get rejected but I don't think he had feelings for her. They knew eachother when she was like 15 and they were always more like siblings. So i don't think he was hitting on her. The flowers were "get well" flowers that she got from pretty much everyone after the bombing.
@@GustavoMatiasp Victor is like his brother in the series he said those words to Mel when Victor got sick. I don't think their relationship is romantic either they look like friends. I think people ship them because they like the idea. I don't know if the series decide to change their relationship into something more than friends in the future but for now Jayce is clearly straight. I don't mind either.
I'm really glad more people are starting to recognise the depth given to Caitlyn. As a neurodivergent girl, idealistic and incapable of lying or really following people's drive to be subversive, I really identified with this part of her personality.
Caitlin gets such a stunned and horrified look on her face when she speaks to the warden and realizes she actually could easily have Vi beaten up. After it's like Caitlin is trying to prove to Vi that topsiders aren't all bad. You can see her absorbing information like a sponge trying to understand the undercity and Vi in particular. She is so open minded because she has wanted to know and understand the real world her whole life. And Caitlin is a protecter. She became an enforcer to protect people. Vi is clearly damaged and hurt. This brings out all her protective instincts. Doesn't help that Vi is hot and a 'bad girl' with a heart of gold. Why wouldn't Caitlin lust after Vi. And with Vi it's honestly amazing just that she can be so civil or work with Caitlin at all. Child Vi saw enforcers as literal monsters. They where the enemy. And then she was in jail beaten up regularly by them. But Caitlin got her out. She saved her. Then she took care of her when she was sick. Caitlin said to Ekko to take her instead. All this Vi sees. Caitlin earns her trust and loyalty by her actions. The thing is Vi is not actually a loner by choice. And she is a warm person to those she cares for. She is affectionate and tactile. She was robbed of that contact in prison. So she can't help but be receptive to Caitlin. And once you are Vi's friend she would give her life for you no question. She showed that in the beginning. Their connection is fast for a reason.
I loved this comment so much. Its so true you can see how Cait wants to protect Vi and for Vi shes the only good thing she has rn thats why she calls her a cupcake bc shes the only sweet thing shes had Also you can see in the memories of Vi when she was sick and allucinated her mother, she looks so much like Cait and its like that thing where they say we look for partners who look like our parents lol
Finally a take that understands Caitlyn. Everyone else calls her rich, pampered and spoilt. As a person who has experienced life both as through a poor and a rich lifestyle, i get Caitlyn so much. When i was poor I was normal, when my family became rich then suddenly everything I did was because i was rich spoilt and pampered (in other people's eyes). I see Caitlyn as similar as me, we both see the bullshit power in being rich and we also dont give a fuck bout it. Her passions to be a detective is not because she is rich, she probably had an easier time becoming an enforcer because she comes from prestige but that doesnt affect her personality, it doesnt matter to her. What matters to her is her passions and goals.
YES, thanks for sharing this! I just had a conversation with someone who couldnt see past the rich/spoiled thing, but it really is misdirection for who the character is (which tricks both the audience watching the story AND basically every character caitlyn interacts with IN the story too)
I never saw her as spoiled either! Just someone who's in a rich family. I loved her so much in episode 4, and I would say, "She's me, but she's not spoiled, and she gets stuff done!" Didn't expect her to become my favorite but here we are. I'd say at most that she's naïve.
yes! it honestly makes me so frustrated when people come at you with the rich family thing because they don't understand the abuse i've endured or anything else
she is even annoyed at the fact of having more facilities than other at getting his job as an enforcer. she dislikes the idea of being spoilt instead of getting what she wants thru her own gains. i don't understand how ppl can't see this when its SO obvious, especially as seen in the shooting exam scene
There's a difference that people don't get a lot of the time; rich is not wealthy. Having million dollars or more even is rich. Wealthy is when you get into the several hundred million ballpark, so much money the brain can't even wrap itself around it. Eat the rich isn't going after the millionaire actor who made his way to prestige, it's going after Jeff Bezos, who made his Billion Fucking Dollars purely by _owning_ a company.
Personally, I think Silco's change wasn't that he no longer valued trust and loyalty, but that he was more reserved about giving it away. He only fully trusts Jinx, but he still puts a great deal of trust in Sevika. And when he asks her directly "Were you tempted?" she responds with "Not for him, but there will be others." They're both honest with each other, even honest about betrayal. But I also think Silco does turn the Undercity into something more like Piltover, but that's because of the wealth and power he gave to his other co-conspirators. They scheme and plot like the council members, and won't hesitate to backstab. Silco does this because he knows the Undercity has to become what the Topsiders fear.
If Silco truly believed his own words as much as he claimed, he wouldnt have been so out of breath and in doubt of whether or not Sevika was going to kill him, or the chembaron. I think this shows that his words were mostly for effect, and to push Sevika in the other direction.
@@lockekappa500 but Sevika had already shown that her loyalty had limits, because she betrayed Vander to join Silco in episode 3. She and Silco have the same ultimate goal (though they may see it differently). They have the same/similar values, just prioritised differently.
@@carpevinum8645 They have a great deal of respect and understanding. After all, even though Sevika thinks Silco is messing up by keeping Jinx around, she gives him father/daughter advice.
I always like their dynamic, but never thougth about why. With this video is next level for me. I really like that you mention when Cait was trying to be someone else, that detaill blow my mind.
Great analysis. Lots of stuff about Caitlyn that I hadn’t pieced together myself, but the comment that struck me the most was how they both needed a peer to lean on. From the first episode we get to hear what Vi really wants in this world, respect. She’s been seen as a leader, an older sister, a daughter, and a criminal, but she never really had an equal. Neither did Caitlyn for that matter. Jayce acts more like an older brother, and it was most likely his idealist nature that influenced her to seek things out beyond what they appear to be. So while they were amicable with each other, they didn’t really stand on equal ground, especially considering the large age gap with Jayce already being an adult in his early twenties when Caitlyn was barely a teenager. This can also be seen in how Jayce didn’t really take her investigations seriously. Her fellow enforcers only saw her as a trust fund kid (which let’s face it she is, and she’s very aware of it too considering she didn’t feel the need to retaliate against their teasing). Her parents don’t respect her enough to let her, an adult, keep her job, the one path she chose for herself. And she clearly doesn’t get any respect from Marcus, who isn’t even personally against her, he just wants to keep her sharp nose away from the very obvious shady things he’s been trying to cover up. (On a side note, Caitlyn is the antithesis to Marcus, being an enforcer who is willing to expose the long established corruption within a system she once strived to be a part of vs. an enforcer who does everything in his power to cover his own ass and has the moral backbone of a chocolate eclair). Vi has been under the oppression of topsiders for so long that she probably felt that everyone saw her as beneath them. But then comes Caitlyn, the (former) enforcer, the topsider, a councilor’s daughter, who freed her, saved her life, and acknowledged that her perspective has value. Meanwhile, Caitlyn finally gets the chance to do what she’s always sought out to do, help others. And Vi shows her exactly where that help is needed the most. Additionally, showing her a level of trust that feels rightfully earned. Vi had probably never felt this seen before and Caitlyn’s world had probably never felt so open before.
The peer part is what hit me the hardest. It's the one thing I noticed about Vi, she always was one to take on the burden of everyone else's struggles, but never truly had any one else to lean on and relate to. I think first and foremost Caitlyn is that to her, and I think probably what she needs now more than a romantic relationship. Altho that doesnt hurt. ;)
I mostly agree on your analysis, one remark to Marcus though. Marcus has also his ideals of justice (e.g. when confronting Vander without Grayson). Yet, he is paying his debts for bargaining a deal with Silco throughout the show, and he knows it immediately (“This wasn’t the deal!”). To me, he is not taking actions against Silco because he cares for his daughter. “Is there anything so undoing as a daughter?”, one more time.
@@johannes5785 I never said Marcus’ actions weren’t understandable, I’m saying that Marcus as a character is one that operates entirely on self interest, the existence of his daughter is just a way for the audience to garner sympathy for him, and for the writers to continue the show’s theme of what a parent is willing to do for their children. But it’s difficult to sympathize with someone who threw a child into a prison to be beaten and starved to near death for 5+ years because he thought he was doing her a favor by making Silco think that she died. You could argue that he did it to protect Vi from Silco, but he obviously didn’t care enough about her to know if she was actually doing ok in Stillwater, because why would he care? He was going to put her and her siblings in prison anyway if he found them himself. He literally left her there to rot. Marcus got promoted to sheriff because he continued to work with Silco by keeping the Counsel in the dark about him illegally manufacturing and selling shimmer. And he only started to (unsuccessfully) stand up to Silco when it started to personally inconvenience him. He doesn’t care about the state of the Undercity or its citizens, he just wants his own future to be secured (which yes included his daughter’s safety), even if it means working with the man who killed the person he respected the most. Just like Silco, he may have been a loving father, but he certainly wasn’t a good man.
@@karenroque3583 You're right. Marcus is an antagonist, and he is contesting the undercity and its inhabitants. You're also on point with Marcus and Vi. But I do not consider him a person, who operates entirely on self-interest. I see him as somebody, who is entangled in a bad situation and cannot see a way to get out of it (and also does not try too much). He is failing by his own standards (him being better than people from the undercity). In episode 5 Silco’s words shed light on his nature: “Hmm, considering yourself a hero. (…) the martyr, you’ve always seen yourself as. Then, what are you waiting for.” Why, for me, there is no self-interest? He became Sheriff, true, but Silco put him there (“Look what we’ve accomplished”, or something along that line). He did not become rich, given the looks of his home. He does not want to work with Silco (the blood-stained coin as a symbol). So, he was just a weak device in Silco’s hands. The council is a different matter entirely. They are mostly responsible for the Undercity’s misery; Marcus just does them the favour of not having to think about it too much.
@@lockekappa500 I absolutely agree, said the same thing myself when I saw the show. Vander was Vi's rock, the one she could turn to when life's burdens got too heavy. When he was taken she grew jaded to authority. That's why Caitlyn is so attractive to her, she's someone willing to absorb others pain, sharing some of Vi's burden 2hile showcasing responsibility and mutual respect purely through Caitlyn's vulnerability trusting someone born from a different world
I always liked these two because they were the most genuine people in the show, and their relationship brings and element of intimacy and closeness in an otherwise bleak and miserable show.
Wow, this is such an incredibly well thought through and well articulated essay. Definitely adds a lot more depth and nuance to a character that I generally liked but wasn’t one that I actively cheered on. Here’s to hoping the Vi and Caitlyn story line carries a lot more emotional weight in season 2.
Yeah, Caitlyn's character in particular is often over-looked, but she's very well written and incredibly interesting overall. When you think for a bit it's easy to see why Vi fell for her, and it's not just because she's hot and sweet like a cupcake :D
I swear when Caitlyn is having her shower when she's thinking about Vi she's actually crying but the shower almost covers that up because to Caitlyn at that point I think she believes she's lost Vi and isn't going to see her again.
