Vander's leadership over the Undercity also kept me thinking. He tried his best to keep everybody reasonably safe, but at the price that the status quo of poverty and unhealthy living conditions never would be overcome. Progress under such circumstances would be slow, over generations at best. In order to bring about a better life for everyone in the present, the system had to be challenged. But he also knew what an uprising of the Undercity had cost them last time, and it still had led to nothing. Some would have to give their lives for the potential betterment of others, which is what he asks Vi at the bridge: who are you willing to sacrifice. It's a predicament we can see in our real world as well.

If he in fact becomes Warwick, it would be the most tragic end. A man whose only wish was to keep other safe becoming a beast, a hunter that prays on his previous ideals

Vander is to the undercity, what Heimerdinger was to Piltover. An idealist who cared for his people but ultimately didn't have what it took to bring actual change. Vander was so caught up in his own rhetoric that he allowed the people in the undercity to slowly bleed. Which is fascinating, since that would mean that Silco is paralleled to Jayce, the more bold and brash, the one that would cause a ruckus but would give their all to bring progress to the places they lived in. And of course, it would be fitting for them to have their talk in the last episode, the two strongest forces against each other. But in the end, it was Silco the one who had everything on the line, and the one who had everything to lose. The only real reason Piltover didn't crush the revolution was because Jayce didn't want to cause any more bloodshed. Now ir Ambessa was in charge, it would've been a completely different story. Which might as well be what will happen if Mel does end up dying during Jinx's attack.

Something I just realized is when Grayson asks Vander to give a name he could have *easily* given up Silco and avoid basically all the following destruction. Just a sign that he truly regretted his betrayal to Silco and still considered him a member of the lanes "we don't give up our own"

I think the main reason Vander was the way he was being leader of The Lanes is because he didn't want to become like Silco, not wanting to do literally anything necessary to get actual peace. I also loved his relationship with Grayson. Grayson knew Vander was the best person to deal with and like you said Grayson has a lot of respect for Vander(possibly Benzo as well). Unlike Silco Vander didn't really change the "deal". Vander will always be one of my favorite Arcane.

I was like Vander until a year ago, my whole life was making others happy and on the way, I lost myself, who I am, what I like, what I dream for. Now, at 39, I have no idea who I am so I've started with self care and reading/watching whatever pops up in the hope that something is triggered in me. Jobless and on the verge of losing everything, I'm finally taking care of my failing health and understanding my trauma. It's a start but that little voice tells me I'm too old and sick to try to dream. Everyday is hard but at least I have tomorrow. Thanks for sharing your story.

Ive noticed Vi didn't listen to Vander about fighting through her problems. All through prison she fought every one of Silcos underlings that went there.

I feel that everyone with a good heart understands and relates to vander because all those people would have a hard time making different choices from him.

I see Vander as a wounded leader. A person whose deep wish to lift Zaun out of despair, become despaired himself when he's blinded by the consequences of his decisions. As he tries to tell Vi, as a leader, when you want to burn it down they will come with fuel. But his visions has been burned away by what he witnessed. As you say, Zaun under him whithers. Remember Powders greatest find in Jayces appartment, according to herself? Not the shiny blue crystals. But a pair of forgotten sandwiches. It is a world where you scrape together a living and many days go to bed hungry. People in such a situation clings to whatever and whomever gives you a glimpse of, or a shard of hope. However sharp and dangerous. Enters Silco....

I've always felt that a leader's greatest responsibility is to ensure the wellbeing of those they lead. That was what Vander wanted above all else. For the Lanes and his kids to be safe and secure without Piltover's wrath coming down on them. And it is truly disheartening that a desire to look out for others can lead to bad ends 😟

I'm not sure 'people pleaser' is the term I would use for Vander. I think Silco's description of him is actually the best one "You'd die for the cause but you won't fight for one." Vander was willing to fight for a cause, for Zaun, but saw the cost of that fight and to him it was too high a price to pay. Since fighting was off the table all that was left was to maintain and protect. Unfortunately this is not a long term solution. As a boxer Vander should have known that you can't win just by playing defense, sooner of later you have to attack or you'll get beaten down. This also shows a(for lack of a better term) lack of imagination from Vander and Silco. The only way they see to change things on a large scale is by fighting. Silco doesn't care about the cost of the fight as long as he gets his Nation of Zaun while Vander doesn't think the goal is worth the cost in lives. Neither of them seem to consider any other method beyond fighting. Protest, strike's, negotiation. Vander is on good terms with Sheriff Grayson but never try's to parlay that into a talk with the council or anything else like Vi was able to do. Vander is a good man who boxed himself in. He gave up going on the offensive forcing him to play permanent defense and therefore doomed to fall sooner or later.

