After a gruelling three-year wait Arcane is finally back on our screens. The big question is, did the team make the most of the long gap between seasons?
Episode 1
As if sensing the fans’ itchiness for more content after such a jaw-dropping cliffhanger that ended season 1, we jump straight back in to the action. The alternative could’ve been a time skip, keeping viewers in suspense as to what the outcome of Jinx’s attack was. Luckily, the writers didn’t toy with us that much.
A sense of immediacy runs through your veins as you watch those in Piltover try to save each other. Arcane wastes no time in introducing new plotlines and characters, each episode in Act 1 was packed with content to further the story.
Episode 1 brings us a new artifact from the Kiramman family, a developing story as to how Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) becomes an enforcer (as seen in the teasers), and a second attack on topside.
The attack was the first fight scene of the new season and from the get-go you can tell why there was such a gap in between seasons. Piltover’s memorial attack featured insane animation with such vivid colours it looked better than the quality of eyesight.
Alongside the meaty drama, some fan theories are debunked (including who the ginger enforcer is).
With each attack on her home, Caitlin (Katie Leung) grows more and more hateful towards Zaun, calling the citizens of Zaun “animals”. We get to see a lot more of her character in Episode 1 and learn about her legacy. All of these build up to play a big part in the story.
So far, Jayce (Kevin Alejandro) has been more of a background character in comparison to season one, something many fans are happy about. His story was well fleshed out by season two, so focusing on Caitlin, Vi, and Ambessa (Ellen Thomas) was a sensible choice from the team.
Episode 2
Starkly contrasting Episode 1’s opening, Episode 2 opens calmly and quietly with a heart-wrenching parallel of Jinx (Ella Purnell) and Silco underwater, bringing us back to the lake scene in season one.
Jinx monologues her feelings of being lost and helpless without Silco, unsure where the future of Zaun lies without him. Strangely enough, this is the only time Jinx “hears” from the dead. The ghosts of her childhood, ones commonly appearing in Arcane season one, are absent – that last piece of Powder reduced to ashes.
Episode 2 highlights how far Jinx has devolved from the goofy kid she once was. When we last saw her, she was a violent, unhinged maniac. Now, she is still as violent with a sick sense of humour, but she carries an air of solemnness and seriousness with her.
The fight for power over Zaun was told with a fast-paced artistic spin. The writers didn’t waste any time focusing back on Jinx.
Here, we are also introduced to a new threat called the Grey – a toxic mist in Zaun.
With this new threat looming, a continuing power-struggle, and Zaun plotting their own battle strategies for the impending war, the pressure is on for the undercity.
Sevika (Amirah Vann), once the right-hand of Silco, is now lost and defeated. Seeing her in this light is off-putting, this once fearsome warrior reduced to a state of helplessness.
As she mourns, Jinx appears and surprisingly mourns with her. From here, the two team up in an unexpected twist. The emotions that Silco’s death evokes from the pair are so life-like, even in the Arcane art style. Truly, it’s like watching live action sometimes with how vivid and fluid the animation is.
Episode 2 also sees Jinx protect a child who was caught in a turf battle. Devastatingly, it parallels to how Vander and Silco both took her in. The child, Isha, follows Jinx throughout this episode and the next. It will be interesting to see how big a part Isha has in the upcoming acts.
Jinx and Sevika find themselves in the midst of battle with Smeech (Lenny Citrano) and his goons. With this, we are treated to another spectacular bout of animation that rivals the Ekko and Jinx bridge scene from season one.
Throughout this colourful and fun battle is flashes of Viktor’s (Harry Lloyd) journey in Zaun as he follows a bodiless voice. The Hextech has merged with his body now, and he has power to heal those addicted to Shimmer.
A quick flash at the end of this episode shows Singed (Brett Tucker) as he works on something sinister.
Episode 3
Starting with the strike on Zaun, Episode 3 opens with Caitlin, Vi, and the team of enforcers as they use the Grey to subdue the residents of Zaun, hunting for Jinx.
Their siege is told through hyper-neon graphics in a comic book art style. It’s a fun palette cleanser from the usual style of Arcane.
Ambessa has more screentime this episode. We see her scheming, involving Salo (Josh Keaton) and the council. A new character, Amara, appears with a threatening message. This could be an interesting storyline that will hopefully be developed in Act 2.
We see more of Arcane’s world throughout all three episodes as the writers expand and nurture their story. For the CaitVi shippers, some cherished scenes are shown – but at a cost.
Ekko (Reed Shannon) and Heimerdinger (Mick Wingert) make their return in an unlikely team up with Jayce. The trio seek out answers to the Arcane and the Hex Gates.
Simultaneous to their trip to the gate core, Vi, Jinx, Caitlin, and Sevika battle it out in an honest-to-god display of artwork. This fight receives magic treatment, with slow-mo shots, incredibly detailed graphics, explosions of colour and streaks of sparks.
The two journeys overlap in a trippy, amazingly-executed array of graphics. Coming to a devastating end, the fight scene leaves you feeling empty inside, empathising with the characters.
A third attack on Piltover leaves Ambessa stepping up to take charge before handing it over to the unexpecting Caitlin. Consequently, Caitlin steps up and takes charge and you can feel the extreme ramp up to impending war as she is saluted.
Her new role, given by Ambessa, can’t lead to anything good, especially after a jolting plottwist involving the untrustworthy Ambessa is revealed.
Like Episode 2, we end with the visuals of a snarling beast. A beast that many have theorised must be Warwick (a mutated Vander).
Final Thoughts
The remaining acts are full of promise after so much happening in only three episodes. From the trailers, we can see there is still a hefty chunk of plot to get through in the remainder of the season. Since this is Arcane’s final chapter, season two must wrap up all plotlines with just six episodes left.
I have high hopes that the team will execute this right. So far, it has been extraordinary to witness their work. The jump from season one to season two is one I never knew was needed. Somehow, the team have managed to improve on perfection.
Featured Image Credit: Arcane / Netflix
Fourth year student journalist studying Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Journalism Studies.
Words at Brig, The Daily Evergreen, Alloa Advertiser, Discovery Music Scotland, and The Mourning Paper.
