Arcane is a perfect setup for Timebomb-centric narrative as a whole, S2E7 is just a fuse

Many fans interpret S2E7 as a setup for Timebomb, but in reality, it’s Arcane as a whole that lays the groundwork.

Jinx and Ekko have barely shared two scenes focused solely on them across both seasons. These moments, though brief, were absolutely essential, as they carried some of the most significant weight in the narrative—they simply couldn’t have been omitted. Yet, both scenes were deliberately cut to the bare minimum. S2 confirmed this intentional approach by revealing a missing piece from the bridge fight scene, offering a glimpse into the state of their relationship at the time. This was crucial for understanding the dynamic between MU Ekko and AU Jinx that was about to happen. But even then, the creators held back, leaving much more to interpretation, as suggested by a highly plausible theory about Ekko’s actions following the bridge fight.

The creators have been deliberate in withholding other interactions between Jinx and Ekko. We don’t know how close they truly were or what moments they shared throughout their journey—from their childhood to where they ended up in the finale. S2E9 reinforces this intentional ambiguity. The showrunners were willing to omit one of Jinx’s most significant character transformations just to avoid revealing details about her relationship with Ekko. This level of restraint wasn’t applied to her relationship with Silco or Isha. As it wasn't applied with any other relationships between the main characters in the story.

And now, here we are. We have two intricately connected, beautifully crafted characters whose stories feel complete, yet remain shrouded in mystery. If a Timebomb-centric narrative is the direction they’re heading, then the setup has been executed flawlessly. They allowed themselves to lean into the events that we have already seen, yet showing it from a whole new perspective, even by simply extending the existing scenes, deliberately left incomplete in the first place.

S2E7 serves as the perfect fuse for the bomb they’ve planted, ignited by the large fanbase it has inspired, now timed to explode. The rest is in their hands.