The Piltover Enforcer: Vi's Transformation In Arcane Season 2 Explained

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Arcane season 2, Act I.Arcane season 2 has begun exploring Vi's transformation from a Zaun native to a Piltover enforcer, making her closer to her League of Legends counterpart than ever before. The ending of Arcane season 2's first act saw Vi confront her sister as part of Piltover's police force, but the journey to becoming an enforcer was far from simple. Having lost her parents to Piltover's police when she was young, Vi grew up hating the city's form of law enforcement, hence her anti-authority attitude. Additionally, she's had plenty of run-ins with these so-called protectors throughout her life, adding to the resentment.

Vi was even imprisoned by enforcers for several years, making the idea of her signing up for the group incredibly unlikely. However, despite scoffing at Caitlyn's suggestion to join them, Vi is confronted by several enforcers who seem excited to work with her, with one of them revealing Caitlyn enlisted her anyway. Naturally, this catches Vi off-guard, but after helping fend off Zaun's next ambush following Jinx's attack on the Piltover Council, the former outlaw eventually embraces her new role and agrees to become a part of the enforcers in the hopes of putting an end to the ongoing conflict.

Why Vi Becomes An Enforcer In Arcane Season 2

Vi's Mission To Find Jinx & Her Relationship With Caitlyn Leads To Her Becoming An Enforcer

Although Caitlyn was responsible for signing her up, Vi decided to put her personal feelings aside and joined the enforcers in the hopes of creating peace. Vi's relationship with Caitlyn in Arcane played a huge part in her accepting this new role, as their connection goes back to season 1, which is where her journey to becoming an enforcer first started. After Caitlyn released Vi from prison, the two teamed up and developed a connection bordering on romantic. The duo's mission then led Vi to Jayce, who developed her iconic gauntlets and eventually took her to the surface of Piltover.

Despite growing up in Zaun, Vi learned that Piltover wasn't as hostile as she once believed and was making a real effort to achieve peace with her home city. Unfortunately, Arcane season 1's ending undoes all this progress, as Jinx's assault on the Piltover Council ends any chance of the two cities coexisting. While she genuinely wanted to help stop the conflict and bring her sister to justice, Vi was originally against the idea of becoming an enforcer due to her personal grudge against the group alongside their history of oppression when it came to her home.

However, having seen the terror that Zaun's extremists were willing to carry out while still feeling guilt about Jinx's actions, Vi felt the need to take matters into her own hands. Initially, she wanted to deal with Jinx on her own, but with her sister becoming more unhinged than ever and Zaun essentially declaring war on Piltover, it became clear that being part of a team was the only way forward. As a result, she wears the enforcer uniform and badge at the end of episode 1, proving she is willing to do whatever it takes to make things right.

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It may be hard for Vi to swallow her pride and become the thing she once hated, but her trust in Caitlyn and the rest of the strike team gives her a chance to make the enforcers represent good while attempting to defuse the tensions between Zaun and Piltover. Ultimately, Vi's feelings towards Caitlyn are what ignites her path to becoming an enforcer, with her decision to enlist coming down to her belief in doing what's right. Sadly, Arcane season 2, Part I's ending only damages her relationship with the woman she loves, adding to the complexity of Vi's storyline.

Despite Vi following a similar path in Arcane as in League of Legends, her character feels completely different in the Netflix show. Having seized a high-ranking role within Piltover's police system, Vi is full of confidence in League of Legends, knowing she can break the rules without many repercussions. Alongside Caitlyn having a soft spot for her, Vi has a fearsome reputation that cements her status as a valuable asset to Piltover, making her a brash yet effective enforcer who is great at her job. On the flip side, she has a lot more self-doubt in Arcane.

The hit animated series has spent much more time fleshing out her character, as Vi and Jinx's heartbreaking story in Arcane has shown different sides of both of them compared to their League of Legends counterparts. Although Vi is still incredibly strong and confident during the beginning of the show, the traumatic events of season 1 slowly make her more vulnerable. The feud with her sister showcases both Vi's empathetic side and her ruthless aggression, a far cry from the cockier and self-assured enforcer we're used to seeing in the video game franchise.

Given her slightly rebellious nature in League of Legends, it's been a breath of fresh air to see how raw Vi's character arc has been in Arcane, and the haunting story only helps build on her legacy. While League of Legends presents her as a slightly arrogant, authoritative figure, Arcane adds a lot more depth to Vi's personality by exploring her dark past without dropping these core characteristics completely, making her transition into the Piltover Enforcer all the more compelling.

The Piltover Enforcer Name & Role Explained

Vi's Menacing Role In Piltover's Law Enforcement Makes Her A Fearsome Enforcer

Vi's moniker as The Piltover Enforcer stems from her menacing role as part of the city's police force. While Piltover's law enforcement is already pretty efficient, no one on the force is as intimidating or persistent as Vi. According to League of Legends lore, her tendency to break the rules and fight a little dirty makes even some of the most notorious criminals afraid of her, giving Vi a terrifying reputation. She seems to have embraced her role in the game universe and enjoys putting outlaws in their place, especially given how much satisfaction fighting gives her.

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The title of The Piltover Enforcer has no exact origin, but outside being feared by Piltover's criminals, it could also be a slightly condescending name given to Vi by Zaun. Considering she was once a street kid from Zaun who hated authority and enforcers, associating Vi with the thing she once despised doubles down on the fact that she is seen as a traitor. The name may be intended to tarnish Vi's image, but this hasn't stopped the brawler from thriving as part of Piltover, and her Arcane season 2 story could end with her facing a similar destiny.

Her Deteriorating Relationship With Caitlyn & Isolation Could Lead To Vi Becoming The Piltover Enforcer In Arcane

With Vi's season 2 arc gearing up to be full of pain and isolation, it could slowly build towards her League of Legends fate. Caitlyn striking Vi with her gun after an argument suggests the two will be going on completely different paths. Whereas Caitlyn is going down a dark road in Arcane season 2 after being appointed the leader of Ambessa's army, Vi looks set to spend much of the season on her own. The trailer also teased her fighting inside an arena alongside being filled with anger and sadness, hinting at a dramatic next six episodes.

Vi's loneliness may be what leads to her eventually becoming slightly cockier and more cutthroat, just like she is in the games. Although she is an already formidable foe for her enemies, learning to harness her anger while embracing her role as The Piltover Enforcer could be the character's next step in Arcane season 2. In addition, after the war comes to an end, Vi and Caitlyn may make amends as their League of Legends story still hints at a potential romance, meaning the show's haunting arc could complete Vi's transformation while still giving her a relatively happy ending.

Set in the League of Legends universe, Arcane focuses on sisters Violet and Powder (later Jinx) as they end up on opposite sides of a growing conflict between the wealthy utopia of Piltover and its dark undercity whose citizens wish to break away from their oppressors. Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, and Kevin Alejandro star in this animated adventure. 

Release Date November 6, 2021

Directors Pascal Charrue , Arnaud Delord

Showrunner Christian Linke , Alex Yee