Wow...I started crying when you explained how people-pleasing ruins you. Basically my entire life, I've been a people pleaser, always tried to do the things other people wanted me to, to behave in the 'correct' way so that peope will like me. I've felt a constant guilt nagging at me for years now, guilt about even _thinking_ about being selfish, that I should just suck it up and not bother other people with my problems, even if they say it's fine, because some part of me doesn't believe them, and believes it knows best. To this day, I still feel guilty even asking for the barest possible minimum, I feel guilty for having these really big feelings and wanting to share them, because the part of me developed social anxiety as a result of my autism still fully believes that if I'm not perfectly pleasant to be around at all times, I'm bad and no one will bother to stick around. I still struggle with telling my best friend about these things because, again, it makes me feel guilty. I don't feel like I'm allowed to be a person. Basically, I feel like this quote I found once: "You don't belive you can be liked, so you settle for being useful." Edit: Also, I have to tell you that I'm really, really happy I found this channel :) It can be hard to find people who see things a nuanced way and have so much empathy for the things they talk about

Vander was a good person but not a good leader, even if Silco didn't take him out back then, another zaunite would eventually. The resement against Piltover keept growing and he didn't give answers, so people began to follow Silco, who had already a big operation going without Vander knowing, which shows how little he had control over the undercity as the de facto "leader".

I always saw Vander as the type of leader who says one life is worth a thousand, until he was faced with the reality of it. Having Vi and Powder find him on the bridge was the moment he realized it wasn't one life is worth sacrificing, it was "my life is worth sacrificing" but he couldn't ask others to do the same now that he was forced to count the cost. Vander is definitely trying to walk that fine line of pleasing everyone, and I think its because he's not only trying to protect his people from Piltover, but from themselves. The weight he carried through his time on screen, I think was because he knew he couldn't keep tredding water anymore. The uneasy peace he struck with Grayson was simply a powderkeg that Vi blew sky high by trying to be more then the undercity would let her be.

Vander’s final moments break me whenever I see it. He wakes up after the explosion, sees his boys and probably Vi were crushed and dead, and you can see him give up. Then Vi starts to cry, and you can see hope and desperation ignite in his eyes. That’s the moment that always breaks my composure. In that moment, he gives up on being a pacifist, he knew right then “If I don’t fight, Vi will die.” He shouts, in pain, he pushes the rubble off, and fights like a monster to beat another monster. By far my favourite scene.

Without under city representation on the council they were always going to stay like they were.

Vander isn't a people pleaser. He is trying to avoid war. He believes that no one wins in war, and it's his job as a leader to do everything he can to protect them. Right or wrong, he believes that they must do anything they can to avoid it. The problem is that he can't accept that war is coming whether he likes it or not.

What I find most fascinating with his cherictor is his relations to silco and savika. They didn’t betray him he betrayed them, you think it would be the opposite way around as their the ‘villains’ and he’s the ‘hero’ He attempted to murder silco because silco didn’t want to give up and fight for a better zaun. Something that would have threatened his new family and deal with piltover While savika and most of zaun at that was more of an unspoken agreement then true loyalty or partnership. As long as he can keep the peace and have the infocers not threaten the normal mans live he will have their loyalty. But if that deal was to fail or fall apart there is nothing holding them back from leaving as now zaun is right back to what it was before the war. Worst part is when it did fail it was because he thru it all away for his family completely abandoning his community. He had good intentions and tried his best but his efforts are no better or worse then Himerdingers, because all the good he tried to do was in reality stagnant and destined to fail and fall apart because he stayed in his lane as it’s the safest option.

This is really good 💕,I really like how human arcane characters are.

he did his best and Vi is doing her best. they’re both doing their best and that’s what hurts so much. that’s what makes me cry.