On min 13 and already wish i could like this video twice. Something i really love that you point out is how striaght (genuine) caitlyn is and how incapable she is at lying. She also has no command over vi like vi expects from enforcers. Vi sees this and she can't help but like her.
oh man, wish I could have included this point! you're absolutely right, vi expects a power dynamic with anyone from piltover but with caitlyn she gets the opposite: honest loyal support
One of the things I thought was so interesting is that there's no caveat or stipulation on Vi's release from prison. It's not "You can see the light of day while helping me for a while, and then you go back in." Caitlyn just sets her free and hopes/trusts that Vi will follow through, and as you said, she doesn't command her. She treats her like a partner, as she should, because at that point Vi is a free citizen.
@@brennakingsbury9657 @schnee yup If you watch the very opening scene of the show, there's only two things about vi specifically that leave a lasting impression - vi crying uncontrollably and her looking at the "evil enforcer" as vander carries her away. A kid her age would develop deep mistrust to enforcers and so the topsiders. And yet, from the very first encounter, cait is nothing like any enforcer. She doesn't use her power to enforce shit on vi. The entire rest of their interactions only work towards vi slowly learning to trust cait. And yeah, cait just frees her when vinis fully she sent someone to beat her her up for information. Then there's no leash on her, vi's truly free - she can literally run away for all cait knows but she trusts vi to follow through. Cait being completely unaware due to her sheltered upbringing is another reason why she earns vi's trust. Little details like that are where creators focused for their dynamic. And it was great to see something being executed well.
I absolutely adore this video. Cait was already my favorite character, and i think that shes extremely underrated as a character (some people dismiss her as a plot device) but you bring up points that really tie her together as a character and make me love her even more. I had a very surface level understanding of her "I'm a misfit too" line until i watched this video. A couple of points i think support your arguement but you didnt really mention: 1. that one line you show in this video: when Vi is calling the enforcers hypocritical, she groups Caitlyn with them when she says that; you can see Cait is very offended by that, by being called fake when she's anything but, by being mistaken as a part of society she feels so aileneted by. I think she wanted to prove Vi wrong, and thats a major reason why she got her out. 2. Caitlyn's disappointment in Jayce as he gets deeper and deeper into politics, ie. becomes more dishonest. it starts with him trying to cover up the fact her parents got her fired from her job by offering her a "better" job. This dishonest attempt made her lash out at him. Later, when we see them at the council meeting, she's at utter disbelief at him trying to use his hextech to aid in war against the under city, when he was originally developing it to help people. "What happened to you?"
I think Jayce is taking a broader view of things and may know about some things Caitlyn may not. Namely that Shimmer based weapons/enhanced humans are out there and attacks are growing in number. He is trying to do the right thing still even if he is getting his hands dirty to do it. sm
Not sure the scene where Vi says "You're Hot, cupcake." was flirting as much as it was Vi having a transactional view of sex and sexuality - Cait wants information, what does she have to provide for that information? Her body. And Vi is probably having a bit of a go at the stereotype of Stuffy Piltoverians, and "I can't do that - it's... it's... IT'S NOT PROPER!" to push the Enforcer out of her comfort zone. At that point in time, I don't think Vi had any romantic or even sexual interest in Cait whatsoever. I'm not even sure that Vi see's Cait as a fellow Human Being - she's a Piltie AND an Enforcer, two things that have encompassed all that is wrong in the world for Vi. After she see's Cait with a woman afterwards, Vi might have started to get romantic/sexual ideas, but nothing serious until after Cait shows her loyalty to Vi by saving her. That's the point in time where I think Vi began to actually see Cait as a human being, not some Pretty Enforcer, and when she opened herself up to the idea of a relationship with Cait.
Yeah, I think she has physical attraction to her, but there's no real "love" or engagement quite yet. I honestly think the moment of "first love" for Vi is at the Firefly's base when Caitlyn is convincing Ekko that the city needs healing. I think she sees Cait for what she truly is then. Its a beautiful moment.
I say it was like an aggressive flirting. Doing everything you said but with definite flirty undertones. Vi probably didn't see her as a potential romantic partner whilst she called her hot but it can still be flirting
I think it is flirting but not actually expecting anything back, and also a way to push Cait. One of the writers has confirmed that that line was meant to make it very clear that Vi is attracted to Caitlyn.
@@Alineebastos Yeah its definitely flirting with zero expectations. She acknowledges this girl is attractive, but obviously isnt trying to "woo" someone in the moment, she has Powder to find. Regardless, it flows well with the conversation.
to me it feels she was suggesting Cait to use a hidden power she has in herself, telling her that she can seduct, and that she can seduct HER at the same time, implying that with a little attitude change she could be way more assertive and get things done with her acts alone, like she got the guns, just gotta put them to use, that shows some level of respect towards her (even with the way she said it), as she's acknowledging Cait has got everything to be a powerful authority figure, but i guess because she CHOOSES not to, is what makes her so endearing to Vi, the way she differentiates from every other higher up she's met, and how she compares to Vander, who decides to build his prestige out of honesty and fairness
I think Caitlyn's obsession of seeking the truth starts from talk with Grayson. And I it wasn't shown, but adult's death in Arcane changed all of main children (Ecco, VI, Cait). It was traumatic for all of them, not only for Powder. And she is the best shooter, she is alone, only her family and Jayce as her friend. Plus her family (as I can see) too afraid for her, her colleagues and other people underestimated her. Only Vi was talking to her like an equal.
It is a really good look at how trauma worsens over time and throughout the generations. Everyone engaged in the bridge fight preceding the story probably only thought they were risking themselves, not that that they could pass on even more destructive trauma to the next generation. Probably a big reason why Vander stopped fighting after that.
It’s so nice to see someone cover Caitlyns character further in depth cause I feel she’s super underrated for the cast and she is easily my favorite character despite not having a heck of a lot of screen time at first. I absolutely adored her and I really hope she gets more screen time on season 2.
It's even more impressing when you look deeper into their constructions as characters they are both true and without masks, but not in the same way. Vi is a boxer, that's her relationship with truth. It came early in her life and she had no choice but to face it with direct physical violence. Caitlyn on her side uses a gun toy shoot at her targets. And that's her way to deal with truth. It is a tool that she had to learn and master, something that she acquired with experience. Even the fact that she's an enforcer reflects that. She has to solve things to get to the truth ans that's her ultimate goal. For both of them, truth is the "right way" they just use it differently. Damn they're perfect folds of each other
Cait and Vi's relationship is one of my favourite parts of Arcane. I love how straightforward (pun intended) the show is about their mutual attraction.
Superficially, they are the definition of "opposites attract". If it was just that surface level understanding, it would seem forced or cliche, imo. Arcane is an excellent example of show, not tell. And through their actions (some more subtle than others) it shows the audience how similar they are and how well their personalities compliment each other Caitlyn going "I'm an excellent shot" is no less straightforward, brash and honest than Vi going "You're hot, cupcake", even if the former is slightly more subtle than the latter
Yeah, a lot of people analyze the show only through the lense of the duality "Rich vs Poor" and "Piltover vs Zaun"; and in doing so they miss a lot of the nuances in character writing and even storylines. So to them, Cait+Vi is only another component of the Rich vs Poor theme, the poor girl and the rich girl fall in love with one another. But that's a very narrow way of seeing their relationship if you limit it at that.
If we're just limiting it to the text, there's still something there. You can craft a storyline off "ooh look we have a shy, reserved rich girl who has wealthy parents and a brash, outspoken orphan who clearly have some degree of mutual attraction". It'd be a bit "hallmark-ish" but it doesn't mean bad Riot and Fortiche decided to go the extra step. They crafted small, intimate moments for two characters who, in their own separate ways, were looking for the same thing - validation. Vi was looking for anyone to validate her anger and resentment and Caitlyn was looking to validate her thinking there had to be something to her desire to "do the right thing" and do more than beat her head against the wall against all the red tape in Piltover
@@Attya-y2y thank you! Yes, duality is a theme, but across all the dual relatio ships explored there is both differences and common ground. That feeling that they are so often having their hands forced by external factors, that in a different time and place they could have been equal/seen eye-to-eye. Nothing in the show is black and white, just varying shades of grey.
the whole thing with honesty and jayce reminds me of the line "he didn't even haggle" thats used by both ekko and silco at different parts but both talking about jayce. it's an interesting parallel that even with completely different circumstances and interactions he remained the same.
Man, I thought perhaps you were going off on a tangent early in the video, but when you connected the threads it really showed me what you were seeing in how this relationship opened the show for you. The writers do this in multiple ways, you discover a theme (like duality for instance) or the paradoxial lifestyles of both these cities, and then you start to apply these things to the rest of the show, and it adds so much depth. In regards to Silco and his perspective on loyalty (or his apparent abandoning of it), I was thinking that maybe his speech to the 2 chembarons and Sevika contradicted what you were saying. But honestly now that I think back, I think he was being manipulative to Sevika, preying on maybe her past guilt regarding betraying Vander, and never TRULY believed in loyalty as much as he came off. Simply that he knew it would influence her in that moment. Regardless, another incredible video, earned a subscriber and an avid watcher of anything you make in the future.
Really appreciate the support as always! I've been thinking a lot of about silco's arc. There's a common motif with a lot of his scenes where he calmly takes a course of action that may kill him, and others take it for ruthlessness and confidence, but for him its like he's wondering if he's going to die, just like back in the river. Not a death wish exactly, but like a motivation to relive the trauma of dying for trusting someone. Gotta develop the idea more
@@schnee1 Interesting point. Perhaps a "What drives Silco" video in the future? Him drowning definitely was a turning point for his motivations. And he constantly stares death in the face with his life in the hands of another person. (The second meeting with Vander, Jinx with the eye gadget, Jayce on the bridge) Like you said, not quit a death wish, but almost like he doesnt know how to live any other way. His ultimate demise should have been no surprise to us after all of this.
Damn, i thought it was impossible to like Arcane any more than i did, but then you come with this deep analysis that just adds another layer of depth. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts :)
What an excellent analysis. Similar to some of the other commenters, I couldn't accurately describe why the relationship between Cait and Vi felt so good. I'm glad to see that it wasn't just pure feeling but just more fantastic story telling from Arcane.
Loved Arcane, and my favourite part was Vi and Caitlyn and their relationship, didn't think it was possible, but your video made me appreciate even more it on a deeper level! Really enjoyed the contrast between them, they complement each other so well. My favourite character is Caitlyn, and enjoy her journey and story. How she wants to make a real difference. I've never played the game, so I didn't know what the roles of each character would be, but am really hoping that the writers continue to grow Vi and Caitlyn's relationship. In my opinion, it just seems so natural and organic, not forced. Gonna be hard to wait a couple years for season 2! Awesome video, thanks for making and sharing, cheers! 🙂
I am infatuated with their relationship and as a straight dude, it almost feels like I'm being allowed to see and care about something I'm not supposed to. Edit: Let me add to that. I have never been so invested in any fictional relationship. I'm not sure if I have been this invested in a real relationship. (probably explains my love life lol)
As a lesbian, I'm so invested in their relationship, it's so well crafted! I'm mesmerized. The more I think about them the better their relationship become. I think it's nice you can see this too even being straight.
