Arcane is the hit animated show on Netflix that explores the backstory of characters in the League of Legends universe. One of the main characters in Arcane is Vander, the leader of the underground gang called The Last Drop in the undercity of Zaun. Vander plays a paternal role looking after the gang’s members, especially Vi and Powder who see him as a father figure. However, Vander’s fate remains unclear after the events that transpire in the show. Here’s a closer look at what happens to Vander and whether he is actually dead.
What happens to Vander in Arcane?
In Act 1 of Arcane, Vander discovers that his gang members Vi, Mylo, Claggor and Powder were involved in a mission resulting in several deaths. He scolds them for their reckless actions that could instigate an all-out war between Zaun and Piltover. Later on, Vander attends a peace treaty ceremony between both cities headed by Jayce and Silco, but the deal goes sour. Enforcers from Piltover attack, and a full-blown conflict erupts. Vander transforms into a hulking beastmutant and helps Vi and Powder escape from the chaos. He then stays back alone to hold off the enforcers.
In the aftermath, Silco finds a gravely injured Vander in the rubble. Silco offers Vander a chance to help him build a new Zaun, but Vander refuses, not wanting to join Silco’s violent plans. Silco then executes Vander with a gunshot to the head. Vander’s “corpse” is dumped into a flowing canal and floats away, leaving his fate unclear.
Clues that Vander could still be alive
Though Vander was shot in the head by Silco and his body discarded, there are some clues that suggest he may not be dead:
- Vander is a beastmutant who can transform into a powerful wolf-like monster. Beastmutants have been shown to have regenerative capabilities in Arcane’s lore.
- We never see Vander’s whole corpse up close after Silco kills him. The “body” is obscured in the canal as it floats away.
- Vander’s beastmutant nature is never shown or explained to anyone except Vi and Powder. Silco may have underestimated Vander’s resilience.
- The river current carries Vander’s body towards the ocean. He could have revived and washed ashore later undetected.
- In a dream sequence, Vander tells Vi that “there is something I must do.” This hints that his role in the story may not be over yet.
The biggest clue is that we never get direct confirmation that Vander is permanently dead. His fate remains ambiguous, leaving the door open for his possible return.
Clues that Vander is actually dead
On the other hand, there are also several clues that point to Vander being dead for good:
- Silco shot Vander directly in the head at point-blank range. This kind of injury is almost always fatal.
- Vander’s beastmutant transformation has limits. It may not protect him against a fatal gunshot wound.
- Silco is completely confident that Vander is dead and feels he has eliminated his rival for ruling Zaun.
- Vi and Powder mourn Vander’s death. If he were alive, it’s unlikely the show would keep that hidden from the sisters.
- In a symbolic scene, Vander’s torn clothes float downstream, implying his death.
- Vander being alive would undermine the emotional impact of his sacrifice and death for Vi and Powder’s character arcs.
Though there are hints Vander could have survived, the show provides some strong evidence that he actually perished at Silco’s hands.
Conclusion
Based on the events in Arcane Season 1, Vander is most likely dead and will not return. The manner of his death makes it improbable that even a beastmutant like Vander could survive. His absence creates a void for characters like Vi and Powder, driving their growth and motivations. For narrative purposes, Vander serving his role as a tragic sacrifice has more impact than him being alive.
That said, Arcane’s writers have crafted just enough ambiguity regarding Vander’s fate to leave the question open. Until and unless we see definitive proof of his death such as a body or funeral, a small possibility exists that Vander could come back. His return would need to be handled convincingly, but could work if revealed as a huge plot twist.
Ultimately, all signs point to Vander being deceased, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility that creative storytelling could bring him back. For now, fans will have to wait eagerly for future seasons of Arcane to uncover the truth of whether Vander still lives.
Vander’s Background
Before analyzing Vander’s fate, it helps to understand his background in Arcane:
- Vander grew up an orphan in the poverty-stricken undercity of Zaun.
- He turned to crime to survive and eventually formed The Last Drop gang.
- Vander displayed strength, charisma and empathy, becoming the gang’s respected leader.
- He developed a close father-daughter bond with two orphan sisters, Vi and Powder.
- It’s hinted that Vander went through a beastmutant transformation later in life.
- As leader, Vander tried to avoid unnecessary violence and protect Zaun citizens.
