PERSONALLY...

PERSONALLY...

Do I think the poster was photoshoped and put together by someone who does not work at all in fortiche? Yeah, most likely just marketing material for the retailer

BUT they probably got the renders from the *actual* marketing team from either Fortiche or Netflix.

And I think that Viktor is from the * time skip* period. As you pointed out, his hair is mid point between acts 1 and 2. his hand is not hexcorized, and he looks slightly healthier than in act 2.

So I'm thinking that render comes specifically from a flashback segment in season 2

Oooooooo I did not think of that! It could definitely be a flashback. We know there will be a few, cuz I’m pretty sure I saw somewhere that Silco’s VA recorded some lines for S2.

And I actually have a little theory that could fit into this. I kinda feel like maybe Viktor has been smuggling Hextech projects into the Undercity for a while. Like… it probably became clear to him when Jayce became a councilor (if not sooner) that Hextech was being co-opted by the rich, and it was never going to help the people he set out to help. So he started working on smaller projects (water filters, air purifiers, things of that nature) and sneaking them into Zaun. And if this were to come to light somehow, (shown to us in saaaaay a flashback) it would be yet another nail in the coffin of his exile. Cuz the council could spin it, make it look like Viktor was colluding with Zaun the whole time, smuggling them Hextech weapons and aiding Jinx in her attack (which is of course a lie, but if they are able to prove he was smuggling Hextech into Zaun, he wouldn’t really have an answer for these accusations… not one they’d be inclined to believe, anyway.)

And I do have something to back it up: this. This right here. This look, when Jayce is actually floating the idea of building weapons to be used against Viktor’s people.

The wheels are turning. That is a look of realization, of determination. It says oh you’re not the man I thought you were. So it’s up to me now. I have to help them.

Viktor's Parents

What We Know:

Amanda Overton shared a Twitter Post saying that they had a backstory which wasn't made canon where Viktor's parents saved up the money to buy him the uniform so he could sneak into the Academy.

In his League of Legends bio, it only says they were "artisans" and encouraged his inventing.

So, Are They Still Alive?

By the time Viktor is found dying in the Hextech lab, it's Jayce who was his primary emergency contact, not somebody like his parents (or Heimerdinger for that matter-- but since he'd been working more with Jayce than Heimerdinger in recent years, I guess that makes more sense?).

SOMEHOW, SOMEONE was able to find Jayce at Mel's place in the middle of the night and let HIM know (without even waking Mel) that he needed to go to the hospital to check on Viktor, but at the same time nobody would be able to send a letter to his parents or something?

I don't know if it is just detachment from home-life and work-life, but for this reason, and him so ready to off himself after what happened to Sky-- I am really thinking that Viktor's parents might be dead by this point in his life.

But if that's true, then that begs the question...

When and how did they die?

...

Theory #1: Viktor's parents fought with Vander on the bridge and were killed on the Day of Ash

Viktor was born in the Entresol level of the Undercity, which according to this video is also where the Lanes and probably the mines are located. His league bio says they had to relocate a lot when he was a kid because of things like chemical spills, accidental detonations, or incoming chem-clouds.

That means his parents probably knew and worked with plenty of people in the Lanes, factories, and mines.

Let's assume Viktor's parents did know Vander and joined his cause. I'd say them scrounging up every penny to send their son off to a school for a better future would put them in the same mindset as the other parents who died on that bridge fighting for the chance at a better life for them and their kids.

(Side Note) Viktor's Artisan Parents:

If Viktor's parent's were still artisans in Arcane, what sorts of things did they make?

As a kid, Viktor's boat was mostly made of spare scrap and gears, but was pretty intricate given the same scrap-parts we see Powder collecting to make her various bombs. If his parents worked with those sorts of materials, he would have access to a larger variety of things than Powder would have scrounging around behind the Last Drop.

Plus given how his childhood clothes and cane aren't exactly the quality of a master woodcarver or seamstress, I am going to say they probably worked with metal like clocks, masks, and machinery--- maybe even weapons like Vander's cast-iron gauntlets? (Another potential tie to Vander, but maybe a reach?)

Just look at the metal handle on his cane in contrast to the rest of it, and again, the materials of his boat.

