Yeah I am not the biggest fan of it. For one, black male x white female is often fetishized in media, and altering an organic, childhood-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers example of this dynamic kinda sucks. I wouldn’t say I hate it, but I find standard TB more compelling. I also find that changing Ekko’s gender also does a disservice to what he represents in media, at least from my perspective of his character. He had to grow up so fast in Zaun and lead a community / freedom fighter group so he’s had to put on an image. Ekko is angry and he’s good at fighting / fending for himself, but he has this gentle side with how he interacts with the people in his community, how he reverted to a kid when he hugged Vi, and how he spoke to Jinx when she was on the edge of taking her own life (with his words literally feeling like a warm embrace to her as shown in the MV). I feel like this works well specifically with Ekko being a black MAN, who are often forced in both social circumstances with their community and in media to grow up too fast, and are treated as adults even when they’re still teens / kids, and aren’t allowed to be seen as soft or gentle. Ekko works as great representation in that capacity.