In the hit Netflix series Arcane, fans are divided over the tense relationship between Ekko and Jinx. As leaders of opposing factions in Zaun, their histories are intertwined but their presents could not be more opposed. Their climactic fight scene in Episode 9 left many viewers wondering: did Ekko truly crush Jinx in their final confrontation?
Their shared past
Ekko and Jinx have a long, complex history tracing back to their childhoods in Zaun. They were part of a ragtag group of young misfits who looked out for each other while striving to survive in the cutthroat, impoverished undercity. Ekko emerged as the thoughtful, principled leader of the group. Jinx (then still known as Powder), was the unpredictable, explosive, yet vulnerable youngest member. Despite their differences, Ekko and Powder formed a deep bond over the years. He often protected her and gave her sage advice. She looked up to him as an older brother.
Everything changed, however, on the fateful day that Powder’s recklessness led to the death of Vander and separation from Vi. Powder emerged from the trauma as the unstable, violent Jinx, while Ekko grew into the responsible leader of the Firelights resistance. Though there are glimpses of their old dynamic, such as when Ekko checks on Jinx after Vi’s arrest in Episode 4, their relationship is much more antagonistic. Ekko wants to protect Zaun; Jinx wants to sow chaos. They now find themselves locked in an ideological war for the city’s future.
Their explosive fight
In Episode 9, these years of brewing conflict finally come to a head in an electrifying showdown. After Jinx fires a rocket at the council center, killing many bystanders, Ekko decides enough is enough. He activates the Firelights throughout the undercity and begins an all-out assault on Jinx. What follows is a beautifully choreographed fight scene between the former friends – and an agonizing display of their severed bond.
Set in the ruins of their old childhood haunts, Ekko and Jinx duel with their signature weapons and abilities. He wields his glowing bat and rewinding powers to counter her manic attacks. The fight seems evenly matched at first. But Jinx’s instability leaves her vulnerable to Ekko’s strategic time manipulation. He gets the upper hand by predicting and dodging her strikes while landing crushing blows of his own.
At one point, it seems Ekko has won. Jinx lies helpless beneath him as he raises his bat. Yet in a heart wrenching moment, memories of their past flash through both their minds, making Ekko hesitate. This splits second of remorse costs him, as Jinx springs up and turns the tide once more.
Key moments
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2:22 | Ekko activates Firelights’ attack |
| 3:44 | Jinx lands early blows on Ekko |
| 4:51 | Ekko gains advantage with time manipulation |
| 6:03 | Ekko hesitates before finishing blow |
| 7:17 | Jinx unleashes rocket barrage |
Their battle finally ends in a massive explosion as Jinx unleashes the full fury of her arsenal. A barrage of rockets blasts Ekko back and buries him under the crumbling remains of their childhood refuge. It is a savage onslaught that no ordinary human could have survived. Yet we are left to wonder whether Ekko’s rewinding power allowed him to escape the blast. Did Jinx truly crush him for good?
The aftermath
In the scenes following the fight, Arcane drops some subtle hints about Ekko’s fate. When Vi confronts Jinx soon after, she makes a comment about “what happened to Ekko.” This implies knowledge of the fight and its deadly result. However, she does not explicitly state that Ekko is dead. It is also telling that Caitlyn makes no mention of Ekko when updating the council on the loss of life from Jinx’s attack. If such a major figure had been confirmed dead, she likely would have reported it.
The strongest evidence that Ekko survived is the glimpse of a mysterious hooded figure at the end of the episode. This person is shown watching over the Firelights as they carry an injured Viktor to safety. The figure’s disguise makes positive identification impossible. But the presence of the Firelights and camera’s focus on this character suggests it could very well be Ekko.
Theories on Ekko’s fate
| Theory | Evidence For | Evidence Against |
|---|---|---|
| Killed by Jinx | – Brutality of rocket barrage – Vi’s comment about “what happened to Ekko” |
– No explicit confirmation of death – Potential appearance at end |
| Rewound time to survive | – His proven ability to rewind time – Lack of explicit death confirmation |
– Extreme circumstances of explosion |
| Injured but alive | – Hooded figure at end – Vi’s indirect mention |
– Severity of barrage |
Without confirmation either way, fans can only speculate about Ekko’s true fate after the fight. Perhaps the massive explosion exceeded even his rewinding power’s limits. But his absence from Caitlyn’s death toll hints that he found a way to survive through time manipulation or sheer resilience. The hooded figure suggests he lives on in some wounded capacity.
Their relationship symbolism
Beyond the exciting action, Ekko and Jinx’s duel in Episode 9 carries deeper thematic weight. Their relationship represents a tragic dichotomy between past and present selves. Ekko sees in Jinx the vestiges of his old friend Powder, a girl he wants to save. But Jinx only sees an enemy blocking her goals. She does not hesitate to unleash lethal force against someone who was once her childhood protector.
This ties into Arcane’s broader exploration of trauma and change. Ekko and Jinx went through the same painful losses as children. But where those events gave Ekko purpose by inspiring him to build something better, they left Jinx unhinged and hungry for chaos. Ekko represents clinging to nostalgia and hope for redemption. Jinx represents unequivocal surrender to madness and destruction.
Their fight plays out this central conflict. Just as Ekko’s hesitation upon remembering Powder costs him victory, Jinx’s complete lack of mercy over someone who once meant everything to her signals she is too far gone. That Ekko possibly still cares while Jinx does not shows how utterly their paths have diverged since that childhood friendship.
This all sets up fascinating questions for Ekko and Jinx’s relationship moving forward, should Ekko indeed survive. Does Ekko still believe that part of Powder lives inside Jinx and is worth saving? Or will surviving Jinx’s lethal onslaught convince him that Powder is gone forever? If they meet again, will their shared history give him pause or strengthen his resolve to stop her? The rich thematic potential in exploring such questions is a key reason why fans hope Ekko returns in any future seasons.
Conclusion
Ekko and Jinx’s electrifying showdown in Arcane leaves more questions than answers. With Ekko’s ultimate fate unclear even after Jinx’s relentless assault, viewers are left to wonder whether he survived through clever time manipulation or sheer force of will. While their fight proves Jinx will brutally cast aside anyone from her past, glimpses of Ekko’s restraint hint he still struggles to do the same. This contrast reveals how fully the friends have diverged down opposing paths since their childhood days. It adds emotional weight and thematic resonance that elevates the duel beyond just exhilarating action. Their complex history and possible future make Ekko and Jinx one of Arcane’s most compelling character dynamics. If Ekko does return alive in a future season, their next confrontation is sure to once again be a powerful highlight.