Arcane gay scene

Do you have any thoughts on that?

Valerie: I was also wondering that, because like you, I don’t love that they’re BOTH now Fantasy Cops; I was kind of hoping it would go the other way and Caitlyn would join Vi in an underground rebellion instead. And also, perhaps driving her even more than that, Caitlyn is all Vi has left.

Disney is one of the worst offenders in this regard, a company so transparently greedy and awful with LGBTQI+ representation that it’s almost comical. So I was beyond happy it did, so soft amidst so much violence.

In the video game sphere, Blizzard were more than happy to say that Overwatch’s poster girl Tracer is a lesbian, but only in material outside of the game.

So those quiet moments together where they’re really connecting in this first episode of the season were so good. It felt earned and so right for the two of them at that moment. Think about how many Disney movies have featured a queer side character that appears for a mere few seconds, or a brief gay kiss that can be easily cut out.

It's an extremely dramatic series with a very passionate fanbase, and reactions to certain scenes flooded onto sites like Twitter and Reddit hours after release, with one scene in particular grabbing attention. (Check out the comparison below, though be wary it’s the last scene of the show.)

But I think what frustrates me so much about this particular instance of erasure is the fact that Vi and Caitlyn’s relationship really doesn’t feel tokenistic; the removal of their scenes would actively make their characters and the overall story worse.

Because you’re right; Vi asked her not to change on her like Powder changed to Jinx, but she’s watching it happen. In her mind she just doesn’t have any other options.

Though it has a strong cast of characters across the board, Arcane has managed to cultivate a huge contingent of LGBTQI+ fans for its many overtly queer and queer-coded characters (there’s no way you’ll convince me Viktor and Jayce’s relationship can be interpreted as “brotherly”).

What you said about their quiet moments really hit for me too. This is a kid who is vulnerable and alone, and has latched on to Jinx.

Additionally, the way other scenes have been edited just looks totally ridiculous.

My advice? I’d also love to see more scenes with Jinx and Vi together; they’ve both become versions of themselves the other doesn’t recognize and I want to see them hash out the feelings of betrayal they have for each other.

Robot.

Nic: Okay I’m so glad you mentioned the “everything else” about these episodes because while we’re mostly all about that gay, I’m SO invested in Mel and Ambessa’s relationship. While Vi is coming to terms with the idea that the sister she knows is gone, Cait’s grief over her mother’s death informs nearly every decision she makes including asking Vi to wear the symbol of the very people who killed her parents.

It hit exactly on what gave me a bit of pause around their interactions.

All of that said, and I SWEAR I don’t mean to be a Negative Nancy about it, but I’m so worried about Caitlyn promising Vi that she won’t change especially given the 180 that she’s done since last season. They’ve done so much gentle touching, hand grazing, face caressing, and then with things being Very Bad right from the outset, I was a little afraid it was never going to happen.

Caitlyn is buttoned up about hers, Vi channels hers through her fists.