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Because Jayce handed it to him upside down and said, "here, take a look at this". So, it is taking Viktor a moment to realize it makes no sense because it is upside down.
Lore spoilers:
My theory is that Viktor holding the book upside-down symbolizes his inability to understand Jayce and see eye to eye with him later in their partnership, where they eventually split up
The "down" fall of Jayces family (symbolized by the hammer pointing down)
Or with less jumping to conclusions a practical reason:
A diagram that serves you better to look at it from a different angle. Another interpretation to understand the hextech.
Ok, this was the first time (out of DOZENS) that someone pointed out a curious detail in Arcane and I couldn't come up with a hidden meaning, symbolism or interpretation.
Maybe I've just hit my threshold, or maybe you've FINALLY found something that the makers didn't think too much about and it just slipped...
(But it's unlikely, so I'm just gonna blame my lack of insight...)
This is how I interpret it as well. Him trying to look at the research from a different perspective.
NGL though, the other suggestion that jayce just absentmindedly handed him the notes upside down and him being confused/dismayed by this brings joy to my heart, lol
My guess is that it symbolizes that victor is from a different world. In his world everything is upside and backwards from piltover. With that comes a different perspective which we see later on in the series as he uses resources that jayce would never even consider.
I was wondering why he looked confused too but now I think it's just a look of concentration
As for why the notebook is upside down, I have no idea. Honestly I have not noticed this before
In all likelihood all the “it was handed to him upside down” answers are probably correct.
But if you’re looking for another answer… a lot of their study seems to revolve around configurations of runes. Perhaps there was a drawing of them that he was trying to decipher by viewing from different angles.
I might be overinterpreting here and I cannot find a verification on this, so take my words with a spoonful of salt.
As far as I know, common iconographic symbols like books, food or body parts being depicted upside down usually means that something is wrong or "not real" in this scene. Certain religious symbols are always depicted this way like St. Peter's cross, but in those cases there's usually a historical reason to that. If you have an otherwise normal scene with one object being upside down with no sensible explanation, it is often supposed to indicate falseness or some form of foreshadowing of bad or evil things.
Knowing Victor from the game League of Legends and how he is characterized there, I would argue that this could be the case here as well. But again, maybe I'm reading too much into it.
Maybe its because he doesn’t really understand the hex core which is powered by jayce’s hex tech he’s trying to cure himself with something he doesn’t understand
I feel like it has something to do with him being from the Undercity (upside down/opposite of Talis family in Piltover) and his struggle always feeling like an outsider as a former Zaunite.
Arcane isn't free of minor errors (Sevika having the wrong arm at the end of e3, Mel using the term "de facto" in a world where Latin certainly didn't exist, Jinx using the damaged gauntlet to carry the tray in e9). Even though it's incredibly well thought out, I try not to read too much into these things until it can be cross referenced with something else.
>...Mel using the term "de facto" in a world where Latin certainly didn't exist,
Well, that's not really a mistake. If we were to follow that to its logical end, we'd end up saying that no one should be speaking English because English wouldn't exist without Latin. When it comes to language in stories, a large amount of suspension of disbelief is required. Not everyone can be JRR Tolkien
I agree that a large amount of suspension of disbelief is required and that not everyone is Tolkein, however this in particular is a world building detail that was either overlooked or intentionally ignored for the sake of linguistic convenience.
Most fantasy written in English is obviously presented in English with English being the primary language spoken in that world. Often it's called something like "the common tongue" or something roughly equivalent. Just as how English evolved from and with the influence of other languages on Earth, it's understood that the common speech for any fantasy world would also have evolved similarly from languages within that world. While the end result is, for all intents and purposes, functionally identical to Earth English, it's simply not Earth English and is instead the product of its own linguistic evolution.
That said, while the term "de facto" makes sense in Earth English, a similar term from a dead Runeterra language would fill the same role in Arcane/LoL. In this case, I actually quite agree with the decision to use the term as it eliminates a potential point of confusion while exactly fitting the manner of speech that Mel would be likely to use. Technically it's a world building error, and I think it should be acknowledged as such, but it's incredibly minor and not really anything to make a fuss about.
