Season 2, Episode 7, titled “Pretend Like It’s the First Time” of the Netflix series, Arcane, is directed by Arnaud Delord and Bart Maunoury, with writing by Amanda Overton. For fans who have ever wondered what might have happened if Piltover and the Undercity had avoided the conflict that defined Season 1, this episode delivers a surprising and thought-provoking exploration of alternate realities.

The central theme of this episode is possibilities, examined through the lens of a multiverse. In simple terms, the multiverse is the concept that countless universes exist parallel to our own, each with its own unique versions of people, events, and outcomes. This idea is brought to life as the characters glimpse alternate realities that challenge their understanding of their own choices and consequences.

Ekko and Heimerdinger are granted a vision of a peaceful alternate reality where the events of Season 1 unfolded differently. In this world, Vi never survived the robbery in the pilot episode, and Jayce never succeeded in creating Hextech. Strangely, these tragedies lead to a utopian Piltover and an Undercity free from oppression and toxic pollution.

Forgiveness is a Virtue

The reasons for this peaceful outcome are complex. Without Vi’s survival, Powder (Jinx) is motivated by her sister’s death to grow into a more measured and thoughtful individual. Meanwhile, Vander, filled with guilt over Vi’s loss, reconciles with Silco, offering an apology that persuades the first chembaron to abandon his revolution. Silco instead channels his bitterness into forging Zaun as an independent nation through diplomacy rather than war. Similarly, the outrage following Vi’s death may have pressured Piltover’s leadership to halt Jayce’s experiments with Hextech, preventing its dangerous misuse.

In stark contrast, Jayce finds himself in a bleak alternate reality where Hextech spirals out of control, infecting the entire world and destroying all life. This apocalyptic vision forces Jayce to confront the catastrophic consequences of his hubris in attempting to harness the Arcane—a force far beyond mortal comprehension.

This grim scenario echoes Heimerdinger’s warnings from Season 1, illustrating the dangers of unchecked ambition. Magic, as Heimerdinger cautioned, not only corrupts the individual from within but also devastates the environment and society from without. The dark reality serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that some forces are best left untouched when their full nature cannot be understood.

By juxtaposing these two vastly different outcomes, the episode challenges viewers to consider how seemingly minor choices can ripple into monumental consequences. The multiverse offers tantalizing glimpses of what might have been, but it also reinforces the fragility of the world the characters inhabit. As Season 2 progresses, the lessons of these alternate realities will undoubtedly weigh heavily on their decisions, shaping the uncertain future of Piltover and Zaun.

What Could Have Been

The Wild Runes within the Hex Vault transport Ekko (Reed Shannon) and Heimerdinger (Mick Wingert) into an alternate reality (parallel universe), where they inhabit the bodies of their alternate counterparts. It’s a disorienting and unsettling experience, but the reality they find themselves in is startlingly idyllic. In this parallel world, Piltover and the Undercity have achieved harmony. The Undercity has been cleansed of toxins and pollutants, transforming it into a clean and thriving area comparable to Piltover. There are no chembarons, no violence, and no gangs—just peace and progress. Piltover and Zaun are united as a single, prosperous city.

As Ekko explores this alternate reality, he encounters familiar faces leading very different lives. Benzo (Fred Tatasciore) still runs his shop, while Mylo (Yuri Lowenthal) and Claggor (Roger Craig Smith) have become scientists. Vander (JB Blanc) operates the Last Drop bar and maintains a cordial relationship with Silco (Jason Spisak). However, the most astonishing discovery is that the Ekko of this reality is in a romantic relationship with Powder (Ella Purnell)—who, in the main Arcane timeline, becomes Jinx. This revelation offers a poignant glimpse into what could have been, had tragedy not shaped the events of their lives.

Ekko and Heimerdinger come together to piece through the circumstances of this reality. They deduce that two pivotal events acted as catalysts for this peaceful timeline: Vi’s death during Jayce’s apartment robbery and Hextech never being invented. With Powder’s help, Ekko and Heimerdinger work to recreate the Wild Rune and channel its energy into a time-reversal device. Their efforts succeed, but only Ekko manages to return to his original reality. The fate of Heimerdinger is left uncertain, adding an air of mystery to their mission.

In a touching farewell, Powder watches as her Ekko regains consciousness, smiling with bittersweet happiness. Meanwhile, the Ekko from the Arcane timeline resumes control of his body, carrying with him the lessons and experiences from the alternate reality—a world that serves as a haunting reminder of what might have been.

Jayce Speedruns the Apocalypse

The Wild Runes transport Jayce (Kevin Alejandro) to a dark alternate reality where Hextech has devastated humanity. The landscape is eerily alien, with decaying cyborg corpses entwined with Arcane-infused flora, evoking the surreal and unsettling environment of the Shimmer in the film Annihilation. This parallel is likely intentional, as it suggests the writers drew inspiration from Annihilation to depict the dangers of the Arcane and the unknown. The connection deepens with the use of the name “Shimmer” for the drug Silco employed in Arcane, possibly referencing the anomalous zone from the film.

In this apocalyptic reality, the catalyst for the catastrophe is Viktor. His attempt to “heal” the people of Zaun with his Arcane-infused powers backfired catastrophically. Instead of curing illness and alleviating suffering, Viktor inadvertently infected those he sought to save. The infected gradually transformed into drone-like cyborgs, completely subservient to the Hex Core. The infection spread uncontrollably, leaving the world devoid of sentient life. Those who resisted either decayed, petrified, or succumbed to Hextech’s corrupting influence, turning into monstrous, zombified remnants of humanity.

Determined to escape, Jayce fights his way to the surface, where he encounters a mysterious figure: the same wizard who had given him the Arcane gemstone during his childhood. This encounter reveals a shocking twist—the wizard is an older version of Viktor, one who achieved immortality and mastered the Arcane, gaining the ability to traverse different realities.

The elder Viktor confesses that he traveled to the Arcane timeline to manipulate events and ensure Jayce understands the grave dangers of Hextech. His goal was to guide Jayce toward finding the strength to stop his younger self from repeating the catastrophic mistakes that led to the dark reality. With this revelation, the elder Viktor uses his powers to send Jayce back to his original timeline, urging him to prevent the apocalypse before it begins.

This intervention directly leads to the events of Episode 6, where Jayce tragically “kills” Viktor to halt the Hex Core’s spread, fulfilling the warning and purpose of the elder Viktor’s intervention. This arc not only deepens the moral complexity of Jayce’s actions but also highlights the far-reaching consequences of unchecked ambition and the pursuit of power.

Rating: 9/10