The League of Legends multiplayer online battle arena title has been around for 20 or so years, cultivating a huge and “passionate” fanbase while also proving that a game studio with a solid game can last as long as possible with the right backing and quality title, and loads of spinoff ideas. One of them is a TV show focused on the game’s popular characters who all share the same realm (LoL pits people from different realms, FYI) featuring lovely visuals and compelling storylines that tie them together to one cohesive arc.

That show is called Arcane, and its first Season in 2021 (post-pandemic world, mind you) help elevate it beyond its source material. Not only was it a virtuoso in animated storytelling, but it made people love its main characters & antagonists: former-siblings-turned-enemies Vi and Jinx, sharpshooter Caitlyn, Jayce, Viktor, and Silco. All LoL-related jokes aside, Arcane impressed both gamers and non-gamers.

Netflix and animation studio Fortiche went on with a new season of Arcane, which unfortunately will be its last. But at least it’s going out on its terms. With just three episodes out the past weekend and a few more coming out on 16 and 23 November (in batches of three episodes, segmented into Acts), it’s clearly delaying the inevitable end. And so far, it delivers.

Heavy Is The Head…

Arcane’s second season deals with the fallout from the first season’s cliffhanger ending. Basically after that big bang and after a tragedy in the city of Piltover, tensions have been escalating. Zaum’s crime lords are struggling over the loss of its leader while Jinx gets all chaotic and attempts to step in. Piltover is close to going to extremes with its rulership, with generals like Caitlyn attempting to stage a covert operation in hunting Jinx down along with Vi, and Noxus general Ambessa attempting to rule without actually being on the throne. Meanwhile, scientist Jayce has his own problems as he has to help his friend Viktor out who got caught in the cliffhanger’s explosion, but with repercussions.

You can’t talk about Arcane’s latest season without bringing up the animation and artwork. Simply put, it is stunning. Apart from how the first three episodes lay out their opening scenes, all the way to the end, the 3D animation work from Fortiche is immaculate. Not only that, there are many instances where the team mix in 2D animation to get certain scenes across, as well as use a lot of contrast, black-and-white motifs, and clever transitions to have two important scenes happening at the same time. From the funeral scene in the first episode (accompanied with some heart-to-heart talking scenes with creative edits), to the fight scenes in episode 2 involving a “slot machine” arm weapon, all the way to an epic fight between the siblings while we get a glimpse of the show’s hextech plot point put into motion: it’s all fine art and we are all blessed for witnessing it in action.

Some may argue that a lot of Arcane’s key scenes are just extended music videos, especially with contributions from the new Linkin Park in the first episode. But these stylized segments serve to move the plot forward and convey everything without much conversation; there’s actual depth in these scenes that aren’t all fluff. All the facial expressions from Caitlyn, Vi, and Jinx, to even the jump cuts and style emphasizing, along with a ton of easter eggs and teases as to what’s to come. League of Legends/Teamfight Tactics fans are going to love all the additions and elements present in Arcane’s current runtime. Then again, with US$250 million in the production, you can’t expect anything less than the medium being pushed to greater heights.

Even with a distinct art style and direction, the first third of Arcane’s second season won’t mean squat without compelling characters to follow. So far, Hailee Steinfeld’s Vi and Katie Leung’s Caitlyn do a great job selling the ever-growing relationship between the two. Given the context of the situation, it’s relatable and realistic, as well as heartfelt and heartbreaking at times. And the whole narrative wouldn’t work without Ella Purnell’s Jinx in the way; she isn’t super-bats*** crazy as in the last season, but she still is diabolical and mental, calculative, and rather solve her problems with anarchy and explosions. It’s great to know that Ella’s new experiences with shows like Fallout help accentuate her voiceover work as the mad genius in blue.

So far, the only standard-level performance is from Ellen Thomas as Ambessa. She’s definitely threatening and imposing, don’t get us wrong, but she isn’t exactly written as creatively, thus Ellen Thomas may not be given much to work with. It does remain to be seen whether her character will evolve beyond the overseer dictator role in the second half of season 2, but so far she’s considered the “lowlight” in a sea filled with expressive and stellar performances.

All in all, the first few episodes of Arcane’s second (and last) season continue to impress thanks to its combination of storytelling, action, and visuals. Let’s hope the last few episodes wrap it up properly because I’d hate to see a lovely show like this get mired by an unsatisfying payoff. For now, there does not seem to be any danger of that. The latest season of Arcane still maintains the height of quality established by the previous, and continues to do so with many revelations and amazing-looking action beats.

Current Score: 90/100