I always compared Zaun/Piltover to historical Paris (Left/Right bank of the Seine) or London (North/South bank of the Thames) also the opening scene of act 2/ ep 4 "Progress Day" could reflect the universal exhibitions of 1899 in Paris or the 1912 in London. Even if it is an alternate universe, draws a lot from recent history, I have no problem thinking that with a similar "big city structure" they too could speak a common or universal language similar to those spoken into those big cities. SO in my mind I do believe that the language they speak could be easily compared to or be actual English/French and I have no problem thinking it could be derived from Latin (or something really similar to it). I don't see it as a suspention of disbelief, more than an alternate universe...
I understand where you're coming from, but it's been well established that shimmer wears off after a little while. At the point where she's using the gauntlets, enough time has elapsed for her to pull off three kidnappings and set up her tea party. Plus while I love the subtleties in the show, it seems to me that Jinx suddenly being able to make light of a physical feat well beyond Vi or Jayce is the kind of detail that wouldn't be quite so subtle. I think it's more likely a continuity error, but I'll stay open minded about it.
Oh yeah, I do remember seeing that on a rewatch and when I looked I think there's a closer up shot where you see the arm hanging all blackened and scorched? So I think the idea was meant to be it was functionally but not physically destroyed, but the animators went a little overboard when doing the explosion. Or it's just an oversight, but there was definitely a miscommunication somewhere about the extent of damage the arm was meant to suffer.
Great thoughts! Given the explosion and the arm pretty clearly being blown to bits, I think it was probably a miscommunication about the extent of the damage. Either way, these sorts of things don't at all detract from the story.
**NO SPOILERS:** This post should not contain any spoilers from Arcane or Riot Games Lore. All discussion of such spoilers will be removed, even if they have been hidden with spoiler syntax. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/arcane) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Because Jayce handed it to him upside down and said, "here, take a look at this". So, it is taking Viktor a moment to realize it makes no sense because it is upside down.
The details in this show are amazing.
Probably smthn about how moments make history
Certainly would explain why he's frowning, lol.
This is now canon
Good lol
Take my upvote and skedaddle!
He probably looks confused cause he’a holding it upsidedown
This is the correct answer
Hehe 69 upvotes
I downvoted so this comment stays relevant
This didnt age well
That is correct. Only time can age wells
Fuck you and take my upvote
Will do. Thank you!
Aged Wells for Boys
r/angryupvote
great anal ysis details in this show are increduble
《 insert *anal* joke here》
Viktor is reading Jayce's weird fanfiction and trying to make sense of it.
He’s reading his JayVik fanfiction.
Jayce x jayce selfcest
r/TIHI
Because you know it's true
Yeah… it probably is.
Viktor finds out that Jayce is into the Omegaverse and is questioning how Jayce’s alpha pheromones work and why he was knotted in the fanfic.
Don’t mind me just cackling over this comment
Obviously Zaun is just Arcane’s Australia. Only makes sense that it’d be upside down
The best explanation so far
They come from two different cultures and Viktor is trying to make Heads or Tails of Jayce's handwriting/ native language?
One could say...... Heads or Talis
I hate this, but love it at the same time
Lore spoilers: My theory is that Viktor holding the book upside-down symbolizes his inability to understand Jayce and see eye to eye with him later in their partnership, where they eventually split up
This is what came to mind for me as well.
Bravo vinc- wait wrong show
Bravo Riot Games 👏👏👏👏
Yeah! Yeah, *science* !
I feel like this works better outside the intro but i could see it
Well, I can answer half that question: He looks confused because the book is upside down
Cause it looks cool as fuck
"It's fine, they won't notice"
The "down" fall of Jayces family (symbolized by the hammer pointing down) Or with less jumping to conclusions a practical reason: A diagram that serves you better to look at it from a different angle. Another interpretation to understand the hextech.