I hear you. I often cringe or get irritated by SJW shoe in gay relationships, but what Vi and Caitlyn have feels real and genuine. I want to high five both of them and let them know it's awesome. It doesn't hurt they are both gorgeous and genuinely likeable characters.
@@Pupil0fGod yes! so many shows/movies do terrible with gay relationships and make their only relationship significance of them being gay as if they can't have so much more to them and that usually makes it very boring and a little shallow. Vi and Cait however, I absolutely adore, and it makes me melt
A long-winded note on Cait: A great example of giving your character everything they *think* they want, and then losing or destroying their *deepest* want. Ie. Cait begins her arc wanting to prove herself; believing that her parents have bought all her accomplishments; she wants to prove to herself that she can be a successful detective without their influence. And then she gets all of that. She goes rogue and is no longer under the constraints and bureaucracy and is able to put together the Silco conspiracy (with the help of the lovely Vi, of course) She proves once and for all that she is cunning and resourceful enough to achieve her goals on her own. But in doing so, the consequences are that her mother gets (allegedly) murdered and any hope at peace and radical healing between the two cities is destroyed- which is what Cait wants on a deeper level, as seen in the Firelight headquarters scene and before the counsel. I just thought it added an extra layer of tragedy to that finale with VI’s dismayed shock against Cait’s utter despair. What a fantastic show.
What I love about this video is that you focus on the small details like the depth and parallels of the characters, political backgrounds and environments. I never noticed the small associations you made between Vi's directness in boxing and Caitlyn's directness in straight shooting, and how this linked to their honest nature. It's one thing to state the obvious mirroring scenes that this show presents, but I like how you shone a light on the compatibility of these characters for the fans.
The best part about these two is that their relationship is REAL, it's about their individual and shared experiences, about their flaws and weaknesses, about coming to a mutual understanding and connecting powerfully, intimately with what they see in each other. It's NOT about being GAY!(tm). It's not a token relationship to inject 'representation', it's not a commentary on society's injustices towards people who are gay, not an in your face challenge to 'accept and embrace our gayness or be proven a bigot!'... it's just two girls - two people, two souls - finding one another in the chaos of life. It's not about gay, it's about love, and THAT is what the Earth moves for.
I'm not sure that Caitlyn's parents have totally failed her. Yes, they are manipulative and very over protective, but they do very much care for her. And surprisingly her mother may seem to approve of Caitlyn's relationship with Vi. So I think there is some hope there. sm
Caitlin's "real world" is a world where she doesn't have to wonder whether her parents paid people to let her come first in a competition. She wants to know what she's worth and who she is without having the odds tipped in her favour by others.
Something I just realized is that out of all the officers from piltover, Caitlyn is one of the ONLY ones that doesn’t own a bug gas mask or puts it on when it’s time to fight. From the beginning of the series, the audience is introduced to a hazy outline of the piltover Enforcers unaliving someone and coming out of the red fog like it’s straight out of a nightmare. The symbolism is pretty straight-forward: the moment the Enforcers don their masks, they basically become monsters and leave their humanity behind. They’re willing to do whatever it takes to enforce their will on the undercity. But Caitlyn isn’t like that. She never puts on the Enforcer air-filter mask. And regardless of who she bumps into, in Piltover or Zaun, she’s able to show compassion equally to those around her and treats them with fairness. She’s never able to put a killer’s mask and doesn’t leave her humanity behind in tense situations.
Caitlyn is the *perfect* foil for someone like Vi. While Vi never had privilege, she grew up with the drive to change the status quo, to make it right, and she had a first-hand experience regarding what the struggle is like. Caitlyn is the opposite: she has privilege and plenty of power, and because of said privilege, there has never been a reason for her to suspect anything other than the status quo she knows, but she has a good heart and is a mediator, a bridge that can unite top side and bottom. She became an officer against what her parents wanted because she wanted to do good for the world while ironically not understanding what the world is truly like. But through Arcane, she sees the truth and grows, peeling back the layers of her prejudice (if not prejudice, the mistrust) of the undercity and the people there and sees something she can truly strive for and work towards changing. Through coming face to face with what the status quo has created in Vi and Jinx, Caitlyn can finally see the direction she can strive towards and the "good" that must be done.
I think this video finally turned me around on their relationship. Even as a gay woman myself, I never really clicked with their connection. But I get it now. I feel like I finally see what all my friends have been seeing for weeks.
very belated, and i'm probably not the first to pick up on this. but the opening comment about caitlin, about how honesty is punished topside and rewarded bottomside. and it made me think about how viktor, the one undercity person in the room at jayce's trial, is the one to be drawn in by jayce's honesty and is the one to reward him for it.
Thats a great deep dive.. loved how both characters have more commonality and mirror each other.. separated only by social status. Even their body language.. the tough exterior with everyone they meet until they allow themselves to let their guards down.
fanTAStic - not only did you blow open the complexity of Cait and Vi's dynamic, you tied it to the whole show and the fundamentals of storytelling itself! Huge props on breaking it down and building it all back up 👍🏼👍🏼
Caitlyn is for sure one of the best characters in this show. Loved the attention to detail especially from the childhood scenes - which are easy to miss if you’ve only seen the show once :)
Okay, you have been putting clarity in analysis to so many moments, I gotta sub. These are exactly the kinds of observations I love to interact with, but usually I come to them by talking them out with someone equally as interested in a subject as me. ...AND NO ONE I KNOW WANTS TO EVEN GIVE THIS SHOW A CHANCE! Thank you for the catharsis, been absolutely needing these XD
nooo tell them to watch!! I was in a similar position, no one to talk to about the show, which was why i started making arcane content! (maybe you should start making content too!) :D anyway thanks for the kind words!
very, very, very impressive analysis. I was able to get more insight into a show with your 3 arcane videos than I have on basically any other video essay channel, including the big ones of this platform. Can't wait to see both more Arcane content or content centered on other shows as well.
What I think will be interesting in S2 is the fact that Vi's sense of loyalty will be tested and probably reshaped. Her new mutual respect and understanding with Caitlyn and her desire to protect and save Jinx.
I think she knows now there is no saving Jinx. At best Jinx will be locked up in a cell for the rest of here life (doubt they have much in the way of mental care) but likely she will have to be killed. It definitely be a test of their relationship though. "Sorry I stopped you from shooting my sister and now she murdered your mom"
Fantastic analysis. I loved these two already and this has built on that. You made so many good points and it really shows how and why their relationship developed. Thanks so much for this and all your arcane videos!
When they laid in bed just chilling and being comfortable in each others space was when the chemistry became tangible. This was also the scene where they start touching each other mutually, not just to carry each other when injured. I love too there is no male/female dynamic. They oscillate seamlessly between taking the lead and hanging back. So realistic.
I really loved the bed scene cuz at first we see that when Vi was injured by Sevika, Caitlyn brought her to that old building and tried to clean the blood off her face but Vi stopped her. She didn’t allow Caitlyn to touch her. But when the bed scene came on, Vi was comfortable enough to lay on Caitlyn’s bed, waiting for her and when given the chance she started opening up, consequently leading to Caitlyn laying beside her, listening and caressing her cheek. Vi went from a protector who won’t ask for help, wont allow people to show her kindness (in a physical way) and who keeps to herself, to allowing herself to be vulnerable, opening up emotionally and finally letting someone show her love through physical touch.
I love your videos man, just binged every single one and raced to this when I saw it. I really hope you continue doing these videos on Arcane and other stuff! Good job man!
seriously thanks for watching, it means a lot that other people can share in my love for this series! definitely continuing with arcane for the time being, but I do plan on branching out to other fiction at some point!
I’m bowled over by the depth and criticality of your analysis!! This is such a wonderful articulation of something that would’ve remained as subtext for me had I not watched this video. Absolutely superior!!
One thing that I'm not seeing others point out is the contrast with this dynamic with Mel and Jayce. With Mel and Jayce, they constantly say "You give me everything" and "I can't do it without you", but you can tell that they have a fragile relationship. With Caitlyn and Vi, words are rarely exchanged (exception being Vi saying goodbye to Caitlyn in episode 7), yet you can feel that they trust each other. Actions speak louder than words. Show not tell is a popular storytelling tip for a reason.
Ironically, Silco ends up dying for his ‘daughter’ just like Vander, after he refuses to betray her for personal gain. He refuses to be what he taught his followers; a liar.
@@schnee1 I believe the writers made that choice to push Silco out of the ‘villainous’ direction. Creating Zaun-while sympathetic-appears colder than sacrificing that dream for Jinx.
Totally right, they had to have us ultimately undecided about every main character morally. Betraying Jinx, especially when everyone else in her life has, would tip the scales too much despite the maybe-objective good it would accomplish.
@@schnee1 Yeah. And your sentiment “Contradiction begets depth” also works for Sevika. Despite betraying Vander, she sheltered Silco from Jinx’s monkey bomb (despite defecting mere days before), killed the Lighter guy who offered her employment, and showed chivalry with Vi during their final fight (when Vi and Sevika mutually paused to catch their breath, and didn’t attack).
i always watch a bunch of analysis videos after watching a really good show (from any medium, like anime or movie or netflix show), but your arcane analyses show me so many more deep perspectives on every aspect of the show, it's unlike any other types of analysis video. the combination of arcane's incredible writing that has much more depth than anything i've ever seen before, combined with your expert analysis on the topic, is amazing. thanks for making videos
dude, all four of your videos have provided insights I hadn't even considered before. I really hope more people come across them and give them a chance because they're well worth it. looking forward to more in the future!
the character development in this show is just insane, i feel like it is infinite and every time i re watch Arcane i discover new things and notice other details and layers : that's why i have the feeling of watching a new series every time. Thank you for this incredible video
Damn, really, really excellent thoughts! I really like Caitlyn, even though she's not that big a part of the show compared to some others, and Cait and Vi's relationship is phenomenal. This is completely off the cuff, so it might be completely wrong, but I think Caitlyn could also represent the idealistic and pure version of Piltover. The idea that if you are good and do the right thing, things will work out. Much like Viktor and Jayce, who initially also think that they can just do good and good will come of it. Caitlyn is pure, kind, wants to do the right thing, but unfortunately she lives in a world that has moved past that, one that's corrupt, selfserving and unkind. Much like Viktor believes you can just progress science for the right reason and things will work out alright, only to do it to save his own life (while still very much having the desire to do good with it) and immediately ends up killing someone he has worked with for years (probably), someone who could have even been a love interest for him and it shatters his world view, that you can just do things for the right reason and it will work out. Jayce is the same initially, just wanting to do good and help people, while of course he is prideful and wants to make a name for himself, he wants to do it by helping others, only to be corrupted by politics, ultimately leading to him killing a kid and shattering his view of the world, the idea that those in charge has the betterment of the world as their primary goal. And then there's Caitlyn, who thinks she can do things the "right way" and get to the bottom of things and solve her care, only to find out that the system that's actually suppose to do good and maintain order and what's right is completely corrupt and part of what's causing the problem in the first place. In a way Cait and Vi's relationship kind of foreshadows the end of the season, where everything works out, but in reality, it doesn't, because things aren't pure and idealistic, not even the villain Silco is the idealistic "bad guy", because he turns out to be a bad guy second, after being a father, not the other way around. When Vi says they are oil and water, that it doesn't work, you are completely right, she's not actually talking about the two of them, but about the cities, and that it will never work out between them, and ultimately it doesn't, because neither part of the city is like their ideal version. Pilterover is not kind, good and well intentioned like Cait, and the undercity is not scrappy, but loyal and kind like Vi, both are corrupt and selfserving, ultimately leading to the demise of both. And the beauty of season one is in that Cait and Vi (the ideal versions of their cities) end up losing. It doesn't work anymore because both cities are too far down the drain of corruption to turn around and return to their ideals. Or it might just be complete BS, who knows! Really great video none the less!
