Spoiler Alert: Arcane season two.
“When you’re going to change the world, don’t ask for permission.”
The long-awaited season two of Netflix’s “Arcane: League of Legends” was finally released on November 9th, 2024, showcasing nine new episodes divided into three acts for fans to binge-watch. Reaching a record-breaking budget of $250 million, “Arcane” has been titled the most expensive animated show in history. The first season rose to popularity back in 2021, the cinematic masterpiece quickly becoming a huge hit. The show currently sits at a 9.1 on IMDb with a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Social media has played a large role in bringing attention to the show, reviving the fandom.
Created by executive producers, Christian Linke and Alex Yee, the cast contains main characters like Halle Steinfield as “Vi,” Ella Purnell as “Jinx/Powder,” Kevin Alejandro as “Jayce,” Harry Lloyd as “Viktor,” Reed Shannon as “Ekko,” and Katie Leung as “Caitlyn.” As a quick recap, season one tells the story of two sisters, Vi and Powder, living in an oppressed undercity named Zaun. Above is Piltover, a wealthy city that runs off of technological advancement, where inventors Jayce and Viktor work together. Powder changes her identity to “Jinx” and teams with antagonist Silco to spark revolution. Another central character is Caitlyn, an enforcer, working with Vi to find Jinx and solve hidden truths. Season one ends with an explosive cliffhanger, as Jinx launches a stolen Hextech gem, a powerful weapon, at the Piltover council. Fans all over the world were in awe as the ambiguous ending clouded the minds of viewers. CHS Senior Frida Rivera shares her review.
“One of the first things that caught my eye after watching season one was just the attention to detail and the fact that everything looked like it was made with love,” Rivera said. “There was so much creativity being put into the show and you could just tell it wasn’t a money grab.”
In the present, season two of “Arcane” has shown new, exciting elements. Picking up from the previous season, Piltover council was destroyed. Characters researched new technology that had deeper consequences than they predicted. Focusing on the sister dynamic, Vi and Jinx can be seen going down a path of family grief– both of them undergo serious character development. Other characters can be seen fighting to figure out the complex alterations happening with Hextech technology. Together, the main characters work to save the people and both cities.
Fans were shocked by the last episode which concludes with the possible death of Jinx, raising questions within the fandom. While it seems that her story has come to an end, many are persistent on her survival.
Outside the storyline, the art and visuals have been praised from fans. However, complaints have slipped into the reviews. Viewers felt the ending was rushed, while others thought certain character developments were forgotten. Altogether, fans have speculated the process of the production to be fast-paced, making the storyline feel empty. CHS Senior Sophie Hamilton gives her insight.
“I like season two a lot; I will say I think it was very fast-paced which is sort of a typical characteristic of ‘Arcane’,” Hamilton said. “I found the way that the show wrapped up a bit unexpected, I needed to have it explained to me. One part that I found to be unique is the amount of female characters; they’re so well developed and different from each other–I think it’s great, I enjoyed it.”
Through the good and bad reviews, the animators and production team of “Arcane” has shown hard work and development throughout every aspect. For viewers wondering what TV show to binge next, “Arcane” is the perfect addition to the watchlist.
