Are there gay characters in arcane
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They're from the two opposing cities, and they both also face internal conflicts over what the right course of action should be. Gradually, their relationship develops from mutual derision, through distrust, ending up with the pair sharing a deep emotional bond. Caitlyn looks at ease sitting next to a beautiful female patron. Queerness is just one part of who they are—and it’s treated with respect.
The Impact: Arcane’s Place in Netflix’s Queer Canon
Arcane joins a growing list of Netflix originals that center LGBTQ+ stories.
Arcane took baby steps into canonizing a potential relationship between two beloved characters; it doesn’t deserve a parade just yet. All You Need To Know
The widely acclaimed Riotgames video game League of Legends gave birth to the Netflix series, Arcane, back in November 2021. But there’s never a discussion from either of them that actually illuminates their choice.
A writer for Arcane, who noted their experience as a queer woman, explained in a Reddit comment that the lack of terms like “gay” in the aforementioned scenes was informed by an absence of stigmatization for sexuality or presentation in Runeterra.
Arcane on Netflix: How a Sci-Fi Fantasy Became a Queer Powerhouse
Quick Read
- Arcane is an animated series inspired by League of Legends, streaming on Netflix since 2021.
- The show features strong queer themes, including the relationship between Vi and Caitlyn.
- Arcane’s world-building and character development highlight found family and rebellion.
- Critics and fans praise its subtle, respectful approach to LGBTQ+ representation.
- Season two continues to expand on these themes, with calls for broader diversity.
Arcane: League of Legends’ Animated Universe Breaks New Ground
When Netflix premiered Arcane in 2021, the streaming giant introduced viewers to a world far removed from typical video game adaptations.
Both animation and video games are notorious for over-sexualizing their female characters and, while League of Legends is far from the most egregious example of this, it doesn't have a perfect track record either. Are There Gay Characters in the Netflix Series?
The LGBTQ+ representation in the media remains an ambiguous quest, especially considering how viewers are more likely to hate when a TV series is rubbing it in their faces that it has gay characters and they have to deal with it.
Not Arcane, though.
However, animated shows have eclipsed this by now, especially with the advent of streaming. Shots focus preferentially on posture, facial expressions, and portrayal of emotions. In so doing, the blossoming relationship between them carries deeper implications along with it — if they can see past their differences and find harmony between each other, perhaps their cities can find a way to do the same.
Zaun, the seamy underbelly, is full of Mad-Max-meets-Paris-Fashion-Week types, pointing to how the show uses gender nonconforming “otherness” to define that space. The first episode also contained a transphobic sight gag that gave some viewers pause. This means that queerness isn’t always spoken—it’s lived.
This strategy has drawn praise from critics and fans alike.
The show never labels their relationship directly, but the chemistry, lingering glances, and acts of trust are unmistakable. But the show, foregrounded by the AAA game space, offers more of the status quo.
Arcane establishes a world that confusingly borrows queer aesthetics and dabbles in queer coding, while never fully committing to the existence of LGBTQIA+ characters.
It’s a testament to what happens when creators trust their audience to understand nuance. Consequently, the few scenes where it does come up in conversation stand out because of how understated they are. Instead, queerness is woven into character arcs and worldbuilding.
Vi, the show’s tough, principled protagonist, has become an icon for queer viewers.
Focusing on the chemistry and growing fondness between Vi and Caitlyn, their relationship remains a 'maybe', at least until Arcane Season 2 or any future content from Riotgames confirms they are together.
However, no one can deny just how good together these two look and feel on the small screen. Vi is a brawler and an outlaw, so she naturally has a buff look, broad shoulders, and a hearty appetite.
Arcane fleshes them out in a way that League of Legends never could, but the effort is confusing.
Caitlyn and Vi are assumed to be queer in some way, even if that fact is couched in vagueness that shrouds what they are to each other. Neither of these things, nor Netflix, is particularly known for pushing the envelope with regard to LGBTQIA+ issues.
It feels cynical to come down on Riot’s first foray into television, but it also feels like everyone else is not being cynical enough.
However, the upper classes of Piltover are not entirely free from a more subtle version of this, like Councillor Salo, who exemplifies queer coding with his sassiness and penchant for wine.