Love, tragedy, and endurance are words that describe “Arcane,” the show that not only kept the magic that made the first season so special but gave it a glorious evolution.
November marked the Netflix return by Fortiche in collaboration with Riot Games “Arcane.” Released in batches, each gave viewers different waves of emotions, as every week they had a new storyline to unravel.
Act 1 continues where Season 1 ends, immediately bringing the audience back into the world of Runeterra. The ways that directors Pascal Charrue and Arnaud Delord play out the vision of the showrunners are beautiful.
In the first few moments alone the genius of the creators shines through. Whether it’s the cinematography that pulls spectators into their world or the subtle body language that expresses how the characters feel without a need for dialogue, it’s simply art.
The beauty of “Arcane” is no doubt elevated by the talented artists who work at Fortiche, as seen in Episode 1 in which the poetic scene was entirely hand-drawn in charcoal. It’s so subtle that many wouldn’t notice on their first viewing, so the fact they took the time and effort to create artistry shows how much the whole team cares about the series.
Act 2 was hands down the best of all. While many have shared their grievances with the pacing, it is easy to argue that the finite amount of time viewers are given with these characters only builds onto the theme of tragedy.
The new opening theme may be seen by some as nothing more than a cheap copy of the original on first viewing, but viewers who take a deeper look will notice the intricate details sprinkled into the art.
From the choice of clothing to the shadows on the floor, the creators meticulously chose what they wanted to show, with some details so cryptic general audiences may not even notice at all. At least that would be the case if not for Youtuber “Necrit” a creator that specializes in breaking down the lore of “Arcane” and “League of Legends.”
Act 3 was the chaotic send-off needed for the people of Piltover and Zaun, and overall it was a beautifully flawed ending to the “Arcane” masterpiece. The pacing was much faster than the previous two acts, giving audiences little to no breathing room between scenes. That issue that could cost an inferior series major backlash is completely outshined by the out-of-the-world storytelling and perfectly imperfect characters.
The series kept its TV-14 rating but, in the three years between “Arcane” Seasons 1 and 2, a lot has changed for the world of Runeterra outside of the show. Originally “Arcane” was just a retelling of the story of a few characters from “League of Legends” Riot Games’ vastly popular video game, “Arcane” used “League of Legends” lore as a starting point before diverging onto its own path.
The story between these two integral parts of the franchise has now diverged so much that it wouldn’t be an understatement to say none of the original “League of Legends” lore is safe.
After the success of Season 1 however, Riot Games’ dropped a bombshell on players. They revealed that instead of being an alternate universe, “Arcane” will be the main continuity going forward. So Season 2 was not only a love letter to returning fans but also an outlet for “League of Legends” players to explore the new canon of the game they hate to love.
Overall, Season 2 is flawed, but so is Season 1 for that matter. However, there is beauty in imperfection. The sequel season surpassed its predecessor for many viewers and for others not so much. The final season of “Arcane” left many wanting more. Only time will tell if the next series, which is already in development focusing on a different region of Runeterra, can live up to “Arcane.”
