Arcane's Chinese censorship destroyed its core queer romance.

One of the reasons I believed Arcane would never truly engage in a queer romance between Caitlyn and Vi was that League of Legends extremely It's popular in China. Riot's long-running MOBA has been a staple of internet cafes and teenage bedrooms since its debut, and is a free-to-play phenomenon in the US with millions of people playing it every day.

It's also a country where the government isn't particularly progressive toward LGBTQ+ people, and queer moments in movies, TV, and video games are often censored when distributed. Many forms of real representation will not pass these cuts. That's not possible in the modern era, and Arcane season 2 makes that clear. Caitlyn and Vi's romance is frankly laughably neutered.

Arcane wouldn't be the same without Caitlyn and Vi's Sapphic Romance.

Blockbuster movies like Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Avengers: Endgame, or Lightyear have strange characters and moments that primarily occur in the background, and these small moments of expression are designed to be removed from the experience without consequence. This is the kind of weirdness that companies want to incorporate. It's not about representing LGBTQ+ people in a positive light, it's about capitalizing on a demographic that can make money.

There were even reports claiming that in Inside Out 2, Pixar made a concerted effort to make characters like Riley seem “less gay” for fear of a bad reception. I wanted to make more money, even if it meant driving queer people away.

Arcane is different. The first season was accused of queerbaiting for leaving too much of Caitlin and Vi's romantic potential to the subtext. They didn't kiss or confess their feelings to each other, but anyone with even the slightest bit of critical thinking watched the two interact and knew there was more going on between them. The dialogue, body language, and pacing of the relationship were exactly what you'd expect from two lesbians falling violently.

There's also a breakup scene in the rain where Vi compares them to oil and water. Like, could this be any more obvious? When the second season launched, Fortiche and Riot delivered on this romance, unless you happen to be watching in China. Then the reality is a bit different.

How Arcane's Queerness Is Censored in China

Caitlyn and Vi's relationship is a core part of their respective relationships, and removing it undermines what exactly they are fighting for and everything they go through. Caitlin vows to bring Jinx to justice after her mother's death and convinces Vi to stand with her as a fellow Executioner, even though it goes against everything she believes.

Vi feels so lost and alone after everything she's been through, and she makes all the right choices for the wrong reasons. In the third episode, Caitlin and Vi kiss and fall deeper into their romance, a moment that plunges them further into despair. Aside from China, where the scene ends awkwardly and little is accomplished or established.

Everything that follows, including the showdown with Jinx and Caitlyn's betrayal of Vi at the last minute, is consequently lacking in substance. These characters seem to decide to do things for no reason because it doesn't make sense without a romantic context. The same goes for the sex scene in Episode 8, which is skipped entirely once Vi and Caitlyn meet in the cell.

The conversation only discusses minimal details, advancing the narrative without any hint that these two are romantically involved. What ultimately makes the show much worse is that the censorship silences queer fans in China who undoubtedly want to see themselves represented. They are not stupid.

But the most shocking scene is the final one, where Vi and Caitlin are now living together after Jinx's death (or escape) in the final battle. In its original form, Caitlyn walks into the lounge to join Vi by the fireplace, gently asks her partner if “she's still in this fight,” Vi leans affectionately on Caitlyn's shoulder, and the two women touch each other. It contains an image of savoring.

Arcane's tender final moments. It's a climactic note that promises to keep going as the two characters who fought the hardest now have each other. Although the battle ahead may be difficult, hope is not lost.

The sight of Caitlin and Vi living with ghosts in China feels like a horror movie.

Since the entire ending could hardly be cut, it was decided to sit them both down to handle a scene featuring two canon lesbians, but as the camera switches between different shots, it erases one of them from existence, giving the impression that: They are both alone, sitting in different rooms, not even talking to each other. It's bizarre, and it speaks to how stories with prevalent queer themes fall apart when censors try to erase them.

I can't get past Caitlyn resting her head on my non-existent shoulder. It will haunt my dreams forever. And that's without even mentioning Maddie's scene where Caitlyn appears to be talking to herself in bed instead of other characters. It's all so strange…

Arcane's queer stories deserve to be told

Last week, I caught up with story editor, co-writer, and co-producer Amanda Overton to talk about Caitlyn and Vi's relationship in Arcane, and surprisingly, it was always the plan to bring them together. The censorship became more severe when Riot and Netflix deliberately didn't write these stories for a queerbait audience, promising representation, but then pushed them to the finish line to neutralize them regardless. Making more money in a region that doesn't want LGBTQ+ people speaking out in the media shows that in their minds, we are considered expendable.

Suppressing queer voices clearly takes precedence over telling coherent stories or defining characters. Although Chinese audiences are smart enough to read between the lines and discover the true intentions in their own way. We wouldn't be the only country doing this with Arcane or other animated shows like The Owl House and She-Ra. Because queer characters or themes are fundamental to their existence, removing them robs the story of all its vitality. I plan to convey it.

LGBTQ+ individuals exist all over the world, and no matter how much support they receive in their home countries, they are trying their best to live their lives to the fullest and be happy. Arcane may be just a TV show, but it's one of the biggest shows of the year and it has a beautiful couple at its center. That's important. In China and other countries it has disappeared due to sheer prejudice. The situation is getting better, but there is still a long way to go.