Welcome back into the Arcane!
Sisters to strangers, strangers to enemies, enemies to sisters again. “Arcane” debuts its long-awaited second season. The sci-fi fantasy animated epic has been three years in the making after the first season slammed audiences with one of the best adaptations of a video game they had ever seen. The show mixes animation styles to create a visual feast for audiences to devour.
Based on the revolutionary game “League Of Legends,” “Arcane” adapts its rough and unpolished lore and repurposes it into an amazing narrative that further explores the duality of relationships and how power can change a person forever… It follows sisters Jinx and Vi. After committing a horrible crime, Jinx flees back to the undercity and lives as a symbol of resistance. Her sister Vi allies with the enforcers (a corrupt fascist regime) and works with her lover Caitlyn to cut down the revolution where it began. That’s the most basic summary of the plot, but the depths that “Arcane” goes to strengthen its world and pull you deeper into its story are truly a masterclass in animated fiction writing.
Scientists Viktor and Jayce need to figure out their strange and alluring “Hextech” without hurting each other, let alone anyone else. Mel, the heir to a clan of warriors embodied by “the wolf,” wants to keep her mother out of her business and Piltover. Caitlyn and Vi have to help those hurt by and rebuild from the atrocity of Jinx’s attack while still holding each other close. Jinx has to hide to survive in the undercity as Chem-Barons fight for power while meeting a new face and reuniting with a familiar one along the way.
Every main character experiences major changes throughout the season mentally and physically, some gain powers unbeknownst to themselves, and others learn how to protect the ones they love and maybe even the world.
As corruption of all kinds plans to destroy Piltover and their world, Runeterra, each character’s moral compasses and motives for power are at battle with one another.
Each episode consists of smaller plots to further the development of our characters, like relearning how to love, while still forwarding the main themes of our characters’ wants for (re)unification, freedom, and hope.
The show’s use of different art styles throughout its latest season relays powerful emotion to the viewers leaving them awe-struck and wanting more. From a grieving council woman’s daughter to the now herald of the arcane, each character has their own style from their walks to their talks and even their fighting styles distinguishing each scene and character in every moment they appear.
Riot has done it again, “Arcane” is a modern animated masterpiece. It has it all: magic, technology, magical technology, lovable characters, enemies to lovers, timeless slow dances, stunning music and visuals, affection of all kinds, a Warlord and her Last Heir, the Sharp-shooter Sheriff, a Paragon of Arcane Power, the Savior Boy who shattered time, the Defender of Tomorrow, and two sisters, Vi and Jinx, fighting to rebuild their once broken family. What else could you ask for?
I love how deep and interconnected the plot and the characters are, while still having important themes addressed.
This article seems very well written, it makes me want to watch Arcane too!
THis show made me very emotional, I have never been so emotional from a Netflix Series in my life until now. Amazing work by the producers and I hope to watch more Arcane sequels.
After watching this show, Arcane’s animation is worth a watch, even if you aren’t into animated series. Each character has in depth personalities and is very well executed and the artistry is complex and satisfying.
Yo this is fire even though i’ve never put a single finger on anything to do about this. Seems cool though, I guess i have to give it a try to see what its all about. 😀
Although I have never watched Arcane, I have seen lots of promotions for it, and I think this article is written so smoothly and it’s extremely informative. I enjoyed reading this a lot as it was interesting and makes me want to watch it now.
Arcane seems pretty interesting and fun. I’ve heard a lot about it on the internet, saying a lot of the same praises, and the additional context given here adds to it. I think I’ll probably enjoy watching it so I’m planning to watch it during break at some point
I agree that Arcane does an amazing job of making the lore into a really interesting story. I think you did an awesome job explaining the premise of the show without spoiling it. Calling the show a “visual feast” is super accurate and the animations are so well done. This article was really well written!