It also has some of the best queer representation I’ve seen, thanks to writer Amanda Overton. Vi is left alone, heartbroken and in tears.
Arcane season 2, episodes 4 and 5: Caitlyn and Vi cope with their grief in different ways
Following their breakup, Caitlyn and Vi deal with the emotional aftermath in their ways.
Caitlyn seeks solace in the company of her fellow enforcer, officer Maddie Nolen.
It’s the little things that matter, like Overton fighting to keep Vi’s iconic flirtatious line “You’re hot, cupcake,” and the showrunners trusted her judgement:
You may like
And I had the support of the entire team around me. Unfortunately, although Yee hinted viewers would be happy with the romance, it doesn't look as though things will be smooth sailing.
Vi & Caitlyn Choose Different Paths In Arcane Season 2
The problem, though, is that Caitlyn and Vi seem to be on very different paths.
After Caitlyn works with Vi to fight Sevika, their bond deepens. Now the final season has come to a close, fans are celebrating the relationships of some characters while mourning others. Also, these characters were clearly developed for the sapphic gaze, instead of the male gaze, as too many lesbian portrayals are subject to.
Finally, this isn’t a tragic relationship.
“We strip away everything from her in episode five, and she has to start answering those questions.
It isn’t until then that Vi [realises]. It’s thanks to Vi that she is able to find herself again and realise she can be her own person, not a puppet pursuing power that will only leave her hollow.
To send this point home, Maddie was introduced as a secondary love interest for Caitlyn in season two, only to betray her in the show’s final hours as she reveals herself to be a tool for Ambessa.
“Caitlyn wanted to kiss her. Vi intervenes and saves Caitlyn from harm.
Arcane season 2, episode 1: Vi calms Caitlyn down
Caitlyn, consumed by anger and grief after the attack on Piltover, pours out her frustrations to Vi. She expresses her sorrow over her mother’s death and the heavy burden she feels as the protector of the city.
In response, Vi offers words of comfort and understanding, soothing Caitlyn’s troubled mind.
She’s giving her a potion to heal her wounds, and she holds her face. She asks Caitlyn to forget about her and walks away.
Arcane season 2, episode 1: Caitlyn shows her vulnerability to Vi
In the opening episode of Arcane’s second season, “Heavy Is the Crown,” Caitlyn experiences loss as her mother, Cassandra Kiramman, dies in a tragic attack.
Overton wanted this moment to come out of the blue, mostly so it would leave their romantic bond in a place that nobody, not even the characters, would be able to predict.
“I worked very close with director Christelle [Abgrall] over at Fortiche, and the staging, the framing, all of that came from her interpreting these intentions,” Overton says of the kiss scene.
“This is what I’ve been dreaming for,” Overton admits. Arcane isn’t a drama that relies on romance for ratings. There's long been speculation about the relationship between Vi and Caitlyn, even in the original League of Legends game that inspired Arcane; Vi's nickname for Caitlyn, "Cupcake," is often taken as evidence of a romance.
In an interview with The Gamer, the True Blood alum revealed she knew this was the opportunity she’d been waiting for:
This is what I’ve been dreaming for. Their companionship develops alongside their attraction, and that makes the physical intimacy in Season 2 more meaningful.