Vadim "Vadim" Dybinskiy Finally, the long-awaited second season of Arcane is here! As usual, Netflix enjoys splitting great content into parts (it’s their thing), so only this past weekend could we watch the last three episodes.
I binged all nine episodes and am ready to share my opinion without spoilers. I’ll only mention things from the first season.
Image: Ensigame.com
How Was Arcane 2?
First, a recommendation for everyone planning to watch the title—re-watch the first season beforehand. The events of the second season pick up right where the first left off. It’s such a direct continuation that the new episodes could easily be labeled as episodes 10–18 of Arcane.
I didn’t take my own advice and spent the first three episodes trying to remember what Arcane was even about...
As it turned out, the title now struggles with pacing, which left me completely lost. Later, I discovered many others had issues with the lack of a central storyline and characters switching sides in the conflict more frequently than a weathervane in a storm.
Image: Ensigame.com
Like Jinx at the end of the first Arcane, I’ve veered off course. Let’s break it all down step by step.
Masterful Visuals
What Arcane hasn’t lost is its stunning beauty. Such a fantastically captivating visual style is rarely seen. The animation quality and use of angles are impeccable.
In addition to the intro, the episodes feature unique clips with different styles and music. This approach reminded me of the endings from the anime Chainsaw Man.
By the way, check out the article on The 15 Best Anime of All Time.
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Moments involving Jinx are particularly striking. She continues to paint everything around her in neon colors, especially her inventions. After all, the artist must sign their work so everyone knows who’s behind these masterpieces.
Thrilling Battles
The fight scenes have reached a new level. While there weren’t any clashes as emotionally charged as Ekko vs. Jinx, the overall quality of battles has improved.
The fights last just as long as necessary, never dragging. Accelerations and slow-motion moments are particularly effective. The sped-up scenes enhance the intensity, while slow-motion allows you to see the characters' emotions and better understand their state of mind.
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Separately, I'll note the scenes with one character from LoL who smells blood from afar. Using techniques more typical of horror film directing, the monster's power and the terror it inspires are brilliantly conveyed.
Fragmented Narrative
Unfortunately, there are some downsides. It’s clear the story was meant for more seasons, but likely due to costs, the creators were forced to condense the remaining plot into nine episodes. This led to a questionable result, with too many storylines and too little screen time.
The concepts, ideas, and even their visual execution are excellent, but the gaps create a frantic pace, making it hard for viewers to grasp character motivations.
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One character's storyline is almost entirely disconnected from the events in Piltover and Zaun. Their sole purpose seems to be setting up a character for a new series in the Runeterra universe. Unfortunately, even they lacked enough screen time, leaving viewers unfamiliar with LoL lore confused by the cryptic lines exchanged by characters.
This is a significant drawback, as Arcane was interesting and comprehensible even to viewers who had never played League of Legends. I actively play LoL, but since I haven’t read many character biographies, I also struggled to understand certain moments.
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As a result, some characters ended up with rather odd conclusions to their arcs. Perhaps that’s where their stories were headed, but a few more episodes to build up to these endings would’ve made a big difference. This feels similar to the final season of Game of Thrones. Of course, it’s not as drastic. Arcane 2 is good, but you expect more from it in terms of storytelling.
How Did Arcane 2 End?
It ended on a high note but stumbled along the way. It sounds like I just buried it, but in truth, the ending was great, and we’ll remember it fondly. Over time, we’ll likely only recall the positive aspects.
No funerals here—the creators of Arcane have already announced plans for three more animated series, with one already in production for a year. It will likely focus on the war between Noxus and Ionia. I expect several characters from Arcane to appear there. According to the lore, they should be involved, serving as familiar guides for viewers exploring new parts of Runeterra.
Image: Ensigame.com
As for the conclusion of Arcane, despite expecting something different, I can’t deny that the most important characters received fitting development and resolution to their arcs. While how their growth was portrayed raises questions, if you overlook that, it works.
New characters were also introduced purely for narrative purposes. On the other hand, they fulfilled their roles, and the creators didn’t forget why they were brought in.
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Compared to many animated series and anime from recent years, Arcane 2 is truly impressive. It has almost no competition, leading many to rate it excessively high. My personal score is 8 out of 10. The first season was a solid nine for me.
I definitely recommend watching it, but don’t expect something on the level of Attack on Titan. Here, global conflicts and gradual character development take a backseat to emotional intensity, stunning visuals, and superb direction.
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