What happens to Jinx at the end of Arcane
Spoilers ahead
In Season 2 episode 9: “The Dirt Under Your Nails”, Jinx appears to pay the ultimate price to save her sister. In a critical moment in one of the final scenes of the episode, Jinx jumps in front of Warwick to defend Vi, but ends up dangling from a ledge, Warwick firmly wrapped around her body, holding on to nothing save for one of her sister’s gauntlets.
To prevent the ledge from collapsing under all of their weight, Jinx, in what might very well be her final act of heroism, decides to take off Vi’s gauntlet, effectively plummeting both herself and Warwick to their doom.
But does she really die?
“Does Jinx really die?” is the question everyone is asking after finishing the third act of Arcane. And, while we can’t know for sure yet, there might be some clues scattered throughout the show that could help us come up with an answer.
Let’s take a look at the facts.
Breaking the cycle
While imprisoned in season 2, episode 8: “Killing Is a Cycle”, Jinx imagines a conversation with Silco. He tells her that “killing is a cycle” and that the only way to escape it is by distancing yourself from the violence.
“I thought I could break free by eliminating those I deemed my jailers. But … Jinx … I think the cycle only ends when you find the will to walk away.”
-Silco (Jason Spisak), Arcane Season 2, Episode 8, Netflix
This line is so powerful, not only because it reflects on the destructive nature of humanity, but also because it might be foreshadowing the show’s ending. It might be preempting Jinx physically leaving Piltover in order to break the cycle.
Jinx’s line to Vi
One of the first clues fans might notice is a certain line Jinx says to her sister at the beginning of their final fight with Warwick. When Vi frees her from under some rubble joking that maybe she shouldn’t have come back, Jinx replies with a really interesting line.
“Still don’t get it, huh, sis? I’m always with you. Even when we’re worlds apart.”
-Jinx (Ella Purnell), Arcane Season 2, Episode 9, Netflix
Ella Purnell’s delivery is everything in this scene, highlighting just how important this line is. So let’s look at it a bit more.
The two sisters are standing back to back, readying for battle, in a stance similar to what we see in the first season before the Firelights’ attack (Season 1, Episode 6: “When These Walls Come Tumbling Down”) as well as in the intro of the show.
It’s also not the first time Jinx tells Vi that she’s always with her. Throughout the show, even in the first season, Jinx reinstates the fact that Vi has been by her side all throughout her life, first as younger kids, then as a voice in her head, filling her thoughts, and now protecting her and having her back again.
Both the characters’ stances and the recurring theme of Jinx’s line could be an indication that what Jinx is saying goes beyond this particular scene and could actually be a reflection of the sisters’ entire relationship.
Now, the second part of Jinx’s line is where things get even more interesting. The mention of “worlds apart” could hint at the her possible departure from Piltover.
Since Ekko convinced Jinx not to kill herself, there might be a possibility that she’s now considering breaking the cycle in a different way — by leaving. This line might just be her way of assuring her sister that they’ll always be together and have each other’s backs even if they’re not physically in the same place.
The Streak
Even in her final moments, Jinx appears to be in control of the situation, deciding to pull the pin of one of her bombs, possibly to ensure Warwick’s death with the explosion. What some people might have missed, due to the high emotional intensity of the scene, is a purple streak leaving the explosion site just moments before.
Now, we all know about the speed Jinx gained due to Shimmer. We also know that her eyes glow pink streaks whenever she uses it.
Could she have managed to run away before the explosion? Who knows? But the streak is the ideal color and it’s way too conveniently placed for it not to be a tantalising possibility.
Where would she escape to, you might wonder? The answer lies in a later scene of the episode.
The air ducts
Just minutes before the final episode of Arcane ends, we see Caitlyn looking over some plans of the Hexgates her mother left her. Throughout the second season, she’s consistently combing through similar plans and documents ever since she gains access to them, so this move is not out of the ordinary.
However, she’s holding the remnants of a toy monkey head, a trademark of Jinx’s, but also coincidentally the head of the bomb we see her use to create the explosion in the Hexgate. This is a clear indicator that Caitlyn’s scrutiny and Jinx’s possible death scene are connected.
The Hexgate plans show air ducts leading out the sides of the construction. Now, these might just be some simple air vents, but they could also be Jinx’s escape route.
We can’t know for sure, but Caitlyn’s small smile at the end might be a good indicator.
The airship
If this wasn’t enough evidence to support the fact that Jinx might be well and truly alive, there’s also an end shot of an airship flying away from Piltover, not unlike the one in the very first episode of the show.
Why is this important? Because, in the first season, right after the shot of the airship, Jinx, then still going by Powder, says:
“One day, I’m gonna ride in one of those things.”
-Powder (Mia Sinclair Jenness), Arcane Season 1, Episode 1, Netflix
Arcane is well known for its foreshadowing and easter eggs. Characters often predict their futures through lines or certain actions, which only goes to highlight the mastery of the writers of the show.
The fact that we haven’t seen Jinx ride in that airship yet might just mean that she could be doing it now, to escape her death. Of course, nothing is for sure, but the scene with the airship at the end of the show is far to similar to the one in the beginning for it not to be an exciting possibility.
Interviews with the creators and cast
Aside from all the evidence scattered throughout the show, we can also look at the very makers of Arcane — its creators and cast.
In an interview with Tech Radar, Arcane’s co-creator, Christian Linke, didn’t really say whether or not Jinx is still alive, commenting that he can “neither confirm or deny”. However, his body language and wry smile speak volumes.
“I can neither confirm or deny [that Jinx is alive]. I will say this: her whole story is about turning from the little, bumbling sister into someone who is able to take responsibility and do what a big sister needs to do. Isha is really that example for Jinx. She [Jinx] is starting to understand what it’s like to be responsible, and to be able to grow and be stronger.”
-Christian Linke
He also commented further, highlighting that while Vi might not be willing or able to sacrifice members of her family, Jinx, having grown as a character, is capable of doing it for her. Her decision of sacrificing herself and what might have remained of Vander inside Warwick in order to save her sister, shows how much more mature she is now and is important for her character development.
Christian Linke is not the only one who avoided answering the question, though. When asked, in the third episode of Arcane Afterglow, actress Ella Purnell also gives a somewhat vague answer.
“We don’t know … We’re gonna leave that open to interpretation.”
-Ella Purnell
Conclusions
Whether Jinx is still alive or not might not be clear, but that could be because we’re just not meant to know yet. The creators of Arcane clearly want fans to have their own opinions.
The ending of the show is a powerful one, and while heartbreaking, it perfectly ties up Jinx’s story. For now.
Is Jinx being alive still a possibility? Yes, absolutely. After all the evidence fans have gathered, the idea of her appearing in a future show wouldn’t be too far fetched. It’s certainly something we are all hoping for.
Will she appear in future projects any time soon? Now, this question is much harder to answer. While a future show that will explore new characters and locations has already been confirmed, it’s hard to say whether or not Jinx will make an appearance. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Disclaimer:
This post contains analysis and opinions based on the Arcane series, a show owned by Riot Games and Netflix. All trademarks, character names, and logos are property of their respective owners. This article is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not claim ownership of any copyrighted material referenced. The views and interpretations expressed here are solely those of the author and are not endorsed by Riot Games or Netflix.