Following Jinx's thunderous introduction in "Watch It All Burn," the second episode of Arcane's sophomore season, the narrative pivots to the gritty, gas-soaked underside of Zaun. This chapter marks a stark divergence from the political machinations of Piltover, diving into the turbulent void carved out by Silco's demise and Jinx's plunge into madness.
The episode kicks off with an eerie vision of Jinx, portrayed by Ella Purnell, in an apparent dreamscape. Submerged in Zaun's murky depths, she clutches Silco's lifeless form, a surreal tableau that mirrors the fragmentation of her psyche. In this telepathic dialogue with Silco, she recounts the turmoil that has engulfed the underworld in his absence, serving as a poignant reminder of their intricate bond and her agonizing struggle to grapple with his loss.
As Silco's passing ignites a turf war among Zaun's chembarons and ruthless thugs, Jinx navigates this maelstrom with a hooded, haunted demeanor. The montage, set to Marcus King's "Sucker," vividly portrays the disintegration of Zaun's social hierarchy, with Jinx gliding through conflicts like a specter of the violence she has unleashed.
Introducing Isha, played by Lucy Lowe, a small, amber-eyed child navigating the treacherous streets of Zaun. Her daring escape from thug pursuers and eventual encounter with Jinx inject a sense of vulnerability and innocence into the episode, standing in stark contrast to the hardened criminals and powerful chembarons that dominate the landscape.
The power vacuum left by Silco's death emerges as the central struggle among Zaun's chembarons. Smeech, a Yordle chem-baron, is cocksure he can outmaneuver his rivals to seize Silco's throne. However, the emergence of The Grey, a toxic gas, throws a wrench into his plans and leads to a harrowing confrontation with an enigmatic threat.
Sevika, portrayed by Amirah Vann, strives to unite the warring factions against Piltover, but her endeavors are met with stiff resistance. Smeech's proposition to forge her a new cybernetic limb in exchange for aiding in Jinx's capture poses a morally ambiguous dilemma, underscoring the grueling decisions characters must make in this chaotic realm.
In the city of Piltover, Viktor undergoes a transformative rebirth, his once fragile form completely reconstructed through the wondrous power of HexTech, following his immersion within the enigmatic Hexcore. This newfound strength propels him into a heart-wrenching rift with Jayce, ultimately leading Viktor, now a beacon for Zaun, to depart from his former friend, marking the irrevocable divergence of their destinies.
The ominous blight that has corrupted the foliage of Zaun finds an echo in Piltover, prompting Ekko and Heimerdinger to harbor suspicions of a dark connection to the Hexcore. Their relentless pursuit draws them to Jayce, who validates their fears, thereby adding another intricate twist to the season's overarching narrative tapestry.
The episode draws to a close with Jinx, her mind now a labyrinth of chaos and fury, vowing to "eradicate what little remains of my shattered family." Her tumultuous confrontation with Smeech and Sevika is a harrowing ballet of unpredictability and lethal prowess, her newly enhanced prosthetic arm serving as a testament to her deadly evolution. The clash is a dazzling spectacle, accompanied by the invigorating tune of "Renegade (We Never Run)," culminating in a triumph that bears the unmistakable hallmark of Jinx's twisted genius.
Viktor's odyssey through the labyrinthine alleys of Zaun brings him face-to-face with a faction ensnared by the allure of Shimmer, where he undergoes a transformative encounter. His HexTech staff performs a miraculous dual function: it liberates them from their addictive shackles and purifies their marred flesh, marking a moment of redemption that reverberates throughout the narrative arc of the episode.
The stinger scene unveils a sinister facet of Singed, as he engages in macabre experiments upon the carcasses of dire wolves and an immense, pulsating heart, infused with the sinister essence of Shimmer chemical fluid. This eerie tableau foreshadows the dark horrors lurking in the shadows of the impending storyline.
"Watch It All Burn" stands as a gripping sequel in Arcane's sophomore season, delving deeper into the murky depths of Zaun's underbelly and the complex characters that dwell within. With its pulse-pounding action sequences, poignant character interactions, and a soundtrack that harmonizes seamlessly with the on-screen turmoil, this episode epitomizes the series' prowess in balancing adrenaline-fueled excitement with profound narrative intricacies.