Just want to point out that the woman Viktor accidentally killed was the same girl who stumbled upon him during his flashback where he's playing with the boat he made as a child. If you listen closely you'll hear someone calling her name off screen which is why she turns to leave.
@@RoninXDarknight Yeah I know, I just don't know how long they have been working together or if they were aquintences in the past, but they certainly have known of each other since they were kids, adding even more reason for him to be distraught. Doesn't need to be a love interest people!
Love this analysis! I definitely felt that Caitlyn was idealistic, but didn't connect it to the bigger metaphor she and Vi represented. Thank you for sharing.
Caitlyn has been one of my favorites since she first released on the game so I have to admit I was fan girling over her a lot. It's so good to see a break down of her character and her relationship with Vi.
Brilliant essay, good shit. This couple is maybe the hardest I've ever rooted for some characters I'd never heard of. Their world having it be so normalized and the show never once mentioning that they're two ladies, it's chef's kiss type stuff. Both of them deserve each other for the right reason, and I hope we see more of them in S2 Caitlyn is awesome, and kinda underrated.
Wow, I absolutely LOVE this take. And i love how respectfully you spoke about these queer characters. There was never any hurtful comments or tones. Thank you, this is a real gem.
The problem with Arcane season one is it's so fucking good the expectations for season two are enormous. The expectations I had before watching season one were "at best it'll be terrible" due to the total absence of story in the source material. But my expectations were subverted in the best way possible. Season two had really big shoes to fill now.
And just the fact that Vi is a close range fighter while Caitlyn is a long range fight screams teamwork. They balance each other so well. Also, Vi really needs to learn to depend on others. Every time she leaves someone who wants to help behind, things go poorly. I mean, I get that she wants to protect them and it’s a hard lesson to learn, but I think things will start turning out better once she does and Caitlyn is the perfect person to help her learn that lesson.
awesome video! also can we talk about how drastically the distance between them shrunk, at the start they were literally streets and rooftops away and by the end of the series it seems like they're always holding on to one another and always supporting each other when they can't stand up alone and to me that says so much
Also the rain scene shows that Vi was trying to get Catlyn out of the plan to invade Silco's factory with Jayce. She probably put on a mask and lied, unlike what she did with Powder in Episode 3
but honestly though, i love this insight. i also initially felt caitlyn lacked as a character yet still fit this dynamic and now i realize there is so much more to her. I thought its just that superficial "ok shes from the topside, topside bad" kinda thing
Thanks so much!! What a great reading. I couldn't agree more! There is a scene that I think really epitomises this - when they walk in to talk to the council. The scene shows them walking towards the council circle, from the back then the front, and everything about the framing of these 3 seconds is meant to highlight the obvious differences between them: Caitlyn's blue scheme vs. Violet's red; straight back vs slouch; tidy uniform vs punk mishmash; dainty statuesque vs muscular girth; aloof and confident vs suspecious and defensive. But if you look at *how* they walk, they both have the same (mild butch) swagger, swinging arms and shoulders as they walk. This tells us that Caitlyn is a lot more like Vi than the superficial details suggest. There is no doubt that Caitlyn was brought up/raised/trained to walk like a lady of stature rather than an undercity labourer... And whether she walks that way by choice, or whether that is her natural default, it tells us where her loyalties really are.
Caitlyn listening to her parents and doing as she's told as a child doesn't mean she wants to. It means she's of an age where she has to listen even though she's a misfit. That was easy to figure out just by her hanging out with Jace despite her parents not having liked it, as stated when Vi was robbing Jace's house.
This show is so perfectly done, not only in terms of art and animation but also the story and character development, I've never even seen what League of Legends looks like and ten minutes into the first episode I was already hooked. Caitlyn is my favorite character, along with Ekko.
as someone who's been a fan of them for years and has seen their in-game interactions and how they talk abt each other when meeting different champions... LET'S GOOOOOOO!!!!
![King Princess - “Fantastic” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/t9mpyRzipww/mqdefault.jpg)
Here's a thought, Vi offends Cait's sensibilities by calling enforcers all criminal assholes in fancy clothes, but Cait very quickly finds out by talking to the Warden that from Vi's perspective, she's absolutely right. Vi has been routinely abused by the wardens, and has no reason to trust Cait as a result, so Cait offers the first gesture by getting her out.
This achieves two goals, Vi's cooperation, and in a sense, creating an image in Vi's head of her as a person and not just another generic enforcer. Vi even mentions expecting another beating for refusing to help Cait, and when instead she's released it would have forced a cognitive dissonance into her head that not all Enforcers are the same, maybe this one is different
You can see this awkward moment when the gate opens, and Vi has realized she's been released. She doesnt know how to respond. You can tell she wants to say "thank you" in some way, or show her gratitude, but feels like it would go against everything she's already said to Caitlyn. So you're right, I think it was important for Caitlyn to show that first act of kindness to Vi, to soften her rough exterior. You can see in the next few episodes Caitlyn is constantly doing this. She does it again at the Firelights base, and again at the council meeting.
One of my favorite show-dont-tell scenes in this show was the moment when caitlyn goes up to the warden and he says he beats inmates who misbehave, followed by the scene where vi hears the warden's boots and she's visibly tensing with increased breathes, and then the confusion when she hears him walk away. Absolutely no violence shown whatsoever but it still hung heavy
And for Caitlyn: Vi shows her the reality of what Zaun is like, how some of the civilians there are still people (like that guy with glasses who got affected by Shimmer), their own version of corruption the undercity is experiencing (ahem SILCO), and how some people have hope that there can be peace for both cities like Ekko and the Firelights.
Not to mention that the warden offers to beat Vi for Cait without even any prompting, showing that Vi is 100% justified in her abused cynicism. She's been beaten so many times that the warden's lost count.
Caitlyn is a misfit. Vi is also a misfit, her theme even says so. Another thing they have in common in my opinion. Great analysis btw. You should make a part 2 on the bed scene with Vi and Caitlyn. It’s a very special intimate between the two.
not a bad idea, im considering doing a shorter vid on tuesdays-ish and a longer vid sundays, that's a good candidate for a topic
@@schnee1 Sweet! Good luck with your future videos on arcane. Love them!
@@schnee1 yes, please, I would love heard what you have to say about that scene! Excellent video essay, btw, as always :D
I feel like Caitlyn is a misfit in Piltover for being honest, which is ironic.
@@Zafu328 well, that was just way of saying it was romantic
I think the part where romance enters the picture is the fact that both of them in some way feel alienated from both communities. On one hand they do not associate and identify with the other’s part of town, but they also feel separation from their own. Not just in term of values, but on a personal level where Vi has almost no friends left in the undercity, hates what it’s become and she’s physically separated from her only remaining family, estranged for like a decade. Caitlyn’s parents just had her removed from the police force, she feels like her only friend Jayce is trying to shelter her as well and has risen up to her mother’s station, alienating her further. Both of them feel very alone at this point, so there is that natural desire people have for companionship that drives them to latch onto each other more strongly than they would otherwise.
Agree!
Good interpretation.
agreed
Yes.
I feel more related to Cait honestly
Further supporting Caitlyn's opposition to deception and lying, in the brothel you can see that both the clients and the employees wear masks. But in the scene where she is flirting with the other woman you can clearly see she has a mask on her lap, but she refuses to wear it. She refuses to be anything but herself.
I didnt notice this! Thanks for pointing it out, it really is a very interesting detail!
finally! someone who appreciates Caitlyn's character!
You mean most of the fanbase?
@@SwordTune no, not really. most of the people and videos I saw including UA-cam reviews only describes Caitlyn as either a bland character, just a goody two shoes, or just Vi's love interest. They don't realize that Caitlyn has more depth in her character other than those categories or stereotypes they put her into. Most reviews (atleast the ones I saw) can't mention Caitlyn without mentioning atleast one of those three things and not discussing anything outside of those, especially being Vi's love interest. I get that they are partners and all but most of the time people fail to see that Caitlyn alone is a well written character with her own story and depth and not everything about her revolves around Vi. Ironically, I found a review that sees and appreciates Caitlyn as an individual in a video called "Vi and Caitlyn relationship deep dive". This video does Caitlyn's character justice and recognizes that she is already a great character on her own.
p.s. I'm not really good with words hence, my simplified original comment😅
@@TLove1015 Must be a difference of crowds. I find a lot of people who appreciate Caitlyn, myself included.
@@SwordTune we are on different sides of the internet I guess hahaha
@@TLove1015 Maybe it's just me posting comments that are basically this video and then people saying they agree. Even so, I see a lot of Cait fans out there.
Something I just realized after watching this was that Caitlyn was actually willing to lie/put on a mask for Vi. In the brothel we see her try to act like she works there but she's a horrible liar and unable to be anyone other than herself. When Cait and Vi are presenting their findings to the council Jayce asks if they knew who made the bombs that were used to attack their city TWICE. And without any hesitation or pause Caitlyn tried to say that they didn't, she tried to put on a mask of ignorance because she knew how much Powder meant to Vi.
Your video essay helped me to catch that, I loved every minute of it
That's a great point! She was willing to go against her principles so that Vi wouldn't have to. Brilliant
made me realise that i think vi and caitlyn is one of the best couples in tv history
God I really hope their relationship sticks it out. I'd be devastated to find out that Cait was temporary to further Vi's arc.