I need to explain something that was hinted at but not fullly pointed out by Silco's line "The World is Growing Smaller Every Day." This little line hinted at the fruits of Vander's leadership and Silco's juxtaposed to one another because Zaun was a trade city even before the top side could fully keep an eye on it. Back in Vander's time there were statues of a spirit of wind that led trade ships which is why we see all sorts of species including elf like people and yordles mingling down there in the lanes relying on the wind. By Silco's time, technology advanced, people became disoriented in beliefs and addicted to shimmer and money that they lost faith in loyalty in keeping undercity as a whole but both believed in loyalty and sought the best for Zaun. Vander became pacifistic but retained his position until the lines "Do I look afraid," "No you look weak." Weak not in the sense of physique but willingness to take action, which was the direct opposite of Silco's intro speech about power and willingness to achieve it.

Good example of what happens when Vander isn't around; the guy who pours the drinks doesn't have Vander to enforce fair payment, so he takes Shimmer to stand up for himself. No one else will. Vander ensured everyone followed a sense of fair play because he was the strongest and used his strength to protect those who couldn't protect themselves. When he disappeared, so did the sense of fair play. "Without you it all falls apart." Like you said this system of relying entirely on a single person is unsustainable. But what do we replace it with? People are crude, slow learners, they only respect strength (like Sevika) and in a roundabout way _they aren't wrong to think that way_ . Obviously society needs to 'be better' but people much smarter than us have been pondering these questions for generations. How do we create a culture that lives a life as if Vander were watching right over their shoulder, even if he wasn't?

I relate most to Victor. Now I realize the whole reason I got into robotics is because robots are cool and I think if I can make something cool that people appreciate then they’ll approve of me and love me. However, my efforts always go unrecognized so nowadays it’s just a hobby I do to keep my mind occupied but never tell anyone about anything I do. Even when I’m proud of what I’ve done, when I show people and they aren’t impressed, I become depressed. I have a very low opinion of myself. Also last year I developed a terminal illness that’s going to slowly kill me in the next 10 years so that’s something to look forward to, just like Victor. I’ll be dead by my mid 30s friendless, wifeless, and childless never having left my mark on the world. The pain gets worse everyday and I can’t even drink alcohol since that only makes it worse.

This video really spoke to me, Ive lived my whole life with PTSD and depression but at the same time, I’ve always been a people pleaser so they do not have to know what it feels like to suffer like I do, yet this does nothing more than destroy me. And I think your topic of slow death really spoke to me. I do believe I have this amazing gift of, as many have told me, of being a shield for those who need me, but while I may be a strong shield and guardian of everyone, my metal can only take so much and when I break everything is my fault. I don’t know why this video appeared to me now, but after being betrayed very bad last year, I think I’m finally ready to heal and as you said , I’m ready to be selfish and repair my broken and bent parts. I can’t thank you enough for this message.

Loved the video ! What I love about Arcane is the fact that all the characters , doesn't matter how small or big part they play in the story , have so many flaws and human traits that it makes us the audience not only care for them, but also resonate and somehow see each other on their actions.Vander is one of my favourites in the show , thank you so much for doing this amazing video !

Awesome video! I think what makes Arcane such an incredible show is how its characters, even with relatively little screen time, are so compelling and believable in this fictional world (amazing world-building from the creators). Even though I may not personally relate to Vander, different audience members will relate to each character differently, I think it's super interesting to hear from someone who is struck so personally by that character, and why they think that is. Thanks for the quality content!

In the end, in the _actual_ end, Vander was exactly the same sort of fuck-up that Silco was. Projecting his own problems onto someone else and then dropping dead before he could notice how much that fucked them over much less before being able to fix that.

In the little time I knew him Vander was one of my favorite characters and would’ve loved to see more of him but I think his story arc is kinda complete. But if what I heard is true, he might not be gone for good but he won’t be him anymore. I also like that even after everything Silco still respected him and even understood his plight at the end.

One thing I want to point out that almost everyone misses. Zaun predates Piltover, by over 400 years. The issues present in the undercity (mainly the Zaun Grey an airborn poison) are a result of a dredging accident that occurred during the Ruin Wars, it was a project initiated by Zaun to facilitate trade. Piltover is a city state founded on unclaimed land on the other side of the river that resulted from Zaun's dredging project by Ruin War refugees from other lands.

