Arcane’ Season 2 Episode 5 Review

In episode five of ‘Arcane’, things take a surprising turn, as Vi and Jinx reunite and find themselves facing a figure from their past.

I have to be honest, after everything that’s happened these last few episodes, I never would have had a reunion between Vi and Jinx on the cards this season, but nevertheless, the show manages to pull it off, and in a double twist, brings back one of the most important characters from season one who I never expected to see again.

Well, kind of, because Vander isn’t exactly back, rather he’s been “rebuilt” by Singed, using the body of a wolf-like beast and machine parts to keep him alive. There’s not much left of the original man, but somewhere inside the monster, Vander’s consciousness still survives, and is reignited when he sees his daughters again.

Vi and Jinx’s reunion does seem a bit quick, considering the last time they met, they both tried their best to kill each other. I guess this can partly be explained by the time jump, and the different circumstances the sisters now find themselves in, with Vi abandoned by Caitlyn and taking part in fights for money, while Jinx has someone else to care for in Isha. It’s almost as though their positions have been reversed.

It’s also fitting that Vander should be the one to bring them back together, as it was his “death” back in season one that split them apart.

We get to see a flashback to when he and Silco were still friends, and working on their idealistic plans for Zaun, before different ideologies tore them apart and made them enemies. We also see the sisters’ mother Felicia for the first time.

It’s quite a packed episode as it doesn’t stop there. There are scenes involving Mel, who’s been kidnapped by the Black Rose. This is a storyline that hasn’t been explored much yet. We know Ambessa has some sort of history with the witches, but what exactly that is, and how it involves her takeover of Piltover, aren’t clear. 

Finally, what might be the most important scene. Something definitely changed when Jayce returned out of the Arcane. The way he mercilessly kills Salo, something is different about him, and I think this is definitely going to be a massive turning point for the show, as this arc reaches its finale next episode.