#also. jayce/viktor/mel dynamic is so very obviously a parallel

[allegorism]

arcane is a show about complex dynamics, how nothing is just black or white, and how fucked up some relationships come to be even when both parts have the intention to remain together, and yet everyone decided that mel was "just manipulating jayce" and "didn't actually love him", because she was "in the way of jayvik" when the dynamic between the three of them represents one of the core themes of arcane...

[girlbossmel]

At popular request, here’s the full analysis of Meljay and Skyvik being mirrors of each other.

So first we have Mel and Jayce-I’m going to start out by saying that obviously, their lives haven’t been perfect. Mel was exiled from her family, Jayce almost lost all his life’s work-they had things they went through, but they were both lucky enough to be topsiders at the very least.

Mel is said to be the wealthiest woman in Piltover, and she’s clearly a powerful influence on the council. Jayce was fortunate enough to have his research sponsored by the Kiramman’s of all people, and then went on to be the founder of Hextech.

Their relationship is interesting because they’re both, as of the time skip, powerful people who can provide influence in so many ways. Their struggles are very family based (Mel) and political based (Jayce).

Now looking at Sky and Viktor, there are so many similarities, but completely different circumstances. They both grew up in the undercity, struggling to get by every day. Viktor had to fight and work his way up for his position as assistant to the dean, something that was almost certainly a more difficult feat given where he’s from. Sky on the other hand, has even been said from the writers, that it’s probably Viktor’s actions that got her topside in the fist place (given how citizens of the undercity are looked down upon). So here they are: brilliant people who have to fight for any sort of sustainable job topside just because of where they’re from. Helping each other along the way.

And now here they are- Viktor is the co-founder of Hextech, and Sky is an assistant to some of the most powerful academy people, but their status’s are still comparably different from Mel and Jayce alike.

This relationship is beautiful because they both grew up with nothing, and managed to get to the topside. They’re the lucky ones, who now want to make a difference for those around them.

And now come where they both clash, and also merge in their similarities: Viktor is dying. He doesn’t have much time to figure things out-either to save his life, or help people. Meanwhile, Jayce isn’t dying, but he doesn’t have time either-the council is getting restless, a war is impending. They’re both racing against a clock to fix things.

Sky and Mel- both of them strong, talented women, with different paths. But both of them love their S/O’s so much. Sky is so proud of Viktor, and loved him enough that she would sacrifice her life after everything they went through-after everything she did to survive-just to keep him safe. Because she loved him.

And Mel? Despite having the pain of being an exile, she was willing to finally say goodbye to the past. To be her own person. Inspired by the people around her, inspired by Jayce. She took off her ring in that scene, and voted for peace. For her, and for Jayce. For the city, and for them.

Viktor and Jayce made sacrifices for them too, in different ways. Both of them had to learn from their mistakes- Viktor had to learn that messing with the Hexcore led to the death of the woman who loved him. This is what caused him to finally take a step back and realize that this needed to end.

Jayce defied the council: went out and became the vigilante he always said he wasn’t. Then, when he saw the horrors of war firsthand, he admitted his mistakes, learned from them, and brokered and brought forth the deal of peace.

So at the end of the day, we have two couples: dynamic in all ways, from different backgrounds, and with different endings. Yet the same core beliefs tie in, and interweave with each other. It’s absolutely tragic, and beautiful. We know how much Arcane loves it’s parallels, and this is just another, wonderful example.