In the seventh episode of Arcane's second season, titled "Pretend Like It's the First Time," we are taken on a thrilling ride through alternate realities and the manipulation of time. The episode opens with Ekko and Powder in a distorted vision of the Undercity, a place that is unrecognizable in its positivity and lack of Hextech.
The Undercity in this reality is a place of hope and life, with Gert and Mylo still alive, and Vander running the bar with a sense of pride and community. The atmosphere is one of joy and potential, a stark contrast to the grim reality we've come to know. Ekko, accompanied by Heimerdinger, who has been in this reality for over three years, is disoriented but quickly realizes the gravity of the situation when he learns that Vi is dead.
The absence of Hextech in this reality is a result of Ekko's actions in the past, where he tipped off a job that led to the destruction of Hextech instead of the death of his crew members. This alternate timeline is a poignant reminder of the butterfly effect, where small changes can lead to vastly different outcomes.
Ekko, driven by the desire to correct the timeline and perhaps save Vi, embarks on a mission to recreate the anomaly that brought him to this reality. He collects fragments of Hextech from a warehouse, a place that holds the remnants of the technology that once plagued his world. Ekko's determination is matched by Heimerdinger's ingenuity as they work together to manipulate time, a concept that is both terrifying and fascinating.
In a beautiful moment of contrast, Ekko paints a mural of Vi, describing her as strong and an icon, a stark difference from the mural of Jinx we saw earlier in the season. This moment humanizes Ekko and shows his deep connection to the people he cares about, even in a reality where things are different.
Meanwhile, Jayce awakens in a nightmarish realm, a world consumed by the arcane. The destruction is complete, and the humanoid androids that awaken among the ruins seem poised to attack. Jayce's journey is one of survival and desperation, as he navigates this harsh landscape, searching for a way to change the course of events that led to this devastation.
Back in the alternate Undercity, Ekko, Heimerdinger, and Powder successfully reconstruct the anomaly, discovering they can manipulate time and send themselves back. However, they find a limit to their power—only four seconds can be reversed, as visualized through a gruesome vision of Heimerdinger's destruction.
The episode takes a poignant turn during a party where Silco is alive, and it appears he and Vander have mended their relationship. Powder and Ekko share a dance, pretending it's their first time together, a moment of joy and innocence in the midst of their dire circumstances.
As the episode reaches its climax, Jayce reaches the top of the Arcane-ravaged construct, desperate to change the past, a mission that eerily mirrors Ekko and Heimerdinger's own efforts. Heimerdinger, who has been aware of his own demise, sacrifices himself to send Ekko back to his reality, a moment that is both heartbreaking and heroic.
In the final moments, alt-Powder is revealed to have had Hextech all along, locked away in her lab, a potential game-changer for the future. The episode ends with Ekko returning to his reality, consumed by the arcane, as alt-Ekko re-awakens, leaving the audience with a sense of hope and the knowledge that the fight for a better future is far from over.
"Pretend Like It's the First Time" is a masterful exploration of alternate realities and the power of time manipulation. It delves into the characters' motivations and the consequences of their actions, all while keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. This episode is a testament to the depth of storytelling in Arcane, a series that continues to captivate and surprise its viewers.