[S2 Spoilers] About Vi's character arc and what is really bothering me.
The content, the conflicts, the character construction... everything was there to receive a proper development, a proper insight.
But Vi’s character feels absent—absent from everything. Absent from engaging dialogues that unravel her complexities, from introspective moments that delve deeply into her internal conflicts, from impactful scenes that resonate emotionally, from thrilling fights that showcase her prowess, and from a palpable presence that commands the narrative; and it leaves me both disheartened and profoundly disappointed. She is, without question, one of my favorite women leads in all audiovisual media—a character whose strength, vulnerability, and moral nuance set her apart. Yet, it seems the writers have made profoundly misguided choices, squandering much of her potential and leaving a void where her brilliance once shone.
Vi’s arc in season 2 exemplifies the pitfalls of prioritizing plot over character. While the first season established her as a nuanced, emotionally resonant protagonist, the second season fails to build on this foundation, offering a fragmented and shallow portrayal that undermines her narrative potential. By rushing through key moments, neglecting her internal (and external) conflicts, and sidelining her role in favor of other characters, the series diminishes the complexity and depth that could make Vi even better as a character—her times inside Stillwater, her traumas, her road/decision to become an enforcer, her perspective about the conflict between Zaun and Piltover as someone who lost her family by war; nothing was really explored. Nothing is really that deep when it comes to her, and it's all subtle.
What remains is a character caught in narrative limbo—a tragic heroine capable of making crucial decisions, but whose choices are stripped of their emotional and thematic weight. Vi, once a symbol of resilience and moral ambiguity, now feels like a shadow of her former self, a tragic casualty of storytelling that prioritizes expedience over character exploration. Vi's character really had a lot of INTERESTING conflicts to be better worked on, but she lacks critical moments of introspection or moral decision-making. Instead, her actions feel disjointed, leaving little room for the audience to understand or empathize with her descent.
I was expecting far more, I think. I don't know anymore.
The content, the conflicts, the character construction... everything was there to receive a proper development, a proper insight.
But Vi’s character feels absent—absent from everything. Absent from engaging dialogues that unravel her complexities, from introspective moments that delve deeply into her internal conflicts, from impactful scenes that resonate emotionally, from thrilling fights that showcase her prowess, and from a palpable presence that commands the narrative; and it leaves me both disheartened and profoundly disappointed. She is, without question, one of my favorite women leads in all audiovisual media—a character whose strength, vulnerability, and moral nuance set her apart. Yet, it seems the writers have made profoundly misguided choices, squandering much of her potential and leaving a void where her brilliance once shone.
Vi’s arc in season 2 exemplifies the pitfalls of prioritizing plot over character. While the first season established her as a nuanced, emotionally resonant protagonist, the second season fails to build on this foundation, offering a fragmented and shallow portrayal that undermines her narrative potential. By rushing through key moments, neglecting her internal (and external) conflicts, and sidelining her role in favor of other characters, the series diminishes the complexity and depth that could make Vi even better as a character—her times inside Stillwater, her traumas, her road/decision to become an enforcer, her perspective about the conflict between Zaun and Piltover as someone who lost her family by war; nothing was really explored. Nothing is really that deep when it comes to her, and it's all subtle.
What remains is a character caught in narrative limbo—a tragic heroine capable of making crucial decisions, but whose choices are stripped of their emotional and thematic weight. Vi, once a symbol of resilience and moral ambiguity, now feels like a shadow of her former self, a tragic casualty of storytelling that prioritizes expedience over character exploration. Vi's character really had a lot of INTERESTING conflicts to be better worked on, but she lacks critical moments of introspection or moral decision-making. Instead, her actions feel disjointed, leaving little room for the audience to understand or empathize with her descent.
I was expecting far more, I think. I don't know anymore.