@@loneoakgrls Spoilers because im assuming that youve finished the show already: i dont really think that will happen. While it revolves mainly around Vi and Jinx, Caitlyn is a champion like all the other characters (ekko, jayce, viktor). It would be dumb if Cait was temporary since she plays a massive role in Vi's arc AND the world around them. Vi literally becomes the very thing she swore to destroy years ago, an enforcer (based on League lore) and there is no way Caitlyn played a big part in that. I think Caitlyn may become an even more main character now that Vi is going to most likely be staying in Piltover with Caitlyn in season 2, even with Silco gone, Zaun is still extremely dangerous, if not more than it was before. While I doubt Jinx will try to create an empire, she will definitely be a huge influence to Zaun, especially after ulting the councilors and starting a war (probably)
@@loneoakgrls Don't know if this is spoilers but warning ig???
They stick together, lots of voicelines about each other in-game, fighting together in cinematics. They're also partners in-game (with their work, although we can assume romantically too.)
@@anarchyfork2676 dont worry about the counsilors her ult do no damage any way
@@agentsfpsclan3693LMAO ARE U FR?
OMFG this show is amazing. Just when i thought i couldn't find more added layers to this show, I realised that when Caitlyn said to Jayce "what happened to you?" She wasn't necessarily upset at him for suggesting war, but more so how he became the very thing she despises about Piltover: a scheming politician. You could tell she was already not that happy about the idea that he just accepted the role of councilor, no questions asked in episode 4. Now I finally know why. Thank you for this analysis.
I mean isn't jayce just the quintessential "straight guy awkwardly hitting on a closeted gay girl" in all of their interactions after the explosion at the lab? Mel literally enters his life the moment Caitlyn rejects him. It's just political lesbianism for gamers and I love it.
@@Todesnuss caitlyn rejects his job offer, so yeah he did get rejected but I don't think he had feelings for her. They knew eachother when she was like 15 and they were always more like siblings. So i don't think he was hitting on her. The flowers were "get well" flowers that she got from pretty much everyone after the bombing.
@@mathies3598 yea, the flicking the back of her head scene is pretty much movie speak for a sibling relationship
@@Todesnuss Jayce is more like bissexual guy hitting on lesbian girl
Because of the Viktor thing
@@GustavoMatiasp Victor is like his brother in the series he said those words to Mel when Victor got sick. I don't think their relationship is romantic either they look like friends. I think people ship them because they like the idea. I don't know if the series decide to change their relationship into something more than friends in the future but for now Jayce is clearly straight. I don't mind either.
I'm really glad more people are starting to recognise the depth given to Caitlyn. As a neurodivergent girl, idealistic and incapable of lying or really following people's drive to be subversive, I really identified with this part of her personality.
Caitlin gets such a stunned and horrified look on her face when she speaks to the warden and realizes she actually could easily have Vi beaten up.
After it's like Caitlin is trying to prove to Vi that topsiders aren't all bad. You can see her absorbing information like a sponge trying to understand the undercity and Vi in particular. She is so open minded because she has wanted to know and understand the real world her whole life.
And Caitlin is a protecter. She became an enforcer to protect people. Vi is clearly damaged and hurt. This brings out all her protective instincts. Doesn't help that Vi is hot and a 'bad girl' with a heart of gold. Why wouldn't Caitlin lust after Vi.
And with Vi it's honestly amazing just that she can be so civil or work with Caitlin at all. Child Vi saw enforcers as literal monsters. They where the enemy. And then she was in jail beaten up regularly by them.
But Caitlin got her out. She saved her. Then she took care of her when she was sick. Caitlin said to Ekko to take her instead. All this Vi sees. Caitlin earns her trust and loyalty by her actions.
The thing is Vi is not actually a loner by choice. And she is a warm person to those she cares for. She is affectionate and tactile. She was robbed of that contact in prison. So she can't help but be receptive to Caitlin. And once you are Vi's friend she would give her life for you no question. She showed that in the beginning. Their connection is fast for a reason.
I loved this comment so much. Its so true you can see how Cait wants to protect Vi and for Vi shes the only good thing she has rn thats why she calls her a cupcake bc shes the only sweet thing shes had
Also you can see in the memories of Vi when she was sick and allucinated her mother, she looks so much like Cait and its like that thing where they say we look for partners who look like our parents lol
Finally a take that understands Caitlyn. Everyone else calls her rich, pampered and spoilt. As a person who has experienced life both as through a poor and a rich lifestyle, i get Caitlyn so much. When i was poor I was normal, when my family became rich then suddenly everything I did was because i was rich spoilt and pampered (in other people's eyes). I see Caitlyn as similar as me, we both see the bullshit power in being rich and we also dont give a fuck bout it. Her passions to be a detective is not because she is rich, she probably had an easier time becoming an enforcer because she comes from prestige but that doesnt affect her personality, it doesnt matter to her. What matters to her is her passions and goals.
YES, thanks for sharing this! I just had a conversation with someone who couldnt see past the rich/spoiled thing, but it really is misdirection for who the character is (which tricks both the audience watching the story AND basically every character caitlyn interacts with IN the story too)
I never saw her as spoiled either! Just someone who's in a rich family. I loved her so much in episode 4, and I would say, "She's me, but she's not spoiled, and she gets stuff done!" Didn't expect her to become my favorite but here we are. I'd say at most that she's naïve.
yes! it honestly makes me so frustrated when people come at you with the rich family thing because they don't understand the abuse i've endured or anything else
she is even annoyed at the fact of having more facilities than other at getting his job as an enforcer. she dislikes the idea of being spoilt instead of getting what she wants thru her own gains. i don't understand how ppl can't see this when its SO obvious, especially as seen in the shooting exam scene
There's a difference that people don't get a lot of the time; rich is not wealthy. Having million dollars or more even is rich. Wealthy is when you get into the several hundred million ballpark, so much money the brain can't even wrap itself around it. Eat the rich isn't going after the millionaire actor who made his way to prestige, it's going after Jeff Bezos, who made his Billion Fucking Dollars purely by _owning_ a company.
Personally, I think Silco's change wasn't that he no longer valued trust and loyalty, but that he was more reserved about giving it away. He only fully trusts Jinx, but he still puts a great deal of trust in Sevika. And when he asks her directly "Were you tempted?" she responds with "Not for him, but there will be others."
They're both honest with each other, even honest about betrayal. But I also think Silco does turn the Undercity into something more like Piltover, but that's because of the wealth and power he gave to his other co-conspirators. They scheme and plot like the council members, and won't hesitate to backstab. Silco does this because he knows the Undercity has to become what the Topsiders fear.
If Silco truly believed his own words as much as he claimed, he wouldnt have been so out of breath and in doubt of whether or not Sevika was going to kill him, or the chembaron. I think this shows that his words were mostly for effect, and to push Sevika in the other direction.
@@lockekappa500 but Sevika had already shown that her loyalty had limits, because she betrayed Vander to join Silco in episode 3. She and Silco have the same ultimate goal (though they may see it differently). They have the same/similar values, just prioritised differently.
@@carpevinum8645 They have a great deal of respect and understanding. After all, even though Sevika thinks Silco is messing up by keeping Jinx around, she gives him father/daughter advice.
@@lockekappa500 He believed in his own words, doesn't mean he wouldn't have been scared. It's a natural reaction when a blade comes swinging so close.
He also knows that most others don't have his conviction, especially when the chips are down.
He's having way too much fun with the "straight" pun and I am living for it
I always like their dynamic, but never thougth about why. With this video is next level for me. I really like that you mention when Cait was trying to be someone else, that detaill blow my mind.
Great analysis. Lots of stuff about Caitlyn that I hadn’t pieced together myself, but the comment that struck me the most was how they both needed a peer to lean on. From the first episode we get to hear what Vi really wants in this world, respect. She’s been seen as a leader, an older sister, a daughter, and a criminal, but she never really had an equal. Neither did Caitlyn for that matter. Jayce acts more like an older brother, and it was most likely his idealist nature that influenced her to seek things out beyond what they appear to be. So while they were amicable with each other, they didn’t really stand on equal ground, especially considering the large age gap with Jayce already being an adult in his early twenties when Caitlyn was barely a teenager. This can also be seen in how Jayce didn’t really take her investigations seriously. Her fellow enforcers only saw her as a trust fund kid (which let’s face it she is, and she’s very aware of it too considering she didn’t feel the need to retaliate against their teasing). Her parents don’t respect her enough to let her, an adult, keep her job, the one path she chose for herself. And she clearly doesn’t get any respect from Marcus, who isn’t even personally against her, he just wants to keep her sharp nose away from the very obvious shady things he’s been trying to cover up. (On a side note, Caitlyn is the antithesis to Marcus, being an enforcer who is willing to expose the long established corruption within a system she once strived to be a part of vs. an enforcer who does everything in his power to cover his own ass and has the moral backbone of a chocolate eclair). Vi has been under the oppression of topsiders for so long that she probably felt that everyone saw her as beneath them. But then comes Caitlyn, the (former) enforcer, the topsider, a councilor’s daughter, who freed her, saved her life, and acknowledged that her perspective has value. Meanwhile, Caitlyn finally gets the chance to do what she’s always sought out to do, help others. And Vi shows her exactly where that help is needed the most. Additionally, showing her a level of trust that feels rightfully earned. Vi had probably never felt this seen before and Caitlyn’s world had probably never felt so open before.
The peer part is what hit me the hardest. It's the one thing I noticed about Vi, she always was one to take on the burden of everyone else's struggles, but never truly had any one else to lean on and relate to. I think first and foremost Caitlyn is that to her, and I think probably what she needs now more than a romantic relationship. Altho that doesnt hurt. ;)
I mostly agree on your analysis, one remark to Marcus though.
Marcus has also his ideals of justice (e.g. when confronting Vander without Grayson). Yet, he is paying his debts for bargaining a deal with Silco throughout the show, and he knows it immediately (“This wasn’t the deal!”). To me, he is not taking actions against Silco because he cares for his daughter. “Is there anything so undoing as a daughter?”, one more time.
@@johannes5785 I never said Marcus’ actions weren’t understandable, I’m saying that Marcus as a character is one that operates entirely on self interest, the existence of his daughter is just a way for the audience to garner sympathy for him, and for the writers to continue the show’s theme of what a parent is willing to do for their children. But it’s difficult to sympathize with someone who threw a child into a prison to be beaten and starved to near death for 5+ years because he thought he was doing her a favor by making Silco think that she died. You could argue that he did it to protect Vi from Silco, but he obviously didn’t care enough about her to know if she was actually doing ok in Stillwater, because why would he care? He was going to put her and her siblings in prison anyway if he found them himself. He literally left her there to rot. Marcus got promoted to sheriff because he continued to work with Silco by keeping the Counsel in the dark about him illegally manufacturing and selling shimmer. And he only started to (unsuccessfully) stand up to Silco when it started to personally inconvenience him. He doesn’t care about the state of the Undercity or its citizens, he just wants his own future to be secured (which yes included his daughter’s safety), even if it means working with the man who killed the person he respected the most. Just like Silco, he may have been a loving father, but he certainly wasn’t a good man.
@@karenroque3583 You're right. Marcus is an antagonist, and he is contesting the undercity and its inhabitants. You're also on point with Marcus and Vi.
