Let me tell you about Arcane’s latest episode that’s got everyone buzzing. Season 2 has been a rollercoaster, but episode seven, “Pretend Like It’s the First Time,” might just be the best one yet. It’s more than just another piece of stunning animation; it feels like stepping into an emotional video game, complete with choices that tug at your heartstrings. If you’re a fan of Life Is Strange, you’ll feel right at home with this one.
A Different Reality for Ekko
The episode focuses on Ekko, our time-bending hero, who’s thrown into an alternate reality thanks to a rogue rune. While Jayce is trapped in a nightmare world, Ekko lands somewhere almost magical. Imagine Zaun not as a struggling undercity but as a thriving hub of invention. For the first time, Ekko sees the future he’s always dreamed of—a place where Zaun rivals Piltover in creativity and prosperity.
But it gets even better. In this alternate universe, Powder, his childhood love, never transforms into Jinx, the show’s chaotic villain. Instead, she’s free of her tragic past, and the two share moments that feel almost too perfect to be real.
The Heart-Wrenching Choice
Here’s where it hits you. Despite being offered a chance to stay in this perfect world, Ekko knows he has a responsibility back home. With the help of Heimerdinger and Powder, he builds a device to return to his own dimension. But before he leaves, there’s one last moment—a tender dance under the moonlight and a kiss that’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
It’s not just a goodbye to Powder; it’s a goodbye to the life he could have had. Watching Ekko choose his friends and hometown over his happiness is the kind of emotional storytelling that stays with you.
A Nod to Life Is Strange
The whole episode feels like a love letter to Life Is Strange. Just like Max Caulfield, Ekko has time-rewinding powers, but those powers come with impossible decisions. Save the people you love or save your home? The parallels between Powder and Life Is Strange’s Chloe Price are uncanny—from their tragic blue-haired aesthetics to their doomed narratives.
As Ekko leaps back to his dimension, the unspoken understanding between him and Powder hits hard. She realizes he’s not from her world, and the silent goodbye is enough to leave you in pieces.
A Musical Masterpiece
Arcane knows how to pair visuals with unforgettable music, and this episode is no exception. The dance scene between Ekko and Powder is set to Stromae’s “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” (which translates to “My Dearest Enemy”). The song’s haunting melody captures their bittersweet connection perfectly. Fans are loving it too—Stromae’s track hit Spotify’s global top 10 within days, racking up millions of streams.
What’s Next for Ekko and Powder?
Here’s where things get wild. Fans are already speculating that alternate-universe Powder might somehow follow Ekko back to his world. If that happens, imagine the chaos of her meeting her darker counterpart, Jinx. The possibilities are endless, and the fandom is buzzing with theories.
