There was so much potential for interesting conflict between Vi and Ekko in s2. And no, I'm not talking about how they sidelined Ekko and avoided his reaction to Enforcer Vi. Specifically, their conflicting approaches to change and the fact that Ekko and Vi are foils.
With one thoughtless act from Marcus, Vi was frozen in a single moment, locked away for years and understandably unable to accept that everything as she knows it—everyone she loves—changed. And for a character whose origin revolves around time-travel, Arcane!Ekko is surprisingly future-focused. He remembers and mourns the past, but he focuses on what can be fixed: the future.
This is best highlighted with their contrasting, equally flawed views of Jinx. Vi refuses to accept Jinx (that her sister changed and grew up), while Ekko adamantly denies any trace or remanent of Powder. "She's [Powder] still in there... I know my sister." vs "Powder is gone, Vi. All that's left is Jinx."
s1 doesn't dwell on Vi's reaction to Ekko and the Firelights, which is understandable. Every second the gemstone remained missing, the risk for escalating conflict between Zaun and Piltover increased. However, s2 was a missed opportunity to expand on their relationship, and to explore more of Vi's change-aversion.
Here is this kid her and her siblings collectively accepted. A little shit who spied on people and got them information, and who she tried to teach to fight, only he had two left feet. He'd chatter endlessly given half a chance. Here he is seven years later, alive and grown-up. Not just a scrawny brainiac anymore, but a fighter. A big bad leader, just like she used to be.
Is she proud of him? Does she mourn the kid he used to be? If she had gone back to the Firelights, would she instinctively try to step back into that leadership role, only to find it filled. By LITTLE MAN, of all people—the kid she used to hose down after the scrap-yard.
And on Ekko's side, he grew up too fast. Had to, to survive and take care of his community. But when Vi comes back, does a part of him want to revert back to that little kid, looking to his big sister to tell him what to do. Or does he jealously hoard his leadership and everything he worked to build, leading to conflict between them.