But I do not consider him a person, who operates entirely on self-interest. I see him as somebody, who is entangled in a bad situation and cannot see a way to get out of it (and also does not try too much). He is failing by his own standards (him being better than people from the undercity). In episode 5 Silco’s words shed light on his nature: “Hmm, considering yourself a hero. (…) the martyr, you’ve always seen yourself as. Then, what are you waiting for.”
Why, for me, there is no self-interest? He became Sheriff, true, but Silco put him there (“Look what we’ve accomplished”, or something along that line). He did not become rich, given the looks of his home. He does not want to work with Silco (the blood-stained coin as a symbol). So, he was just a weak device in Silco’s hands.
The council is a different matter entirely. They are mostly responsible for the Undercity’s misery; Marcus just does them the favour of not having to think about it too much.
@@lockekappa500 I absolutely agree, said the same thing myself when I saw the show. Vander was Vi's rock, the one she could turn to when life's burdens got too heavy. When he was taken she grew jaded to authority. That's why Caitlyn is so attractive to her, she's someone willing to absorb others pain, sharing some of Vi's burden 2hile showcasing responsibility and mutual respect purely through Caitlyn's vulnerability trusting someone born from a different world
I always liked these two because they were the most genuine people in the show, and their relationship brings and element of intimacy and closeness in an otherwise bleak and miserable show.
And they ruin IT by that lesb
Wow, this is such an incredibly well thought through and well articulated essay. Definitely adds a lot more depth and nuance to a character that I generally liked but wasn’t one that I actively cheered on. Here’s to hoping the Vi and Caitlyn story line carries a lot more emotional weight in season 2.
Yeah, Caitlyn's character in particular is often over-looked, but she's very well written and incredibly interesting overall. When you think for a bit it's easy to see why Vi fell for her, and it's not just because she's hot and sweet like a cupcake :D
RIGHT!
Also in the brothel scene, you see the other woman’s mask on caitlyns lap, obviously signifying that Caitlin can take other people’s ‘masks’ off.
I swear when Caitlyn is having her shower when she's thinking about Vi she's actually crying but the shower almost covers that up because to Caitlyn at that point I think she believes she's lost Vi and isn't going to see her again.
I would love a "second part" about them in the second season, they're still them, but an analysis of how the relationship grew would be amazing
On min 13 and already wish i could like this video twice. Something i really love that you point out is how striaght (genuine) caitlyn is and how incapable she is at lying. She also has no command over vi like vi expects from enforcers. Vi sees this and she can't help but like her.
oh man, wish I could have included this point! you're absolutely right, vi expects a power dynamic with anyone from piltover but with caitlyn she gets the opposite: honest loyal support
One of the things I thought was so interesting is that there's no caveat or stipulation on Vi's release from prison. It's not "You can see the light of day while helping me for a while, and then you go back in." Caitlyn just sets her free and hopes/trusts that Vi will follow through, and as you said, she doesn't command her. She treats her like a partner, as she should, because at that point Vi is a free citizen.
@@brennakingsbury9657 @schnee yup
If you watch the very opening scene of the show, there's only two things about vi specifically that leave a lasting impression - vi crying uncontrollably and her looking at the "evil enforcer" as vander carries her away. A kid her age would develop deep mistrust to enforcers and so the topsiders.
And yet, from the very first encounter, cait is nothing like any enforcer. She doesn't use her power to enforce shit on vi. The entire rest of their interactions only work towards vi slowly learning to trust cait.
And yeah, cait just frees her when vinis fully she sent someone to beat her her up for information. Then there's no leash on her, vi's truly free - she can literally run away for all cait knows but she trusts vi to follow through.
Cait being completely unaware due to her sheltered upbringing is another reason why she earns vi's trust. Little details like that are where creators focused for their dynamic. And it was great to see something being executed well.
I absolutely adore this video. Cait was already my favorite character, and i think that shes extremely underrated as a character (some people dismiss her as a plot device) but you bring up points that really tie her together as a character and make me love her even more. I had a very surface level understanding of her "I'm a misfit too" line until i watched this video.
A couple of points i think support your arguement but you didnt really mention:
1. that one line you show in this video: when Vi is calling the enforcers hypocritical, she groups Caitlyn with them when she says that; you can see Cait is very offended by that, by being called fake when she's anything but, by being mistaken as a part of society she feels so aileneted by. I think she wanted to prove Vi wrong, and thats a major reason why she got her out.
2. Caitlyn's disappointment in Jayce as he gets deeper and deeper into politics, ie. becomes more dishonest. it starts with him trying to cover up the fact her parents got her fired from her job by offering her a "better" job. This dishonest attempt made her lash out at him. Later, when we see them at the council meeting, she's at utter disbelief at him trying to use his hextech to aid in war against the under city, when he was originally developing it to help people. "What happened to you?"
I really wish the "conflict" between Cait and Jayce was a shown a bit more. I really hope we get some of that in season 2.
I think Jayce is taking a broader view of things and may know about some things Caitlyn may not. Namely that Shimmer based weapons/enhanced humans are out there and attacks are growing in number. He is trying to do the right thing still even if he is getting his hands dirty to do it. sm
Oh, Jayce lied? Damn.
Not sure the scene where Vi says "You're Hot, cupcake." was flirting as much as it was Vi having a transactional view of sex and sexuality - Cait wants information, what does she have to provide for that information? Her body. And Vi is probably having a bit of a go at the stereotype of Stuffy Piltoverians, and "I can't do that - it's... it's... IT'S NOT PROPER!" to push the Enforcer out of her comfort zone. At that point in time, I don't think Vi had any romantic or even sexual interest in Cait whatsoever. I'm not even sure that Vi see's Cait as a fellow Human Being - she's a Piltie AND an Enforcer, two things that have encompassed all that is wrong in the world for Vi.
After she see's Cait with a woman afterwards, Vi might have started to get romantic/sexual ideas, but nothing serious until after Cait shows her loyalty to Vi by saving her. That's the point in time where I think Vi began to actually see Cait as a human being, not some Pretty Enforcer, and when she opened herself up to the idea of a relationship with Cait.
Yeah, I think she has physical attraction to her, but there's no real "love" or engagement quite yet. I honestly think the moment of "first love" for Vi is at the Firefly's base when Caitlyn is convincing Ekko that the city needs healing. I think she sees Cait for what she truly is then. Its a beautiful moment.
I say it was like an aggressive flirting. Doing everything you said but with definite flirty undertones. Vi probably didn't see her as a potential romantic partner whilst she called her hot but it can still be flirting
I think it is flirting but not actually expecting anything back, and also a way to push Cait. One of the writers has confirmed that that line was meant to make it very clear that Vi is attracted to Caitlyn.
@@Alineebastos Yeah its definitely flirting with zero expectations. She acknowledges this girl is attractive, but obviously isnt trying to "woo" someone in the moment, she has Powder to find. Regardless, it flows well with the conversation.
to me it feels she was suggesting Cait to use a hidden power she has in herself, telling her that she can seduct, and that she can seduct HER at the same time, implying that with a little attitude change she could be way more assertive and get things done with her acts alone, like she got the guns, just gotta put them to use, that shows some level of respect towards her (even with the way she said it), as she's acknowledging Cait has got everything to be a powerful authority figure, but i guess because she CHOOSES not to, is what makes her so endearing to Vi, the way she differentiates from every other higher up she's met, and how she compares to Vander, who decides to build his prestige out of honesty and fairness
I think Caitlyn find Vi hot, while Vi find Caitlyn adorable.
Also, they're incredibly attractive people.
I think Caitlyn's obsession of seeking the truth starts from talk with Grayson. And I it wasn't shown, but adult's death in Arcane changed all of main children (Ecco, VI, Cait). It was traumatic for all of them, not only for Powder. And she is the best shooter, she is alone, only her family and Jayce as her friend. Plus her family (as I can see) too afraid for her, her colleagues and other people underestimated her. Only Vi was talking to her like an equal.
It is a really good look at how trauma worsens over time and throughout the generations. Everyone engaged in the bridge fight preceding the story probably only thought they were risking themselves, not that that they could pass on even more destructive trauma to the next generation. Probably a big reason why Vander stopped fighting after that.
It’s so nice to see someone cover Caitlyns character further in depth cause I feel she’s super underrated for the cast and she is easily my favorite character despite not having a heck of a lot of screen time at first. I absolutely adored her and I really hope she gets more screen time on season 2.
If vi flirted with me the way she did with cait id die
It's even more impressing when you look deeper into their constructions as characters they are both true and without masks, but not in the same way. Vi is a boxer, that's her relationship with truth. It came early in her life and she had no choice but to face it with direct physical violence. Caitlyn on her side uses a gun toy shoot at her targets. And that's her way to deal with truth. It is a tool that she had to learn and master, something that she acquired with experience. Even the fact that she's an enforcer reflects that. She has to solve things to get to the truth ans that's her ultimate goal.
For both of them, truth is the "right way" they just use it differently.
Damn they're perfect folds of each other
as a lesbian myself, smth abt this guy talking so naturally abt a sapphic relationship as thought it were straight makes me so happy
I’m also lesbian and noticed the same thing for me, it’s incredible.
I guess shared attraction makes it easier to ignore society installed norms
Cait and Vi's relationship is one of my favourite parts of Arcane. I love how straightforward (pun intended) the show is about their mutual attraction.
Superficially, they are the definition of "opposites attract". If it was just that surface level understanding, it would seem forced or cliche, imo.
Arcane is an excellent example of show, not tell. And through their actions (some more subtle than others) it shows the audience how similar they are and how well their personalities compliment each other
Caitlyn going "I'm an excellent shot" is no less straightforward, brash and honest than Vi going "You're hot, cupcake", even if the former is slightly more subtle than the latter
Yeah, a lot of people analyze the show only through the lense of the duality "Rich vs Poor" and "Piltover vs Zaun"; and in doing so they miss a lot of the nuances in character writing and even storylines.
So to them, Cait+Vi is only another component of the Rich vs Poor theme, the poor girl and the rich girl fall in love with one another. But that's a very narrow way of seeing their relationship if you limit it at that.
If we're just limiting it to the text, there's still something there. You can craft a storyline off "ooh look we have a shy, reserved rich girl who has wealthy parents and a brash, outspoken orphan who clearly have some degree of mutual attraction". It'd be a bit "hallmark-ish" but it doesn't mean bad
Riot and Fortiche decided to go the extra step. They crafted small, intimate moments for two characters who, in their own separate ways, were looking for the same thing - validation. Vi was looking for anyone to validate her anger and resentment and Caitlyn was looking to validate her thinking there had to be something to her desire to "do the right thing" and do more than beat her head against the wall against all the red tape in Piltover
@@Attya-y2y thank you! Yes, duality is a theme, but across all the dual relatio ships explored there is both differences and common ground. That feeling that they are so often having their hands forced by external factors, that in a different time and place they could have been equal/seen eye-to-eye. Nothing in the show is black and white, just varying shades of grey.
the whole thing with honesty and jayce reminds me of the line "he didn't even haggle" thats used by both ekko and silco at different parts but both talking about jayce. it's an interesting parallel that even with completely different circumstances and interactions he remained the same.