If I wasn't okay with things getting dark, I wouldn't have finished episode 1. :) This was a brilliant exploration of one of the most genuinely good characters in fiction, and a priceless addition to the discussion.

this is so important, and also why i never viewed silco as a villain especially given he was coming from an impoverished upbringing. people love to criticize or over-idolize these characters that seem 'wholly good' but i appreciate that your take on vander is realistic and not 'ideal' like so many people love to view him as. i can't just help but appreciate how human and realistic every character really is. especially, especially silco and vander.

The way you structure your videos and actually dive deep into whatever topic they're about makes your videos so thought provoking and enjoyable to watch. Appreciate you, this one was a banger!

What you said had me honestly thinking about my own situation right now with some people, i'm not a great in depth guy , or situationally aware most of the time. why i love videos like this, opens my eyes up so much more, thank you

7:32 I love how when Vander took the little rabbit plush, he remembers Vi and pieces it together immediately that she plans to turn herself in. It also implies that Vi opened up to Vander about the bullies and must be why He taught her to fight.

I really appreciate this great contribution and will say thank you for the trust you showed us as audience comitting the authobiographical part of your connection with Vander as a character. To call him a pleaser is totally right, he is sacrificing himself for others and Vi earns the results by the little "lady" in the brothel, the addicted guy in the Undercity slums who helped Caitlyn find healing for Vi...but he was not able to make live better for the people of the Undercity. He never seeked the dialogue to the people of power in Piltover, his only connection up was to Grayson. It seems Vander was avoiding every communication with the council of Piltover, he even was not trying to talk with them. I think Vi telling Caitlyn that this will not work because the topsiders will finally betray each trust from the Undercity...these words could have also come directly from Vander. I am not sure that he has already resigned to change the circumstances in which the people of the Undercity live, if he tryed to negotiate before and his experience showed him to give this up or he just resignated to improve anything and just fought for keeping the status quo than change it to the better, but I agree Vander is a great character and I would love to see more about his and Silcos younger days to understand his way better...maybe Warwick and his appearing might be a chance to show a bit of vanders past.

This was a good therapy session for me personally. In my past I was always the people pleaser. Conceding to others just to keep the peace or risk loosing a friendship and/or relationship. I lost a lot of friends and a relationship because I finally said no, but the way it happened left me with unanswered questions, realty to know that people pleasing is not a good relationship, and broken. It took time for me to heal from all of that and I'm better. Sometimes I think about this topic and it bothers me a little but it was a life lesson that needed to be learned. Never be afraid to say no, and be honest with your feelings. That was my take and I understand how you feel about it too. Thank you for sharing this.

Vander and Jayce is essentially the same type of person but grew up in different circumstances.

I'm so glad you made this. Legit made me cry

Your videos are so incredibly well done with amazing quality. Thank you for all this amazing content!

It is the difference between Tactics and Strategy. Tactics will give you the best move at that moment. Strategy will get you to your goal. Strategy can win a war by losing every battle, and tactics can lose a war by winning every battle. The best is to use both, because sometimes the cost of just Strategy is too high without the tactics to reduce the cost. But without strategy, tactics will get maneuvered into a long series of Pyrrhic victories where you are too exhausted to continue the fight, and lose by default. Strategists are usually seen as cold hearted and cruel, throwing troops away like it doesn't matter, but it does matter if after every time you move your opponent closer to defeat. Vander couldn't see this. Vander gave up on freedom for all and opted for a lighter yoke on his slavery. All it cost was to stop Silco by any means necessary. On the micro level, Vander's reasons were good. On the macro level they were naïve and short sighted. What he did turned Silco into a very cold hearted and ruthless leader, which before he was merely a strategist. Now he will sacrifice any and all of his people to achieve the end goal of freedom. Because at the end goal fewer will die. Vander's path would lead to dwindling resources and strength and by the time they realized they needed to fight just to live another day they would have been exhausted of both manpower and material, and would have been defeated the morning before they even knew they needed to fight.

Simply powerful. I find my self coming back to your videos, time and time again. Since you made your first video focused on Arcane…I just have found greater and greater appreciation for your perspectives, your thoughts, and your obvious passion. Thanks for all you do, just badass!

