'Arcane S2' Review: A Spectacular Return that Packs a Mightier Punch

Thanks to Netflix for providing early screeners of Arcane Season 2, episodes 1-6 for allowing this review to be possible. 

There has been an increase over the past few years with video games receiving adaptations across film and television. League of Legends is a well-regarded game that is popular among the esports community. They have always been known for having high-budget cinematic trailers and music videos, the type that would make fans wish that there was a series of movies with the same animation. Well, League of Legends fans were in luck, as in 2021, Arcane was released on Netflix and it blew up the internet. It has received the title of best adaptation, which they won at The Game Awards, a title that they wholeheartedly deserve. Not only is it single-handedly the best video game adaptation, but it also won several Primetime Emmy awards, including ‘Outstanding Animated Program.’ Three years later, the second and final season is now out and reaches heights incomparable to the first season, as the storytelling, animation, and voice work are all.  

Arcane is a series set within the League of Legends universe, canon to the games. It follows a wide array of characters who range from politicians to scientists to criminals. In Arcane, we primarily follow Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Ella Purnell), two sisters who have been separated and are on opposing sides of a brewing war between the thriving city of Piltover and the underground city of Zaun. In the last episode of Season 1, Piltover’s council members were on the verge of agreeing to peace with the underworld city. The meeting was brought to a sudden end as Jinx sent a rocket heading straight to the council in a fit of rage after the loss of her second father figure and the leader of the underworld, Silco (Jason Spiask).

Arcane S2 (Netflix)

Season 2, or as we know it, the final season, picks up directly after last season’s ending, keeping the flow of that climatic ending, pushing the story forward while also building up the tension within this integral moment that leaves its characters emotionally distraught. During the opening minutes, we discover who has survived the bombing and are quickly thrown into the basis of this season, an oncoming war with the underworld. The option for peace has been thrown out of the window, and Jinx is now public enemy number one. 

Arcane Season 1 already felt like it had almost perfected so many aspects of the show, and there was never a doubt that this season would be any less of what the first season delivered, but surprisingly, it’s several steps ahead, and they manage to exceed expectations. Jinx, Vi, and Caitlyn (Katie Leung) are the highlights of this season, with storylines that truly are captivating. Similarly to the first season, the first act, consisting of the first three episodes, is well-paced and leaves a strong impact that sets in motion for the storytelling in the second act. Jinx is given a beautiful story, which Ella Purnell lends her talented voice to, providing a raw emotion that hasn’t been felt before with this character. 

Arcane S2 (Netflix)

The show never tries to force a redemption arc onto Jinx; she’s considered a terrorist amongst the people of Piltover; she has killed dozens of people, and although Jinx had a troubled and tragic childhood that shaped her into the person that she is, that doesn’t excuse her actions. Instead, Arcane provides Jinx with a journey of growth, and this is accomplished through the addition of a new character called Isha, an orphan who coincidentally resembles Jinx when she was younger and is known as Powder. Jinx is seen as a beacon of hope to not only Isha, who looks up to her as a role model and older sister, but to various other people in the underworld who see her as a symbol; it felt very similar to how Superman is perceived by the public, and it felt very fitting for Jinx’s character during this moment in time. 

Vi and Caitlyn’s character arcs change tremendously, leaving them both in situations that affect the story strongly in unexpected ways. To maintain this level of storytelling while also juggling several subplots with characters such as Jayce (Kevin Alejandro), Viktor (Harry Lloyd), Mel (Toks Olagundoye), and so many more. It can sometimes feel slightly overwhelming, and not too many of these sub-stories give a clear understanding, even after watching the first two acts. Nevertheless, it takes more than a stroke of genius to provide this level of a masterclass to maintain such a well-thought-out and crafted story over the course of two seasons. 

Vi and Caitlyn in Arcane S2 (Netflix)

Arcane boasts not only the best animation on Netflix but some of the best animation overall. French animation studio Fortiche returns for this final season to deliver their blend of 2D and 3D, which is just an extravagant showcase of how talented the team is. The action scenes burst with personality as they’re interjected with various 2D animation styles that are used depending on the tone of the story, ranging from the use of watercolours to define the emotion within a scene. The use of colours is once again beyond mesmerising as they inject life into the action sequences, with the weapons being used feeling like they have a sentient mind of their own as they’re brought into the forefront of the fight, striking blows and explosions that are vibrant and a showcase of this world’s shimmer and its effects. 

Arcane Season 2 is a grand visual spectacle that elevates itself from the first season, bringing in a rich form of storytelling that is combined with the elegant and unique style of animation that Fortiche breathes into the show. Ella Purnell puts her foot down and shows why she’s currently the queen of video game adaptations, delivering a show-stopping performance once again as Jinx, a character who is simply more than just a villain in this narrative. If the first two acts are anything to go by, Arcane Season 2 will be a fitting conclusion to this beautiful story that fans will approve of.