Arcane Ep 6, “When These Walls Come Tumbling Down,” Recap and Review

Arcane Ep 6, “When These Walls Come Tumbling Down,” Recap and Review

 

“An eager protege undermines his mentor on the council as a magical tech rapidly evolves. With authorities in pursuit, Jinx must face her past.”

 

This episode opens in a curious way, being underwater. We see children just playing in the water in Piltover, but also see the water running downstream, and becoming polluted from the discarded mechanics and run-off. It flows from there downward. We follow the water and see, possibly, the first meeting of Sky and Viktor. Viktor is winding up a toy paddle boat he built and Sky was looking down on him from the rock she was standing on. He struggles to keep up with the boat as it goes down the stream with the current. He falls just as a boat goes into a cave, but Viktor notices a cave's mouth nearby. This leads him to a hermit who picks up the boat and inspects it. This strange man offers insight, as we watch his horse-sized Axolotl move around protecting him, named Rio. He explains that Rio is dying but he wants to prevent that so the mutation she has can survive. Viktor offers to help with no hestiation, and the man remarks that they “Can be Loners together.” Then we fade out to present day with Viktor looking out from an open window. Viktor is thinking about his end and Heimerdinger finds him there. The pair talk briefly about legacy and the fleeting nature of Viktor's.

 

Mel gets to start the episode after the intro. We see her painting with a tiny trowel blade. Jayce comes in after she makes a few strokes. He explains that Viktor's dying and a possible cause. The pair share a bit of a moment. Mel confesses that she's an exile from her family, that she fell short of Merdara standards. She does also encourage Jayce to go to Viktor and keep spending time with him.

 

Even while dying, we get to see Viktor working on the hextech; now dubbed the Hexcore. He notices the blood from the last time he was there and touches the polygonal enclosure he has around the gemstone. When we get back to Viktor, the scene is focused on the runes around the gemstone. He's figured out that it resonants with organic matter and can transmute it. The problem is the plants he's tested have simply rejected the transmutation and die. Jayce brings Heimerdinger in for some guidance, and Heimerdinger sees the familiarities of this device to what brought about the previous round of large-scale destruction. He also notices something different about Viktor. Heimerdinger vows to see it destroyed and Jayce stands his ground, saying it's a matter for the council to decide.

 

In the Last Drop, the Bartender Thieram, is cleaning cups when he's surprised by Jinx. He explains that Silco has the gang running an errand, “Grabbing Girls.” And that Sevika got a good beating in her fight. Jinx thanks him for the information by planting a small paint bomb on his back before going upstairs. We find out she got into Silco's office and laid a trap that Sevika walks right into and gets knocked out from a gas bomb Jinx set. Sevika makes no secret that Vi's back in the Undercity and that she sees Jinx simply as a risk to the gang. Jinx now knows that Vi is alive. She climbs up high and lights a flare that Vi gave her with the promise that she'd find her if she lit it. Jinx lights the flare.

 

Caitlyn and Vivian are stumbling away from the main part of the Undercity after the fight at the end of the last episode against Sevira. Vi tries to jump and wind herself down the beams but stumbles and falls. Cait curses this but then starts making her way down more carefully. We get to see one of the Firelights watching the pair escape from Silco's gang. They both make it down to the base of the tower and Vi directs Cait into a room at the base. She explains that they're where the rejects of the Topsiders wind up (and it's bigger than she remembers). Vi slips into memories as Cait talks at her and attempts to help with the stab wound. Vi sees a memory of Vander, talking about her good heart, just as Cait is. Cait knows that Vi needs a doctor and sets out to find out. One of the residents of this lowest section knows Vi and offers to help Cait by leading her to someone who could help. He brings her to a potion vendor. Cait realizes he's taken Shimmer from the growths on him. She trades her gun to get the potion needed to heal Vi (which contains a drop of Shimmer), thanks Vi's old acquaintance with a hug and leaves. Cait gives Vi the potion which does get Vi back on her feet. Vi reveals that she and Powder used to live where they're hiding. Some noises get both of their attention and Vi cautiously opens the door to find Silco waiting for them outside. While Vi talks with Silco, Cait works to push at a weakened support strut she found earlier. Vi taunts Silco then helps Cait bring down the whole structure to escape from Silco. As she escapes

 

Time to look in on Marcus. He has just gotten home from work. He hears Ren, his daughter, giggle and heads over to her. There, he finds Silco playing with her. Silco does have 2 thugs in the room with him, trying to look (and failing to any adult) innocous. He makes his message to Marcus clear without scaring Ren in the least, he knows Vi is alive. Apparently Marcus told him she died. Just before Silco leaves, he “accidentally” causes the card tower he'd been building with Ren to collapse. Marcus shows up while Jayce is writing something for the council and presents him with one of Jinx's grenades, saying that the Firelights had it. Jayce follows a bad suggestion Marcus has to order the search of everyone coming across the bridges.

 

Then there is the council session with Heimerdinger and Jayce squaring off politically for the future of Hextech... again. Heimerdinger continues to urge caution, but Jayce just sees him focused on the past as well as blind to the threats the present pose. Jayce, from his semi-measured response, calls for the council to vote for Heimerdinger to retire.

 

As Jinx lights her flare, issuing a call to Vi, we see the Piltover Enforcers setting up the blockade on the bridge. The conflict between Piltover and the Undercity, and likely the rest of the world, is building.

 

We jump back to the past as the episode is winding down, with the young Viktor returning to the mysterious hermit with supplies. We get to see what was likely the birth of Shimmer, from a purple glowing plant. The hermit used it to prolong Rio's life, ensure her survival. A quick fadeout and the present day Viktor returns and simply says, “I understand now.”

