If you’re like me (in which case, that’s freaking rough), you’ve probably found yourself engrossed in a random show on more than one occasion. Putting aside the dubious tactics of various streaming services, be it canceling shows before they hit their stride to outright removing them from the apps altogether, you gotta acknowledge that there are a good couple of series that earn the hype they’ve produced. In this case, that applies to the critically acclaimed League of Legends spinoff, Arcane, which has released the second and, unfortunately, final season. The last batch of episodes dropped on November 23rd, and all I can say is that it wasn’t perfect, but still a hell of a finale.
For those of you not familiar with the series, Arcane is the story of two sisters, spunky Vi & loose cannon (and rather self-conscious) Jinx, living in a broken society, thrust into a power conflict, struggling with their convictions and each other. “What nonsense!” you’d say. “How could the world of League of Legends tell a compelling story?” To that, dear reader, I implore you to re-evaluate.
Despite the circumstances, Arcane sets itself apart from the source material almost immediately, the first season sitting comfortably as the number one show in a whopping 38 countries, and the second season wasting no time continuing the trend of being downright good media, earning a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score. Truly, it is one of the better video game adaptations that we’ve received.
There are several factors to note as a result of this– the voice cast does an absolutely phenomenal job of contributing to the level of narrative weight with their performances, Hailee Steinfeld (Vi) and Ella Purnell (Jinx) being obvious standouts, but newcomers to the show deserve shoutouts too, like Minnie Driver of Good Will Hunting fame making a cameo as a sorceress.
Speaking of musical icons, my god, does this series have a banging soundtrack. Season One gave us not only Enemy by Imagine Dragons, but also a song created by Sting. Y’know, 17-time Grammy winner Sting. Goosebumps, you guys. Each song was woven perfectly into its accompanying scene and complimented the action. Season 2 doubled down on this notion, using the songs crafted for it to accompany scenes effectively– like they wanted to make the scene play out more than just relying on the music to set the tone.
My personal favorite was Blood, Sweat, and Tears, Sheryl Lee Ralph (Dreamgirls, WATCH IT) putting on a phenomenal show by just being her bad self. It helped that the animation punctuated the scenes so well, definitely showing that part of the series’ $250 million budget didn’t go to waste. The style is akin to that of Into the Spider-Verse, blurring the lines between 2D and 3D with a vivid sense of color and technique that not only makes the world feel fleshed out but acts as a testament to the arts themselves– one scene was entirely hand drawn in charcoal (and as my assorted art major friends all agree, it’s a pretty fickle medium). Arguably it is the best way to translate an RPG into a rather awesome-looking project.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, as Arcane has recently finished its’ run after two seasons. It’s a bittersweet goodbye, but Arcane leaves behind a legacy as one of the finest examples of what video game adaptations can achieve. While we may never return to Piltover and Zaun’s vibrant, chaotic streets, Arcane’s impact will undoubtedly inspire creators and fans alike for years to come. If this truly is the end, it’s a finale worthy of the hype—and one that proves some stories, no matter how brief, are worth every second.