Man, I thought perhaps you were going off on a tangent early in the video, but when you connected the threads it really showed me what you were seeing in how this relationship opened the show for you. The writers do this in multiple ways, you discover a theme (like duality for instance) or the paradoxial lifestyles of both these cities, and then you start to apply these things to the rest of the show, and it adds so much depth.
In regards to Silco and his perspective on loyalty (or his apparent abandoning of it), I was thinking that maybe his speech to the 2 chembarons and Sevika contradicted what you were saying. But honestly now that I think back, I think he was being manipulative to Sevika, preying on maybe her past guilt regarding betraying Vander, and never TRULY believed in loyalty as much as he came off. Simply that he knew it would influence her in that moment.
Regardless, another incredible video, earned a subscriber and an avid watcher of anything you make in the future.
Really appreciate the support as always! I've been thinking a lot of about silco's arc. There's a common motif with a lot of his scenes where he calmly takes a course of action that may kill him, and others take it for ruthlessness and confidence, but for him its like he's wondering if he's going to die, just like back in the river. Not a death wish exactly, but like a motivation to relive the trauma of dying for trusting someone. Gotta develop the idea more
@@schnee1 Interesting point. Perhaps a "What drives Silco" video in the future? Him drowning definitely was a turning point for his motivations. And he constantly stares death in the face with his life in the hands of another person. (The second meeting with Vander, Jinx with the eye gadget, Jayce on the bridge) Like you said, not quit a death wish, but almost like he doesnt know how to live any other way. His ultimate demise should have been no surprise to us after all of this.
Damn, i thought it was impossible to like Arcane any more than i did, but then you come with this deep analysis that just adds another layer of depth. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts :)
thanks!! happy I can share my ideas with people who enjoy them! :D
What an excellent analysis. Similar to some of the other commenters, I couldn't accurately describe why the relationship between Cait and Vi felt so good. I'm glad to see that it wasn't just pure feeling but just more fantastic story telling from Arcane.
8:46 "why is that?" well shit if you were pinned against the wall by THAT youre telling me you *wouldnt* melt on the spot?
Loved Arcane, and my favourite part was Vi and Caitlyn and their relationship, didn't think it was possible, but your video made me appreciate even more it on a deeper level!
Really enjoyed the contrast between them, they complement each other so well. My favourite character is Caitlyn, and enjoy her journey and story. How she wants to make a real difference. I've never played the game, so I didn't know what the roles of each character would be, but am really hoping that the writers continue to grow Vi and Caitlyn's relationship. In my opinion, it just seems so natural and organic, not forced. Gonna be hard to wait a couple years for season 2!
Awesome video, thanks for making and sharing, cheers! 🙂
👍
When you look back, it's funny to think that those two could almost have met in the very first episode after the explosion at Jayce's apartment.
I am infatuated with their relationship and as a straight dude, it almost feels like I'm being allowed to see and care about something I'm not supposed to. Edit: Let me add to that. I have never been so invested in any fictional relationship. I'm not sure if I have been this invested in a real relationship. (probably explains my love life lol)
Dude same, I can’t stop thinking about these two lmao
you know they did lgbtq characters good when you see a comment like this
As a lesbian, I'm so invested in their relationship, it's so well crafted! I'm mesmerized. The more I think about them the better their relationship become. I think it's nice you can see this too even being straight.
I hear you. I often cringe or get irritated by SJW shoe in gay relationships, but what Vi and Caitlyn have feels real and genuine. I want to high five both of them and let them know it's awesome. It doesn't hurt they are both gorgeous and genuinely likeable characters.
@@Pupil0fGod yes! so many shows/movies do terrible with gay relationships and make their only relationship significance of them being gay as if they can't have so much more to them and that usually makes it very boring and a little shallow. Vi and Cait however, I absolutely adore, and it makes me melt
A long-winded note on Cait: A great example of giving your character everything they *think* they want, and then losing or destroying their *deepest* want. Ie. Cait begins her arc wanting to prove herself; believing that her parents have bought all her accomplishments; she wants to prove to herself that she can be a successful detective without their influence. And then she gets all of that. She goes rogue and is no longer under the constraints and bureaucracy and is able to put together the Silco conspiracy (with the help of the lovely Vi, of course) She proves once and for all that she is cunning and resourceful enough to achieve her goals on her own. But in doing so, the consequences are that her mother gets (allegedly) murdered and any hope at peace and radical healing between the two cities is destroyed- which is what Cait wants on a deeper level, as seen in the Firelight headquarters scene and before the counsel. I just thought it added an extra layer of tragedy to that finale with VI’s dismayed shock against Cait’s utter despair. What a fantastic show.
What I love about this video is that you focus on the small details like the depth and parallels of the characters, political backgrounds and environments. I never noticed the small associations you made between Vi's directness in boxing and Caitlyn's directness in straight shooting, and how this linked to their honest nature. It's one thing to state the obvious mirroring scenes that this show presents, but I like how you shone a light on the compatibility of these characters for the fans.
The best part about these two is that their relationship is REAL, it's about their individual and shared experiences, about their flaws and weaknesses, about coming to a mutual understanding and connecting powerfully, intimately with what they see in each other. It's NOT about being GAY!(tm). It's not a token relationship to inject 'representation', it's not a commentary on society's injustices towards people who are gay, not an in your face challenge to 'accept and embrace our gayness or be proven a bigot!'... it's just two girls - two people, two souls - finding one another in the chaos of life. It's not about gay, it's about love, and THAT is what the Earth moves for.
I'm not sure that Caitlyn's parents have totally failed her. Yes, they are manipulative and very over protective, but they do very much care for her. And surprisingly her mother may seem to approve of Caitlyn's relationship with Vi. So I think there is some hope there. sm
Yes, they definitely care! Enough to kick down her door with gun at the ready! Oh look, two deer in the headlights.
Caitlin's "real world" is a world where she doesn't have to wonder whether her parents paid people to let her come first in a competition. She wants to know what she's worth and who she is without having the odds tipped in her favour by others.
Something I just realized is that out of all the officers from piltover, Caitlyn is one of the ONLY ones that doesn’t own a bug gas mask or puts it on when it’s time to fight.
From the beginning of the series, the audience is introduced to a hazy outline of the piltover Enforcers unaliving someone and coming out of the red fog like it’s straight out of a nightmare. The symbolism is pretty straight-forward: the moment the Enforcers don their masks, they basically become monsters and leave their humanity behind. They’re willing to do whatever it takes to enforce their will on the undercity.
But Caitlyn isn’t like that. She never puts on the Enforcer air-filter mask. And regardless of who she bumps into, in Piltover or Zaun, she’s able to show compassion equally to those around her and treats them with fairness. She’s never able to put a killer’s mask and doesn’t leave her humanity behind in tense situations.
This is such an interesting point with act 1 of s2! She looses herself in hatred, dons the mask, and then redeems herself towards the end of act 2
Wow I never thought that much about Caitlyn lines but you made me realise how deep her character is, great video!
One of the most strong relationships ever.
Arcane was revolutionary.
❤
Caitlyn is the *perfect* foil for someone like Vi. While Vi never had privilege, she grew up with the drive to change the status quo, to make it right, and she had a first-hand experience regarding what the struggle is like. Caitlyn is the opposite: she has privilege and plenty of power, and because of said privilege, there has never been a reason for her to suspect anything other than the status quo she knows, but she has a good heart and is a mediator, a bridge that can unite top side and bottom. She became an officer against what her parents wanted because she wanted to do good for the world while ironically not understanding what the world is truly like. But through Arcane, she sees the truth and grows, peeling back the layers of her prejudice (if not prejudice, the mistrust) of the undercity and the people there and sees something she can truly strive for and work towards changing. Through coming face to face with what the status quo has created in Vi and Jinx, Caitlyn can finally see the direction she can strive towards and the "good" that must be done.
I think this video finally turned me around on their relationship. Even as a gay woman myself, I never really clicked with their connection. But I get it now. I feel like I finally see what all my friends have been seeing for weeks.
very belated, and i'm probably not the first to pick up on this. but the opening comment about caitlin, about how honesty is punished topside and rewarded bottomside. and it made me think about how viktor, the one undercity person in the room at jayce's trial, is the one to be drawn in by jayce's honesty and is the one to reward him for it.
Thats a great deep dive.. loved how both characters have more commonality and mirror each other.. separated only by social status. Even their body language.. the tough exterior with everyone they meet until they allow themselves to let their guards down.
fanTAStic - not only did you blow open the complexity of Cait and Vi's dynamic, you tied it to the whole show and the fundamentals of storytelling itself! Huge props on breaking it down and building it all back up 👍🏼👍🏼
Caitlyn is for sure one of the best characters in this show. Loved the attention to detail especially from the childhood scenes - which are easy to miss if you’ve only seen the show once :)
Okay, you have been putting clarity in analysis to so many moments, I gotta sub. These are exactly the kinds of observations I love to interact with, but usually I come to them by talking them out with someone equally as interested in a subject as me.
...AND NO ONE I KNOW WANTS TO EVEN GIVE THIS SHOW A CHANCE! Thank you for the catharsis, been absolutely needing these XD
nooo tell them to watch!! I was in a similar position, no one to talk to about the show, which was why i started making arcane content! (maybe you should start making content too!) :D anyway thanks for the kind words!
very, very, very impressive analysis. I was able to get more insight into a show with your 3 arcane videos than I have on basically any other video essay channel, including the big ones of this platform. Can't wait to see both more Arcane content or content centered on other shows as well.
thanks! that means a lot! i'm going to branch out soon, what other stories do you want content about?
What I think will be interesting in S2 is the fact that Vi's sense of loyalty will be tested and probably reshaped.
Her new mutual respect and understanding with Caitlyn and her desire to protect and save Jinx.
I think she knows now there is no saving Jinx. At best Jinx will be locked up in a cell for the rest of here life (doubt they have much in the way of mental care) but likely she will have to be killed. It definitely be a test of their relationship though. "Sorry I stopped you from shooting my sister and now she murdered your mom"
Fantastic analysis. I loved these two already and this has built on that.
You made so many good points and it really shows how and why their relationship developed. Thanks so much for this and all your arcane videos!
When they laid in bed just chilling and being comfortable in each others space was when the chemistry became tangible. This was also the scene where they start touching each other mutually, not just to carry each other when injured. I love too there is no male/female dynamic. They oscillate seamlessly between taking the lead and hanging back. So realistic.
I really loved the bed scene cuz at first we see that when Vi was injured by Sevika, Caitlyn brought her to that old building and tried to clean the blood off her face but Vi stopped her. She didn’t allow Caitlyn to touch her. But when the bed scene came on, Vi was comfortable enough to lay on Caitlyn’s bed, waiting for her and when given the chance she started opening up, consequently leading to Caitlyn laying beside her, listening and caressing her cheek. Vi went from a protector who won’t ask for help, wont allow people to show her kindness (in a physical way) and who keeps to herself, to allowing herself to be vulnerable, opening up emotionally and finally letting someone show her love through physical touch.
