Since the cliffhanger ending of the League of Legends based Netflix TV show “Arcane’s” first season, Season 2 has been a long-awaited continuation and conclusion for this fan-favorite show. Season 1, released back in Nov. 6, 2021, shocked audiences with its stunning animation, masterful storytelling and profound dialogue despite being a video game adaptation, leaving Season 2 with some mammoth shoes to fill. The season traces the aftermath of Jinx’s rocket attack on the Council as the war between Piltover and Zaun rises to a boiling point. Meanwhile, the world becomes more corrupted and dangerous as the world uses more of the rune-based technology Hextech, sending characters into new situations with magic.
From a visual standpoint, Season 2 has somehow surpassed the mind-blowing animation that stunned audiences in Season 1. Fortiche, the studio behind “Arcane,” has pushed the boundaries of animation through the use of 3-D rigging with 2-D textures and hand-drawn effects to parallel the appraised animation style of “Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse.”
“There was not a point where I could see the animation was bad,” said senior Sam Gulchin. “[The scene featuring] Echo, Heimerdinger and Jayce in the Hexcore was some of the most beautiful animation I’ve ever seen.”
This approach has also enabled “Arcane” to bring its fight scenes to the next level of action that is dynamic and visually striking, yet still easy to follow.
“The choreography was very good,” Gulchin said. “In a lot of other shows with big fight scenes it’s hard to keep track of what’s happening and [they] jump from character to character … but ‘Arcane’ did a really good job of matching each character with each event.”
“Arcane’s” musical composition, however, has generated mixed feelings from fans as some believe the season’s many music videos break immersion while others feel that the stylized aesthetic brings a powerful conveyer of emotion to the show.
“It felt like a musical,” said freshman Sara Chiguchi. “The music added to all the scenes in a way that most shows can’t accomplish.”
A worse letdown to the masterclass “Arcane” delivered on animation, however, was the season’s lackluster pacing. There was a simple shortage of screen time and too much content to cover, and it reflected clearly on the pacing — many character arcs didn’t have enough time to breathe and were left either sidelined or with a variety of plot holes and confusion.
For example, Caitlyn’s whiplash-inducing betrayal of Ambessa is supported by little context and Mel’s awakening as a mage and interaction with the Black Rose was also incredibly confusing to follow. Meanwhile, Jinx and Vi’s entire arc is neglected in Act II and their brief sibling reconciliation in Act II after their anticipated standoff in Act I feels disappointing. Unlike Season 1, which had a more fleshed-out storyline, the plot is bare-bones — stripped down to the minimum scenes needed to propel the arcs forward — and doesn’t fully allow the masterful storytelling that “Arcane” is known for to shine through.
To me, a slight saving grace in light of the pacing, thankfully, was the ending. It succeeded in wrapping up the arcs, primarily Jayce and Viktor’s moving, emotional conclusion and Jinx and Vi’s bittersweet separation. The finale resolves the show powerfully and dramatically in classic “Arcane” fashion while still leaving room for interpretation and future development for Noxus and other League of Legends societies.
“I am happy that they did cut it off short,” Gulchin said. “I didn’t want it to stay past its welcome. I want to see the other parts of ‘Arcane’s’ world.”
While it’s frustratingly and incredibly close to a five star rating, Season 2 of “Arcane” rightfully deserves a four out of five stars for its missed potential.
