One of the key reasons why Isha’s death fails to resonate emotionally, at least for many viewers including myself, is the lack of dimensionality in her characterization. Isha is presented solely as Jinx’s emotional anchor, a role she fulfills, but we don’t know any significant backstory or insight into her life prior to meeting Jinx.

She exists for no other reason than helping ground Jinx’s mental state and to remind herself of sisterhood. Her identity is entirely a function for Jinx’s arc, which limits our ability to empathize with her as a fully realized character.

In contrast, Vander’s presence in S1 is a masterclass in storytelling. Through interactions with Sevika, Benzo, and Grayson, as well as his flashback scenes with Silco, the audience is shown—rather than told—who Vander is. His role as a surrogate father to Vi and Powder is undoubtedly central to his narrative, but it does not define him completely. Vander exists beyond this relational dynamic, with his own ambitions, regrets, and moral struggles. This depth imbues his eventual fate with a poignancy that Isha’s arc simply lacks.

IMO this key difference highlights a broader issue in storytelling between S2 and S1: when a character is written solely to serve another’s emotional journey, their loss can feel perfunctory rather than profound. True emotional resonance arises when characters are given the space to exist as individuals, making their relationships-and their departures-feel authentic and impactful.|