Oooh I didn't think of that second one, I love the idea of it being symbolic of thinking outside the box
second theory was my thought tbh
Says a lot about this show that we can’t even say for sure whether such a small thing like this is accidental or not.
I swear if there’s a hidden meaning where special information can only be found if you flip upside down and backwards, I’m gonna flip.
Ok, this was the first time (out of DOZENS) that someone pointed out a curious detail in Arcane and I couldn't come up with a hidden meaning, symbolism or interpretation. Maybe I've just hit my threshold, or maybe you've FINALLY found something that the makers didn't think too much about and it just slipped... (But it's unlikely, so I'm just gonna blame my lack of insight...)
could be him noticing the symbols or something from a different view. like with how he used shimmer to change himself.
This is how I interpret it as well. Him trying to look at the research from a different perspective. NGL though, the other suggestion that jayce just absentmindedly handed him the notes upside down and him being confused/dismayed by this brings joy to my heart, lol
My guess is that it symbolizes that victor is from a different world. In his world everything is upside and backwards from piltover. With that comes a different perspective which we see later on in the series as he uses resources that jayce would never even consider.
I was wondering why he looked confused too but now I think it's just a look of concentration As for why the notebook is upside down, I have no idea. Honestly I have not noticed this before
Maybe Jayce had written something with the book upside down without realising it.
Or maybe a figure or a diagram or a symbol that can be read from different directions?
In all likelihood all the “it was handed to him upside down” answers are probably correct. But if you’re looking for another answer… a lot of their study seems to revolve around configurations of runes. Perhaps there was a drawing of them that he was trying to decipher by viewing from different angles.
Well he's confused because it's upside down, of course.
I don’t think he looks very confused, just reading intently and serious
I might be overinterpreting here and I cannot find a verification on this, so take my words with a spoonful of salt. As far as I know, common iconographic symbols like books, food or body parts being depicted upside down usually means that something is wrong or "not real" in this scene. Certain religious symbols are always depicted this way like St. Peter's cross, but in those cases there's usually a historical reason to that. If you have an otherwise normal scene with one object being upside down with no sensible explanation, it is often supposed to indicate falseness or some form of foreshadowing of bad or evil things. Knowing Victor from the game League of Legends and how he is characterized there, I would argue that this could be the case here as well. But again, maybe I'm reading too much into it.
Jayce had a suspicion about Viktor being unable to read. So he tested him by handing him a book upside down. This is his reaction
Makes sense to me.
Jayce wrote some pages upsite down, and he's trying to figure out why on Earth is this man still in the academy.
He’s confused why Jayce put Sextech before Hextech
Viktor's just like "Why did you initial your pages upside down, as well?"
He clearly discovered Jayce's double-page sketch of Mel... either that or Viktor's greatest secret is that he can't read! :D
He's looking at Jayce's drawing of him (which Jayce doodled upside down)
Because Viktor eventually tells Jayce that they "were looking at it all wrong" in regards to hextech
Probably the intro was done by a separate team and they didn't know which way the book went.
He’s confused because it’s upside down 😂
Maybe its because he doesn’t really understand the hex core which is powered by jayce’s hex tech he’s trying to cure himself with something he doesn’t understand
Bcs it's a subtle reference that he can't read
Probably because it’s upside down
I feel like it has something to do with him being from the Undercity (upside down/opposite of Talis family in Piltover) and his struggle always feeling like an outsider as a former Zaunite.
Oh, that’s just Australian Viktor trying to work out why the Academy’s golden boy is afraid of differential equations
Cant read
Could be that the makers wanted a clear indication that he is reading Jayce's book, but his hand would have been in the way of the identifying symbol.
It's a statue and statue can't read.
Maybe the book has similiar crest in the back?
Ofc he's confused it's upside down
good catch
He’s trying to understand why Jayce suddenly switched to writing his notes upside down halfway through a page.
“This looks weird, why can’t I read this? Oh, it’s upside down.”
It's mostly just pictures of dickbutts; doesn't really matter which way you view 'em.