Once again, fantastic video. Looking forward to the next one

Great potential here, the quality is already at 100k Sub levels, probably will get there soon too! a bit of my opinion now. I do not think Vander was a failed leader TBH. I think we are judging him as an armchair generals. He was in a very bad spot, had no insight what were the Piltover people planning, and if the war was to break, Zaun would have been doomed for sure. He was a fair and kind man, a man who wanted safety for his people, had seen bloodshed and wanted see no more. Yes Silco is a well written villain, but I think people fetishize him a bit too much. He was not Megamind over here like many paint him as, He was a selfish mobster, climbing for power and ruining so many lives in the way. if not for Jaice, he would have gotten a war in which he would have lost, Jaice, Like Vander, wanted peace and he offered a... peace deal... If not for Silco, wander was going to sacrifice himself for his daughters mistakes and stupidity, thus preventing the war and keeping his family safe. unfortunately for him, undercity had people like Silco and probably things would eventually go out of control without Vander but well, he had bad options and he chose the best of them.

Thank you for sharing your own extremely intimate experiences with us, and with time your bravery will triumph these past wounds. Keep fighting! 😊

Please keep making these videos! They're so well done, with great storytelling similar to the series itself

I love how nuanced your vidoes are!

Amazing! Thank you for breaking down his character, and at the same time giving a life lesson!

Respect. Thank you for the character analysis.

Onestly a realy good Video. This is a perspectiv I couldn't even belive to considder. Thanks for showing it

Holy shit. I've been binging your videos and they're all masterpieces. You really never miss - your analyses are so insightful and well-said. It's really hard to have both of those qualities, but you seem to have them in spades.

Loved the video, thanks for keeping it real, especially with an amazing show that deserves it 👏 Arcane is deep, evoking all sorts of emotions, making you take a look at yourself and seeing something relatable in LITERALLY every character. So thanks again bro, for the awesome and honest review of this particular character, loved the points you made. It made cry a little but in a good way...if that makes sense. You got yourself a new subscriber 👍

This was a fantastic video. You did a great job of adding your own personal taste.

Fuck... finally broke me and made the tears hit at the end on the word "hope"... my story is long and complicated, but im glad I saw this video before its too late. Thank you. I'm subscribing now too

thank you for opening up like that... pretty sure that uploading this wasn't easy, but it's huge step to process your experiences... always follow your heart and stay true to youself

Amazing video... it hits hard. Since I watched the show I've felt super identified with Vi. Because I'm a big sister and because I carry guilt over things I did as a kid that might have had an impact on my little sister. The funny thing is... that Vander is exactly like my dad was... Where also most of my sense of responsibility was taught to me by him. And watching your video really pulled at the heart strings.

vander not a people pleaser. He sticks to his principles regardless of how many of his own abandon him, feel he's failing them, even to the point he's kidnapped and left for dead, or sent to jail. He's the opposite. He's someone who sticks to his ideal, no matter the cost to himself, its just his ideals are grounded not revolutionary.

I'm a bit late, however this video was absolute perfection... Thank you for sharing your own insight. I'll definitely try to join the streams when I'm free

I think there's one thing Vander had that Silco later realised: foresight. Vander knew for a fact that he could unite Zaun and rise to challenge Piltover, but he didn't because he didn't want to sacrifice his people. Sure things are tough and no one knows if they will have a tomorrow, but at least they have each other to rely on. Vander values this human bonds much more than some abstract "freedom" or "independence". Things can improve, but human lives once lost is forever gone, and a revolution sounds like the perfect meat grinder. Silco thought he took a different path than Vander, he was willing to kill, bribe and step on everything and everyone to reach his goal, yet in the end, when he was confronted with the same choice as Vander, he chose the same. To me, Vander is the strongest and wisest character in the series, he knew the circle of violence and best not to start it, he gave his life for his children and people, however shortlived it is.

