In the wake of Jinx's fiery introduction in "Watch It All Burn," the second episode of Arcane's sophomore season, the narrative pivots to the grimy, gas-soaked underworld of Zaun. This installment serves as a stark contrast to the political machinations of Piltover, diving into the tumultuous void left by Silco's demise and Jinx's descent into full-fledged madness.
The episode unfolds with a chilling scene featuring Jinx, portrayed by Ella Purnell, in a seemingly surreal dreamscape. Submerged in Zaun's murky depths, she clutches Silco's lifeless body, embodying the fragments of her shattered psyche. Through a haunting telepathic conversation, Jinx updates Silco on the anarchy that has consumed his absence, creating a poignant tribute to their twisted bond and her grief-stricken turmoil.
As Silco's passing ignites a ruthless turf war among Zaun's chembarons and brute forces, Jinx traverses the ensuing chaos with a cloak of haunted mystique. Set to Marcus King's "Sucker," a montage captures the dissolution of Zaun's social hierarchy, with Jinx ghosting through conflicts like a specter of the violence she's wrought.
Introducing Isha, a tiny amber-eyed child embodied by Lucy Lowe, the episode infuses a touch of vulnerability and innocence amidst Zaun's dangers. Her daring escape from ruthless pursuers and eventual encounter with Jinx introduce a stark contrast to the hardened criminals and ruthless chembarons that dominate Zaun's turbulent terrain.
The power vacuum left in Silco's wake emerges as the pivotal conflict among Zaun's chembarons. Smeech, a confident Yordle chem-baron, believes he can outmaneuver his rivals to seize Silco's throne. However, the emergence of The Grey, a lethal toxic gas, throws a monkey wrench into his schemes and leads to a harrowing confrontation with an unknown menace.
Sevika, portrayed with fervent intensity by Amirah Vann, endeavors to forge unity among the fractious factions opposing Piltover, yet her endeavors encounter steadfast opposition. Smeech's proposition to craft her a novel cybernetic appendage, contingent upon her assistance in capturing Jinx, unfolds as a morally labyrinthine dilemma, underscoring the arduous decisions confronting the characters within this tumultuous realm.
In the gleaming city of Piltover, Viktor undergoes a metamorphosis, his corpus entirely reconstructed with HexTech following his immersion in the Hexcore. His newly acquired prowess, coupled with a subsequent estrangement from Jayce, culminates in a poignant moment where Viktor, now an emblem of Zaun, bids Jayce farewell, their destinies diverging irrevocably.
The blight that defiles the foliage of Zaun finds a parallel in Piltover, prompting Ekko and Heimerdinger to suspect a nexus with the Hexcore. Their probe leads them to Jayce, who validates their conjectures, adding another intricate layer to the season's overarching enigma.
The episode concludes on a harrowing note, with Jinx, now more deranged than ever, gearing up to "complete the annihilation of my remaining kin." Her confrontation with Smeech and Sevika is a chaotic exhibition of her erratic demeanor and the lethal prowess of her new prosthetic limb. The battle is a visual feast, accompanied by the exhilarating tune "Renegade (We Never Run)," culminating in a triumph that bears Jinx's signature.
Viktor's odyssey through Zaun's labyrinthine alleys guides him to a cluster of Shimmer addicts, where he undergoes a transformative experience. His HexTech staff not only liberates them from their addiction's shackles but also purifies their scars, marking a moment of redemption that resonates throughout the episode.
The closing scene unveils a darker facet of Singed, as he engages in macabre experiments on dire wolf carcasses and an immense, pulsating heart infused with Shimmer chem fluid. This chilling spectacle sets the stage for impending horrors yet to unfold.
"Watch It All Burn" stands as a gripping sequel to Arcane's second season, deepening the show's exploration of Zaun's shadowy underbelly and its inhabitants. With its intense action sequences, poignant character moments, and a soundtrack that harmoniously complements the on-screen turmoil, this episode exemplifies the show's prowess in balancing high-stakes action with profound narrative depth.