 

Jinx's flare burns out and she throws it away in frustration. Just after, as she holds the stabilized gemstone, Vi appears behind her. The pair have a tearful reunion, giving the short, short versions of what happened. The problems appear as soon as Caitlyn appears on site. Jinx rebuffs Vi for using “Powder,” saying she fell down a well. But she's also the first to hear and start firing her Gatling gun on the Firelights who are rushing at the trio of women. The sisters fight the Firelights and Caitlyn manages to grab the gemstone. Unfortunately, Cait gets ambushed and knocked out, with a Firelight taking the gem. They then manage to knock out and take Vi as well because of Jinx's narrow focus. The leader, who ordered the capture uses a smoke bomb to cover their escape. This just leaves Jinx alone on the rooftop.

 

We learn that Heimerdinger doesn't even think about his death, instead just those of his friends. We've already gotten the impression that he's long lived, being at least a century or two old. The problem here is just its unclear if he CAN simply die from old age. The other problem Heimerdinger has is just his perspective. He is looking at things across decades, not the days, weeks, or months that humans prefer to.

 

This did get me curious about what is Heimerdinger. No one's talked about it (but they've had almost no reason to), so I decided to look into it.Heimerdinger is a member of a species called the “Yordles.” There's not much information out there on Yordles without digging into the League of Legends wikis. Nothing has been presented on them within the show itself. Yordles, for the those who'd like to learn, (and want to keep away from spoilers that are rampant on the League of Leagues wiki) are a race of spirits from a plane of magic called “Bandle City.” They are a curious race since they each manifest in different ways. Universally, they're about a meter (or just shy of it) in height. For hands and feet, it varies between the individuals. Some have just 2 toes, others have around 4. With hands, it is usually between 3-5 digits. All of them have some degree of fur on them. This varies, from just some light fuzz or a ball of hair (like Heimerdinger). They do marry and raise families on Runeterra (the world of Arcane) instead of their home plane. Some can use a simple glamour magic to make themselves appear as short humans. It is confirmed that they are close to immortal. There are mentions of predators, so they can be killed. Otherwise, it does seem like they do not die. There is one documented amphibious Yordle in “League of Leagues” who is over 10,000 years old.

 

A human is very much a mayfly to a near immortal race like the Yordles. While being able to take this very long view is generally helpful, it isn't helping Heimerdinger at present. The problem is the Hextech is out in the world. Jayce and Viktor are using it to improve everyone's lives. More so since the science behind it is being worked on by the pair at a very rapid pace. Heimerdinger is hurting more than helping with his advice about the safeguards. This is something he should be trying to work with Jayce and Viktor on, not just casually advising them about caution and safety. In a sense he dug himself into this mess by opposing Hextech and trying to restrain it. Now though we have the mystery of what role he'll be in after that.

 

There is something good that Heimerdinger did this episode. He alluded to something changed with Viktor when they were nearby the Hexcore. There is potential that Viktor bonded with the Hexcore to a degree. It could be that its power is coming from Viktor to a degree or it has the potential to extend Viktor's life if they can figure out the how in time.

 

The Hextech is an amazing development. It is the manifestation of Magitech: Magic technology. I can't help but draw some parallels to Final Fantasy 6. The Magitech there was powered by Magicite: the manifested remains of the extra-dimensional beings Espers (Summons in the game). These powerful beings could choose to become magicite or would just manifest as it if killed. But the resulting crystal has nearby unlimited power from the Esper. They were incredibly stable, but a bit fragile if memory serves. These crystals seem to be a natural formation and are a form of physically concentrated magical energy. What we've seen of the Gemstones does show they expend their charge, losing their blue inner light. When stabilized, the gem does seem to have considerably more energy to expend. Just some thoughts that I wanted to share on the parallels.

 

There were a few good surprising in this episode. One of them was Huck. While I had to remind myself of his name (since we haven't seen him since episode one) he played a bit role in the story. For one, he actually shows the longer term effects of Shimmer. Not something the audience had really seen before. Huck also shows what Shimmer does to someone and the crippling addiction it can have. Given that he sold out Vi's hiding place for another vial of it, it's hard not to reach that conclusion. We knew he was a scientists or an inventor and working on various deals to keep himself afloat. He wanted to feel what it was to have power over others and Shimmer gave him that experience. Everyone can fall, and Huck is a perfect example of it.

 

This was a great episode to sit and watch. It delivered a lot with the reunion of Vi and Jinx (Powder). Those two, if left alone, could have started to mend their bond. But unfortunately, that was just not what happened. There does seem to be something going on between Cait and Vi, at least for Cait. It was also sad to see Jayce have to call for Heimerdinger's retirement knowing how close the two were. Jayce is doing what he thinks he had to do to keep Piltover safe from itself. He's feeling the responsibility of taking over the security for the Hexgates. This is also a big picture question with the changes he's making to security to try to stamp out the problems he knows about. Jayce seems to be taking too short of a view on some of these matters but time will tell about that.

 

I do wonder about a few things in particular. What will become of Heimerdinger with his removal from the council? This definitely something that he'll nurse a while and will be a major wedge between him, Viktor, and Jayce. Vi and Cait have been grabbed by the mysterious Firelights as well as the stabilized Gemstone. I imagine we'll actually learn a bit about them now, but what is it that they want? Jinx seeming to be in a rougher spot having just reunited with her sister only to have her taken away again. There are plenty of other questions, but they can wait until the next piece on this series. Only a few more episodes to go in this season.


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