One important element you forgot is shimmer. Shimmer is the source of the Undercity's wealth when Silco takes over. The shipment destroyed by Ekko and the fireflies was on its way to another city (Noxus ?). Silco probably sells it to some wealthy people from Piltover. All that cash inflow is helping the city massively. Shimmer is also the reason why Silco isn't afraid to start a confrontation with Piltover. His super soldiers nearly won in the Shimmer factory, only Vi and Jayce were able to kill them. That's something Vander never had : a way to inflict massive dommage to Piltover. Even with this enormous advantage, Silco is hesitant about starting a war. There are multiple reasons why he doesn't start a war but one of them is that he's not sure he could actually win. Vander couldn't start a war because defeat was inevitable. I agree with the rest of your video : Vander could have user his influence to negotiate with Piltover or find another way to move forward. Both Vander and Silco think war is the only option they have. Strangely, Silco is the one who accidentality tries another option.

I needed that... Subscribed.

During my time of watching Arcane, I genuinely saw a lot of myself in both Vi and Vander.

I admire that you shared this personal struggle of yours with the world. I am sure, there are a lot of people out there who can relate to that and feel a little bit less alone right now :)

Why did you just tell me the broad strokes of 2 whole years of my life? The most hopeful, frustrating and formational years of my life. I learned so much with the mindset you've described: trying to keep the peace of all those you care for, putting them all before yourself and seeing it all fail and fall apart despite all those efforts. In the end you learn a lot from that, because what else can you take away from such an expirence? I could go on and on about all sorts of aspects of that story, but I'd rather keep it to myself for now, and just say thank you for making this.

Ey, whatever happend in the past of your life, what ever mistakes you ve made, just remember to never forget the wonderful person you are, cuz you got a good heart

Beautifully written script. Thank you

Sheesh. This is a heartbreaking video, but thank you

new sub here, and my god... that personal take (5:54), actually made me cry, because I have a hard time doing something for myself, without judging myself for not doing something for other people that I care, that actually broke me, even my girlfriend says I should think for my own care sometimes, but I just can't, and that, truly left a mark, that I should think about someday... thanks for the vid, and the words that I will carry on my heart

"in the end failing the people closest to me, and to myself" i can relate to that

I love this take on Vander.

""People tend to take your kindness for weakness"" Sadly, I became happier : -when I stopped giving a shit about others because others don't give a shit about me -when I started to think about me first

great vid! Arcane shows the ''their strengths are their weaknesses'' deal extremely well

4:35 God, thank you for pointing this out My favorite Cait Vi moment is when Vi confesses how she failed her sister - and Cait doesn't guilt trip her. Yeah, Vander tried to be a good dad, but as a result, Vi basically couldn't open up to anybody.

One of the view youtubes i genuienly respect. You're realistic and factual not for the purpose of the video, but because it is what you think

Despite all of the grey area I still think Vander was right, he kept people safe, people just didn't realized. In the end he knew his limits and Undercity's limits.

Thank you once again for putting me in emotional turmoil. I was just talking with my boyfriend about this today and the day before how my mom does this to me, pushing the responsibilities on me to keep my brothers and I together because one day they will die. I will say this I know how my brothers work so in a way I know that I'm doing this just for her and I do feel guilt at times for not really caring because I know that's true. But man is it tiring to be that person. I love my brothers and family but I've been doing this unconsciously and in a way groomed(not the right word but ifk what else to use) to be like this. I love to be the one to help others but for most of my life I've been selfless. I try to put others first and be the voic of reason in my own way and it broke me when I got to university and I had to just do me. I broke down crying when I wanted to drop put because I had some mental issues I didn't know how to handle or explain and qll she saw was that I didn't want to got to school and just wanted to work and if I stopped working then I'd want to go to school. After that I decided to be selfish because it's shit to feel like that. And it's not even anything drastic I do what I want along as I can't still take care of myself and don't hinder others. That's my motto; she then says I'm selfish because I want to do that or I need to do that. And it makes me so mad; I've never given my self the time to.be selfish and then when I do I have to " give it up" so that I can take care of others. In a way I think that's why I'm spiraling again because I THOUGHT that when you get older that ypu can "live your life" and that my parents knew that but I guess not. Like I said I love my family and for those part they are ok but man is my mom a emotional manipulator. I can't refute because I feel like the bastard that doesn't care and it doesn't help that shes says this but when I take care of other because they want me to they are "proud of me". Yea I know I need therapy so I can talk to someone about this but for the time being this is all I can do. All of this is to say that being the person who can't stop being a people or person pleaser(me) sucks big time and I wish I can stop, but I'm slowly doing so like before and hopefully stop for good. My mom is the voice trying to pull me back and idk how to handle it, my brother tried and well...