- He had past ties with Silco, but refused to join Silco’s plans for an independent Zaun through terror.
Vander’s caring protective nature as a father figure and gang leader makes his death all the more tragic. It also explains why Vi and Powder are profoundly affected by his loss. Vander’s beastmutant powers remain largely a mystery that could perhaps explain how he survived Silco’s murder attempt.
Analyzing Vander’s Relationships
Looking closer at Vander’s key relationships in Arcane provides more insight into his role in the show and the impact his death had:
Vander and Vi
Vander served as a surrogate father to the hot-headed, rebellious Vi. He tried steering her away from unnecessary violence. Vi admired Vander greatly and saw him as the glue holding the gang together. Vander’s death haunted Vi, fueling her anger at Silco. She coped by becoming more aggressive and defiant.
Vander and Powder/Jinx
Sweet, innocent Powder relied heavily on Vander for emotional support. His death was especially traumatizing for her, exacerbating her mental health issues. She coped by adopting the persona of the unhinged, violent Jinx. Vander’s protection might have kept her from spiraling out of control.
Vander and Silco
Vander and Silco were former running buddies who became bitter rivals. Vander refused to join Silco’s extremist plans for Zaun, oppose Piltover or allow children in his gang to be drawn into violence. Killing Vander eliminated a voice of reason that could have challenged Silco’s methods.
The Impact of Vander’s Death
Killing off Vander early in Arcane had significant ripple effects on the show’s overarching plot and characters:
- It removed a moderating influence keeping the gang in line and focused on survival rather than violence.
- It allowed Silco to seize control of the Zaun undercity unopposed and accelerate his plans.
- It emotionally fractured Vi and Powder, putting them on darker paths.
- It opened up complex new storylines examining loss, grief, revenge, family and moving forward.
- It reinforced Zaun’s desperate circumstances by taking away a rare caring, protective figure.
- It set up an intriguing air of mystery about Vander’s beastmutant past and capabilities.
Overall, Vander’s death was a pivotal narrative choice that shaped Arcane’s core characters and themes. Reversing it could undermine much of the show’s rich backstory and complex character web.
Examining Theories About Vander’s Fate
Arcane fans have come up with various theories speculating about what really happened to Vander and his possible future on the show:
Vander Survived and is in Hiding
One theory suggests Vander’s beastmutant powers revived him after Silco’s murder attempt, but he’s been recovering in secret and biding his time before resurfacing. This would require Vander to have exceptional healing abilities though.
Vander Has Amnesia
Vander could have survived but lost his memory, living anonymously in Zaun. A chance encounter with Vi or Powder could jog his memory, allowing a dramatic reunion. But this might stretch believability too far.
Vander Will Return in Flashbacks
We may see more of Vander in future seasons, but only through flashbacks to Vi and Powder’s childhoods. This would expand Vander’s background without undermining his death.
Vander is Permanently Dead
The most likely scenario based on Season 1 events is that Vander died for real at Silco’s hands. Future appearances, if any, would be in flashbacks or dream sequences rather than Vander being revived after his shown murder.
Vander Will Be Resurrected
Perhaps the most far-fetched theory claims Vander will be resurrected using hextech, chembarons or other magical means. But bringing him back to life would require jumping the shark in terms of realism.
Each theory has its own plausibility issues. Until proven otherwise, Vander being alive seems more speculative than definitive. The flashback and permanent death explanations currently have the most credibility based on Season 1 evidence.
How Vander Could Plausibly Return
If the show’s writers do decide to revive Vander, here are some plausible ways they could handle it:
- Reveal Vander was gravely wounded but didn’t die, and has been secretly healing.
- Use a time skip to advance the story years later when Vander finally resurfaces.
- Tie Vander’s return to the emergence of hextech and its capabilities.
- Stage Vander’s revival as a plot twist and huge surprise rather than telegraphing it.
- Have Vander lose his memories at first, not recognizing Vi or Powder.
- Show that excessive use of Vander’s beastmutant powers came at a literal cost.
- Emphasize that Vander now has a renewed sense of purpose after cheating death.
Any return would need to strike a careful balance between staying plausible versus contrived. But Vander coming back in a well-crafted narrative could drive intrigue and fresh character growth for Season 2 and beyond.