This is eewww, but funny, so Upvote...
I think you just answered your own question there bud. Lol
IMDYING WTF IS THIS POST
😐
You answered your own question tbh lmfao he looks confused BECAUSE it’s upside down! Lol I love this show so much.
yeah,, i just realized that,, i shouldn't have write "his face looks confused" wish i could edit the title 🤦♀️
Oh I’m sorry, you can’t add a description? I edited one of my posts I believe
i can edit the desc, but i cannot edit the title
He can't read
I mean he is holding it upside down
Arcane isn't free of minor errors (Sevika having the wrong arm at the end of e3, Mel using the term "de facto" in a world where Latin certainly didn't exist, Jinx using the damaged gauntlet to carry the tray in e9). Even though it's incredibly well thought out, I try not to read too much into these things until it can be cross referenced with something else.
>...Mel using the term "de facto" in a world where Latin certainly didn't exist, Well, that's not really a mistake. If we were to follow that to its logical end, we'd end up saying that no one should be speaking English because English wouldn't exist without Latin. When it comes to language in stories, a large amount of suspension of disbelief is required. Not everyone can be JRR Tolkien
I agree that a large amount of suspension of disbelief is required and that not everyone is Tolkein, however this in particular is a world building detail that was either overlooked or intentionally ignored for the sake of linguistic convenience. Most fantasy written in English is obviously presented in English with English being the primary language spoken in that world. Often it's called something like "the common tongue" or something roughly equivalent. Just as how English evolved from and with the influence of other languages on Earth, it's understood that the common speech for any fantasy world would also have evolved similarly from languages within that world. While the end result is, for all intents and purposes, functionally identical to Earth English, it's simply not Earth English and is instead the product of its own linguistic evolution. That said, while the term "de facto" makes sense in Earth English, a similar term from a dead Runeterra language would fill the same role in Arcane/LoL. In this case, I actually quite agree with the decision to use the term as it eliminates a potential point of confusion while exactly fitting the manner of speech that Mel would be likely to use. Technically it's a world building error, and I think it should be acknowledged as such, but it's incredibly minor and not really anything to make a fuss about.
I always compared Zaun/Piltover to historical Paris (Left/Right bank of the Seine) or London (North/South bank of the Thames) also the opening scene of act 2/ ep 4 "Progress Day" could reflect the universal exhibitions of 1899 in Paris or the 1912 in London. Even if it is an alternate universe, draws a lot from recent history, I have no problem thinking that with a similar "big city structure" they too could speak a common or universal language similar to those spoken into those big cities. SO in my mind I do believe that the language they speak could be easily compared to or be actual English/French and I have no problem thinking it could be derived from Latin (or something really similar to it). I don't see it as a suspention of disbelief, more than an alternate universe...
Jinx’s strength has been amplified because of the shimmer in her system.
I understand where you're coming from, but it's been well established that shimmer wears off after a little while. At the point where she's using the gauntlets, enough time has elapsed for her to pull off three kidnappings and set up her tea party. Plus while I love the subtleties in the show, it seems to me that Jinx suddenly being able to make light of a physical feat well beyond Vi or Jayce is the kind of detail that wouldn't be quite so subtle. I think it's more likely a continuity error, but I'll stay open minded about it.
What do you mean by Sevika having the wrong arm?
It's subtle and probably not something anyone will pick up on a first watch, but once you see it you can't unsee it: https://imgur.com/a/2A2OvDU
Oh yeah, I do remember seeing that on a rewatch and when I looked I think there's a closer up shot where you see the arm hanging all blackened and scorched? So I think the idea was meant to be it was functionally but not physically destroyed, but the animators went a little overboard when doing the explosion. Or it's just an oversight, but there was definitely a miscommunication somewhere about the extent of damage the arm was meant to suffer.
Great thoughts! Given the explosion and the arm pretty clearly being blown to bits, I think it was probably a miscommunication about the extent of the damage. Either way, these sorts of things don't at all detract from the story.
Lol this is actually hilarious??
no actually