I discovered this video and I understand that you feel close to Vander's character for various reasons that I don't know. I think Vander is a good man. I think he takes his best. I think this man has savior syndrome. This is not a judgement, just an observation. He wants, as you say, to protect others from the world, from pain, to warn them so that they don't repeat the same mistakes and that's all to his credit. What I personally know about this way of life is that it can sometimes be due to the desire to control what is happening around you, failing to be able to control what haunts us ourselves. In other words, trying to solve other people's problems to feel better because you are unable (for various reasons) to solve your own. I also learned one thing: wanting to protect others, wanting to help them at all costs, making decisions in this direction, is not necessarily helping them. You don't save anyone unless they are ready or determined to be. You influence people only if they are inclined to be at the time. More often than not, you wear yourself out trying. As with everything, there has to be a balance between being selfish and being selfless. You can't do good around you if you don't worry about yourself. You can't carry the world either. And you are human, with your weaknesses and mistakes. It happens, will happen. It's not all your fault. You have to succeed in taking a step back and knowing how to forgive yourself. No one is infallible.

I would love to see you do a series of videos on the Dark and Light Triad personality types. To see which Arcane character you would associate each psyche with.

Tbh I struggle with alot of things. I struggle with mental/emotional issues, struggle with my weight, struggle with procrastination, and struggle with doing my projects. just living is a struggle sometimes because I get so distraught, I just wanna sleep. Yet you pointed out something that I have commonality with Vander. Taking one more step. Thank you for your content

Great video!

One small action is worth more that all the good will in the world.

Hi! I really like your video, and appreciate your personal take on it. I never thought of Vander in this light, and it made me think about Echo and the Firelights, and how much they are opposites at doing the same thing: protection and a safe space. Would you be willing to make a video about Echo and the Firelights?

Sometimes there are no right answers but we have to keep moving forward. I think Vander forgot that...

The last part is amazing oml TOT

Thank you. This personal video and your unique touch with the reality. Make me fell again. Like Jordan Peterson give justification for my action, your videos will remind my wo do I start to fight in begin. Have a nice day Gentleman

Vander is among my favorite characters in the show as well. In general, there’s something to the tragic hero that has always drawn me to them, especially when they refuse to compromise on their ideals. Vander is that kind of character, but he has a realist streak to him that makes him relatable. He understands the costs of upholding his ideals, but refuses to give them up all the same. He’s a flawed character who both recognizes and cherishes his flaws, even as they lead to his failure. Even if he’d somehow known how it would end, I don’t think he would have changed what he chose to do substantially. This is not a character who, as you suggest, could choose to value himself sufficiently that he would put himself ahead of others. He’s a man who struggles with the knowledge of what he’s done, and in the end, he viewed the person he was as dispensable compared with those he protected. It’s a struggle, though. He knows that his role in the community matters, even if he doesn’t think that he himself matters beside the lives around him. He’s a deeply human character who carries around a lot that we don’t see, and watching him fall to that was one of the most tragic moments of the series.

The question you posed earlier, could Vander have brought the peace that Silco did between Piltover and Zaun, and I think the answer is No. We get this answer early when we first get hit by what sort of show this is going to be, in episode 3. The discussions between Silco and Vander.. even after Vander has passed are important I think to knowing more about the Underground, it's troubles, and it's relationship to Piltover. The rich and empowered within Piltover didn't give the underground much thought, no doubt much like we've seen in our own past when there are different castes of people.. those lower are seen as insignificant, if the thought of them ever happens to pass through the minds of those happily living their lives above. Vander told Silco, that even with Shimmer he couldn't defeat Piltover.. (which I think they might have been able to honestly at that point, but it's not important here.) ..and Silco didn't seem to care about that, it was about getting their respect. Respect is a thing they would never be given freely, and it's something Vander could never get from the council because he was no longer willing to do what was needed to truly get their attention, and show them they were a people that had to be paid attention to. Vander, while a good man was leading them to a slow death, that complacency that reside in so many, where as people like Silco, Sevika and others put pressure on Piltover, which in the case of some, certainly led to a much quicker death, but in Silco's case had secured Zaun's place out from under Piltover.. ..well.. potentially, a rocket may very well put that all in jeopardy.. ..that girl jinxes everything.