Back to the Point:

On the bridge, there is a memento left behind, a pair of glasses stained with blood:

These are metal "working glasses" with a lens enhancement... not exactly goggles good for fighting in like Claggor wears, but something say an artisan like a jeweler or a clockmaker would wear, or someone who works with fine, small things. There is even a pocket watch next to them. (But it could be unrelated?)

If Viktor's parents did die on the bridge, Viktor would have most likely already been in his late teens, early twenties and studying at Piltover's Academy by this time, and he would have woken up to a view of smoke and the aftermath of a cause people died for which he was hoping to prevent given more time with his studies.

But... Then again...

If this theory were true, then would his reaction of people fighting on the bridge later on, not warrant more of a reaction out of him than a headshake?

...

Theory #2: They died in an accident

One of LoL Viktor's biggest traits is wanting to evolve past "human error". These errors caused a lot of the destruction around his home as a kid and cost many lives as well as his time. Maybe Viktor's parents were simply killed in the crossfires of an accident like an explosion or a chemical spill?

There is a connection between Viktor and the Water Purification Walls where he always goes to think and where Heimerdinger claims to have discovered him.

Could it be related to his parents' works? To his work wanting to fix something that hurt or killed them specifically? Or maybe it is just one of his first projects that he created personally just to help people.

On a different note, his parents could have even died at the hands of their own experimentation and work? (Which could explain why Viktor is also so reckless with his experimenting before he even knows his life is on a timer.)

...

Theory #3: They were also sick from the gases in the fissures

Bringing me in to theory 3, they simply died from the same illness that is currently killing Viktor now. Simple as that.

He wasn't very surprised by his sickness or seeing blood coughing up in the days before he collapsed. Maybe he already knew based on past experience with people in the Undercity sharing the same fate? His parents included.

...

Theory #4: They're not dead at all and are totally fine

Maybe Viktor's parents aren't dead at all and are just in the Undercity somewhere doing work while Viktor does his own thing in Piltover. They're all just genetically workaholics and forget to check in every now and again?

Maybe Viktor, will even cross paths with them in season 2?

Maybe they'll be in danger of a chem spill and his creating Blitzcrank will be brought up to save them?

Maybe, the people he tries to help in his LoL lore after fighting with Jayce could have also included somebody more personal such as his parents?

The theories go on...

...

So IDK, this is just the results of all of my Viktor brainrot and theories about timelines and placements for stories about him that I was trying to write this week.

What do you think happened to Viktor's parents?

Feel free to discuss and/or let me know if I should try to finish my fanfic about this plot. 🤣

victor's Special One's routine 🥰

May your next period be light and end quickly

The stupid little Heimer and Ekko scene has me grinning ear to ear because they’re just an adorable duo but it also raises a lot of questions?? I’m so curious about this whole thing.

What are they stealing?

Why are they stealing it?

When in the season does this take place?

Ekko has a legitimate point. Why are they sneaking around? It’s not like Heimer has been banished…which means Ekko has to be there. I’m not complaining because Ekko’s my second-favorite character in the show but nonetheless why is he there? It seems like he would only slow Heimer down, so whatever they’re smuggling out must be either heavy, hard to reach, or needs to be judged for merit by Ekko.

The hallway that the enforcer is shown walking down looks like the same hall that Sky was traversing when she was talking to herself about her research, so it may be that Heimer and Ekko are trying to get into Jayce and Viktor’s lab unseen. Why?

Are they trying to steal something more raw like the gemstones or research notes, or something more complex like the Hexclaw or Atlas Gauntlets?

Heimerdinger has a mask, here. Does that mean enough time has passed between S1’s finale and the present to allow for Heimer to be “initiated” as a real Firelight, or is it part of the silly gag of Heimer taking this way too seriously?

i also wonder if this shot from the trailer is going to take place in the lab after him and Ekko get wherever it is they’re looking for.

Sorry I’m going to be thinking about this 30-sec clip for hours I love it

Though we didn't get to see Mel in the Arcane s2 trailer, we got her in the s2 poster, which leaves you to wonder why they withheld that. Whatever the reason, I'm looking forward to seeing how the show handles the way Mel survived the bombing. More curious now than ever before.