Arcane episode 6 review: bittersweet
Netflix’s Arcane is finally here, and we are repeating every episode of it. Every Saturday before November 20th, Netflix will premiere a new three-episode series.You can also read our overview Episode 4 with Episode 5, Or check our Recall Article 1.
The last episode of Act Two begins with another flashback, this time with young Victor playing in the waters of the Undercity. His toy boat floats in a cave and leads him to the scientist responsible for creating Shimmer-the one we saw in the first act. There is a huge pink lizard beside him. He explained that this was a rare mutation he had bred, but the lizard was dying, and he was trying to prevent this from happening. Victor asked if he could help, and the two joined forces. Time flew by, and Hemerdinger found that Victor was contemplating his diagnosis. The two sympathized with Victor’s imminent death.
Victor’s health is also in Jace’s mind. He came to Assemblyman Mel Medalda’s apartment and informed her of Victor’s diagnosis. Jace said that his illness was probably due to the poisonous gas he was exposed to in the Undercity when he was a child. Hextech can save people from the exact danger. At the same time, in the laboratory, the dying Victor finally made a breakthrough.
Desperate times, desperate measures
In The Last Drop, Jinx discovered from a Silco mob that two women were hunting (obviously Vi and Caitlyn-but Jinx didn’t know). She was very curious, so she decided to investigate. At this moment, Caitlin and the seriously injured Wei took refuge in an abandoned building deep in the Undercity. When several people from Silco ran past, one of the Firelights in Episode 4 was watching in the shadows. After a while, Sevika returned to Silco’s office and told him that they had lost track of Vi and Caitlyn, only to find that Jinx was waiting for her. Jinx interrogates Sevika, learns that Wei is still alive and is looking for her. It seems that the reunion is a matter of course.
Marcus returned home a long day after becoming a bag of rotten shit and found that Silco and his mob were playing with his daughter. Silco has a bone to pick. It turns out that Marcus lied that he murdered Wei when Van der died in episode 3. But now Wei and Caitlin are causing a commotion in the Undercity, and Silko knows the truth. Marcus pleaded for a chance to correct his mistake, Silko agreed, but the consequences were obvious: if he failed, he would hurt Marcus’ daughter.
Back to Piltoff, Victor’s breakthrough was incredible. Hextech crystals react to organic matter, such as his blood, and can create life. Victor has been able to use crystals to represent wild and strange plants, but he believes it can be used to extend life and even cure diseases. Just like the disease that killed him now.There is only one problem: it is still Unstable. Soon, all the plants created by Hextech Crystal died. However, Victor’s time is short, so Jace promised to solve this final puzzle at all costs.
The desperate two turned to Hemerdinger for help. But after explaining this new development of Hextek, Heimödinger is more determined than ever and must destroy Hextek because it is too dangerous. Jace refused, and ignored Hemerdinger’s request, saying that this was something the committee would decide. Viktor then explained that he might know other people who can help.
Wei and Caitlin, who were still on the run, discovered a huge slum hidden in a cave deep underground. People there are addicted to Shimmer made by Silco, an anesthetic. One of the addicts recognized Wei and wanted to help, so he took Caitlin to a therapist who made a potion that could heal Wei’s wounds. In exchange for the healing potion, Caitlin exchanged her rifles.
Maybe not the smartest deal.
Returning to Piltwoff, Marcus showed Jace Jinx’s grenade as evidence that Xinhuo was responsible for the Progress Day explosion. In order to protect Piltwolf from any further terrorist attacks, Jace ordered Marcus to block the bridge between Piltwolf and Zuan and search for anyone he encountered.
A few hours later, the committee held a meeting to discuss Viktor’s breakthrough in organic Hextech. Jace was worried that the city was too vulnerable to attack, and Hemerdinger’s request paled in comparison. As the glimmer raged in the Undercity and the fire (supposedly) bombarded Piltwolf, Jace made the argument that Hemerdinger was no longer able to maintain order in the city. He moved Hemerdinger to be removed from the parliament, and other members agreed. This is a vicious betrayal.
Thanks to this potion, Caitlin was able to revive Wei and stop the bleeding. But before the two of them thought about the next step, Silko arrived on the scene. The Shimmer addict who helped Caitlyn sold them for some shimmer from Silco. The two exchanged some threats, but Silco wanted to do more than just talk about and share the three Shimmer mutants on Vi. With nowhere to run, Wei loosened the support beam with a punch, causing the entire building where she and Caitlin were hiding to collapse, almost killing Silko.
When they fled the Undercity, Jinx found a tall building and lit up the flare given to her by Wei many years ago—before Van der’s death. If she needs Wei to rescue her, Jinx should ignite. When Wei and Caitlin fled Silco, Wei found the smoke in the flare and remembered her promise to Jinx. At this moment, we saw Marcus and a team of law enforcers execute Jace’s orders to block the bridge between Piltworth and the Undercity. At the same time, Silco returned to his headquarters and found Sevika tied up and sprayed with “liar” spray paint all over her body. It seems that Jinx is not happy that Silco lied to Wei over the years.
Back in time, young Victor came to the scientist’s lair and saw that he was sucking the blood of his magical giant lizard. Flashing forward, adult Victor entered the same lair. The lizard is now wrapped in a huge tank and seems to live to produce more shimmer. “I understand now,” Victor said when the scientist turned to reveal his face, his face now scorched by the explosion that killed Milo, Cragg, and Van der. surprise! This scientist is obviously Sinjid, another iconic league champion.
However, this is not the only major reunion that has occurred. After many years, Wei finally found Jinx and explained that she did not intend to abandon her, but was caught by Marcus before she could save Jinx. This was a touching moment spoiled by Caitlin’s arrival, and Jinx immediately recognized her as an enforcer. However, this is a double whammy of revelation. When Jinx realized that Wei was cooperating with the Pirtwau law enforcement agents, Caitlin realized that Wei’s sister was the terrorist in the Progressive Day bombing that caused the deaths of six law enforcement agents.
The pressure of the situation made Jinx uneasy, and she began to be incoherent with the ghostly words of Milo and Cragg that bothered her. Wei tried to calm Jinx, but before she could, those nasty hearts appeared on their hoverboard and attacked all of them. In the chaos, Jinx dropped the Hextech crystal she had stolen, and Wei saw how crazy her sister had become. Firelights overwhelmed the trio and kidnapped Caitlyn and Vi, and also brushed Hextech crystals, leaving Jinx alone again.
This is the end of Act 2. Be sure to check out our recap of episodes 4 and 5, we reviewed what happened in Act 1 through recaps of episodes 1, 2 and 3.