Arcane: Who Died In Jinx’s Attack On Piltover’s Council

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Arcane season 2, Act I.

Arcane season 2’s biggest question surrounded which council members survived Jinx’s attack in season 1, and which were not so lucky. Arcane season 1’s ending featured this attack against the council. After killing Silco and letting Vi and Caitlyn go, Jinx truly became her League of Legends champion in Arcane by wielding a giant, shark-shaped rocket launcher powered by Hextech. Jinx aimed the weapon at Piltover’s council building and fired, ending the show on a massive cliffhanger.

Arcane season 2’s story picks up directly from this cliffhanger, with the show wasting no time in exploring who survived the attack and who did not. At the center of the death and destruction are Vi and Caitlyn, who somewhat blame themselves for not stopping Jinx when they had the chance. With Arcane season 2 ending the show, the story of the class war between Piltover and Zaun has only escalated thanks to Jinx’s attack, which resulted in several major character deaths.

Three Councilors Died In Arcane Season 1’s Ending

Irius Bolbok, Torman Hoskel, & Cassandra Kiramman

The central story of Arcane season 2, episode 1 focuses on the aftermath of the attack against the council. One of the main ways this aftermath is explored is via a communal period of mourning for the councilors who were not lucky enough to survive Jinx’s actions. Overall, three councilors died in Arcane season 1’s ending: Irius Bolbok, Torman Hoskel, and Cassandra Kiramman.

Although Bolbok and Hoskel were not major characters in Arcane, they were still important to Piltover’s infrastructure. Both were shown to hold a great deal of respect among the other councilors and played a big hand in making important choices in the conflict with Zaun, if not always decisions that were well-founded or logical. However, the loss of Cassandra Kiramman proves incredibly important to Arcane season 2 as she is Caitlyn’s mother. Cassandra’s death leads to several major plot points, from Caitlyn’s increased anger and her need for revenge against Zaun and Jinx to her being appointed as Piltover’s general.

Four Councilors (Including Jayce & Mel) Survived Jinx’s Attack

Some Important Characters Made It Out Of Jinx’s Attack

Given that the Piltover council consists of seven council members, four of them survived Arcane season 1’s explosive ending. Two of these characters are lesser-known councilors like Hoskel and Bolbok, with the survival of Councilor Shoola and Councilor Salo being confirmed in Arcane season 2, Act I. Salo’s survival is important for the progression of Arcane season 2’s story, with Ambessa Medarda using him as a way to get closer to the Piltover council and have more control over the kingdom.

Aside from these two, Jayce and Mel were also confirmed to survive Jinx’s attack. These two characters have been vital to both seasons of Arcane, with the trailers for Arcane season 2 hiding the fact that both managed to make it out of Jinx’s assault. Alongside these two was also Viktor who, while not a councilor, was present when Jinx bombed the tower. Viktor did not escape unscathed though, instead being critically injured and subsequently placed into a Hextech-induced coma by Jayce.

Arcane Season 2 Is Yet To Answer Its Biggest Mel Mystery

Did Mel Somehow Protect Herself & Jayce From Jinx’s Rocket?

One of the biggest mysteries of Arcane season 1’s ending came as Jinx’s rocket hit the Piltover council. As the missile flies toward the tower, Mel and Jayce are shown rejoicing over the council’s decision to give Zaun rights as a state, thus creating peace between the undercity and Piltover. However, Mel’s back suddenly begins glowing gold as she turns to see the rocket hit the tower, right before Arcane season 1’s credits begin rolling. This indicated some kind of dormant power that Mel possessed, which was the source of many theories crafted in the three years between A rcane seasons 1 and 2.

Despite this scene, Arcane season 2, Act I is yet to address it. Mel’s golden glow and her seeming premonition of the rocket were not mentioned, begging the question of whether this moment will ever be tackled in Arcane‘s final six episodes. In Arcane season 2, Act I, Jayce notably questions how he survived the explosion, yet Viktor – who was standing right next to him – was critically wounded. This could be a hint that Mel does indeed have some kind of power.

It could be the case that Mel’s power protected those closest to her. In the heat of the moment, Mel may have somehow shielded herself and Jayce, leaving Viktor and the other councilors to face the ramifications of Jinx’s attack in Arcane season 1. Regardless, there seems to be more to Mel than meets the eye, leaving Arcane season 2’s last two acts to answer a big mystery.

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

Writers

Christian Linke , Alex Yee

Directors

Pascal Charrue , Arnaud Delord

Showrunner

Christian Linke , Alex Yee