Arcane made a big splash when it first premiered, and it was because of how the series innovated storytelling itself. Aside from making the most of the gorgeous animation, the visual communication, and symbolism, Arcane received popularity and positive reviews because of the way it wrote women; instead of sons, they focused on daughters with characters like Jinx, Caitlyn – and, of course, our hero: Vi.
Violet, better known as Vi, is known as Piltover’s Finest and the heroine of Arcane. She is on a quest to find her sister, Powder (now known as Jinx), back and teams up with Enforcer Caitlyn Kiramman to do it.
In this blog, we’ll talk about why Vi’s such a great queer icon!
Not Making A Big Deal of the Fact That She is Queer
Arcane is set in Runeterra; this is also the world where League of Legends takes place. There, Vi is a powerful fighter from Zaun, the Undercity. When she first runs into Caitlyn, Caitlyn frees her from prison, and they team up to look for answers to get to the heart of Silco’s Zaunian operations.
When they first team up, Vi doesn’t mention anything about the fact she is queer. When she asks Caitlyn if she prefers men or women, she asks it casually – as if it’s no big deal, and it is a big deal in the storytelling that being gay isn’t seen as a major issue in this world.
But more than that, Vi is beyond and bigger than her queerness – and it makes her simultaneously a great protagonist and queer icon.
A Heart of Gold
Vi is a survivor at heart and is a bit rough around the edges. Although she is not as dynamic as Jinx is, Vi has a heart of gold and remains an able successor to the legacy that Vander left behind.
She cares deeply about her sister, about Caitlyn – and, of course, Zaun and its inhabitants. She finds a way to bridge the gap between Zaun and Piltover by working together with Jayce and Ekko. She’d do anything for her family – if she had to win and gamble away Casino slot machines, I’m pretty sure that she would.
Strength
Compared to her League of Legends Design, Vi’s design is more practical and pays tribute to her character and strength. Vi’s choice for combat involves her fists, and she eventually gets an Arcane power-up with Hextech-powered gauntlets.
Vi is not a traditional girlboss. Rather, she’s written to be a layered person who just wants to do good and keeps going despite her obstacles. She is designed to be an underdog with her scrappy background and altruistic heart and strength.
A Fascinating Flat Character
Her journey and perspective represent the way the viewers also perceive the conflicts of the show. Vi doesn’t fully grasp the nuances of Piltoverian politics, and she has to discover what’s going on outside; thus, she’s a relatable stand-in for the audience.
Change is one of the most important and recurring themes in Arcane. Unlike the other characters, Vi remains true to herself and doesn’t change much.
Her Issues and Flaws
At the end of the day, Vi isn’t a perfect person. She gets angry at Jinx; she can’t prioritize Caitlyn over her bond with Jinx and Vander. But despite her flaws, Vi is easy to root for.
Wrapping Up
Vi remains a great queer icon because she’s complex, and although she means well, she’s rough around the edges. She’s written more as a human than as a queer person first – and that’s what makes her so compelling!
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