Vander was a man who sought greatness altho he was ordinary and paid for it with his own blood. He forsook his sense of self for the sake of others, actively striving for an ideal he knew he couldnt fulfill but still tried to because for him, trying to form a utopia where no one suffers and everyone is saved and happy, is something worth trying

After my first time watching Arcane, I though the best way to summarize it would be a quote from I Don't Know Who that said something like "The road to hell is paved with good intentions". I saw it reflected in so many characters... Most notably Jinx, but also Jayce, Heimerdinger, Vander. Many, MANY character that ended doing 'wrong' because they had some pretty damn good intentions. Even Silco, at a certain level. Nice video, have my thumbs up.

Can only say: big hug for everyone who needs it

Leader can be two things, you let people lead you like a dog or you lead people like a dog.

I think of Linkin Park's song "Iridescent" and a message of hope juxtaposed with the tragedy of Chester P. I listen to the song and hear him sing "Let it go" and choose to believe there is hope, even though he eventually succumbed to his inner demons. Thanks for opening up. Arcane was a show that was a lot deeper than maybe I thought on first viewing. We are all flawed creatures. It's what makes us human, I guess. And we live bumpy lives, not smooth, linear ones.

Ooch, that hit hard.

To quote a song from a completely unrelated game.. "Even men with the greatest intentions, start believing their own lies."

[you probably won't see this but] I'm glad you went to this dark place to speak to us of your own feelings and how it enables you to connect to Vander. I feel the same way...I used to put others in front of me to the point where it got me hurt so bad because I was manipulated. After I got burned in that case I...became someone I hated. Cold, lonely, completley shattered and afraid to trust - it took a long time to grow...but I grew back stronger and I protect the people I love with all my might again...but I am wise enough to know where to draw the line and know when someone is playing me. Thank you for bearing your heart to us - I know how it feels to want to protect...and to bear so much weight on your shoulders. Don't allow yourself to be trapped or be burned but never let that light in you burn out because of the darkness of this world. You are a rare light...and there aren't enough of them in this world...but our actions may ignight the hearts of others. Sorry for the vent...this probably won't even be seen but Thank you for sharing.

So recently I decided to finally take time for myself. I’ve spent my entire life on my knees to help everyone around me. I spent 3 years befriending someone who I didn’t really relate to, but I just cared for. In fear of her taking her own life, I took care of her. At some point I realize that I was miserable, and just was waiting for something in life to happen. She manipulated me to care for her. She played me like a game, and got the spoils. I was done; she wasn’t. After I said I needed time, she changed into the opposite of what I had made her out to be. I don’t know her intentions, but I’m under the assumption that she tried to trap me and do who knows what with me. All I know is at first it was an apology that she wanted in person… I was busy, and later found out she was with 2+ other guys who don’t shy away from violence. I don’t know if that was her plan, but in any case, the ‘apology’ and in person request was an attempt to physically or emotionally harm me. I don’t know what my lesson is here? Don’t help people? Don’t stop helping people? Always put yourself first? Always put others first? I’m a complete people pleaser. It’s my crux of my life. I don’t know how to feel. I tried my best, I stayed when no one else would, I wasted my time, and I failed at what I wanted to do. Caring for others will only get you so far in life, and I can’t decide if I’m ok with being the sacrificial lamb. Would I be happy if everyone knew me as the care taker; the man who died fighting for others… I don’t know, but I’m trying to figure it out. This was a great video, and I’m glad I watched it. The past few days have been hell for me, but this brought a little joy in my life.

tbh i resonate more woth jinx, she dedicates herself to her work after losing everything

First thing Vander should do is to give Powder a real name. Something that feels powerful

@Flying Walrus Beautiful essay! What was the music that you used?

Sometime status quo is the best thing we can have. To bring about true change, one would have to sacrifice and risks everything they ever stand for and love. This is reality, no side is the right side, no ideal is wrong, everyone always wants the same thing : a better life.

Vander was a big man, great person. But his perspective was focused on the present, his plan had no future. Silco's vision was terrible for the people in the present, but his at least he was working for change.