On Nov. 9, 2024, the first three episodes of “Arcane” season two were released on Netflix. The show, a four-time Emmy Award winner, gripped the attention of fans worldwide when it was first released. Three years later, it still has it.
The show’s second season will be dropped in three parts: Nov. 9, 16 and 23. I watched the first three episodes dropped by Netflix, and when I tell you that this is a masterclass in animation, voice acting and production … I’m not joking.
“Arcane” season one was explosive from the very beginning. However, even if you are unfamiliar with the video game “League of Legends,” which “Arcane” is based off, it’s easy to get absorbed into the show. The worldbuilding, characters and storylines are beautifully woven together to create a show for fans of the game and new ones alike.
So much happened in season two, but before we get to that, here is a short and sweet description of season one. We have Vi and Jinx, two sisters who, throughout the season, are pulled into two different sides of an intense conflict between the city of Piltover — a wealthy and “progressive” city — and Zaun — the undercity. The show ends with (no tricks nor jinxes, but spoilers ahead!) Jinx launches a rocket with a stolen Hextech crystal inside — directly at the Piltover council, which is voting on negotiating peace with Zaun.
I am amazed by the animation and the skill required to create such a beautiful project, and I am glad I got to review it. Now, let’s go! We must get into season two (this review will be as spoiler-free as possible).
Episode one starts with a bang! And I mean that literally. “Heavy Is the Crown” begins with the immediate scene after the rocket is launched. The rubble and ruin of the buildings — and people — gone. The sound is muffled, and the movement makes you feel like you survived the explosion alongside them. The theme music plays, and fans have noticed that the title sequence changes with every episode. As the season continues, Cait and Vi’s relationship is explored and takes many twists and turns.
Cait’s mother has passed away, and we see Vi leaving. The scene is black and white, with no color besides Vi and Cait. “I just watched as the door closed for good” is a line in the song playing during this scene, and I can’t help but sense that this foreshadows something bigger down the line. Tensions have escalated between the twin cities, and war is brewing between them and the characters.
As you watch this season, you will notice the importance of the characters’ relationships with themselves and each other. The war is taking a toll on every single person — things can change in the blink of an eye as war rages on. The challenges of dealing with Jinx — who she is, her complexity, and her actions — fall into the hands of the people who both want to destroy her and see her as a symbol of something bigger.
The council (what’s left of them, I fear) is deciding to invade Zaun. Hextech — a unique technology to the world of “League” — is off-limits for now. Cait wants to show a unified front, but Vi is having a much harder time agreeing to this, which makes sense, considering their history.
At the end of episode one, Cait has three objectives and has found her voice and confidence. One: locate Jinx; two: dismantle shimmer. And three? Neutralize any agents still loyal to Silco. She is confident in herself because she has a few surprises — Vi on her side, for starters, is a damn big surprise.
Episodes two and three are equally as gripping and intense. The Undercity is weighing its options, Jinx is laying low and plotting, and Vi and Caitlyn? Well, I am not jealous of either one of them right now. I will admit that this review is hard for me to write, not because I don’t like the show or have nothing to write about. On the contrary, this is one of my all-time favorite shows, and media reviews are my favorite thing to write. But the show is so beautifully complex, so rich with art and storytelling, that I find myself struggling to find the words to do it justice.
But alas, it’s time for the review to continue — we have Jinx. “Vi used to say I could fix anything, before I broke everything,” she says, struggling to go on, plagued by memories of Silco and Vi. “Watch it All Burn” pulls no punches as everything burns to the ground, literally and figuratively. Jinx seems to adopt a kid who falls on her from the ceiling. The kid, named Isha, shows Jinx a reflection of who she was when she was younger, which is why she doesn’t abandon her.
The show utilizes individual characters beautifully. With Jinx and Vi, you can see what war does to people, to their relationships and how disconnected you can feel from yourself, reality and those you love. The theme of loss and grief is so profound and plays such a heavy role in the storytelling that it feels necessary to have the show drop into three parts. The show moves at a fast pace, even faster now that the conflict has almost reached its peak and the density of the plot needs to be broken apart for it to be well received and understood.
“Arcane,” an animated masterpiece that has captured the hearts of millions of fans worldwide, has not lost its magic. It’s hard for shows to stay so consistently good, but it should be studied how “Arcane” has remained incredible and surpassed all expectations. Wait! Scroll down. I promise there’s no trick here …
Jinxed ya!
Rating: 5/5