Who is Vander? Vi and Jinx’s adoptive father explained

Notice! This article contains spoilers for Arcane Season 2, Act II.

One of ArcaneThe most prominent character of is Vander, the adoptive father of Jinx and Vi, whose past, present, and future are an integral part of the series’ story. At the time of Arcane After the first season’s finale, many would have been forgiven for assuming that Vander’s influence on the story was over. After all, Vander didn’t appear in Arcane season 1, Acts II and III, being yet another invisible presence driving Vi and Jinx’s story. However, Arcane In season two, the Act I ending teased elements that meant Vander could continue to unexpectedly impact the characters, which Act II capitalizes on.

Inside ArcaneWith the extensive cast of characters, Vander was often positioned as the moral center of the show. He had done bad things in the past, but his redemption and guidance from Vi and Jinx provided a lot of emotion and heart. His leadership and eventual absence were so important that they shaped Arcanethere are many League of Legends characters to become these archetypes. As such, his unexpected return in Arcane season two is a big deal, leading many to wonder what Vander’s past was like and how he got to where he is in the show’s final season.

Vander was an influential figure in the underground city of Arcane

Vander is a rare beacon of leadership in Zaun

ArcaneZaun and Piltover’s story is a big part of the show’s story, with Vander somehow involved in this class war. For a long time, Vander was seen as one of Zaun’s influential leaders, despite the underground city technically being under the jurisdiction of Piltover. Vander was a natural leader, with his strength and compassion being a beacon for many to follow. Due to his ownership of a tavern called The Last Drop, Vander was a father figure to many citizens of Zaun in their early years before Arcane season 1.

As Arcane Featured in the first season, Vander was a huge influence on Zaun’s youth, particularly through his paternal bond with Vi, Jinx, Claggor, and Mylo. Vander welcomed her four children at various points in her life, raising them as if they were her own. This has been amply demonstrated in Arcane Season 1, summing up Vander’s leadership position among the citizens of Zaun while also raising other questions about his past, from why he adopted the children to how his leadership impacted the Piltover-Zaun conflicts.

Vander and Silco were once like brothers who dreamed of the nation of Zaun

As mentioned, Zaun has never been independent and is ruled – or, more appropriately, forgotten – by the Piltover council members in Arcane. This led directly to how Vander gained so many followers in the underground city, tied to his former friendship with Arcane season 1 villain, Silco. Silco and Vander were once like brothers, growing up together in the Lanes and dreaming of the day when Zaun would be classified as an independent nation. The pair eventually attempted to turn these dreams into reality by fighting for Zaun’s independence against Piltover.

Vander and Silco spent many of their younger years campaigning for it, mostly without success. That said, their actions have led them to accumulate the aforementioned influential positions within Zaun, with many of its citizens looking up to them as leaders. However, their dream did not last long as the two began to develop somewhat different ideologies.

Vander once betrayed Silco in Arcane

Vander and Silco’s brotherhood fell apart

Before the events of Arcane In the first season, Vander and Silco’s brotherhood came to an end. It’s never stated exactly why this happened, but several contextual clues are provided. Eventually, Vander and Silco’s ideals changed slightly. Based on Silco’s beliefs as presented in Arcane In the first season, he likely descended into extremism and began to desire violence against Piltover, likely desiring the wealthy nation’s subjugation under Zaun’s rule once its independence was established. Vander, despite believing violence was necessary against Piltover, likely wanted the ultimate goal to be Zaun’s equality.

This led to the aforementioned confrontation between Vander and Silco. It was revealed in Arcane In the first season, Vander tried to drown Silco in a river, but Silco managed to escape by stabbing the former in the arm. This ended Silco and Vander’s partnership, and the two became individual leaders on Zaun with their own followers and methods, leading to the show’s story and its central conflict that will be so essential to Arcaneis ending with season 2.

Vander attempted to lead a rebellion against Piltover

A revolt that changed everything

At some point after Vander and Silco’s fight, the former attempted to lead a revolt against Piltover to establish the nation of Zaun. He led many of his followers across the bridge connecting Zaun to Piltover, but the Enforcers of the latter city were waiting for them. The rebellion was quickly crushed and resulted in many deaths on Zaun’s side.including Vi and Jinx’s parents. This explains how Vander adopted the two girls, as well as his drastic change in ideology from that moment on.

Vander struck a deal with the Piltover Enforcers, leading to the first season of Arcane

Vander’s failed rebellion allowed him to realize that the Zaunites could never overcome Piltover’s military prowess by changing their violent ways. From that point on, Vander took a vow of pacifism, hanging up his weapons and peacefully leading those he had influence over in Zaun. Vander even reached an agreement with the Piltover Executors as a way of guaranteeing the safety of his people; If Vander stopped the Zaunites from causing trouble in Piltover, the Enforcers would leave him alone and allow him to rule the underground city as he saw fit.

This agreement was what caused any bond between Vander and Silco to be severed forever. It is revealed that despite the big fight, Silco and Vander still respected each other because they wanted the same thing. However, upon discovering Vander’s agreement with Piltover, Silco lost all respect for his ex-brother and began to despise him. Silco saw Vander’s agreement as a cowardly move, supporting the view that Vander was content to keep things as they were rather than continue fighting for Zaun’s independence.

Vander was killed by Silco in Season 1 of Arcane

Years after Vander tried to kill Silco in Arcane, the latter returned the favor. In Arcane season 1, episode 3, Silco’s plans to finally make Zaun a free nation have been implemented. Silco kills the police officers with whom Vander made his deal, leaving his own puppet, the Enforcer, as leader of the Piltover police force. Silco then captures Vander and attempts to enlist him one last time into his ranks and fight Piltover using an enhancement drug called Shimmer. Vander says he’s not that man anymore, and things get worse as Vi tries to free her father.

Eventually, Vander is seriously injured in an explosion orchestrated by Powder, who later becomes Jinx. After being stabbed by Silco and injected with large amounts of Shimmer, Vander apparently dies. This apparently put an end to the rivalry between Vander and Silco, but Arcane season 2’s story is bringing Vander back in a heavily theorized way.

Arcane Season 2 brings Vander back as Warwick

The Uncaged Wrath of Zaun

Since Vander’s death, theories have emerged that Arcane season two would see him revived as the beast known as Warwick from League of Legends. In Arcane season 2, Act II, this theory is confirmed. It is revealed that Singed, the alchemist who created Shimmer for Silco, recovered Vander’s body and experimented on it. This turned Vander into ArcaneA mindless werewolf beast that goes into a frenzy at the smell of blood, causing him to cause chaos in the ongoing conflict between Zaun and Piltover.

Arcane season two, Act II, reveals that Vander’s consciousness is still within Warwick’s beastly mind. Vi and Jinx come together to save Vander, taking him to Viktor, who has become a renowned healer in Zaun. From Arcane Season 2, Act II finale, however, Warwick’s true nature takes over Vander’s mind when Viktor is apparently killed, causing a cliffhanger ending that leaves Vander’s fate hanging in the balance.