Warning: This article contains spoilers for Arcane Season 2 Act 2
After a short week’s wait since Arcane came back to our screens, Act 2 was back to toy with our emotions. Leaving viewers reeling from Act 1’s final moments, the writers allowed no time for a breather before slamming us with another emotional rollercoaster.
Similar to Act 1, a lot happens in the span of these three episodes. We learn more about the Arcane, the war between Piltover and Zaun deepens, and three causalities are witnessed. The pacing never lets up, blow after blow is delivered and any brief happiness is torn to shreds.
It goes without saying that the animation was ethereal, as is the norm for Arcane. The soundtrack keeps getting better with each addition and the voice actors are putting their soul into these roles, bringing these characters painfully to life.
Episode 4 “Jinx is Dead”
Ashnikko’s Paint the Town Blue opens Act 2 in an upbeat comic montage. We see a clear time skip, which fans knew was coming due to the trailers, but watching it play out in flashes was still shocking.
It’s a Jinx-centric episode, exploring what Jinx has been up to and how her relationship with Isha has built. Throughout the three episodes, Jinx becomes a guardian figure for Isha (who reminds her of Powder) and Isha finds a role model in the unstable blue-nette.
While Jinx’s ghost voices have been absent so far, they are beginning to creep back – a neat way for the animators to highlight her unstable moments.
Sevika and Jinx team up at one point to free Isha and arrest Zaunites from a brutal raid. The duo have a refreshing chemistry with moments that elicit a chuckle or two before it all goes to hell.
As the credits to Episode 4 loom closer a final battle ramps up. Warwick has finally been released by Singed and shreds his way to Stillwater – right to Jinx, Sevika, and Isha.
Warwick and Jinx battle it out in a staggering animation scene paired with a faultless soundtrack. Abruptly, Episode 4 closes with Vander’s consciousness returning just in time.
Episode 5 “I’ve always liked the name Violet”
Switching back over to Vi, Episode 5 retells how she has spent her time since Act 1. It’s a brutal, fuzzy mess as we peer into Vi’s life of spiralling destruction. Hailee Steinfeld’s voice acting was, as always, on point here – Vi’s screams are gut-churningly filled with pain.
Jinx and Vi work through their baggage from season one and team up with the hopes of helping Vander.
Meanwhile, throughout Act 2 Cait has been consistently warped by Ambessa’s approach to war. Ambessa works on Cait, trying to craft a loyal, unquestioning weapon, yet Cait still shows signs of resistance when violence against Zaunites is involved. Her caring nature cannot be overshadowed by her grief, proving how strong her moral stance can be.
The two interrogate Singed in an eerie scene, the animation on Cait’s face flickers through emotions while seeming almost life-like. Katie Leung delivers her lines chillingly as Cait asks “How was Jinx involved”, desperate to tie the attack to her.
Surprisingly Mel, who has been missing since Episode 3, returns and Toks Olagundoye plays perfection with Mel as she remembers what happened to her and Elora.
More of her character is explored, a chance I’m glad the writers took. Mel could be up there with the most interesting and powerful characters of the show. Hopefully, this only grows in the final act.
All the while, Vi, Jinx, and Isha are tracking Warwick/Vander through luminescent (and beautifully animated) tunnels. The sisters have a much-needed talk (and a comical sibling fight) as Vi begins to see how caring Jinx is with Isha. Heartbreakingly, in one scene, Vi almost comforts Jinx but decides against the idea.
As they track down Warwick, they see he is on a warpath and poses as an enemy. In a battle caked with slow-mo shots and dazzling displays of effects, Vi and Warwick tank it out. Suddenly, viewers are thrust into a flashback just as Warwick is about to kill Vi.
Vander, Silco, and Vi and Jinx’s mum sit around Vander’s bar in a warm memory. It leaves you aching as you think how different all of their lives could’ve been.
Clipping back to the present, Jinx desperately peers through the dust with horror painted on her face, terrified to see the outcome. Then, Jinx sees Vander hugging Vi and we are treated to a bittersweet reunion.
Before closing, Jayce pops back onto our screens. Clearly, he has seen something after messing with the Wild Rune back in Episode 3, and he seeks to destroy the Hexcore. Violently, he smashes Salo as blood splatters over the non-existent lens in an immersive moment.
Episode 6 “Flawless, Exquisite, Chaos”
Arcane Act 2 begins the end with uncovering more of the Arcane, the Hexcore, and how Viktor can “heal” people. Each scene with Viktor exploring his power is flawlessly designed. The colours, animation, techniques – all of it comes together and leaves you gaping at the screen, stunned.
Over the time skip, Viktor has built a commune and poses as a god-like figure to his followers. Vi, Jinx, and Isha bring Vander to him in hopes of healing him. A watercolour montage of Vander’s memories played over Remember Me by d4vd plays – a treat for sentimental fans.
The commune becomes a final battleground to close Act 2. Ambessa and her army intend to storm the commune and bring Jinx in. Vi reunites with Cait and the pair waste no time in teaming back up to fight Ambessa, trickery ensues.
Their plan succeeds and the family have a brief moment of happiness and love as they hug it out – even Cait isn’t at Jinx’s throat. But this is Arcane, so the writers decided that there was enough niceness and it was time for bloodshed.
Jayce reaches Viktor and shockingly, for reasons unknown to viewers, blasts him (presumably) dead. Hopefully, Act 3 will reveal why Jayce did this (and hopefully it was the right thing to do), because if not then his actions cost the lives of three major characters – just as fans were starting to like him.
Cait, Vi, Jinx, Isha, and Ambessa’s army attempt to fight a ravenous Warwick in an intense battle scene. But, it’s hopeless. In a moment fans were dreading, Isha’s Song picks up as we watch her run through the battleground. She overloads Jinx’s gun with the unstable blue crystals and heads straight for Warwick.
Jinx notices just in time to see Isha beside Warwick, pulling the trigger as Jinx screams in agony, knowing what would unfold. Then, the music swells as Isha closes her eyes and in a blast of white and blue the credits roll.
Arcane Act 3
Jinx was showing signs of instability when Isha was captured, so her death could revert her to a fully violent and vengeful Jinx.
So, Act 3 is carrying a heavy weight as many plotlines have been developed and must tie up neatly within the next three episodes, but Arcane is yet to let fans down. Act 3 releases on Netflix on Saturday 23 November at 8 am UK time. The final showdown, what (and who) will still be standing when the dust settles?
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.