I am going to rewatch Aracane after having watched about 30 of your analysis videos and loved every bit of it
Really good analysis, Cait and Vi are my favorite characters and you just cemented this even further.
I love your videos man, just binged every single one and raced to this when I saw it. I really hope you continue doing these videos on Arcane and other stuff! Good job man!
seriously thanks for watching, it means a lot that other people can share in my love for this series! definitely continuing with arcane for the time being, but I do plan on branching out to other fiction at some point!
I’m bowled over by the depth and criticality of your analysis!! This is such a wonderful articulation of something that would’ve remained as subtext for me had I not watched this video. Absolutely superior!!
thanks so much!! happy i can add to your enjoyment of the show! 😊
The lack of intimate interactions is what makes their relationship so good and so special, and you can tell they’re actually in love.
One thing that I'm not seeing others point out is the contrast with this dynamic with Mel and Jayce. With Mel and Jayce, they constantly say "You give me everything" and "I can't do it without you", but you can tell that they have a fragile relationship. With Caitlyn and Vi, words are rarely exchanged (exception being Vi saying goodbye to Caitlyn in episode 7), yet you can feel that they trust each other. Actions speak louder than words. Show not tell is a popular storytelling tip for a reason.
🤧
FACTS!
Ironically, Silco ends up dying for his ‘daughter’ just like Vander, after he refuses to betray her for personal gain. He refuses to be what he taught his followers; a liar.
Very true! Ironically, his failure is being loyal (which is something only HE would see as a failure)
@@schnee1
I believe the writers made that choice to push Silco out of the ‘villainous’ direction. Creating Zaun-while sympathetic-appears colder than sacrificing that dream for Jinx.
Totally right, they had to have us ultimately undecided about every main character morally. Betraying Jinx, especially when everyone else in her life has, would tip the scales too much despite the maybe-objective good it would accomplish.
@@schnee1
Yeah.
And your sentiment “Contradiction begets depth” also works for Sevika.
Despite betraying Vander, she sheltered Silco from Jinx’s monkey bomb (despite defecting mere days before), killed the Lighter guy who offered her employment, and showed chivalry with Vi during their final fight (when Vi and Sevika mutually paused to catch their breath, and didn’t attack).
you rlly put everything the show tried to convey subtly into words i love it
i always watch a bunch of analysis videos after watching a really good show (from any medium, like anime or movie or netflix show), but your arcane analyses show me so many more deep perspectives on every aspect of the show, it's unlike any other types of analysis video. the combination of arcane's incredible writing that has much more depth than anything i've ever seen before, combined with your expert analysis on the topic, is amazing. thanks for making videos
dude, all four of your videos have provided insights I hadn't even considered before. I really hope more people come across them and give them a chance because they're well worth it. looking forward to more in the future!
the character development in this show is just insane, i feel like it is infinite and every time i re watch Arcane i discover new things and notice other details and layers : that's why i have the feeling of watching a new series every time. Thank you for this incredible video
Caitlyn: lives her whole life in a world of lies
Vi: *is honest*
Caitlyn: mommy,sorry,mommy,sorry,mommy sorry MO-
YOO, great video! ''Caitlyn is straight, kinda ironic'' made me laugh, lmao.
Damn, really, really excellent thoughts! I really like Caitlyn, even though she's not that big a part of the show compared to some others, and Cait and Vi's relationship is phenomenal.
This is completely off the cuff, so it might be completely wrong, but I think Caitlyn could also represent the idealistic and pure version of Piltover. The idea that if you are good and do the right thing, things will work out. Much like Viktor and Jayce, who initially also think that they can just do good and good will come of it. Caitlyn is pure, kind, wants to do the right thing, but unfortunately she lives in a world that has moved past that, one that's corrupt, selfserving and unkind.
Much like Viktor believes you can just progress science for the right reason and things will work out alright, only to do it to save his own life (while still very much having the desire to do good with it) and immediately ends up killing someone he has worked with for years (probably), someone who could have even been a love interest for him and it shatters his world view, that you can just do things for the right reason and it will work out.
Jayce is the same initially, just wanting to do good and help people, while of course he is prideful and wants to make a name for himself, he wants to do it by helping others, only to be corrupted by politics, ultimately leading to him killing a kid and shattering his view of the world, the idea that those in charge has the betterment of the world as their primary goal.
And then there's Caitlyn, who thinks she can do things the "right way" and get to the bottom of things and solve her care, only to find out that the system that's actually suppose to do good and maintain order and what's right is completely corrupt and part of what's causing the problem in the first place. In a way Cait and Vi's relationship kind of foreshadows the end of the season, where everything works out, but in reality, it doesn't, because things aren't pure and idealistic, not even the villain Silco is the idealistic "bad guy", because he turns out to be a bad guy second, after being a father, not the other way around. When Vi says they are oil and water, that it doesn't work, you are completely right, she's not actually talking about the two of them, but about the cities, and that it will never work out between them, and ultimately it doesn't, because neither part of the city is like their ideal version. Pilterover is not kind, good and well intentioned like Cait, and the undercity is not scrappy, but loyal and kind like Vi, both are corrupt and selfserving, ultimately leading to the demise of both.
And the beauty of season one is in that Cait and Vi (the ideal versions of their cities) end up losing. It doesn't work anymore because both cities are too far down the drain of corruption to turn around and return to their ideals.
Or it might just be complete BS, who knows! Really great video none the less!
Just want to point out that the woman Viktor accidentally killed was the same girl who stumbled upon him during his flashback where he's playing with the boat he made as a child. If you listen closely you'll hear someone calling her name off screen which is why she turns to leave.
@@RoninXDarknight Yeah I know, I just don't know how long they have been working together or if they were aquintences in the past, but they certainly have known of each other since they were kids, adding even more reason for him to be distraught. Doesn't need to be a love interest people!
omg yes that moment jayce kills a kid... i was sad but also happy that the prick he had become finally got his wake up call
Love this analysis! I definitely felt that Caitlyn was idealistic, but didn't connect it to the bigger metaphor she and Vi represented. Thank you for sharing.
Wow, this is an amazing thought on this! I think you make a fascinating point! That´s so cool. Absolutely no BS, so don´t downgrade yourself!
Caitlyn has been one of my favorites since she first released on the game so I have to admit I was fan girling over her a lot. It's so good to see a break down of her character and her relationship with Vi.
Alright, I’m officially subscribed. Loved this analysis of their relationship.
Brilliant essay, good shit. This couple is maybe the hardest I've ever rooted for some characters I'd never heard of.
Their world having it be so normalized and the show never once mentioning that they're two ladies, it's chef's kiss type stuff. Both of them deserve each other for the right reason, and I hope we see more of them in S2
Caitlyn is awesome, and kinda underrated.
Wow, I absolutely LOVE this take. And i love how respectfully you spoke about these queer characters. There was never any hurtful comments or tones. Thank you, this is a real gem.
I love this, this is a very in-depth and thoughtful analysis! It makes me sad when people call her character boring.
I'm so glad I found this channel, the analysis and delivery... love it!
makes me so happy to read! thanks!!! :D
The problem with Arcane season one is it's so fucking good the expectations for season two are enormous. The expectations I had before watching season one were "at best it'll be terrible" due to the total absence of story in the source material. But my expectations were subverted in the best way possible. Season two had really big shoes to fill now.
And just the fact that Vi is a close range fighter while Caitlyn is a long range fight screams teamwork. They balance each other so well.
Also, Vi really needs to learn to depend on others. Every time she leaves someone who wants to help behind, things go poorly. I mean, I get that she wants to protect them and it’s a hard lesson to learn, but I think things will start turning out better once she does and Caitlyn is the perfect person to help her learn that lesson.
awesome video! also can we talk about how drastically the distance between them shrunk, at the start they were literally streets and rooftops away and by the end of the series it seems like they're always holding on to one another and always supporting each other when they can't stand up alone and to me that says so much
'straight' as in direct but gay as in 'gay' ha ha ha
Seriously though, your analysis videos are amazing!
Also the rain scene shows that Vi was trying to get Catlyn out of the plan to invade Silco's factory with Jayce. She probably put on a mask and lied, unlike what she did with Powder in Episode 3
They are both so brave and honest!! I love them soooo much
your analytical skills for intercepting this relationship is good.
but honestly though, i love this insight. i also initially felt caitlyn lacked as a character yet still fit this dynamic and now i realize there is so much more to her. I thought its just that superficial "ok shes from the topside, topside bad" kinda thing
Thanks so much!! What a great reading. I couldn't agree more!
There is a scene that I think really epitomises this - when they walk in to talk to the council.
The scene shows them walking towards the council circle, from the back then the front, and everything about the framing of these 3 seconds is meant to highlight the obvious differences between them: Caitlyn's blue scheme vs. Violet's red; straight back vs slouch; tidy uniform vs punk mishmash; dainty statuesque vs muscular girth; aloof and confident vs suspecious and defensive.
But if you look at *how* they walk, they both have the same (mild butch) swagger, swinging arms and shoulders as they walk. This tells us that Caitlyn is a lot more like Vi than the superficial details suggest.
There is no doubt that Caitlyn was brought up/raised/trained to walk like a lady of stature rather than an undercity labourer...
And whether she walks that way by choice, or whether that is her natural default, it tells us where her loyalties really are.
Caitlyn listening to her parents and doing as she's told as a child doesn't mean she wants to. It means she's of an age where she has to listen even though she's a misfit. That was easy to figure out just by her hanging out with Jace despite her parents not having liked it, as stated when Vi was robbing Jace's house.
This show is so perfectly done, not only in terms of art and animation but also the story and character development, I've never even seen what League of Legends looks like and ten minutes into the first episode I was already hooked. Caitlyn is my favorite character, along with Ekko.
This deserves way more views ong amazing video man
omg your name and pfp are everything
I JUST realized the roman number six on VIs cheek says VI, I don't know How I never noticed it before XD
Fantastic analysis. I love the dissection of each character’s lines individually, and as part of the larger theme.
Great content man, really enjoy your commentary
Awesome video, would love a deep dive into what Jinx means when she says to Vi "you've changed too"
stay tuned! im planning on making a video about jayce's arc soon, character is such a unique mix of strengths and weaknesses
1:35 THE WAY YOU JUST CASUALLY ADDED THAT😂😂😂
Your analyisis is always on point, great attention to every subtle detail
thanks!!
Yesssssss, love all your takes on arcane so far. Let's go!
Very beautifully explained, thank you
Yes i'm watching this for the third time, dont judge me i have nothing better to do.
as someone who's been a fan of them for years and has seen their in-game interactions and how they talk abt each other when meeting different champions... LET'S GOOOOOOO!!!!