Netflix’s Arcane, based on the League of Legends world, has taken fans by surprise with how deep its characters are and the huge divide between Piltover’s elite and Zaun’s gritty undercity. The interesting thing that many fans pick up on is the ages of these characters, which makes sense of their development and how they act around one another.
Let’s begin with Jinx, who was initially named Powder. When we initially encounter her, she’s merely a little girl of 11 or 12 trying to make her way around Zaun’s rough streets. She has an interesting life of curiosity and imagination, but also undergoes some intense trauma, such as losing Vander, who was more of a father figure to her, which influences who she becomes as a character. By the time Jinx becomes Powder, she’s about 17 to 19 years old, struggling with a lot of emotional instability and with a darker outlook on the world.
Vi, Powder’s older sister, shows up as a protective and strong-willed teenager, somewhere between 14 and 16 years old. She often puts herself at risk to keep Powder safe. Fast forward to Season 2, and Vi is in her early 20s. She’s spent about seven years in prison after the Season 1 events, and the distance from her sister weighs heavily on her, fueling her drive to protect the people of Zaun.
Then there’s Caitlyn Kiramman, whose exact age isn’t clearly stated but is thought to be close to Vi’s. Caitlyn starts around 16 years old, coming from a wealthy family, but searching for purpose beyond that. By the time Season 2 rolls around, she’s a Piltover Enforcer, working alongside Vi to bring justice.
Jayce Talis is a master inventor who started his career at age 24. He’s heavily invested in Piltover’s revolutionary Hextech technology. Later, he’s in his early 30s and must maintain peace in a city more divided than ever.
Viktor, another scholar such as Jayce, also begins at the age of 24. He’s working on enhancing life in Zaun with technology. By Season 2, he is somewhere around the ages of 30 to 31, but his Hextech experiments call his level of humanity into question.
Mel Medarda, a politician who is ambitious in Noxus, is met at 26. She is one of the council members of Piltover and plays the political game cautiously, allying with Jayce on Hextech. By the second act, Mel is in her early 30s and most committed to the future of Piltover.
Ekko is one of the younger characters in the show, a Zaun street kid who’s around 13 when we meet him. By Season 2, he’s a 20-year-old leader of the Firelights, a team defending Zaun’s green areas and its citizens.
Vander, who acts as a father to Zaun, is about 45 years old during Season 1. His advice has a huge impact on both Vi and Powder, influencing much of what drives them.
Ambessa Medarda, Mel’s mom and Noxus’s influential leader, makes an appearance toward the latter half of Season 1. She’s approximately 60 years old and her role in Piltover politics brings so much depth to the storyline.
Finally, there’s Cecil B. Heimerdinger, the oldest character in Arcane—a venerable, 307-year-old Yordle who’s passionate about science and the safety of Piltover. At the time skip, he’s around 314, still curious and willing to learn despite his age.
Every character’s age in Arcane brings a special depth to their narrative and the decisions they make. As the series goes on, viewers can’t wait to discover how these characters evolve and transform as they deal with the continuous rivalry between Piltover and Zaun.
More for you: