While the creators of the hit Netflix show “Arcane” claim that they chose to end the show on its second season, the first six episodes of Season 2 feels like the creative team is rushing through an additional season’s worth of plot. The award-winning show based on the video game “League of Legends” has yet to capture the concise, poignant narrative the first season is so famous for.
What felt slightly rushed in the first act now feels like the narrative is bolting past plot points and character development to hurry itself toward the end of the story. “Arcane” is released on Netflix three episodes at a time over the course of three weeks, giving the show the perfect opportunity to capitalize on the classic three-act structure.
The show masterfully excelled at pacing in Season 1, seamlessly juggling an ensemble cast of main characters that each contributed to the overarching themes of class disparity and the cycle of violence. Unfortunately, Season 2 Act 2 highlights how much the second season lacks that same grace.
Not only have major characters been absent for episodes on end, but the story shies away from exploring the political conflict it previously set up. In place of exploring the political climate, the characters that aren’t MIA are going through a completely different storyline that takes center stage. While this isn’t unwelcome, it comes at the cost of putting the main plot on hold.
It almost feels cheap to lean into this arc in particular rather than the revolution actively happening in the streets. Vi and Jinx get a few feel-good moments, but their roles in the overall story no longer have a clear motivation.
The most egregious part of this storyline is how it treats Caitlyn Kiramman, the well-off enforcer from Piltover, the proclaimed city of progress. At the end of Season 2 Act 1, Caitlyn had just been situated as the figurehead of a fascist regime that declared martial law and plans to invade Zaun.
The themes of radicalization are still present from Season 1, but Season 2 Act 2 flinches away from letting Caitlyn be an example of how easy it is to see different people as an “other.” Not including her newfound status as a dictator, Caitlyn spent Season 2 Act 1 dehumanizing the people of Zaun, performing acts of domestic violence and committing war crimes by releasing toxic gas into the ventilation tunnels that supply Zaun with breathable air.
These actions have next to no repercussions on Caitlyn as a character. Interactions between her and other characters like Jinx and Vi feel hollow and lifeless, with barely any acknowledgment that Caitlyn has declared war on their home.
A small time skip takes place between the acts, although how long is undeterminable. The audience’s only cue that this is happening are montages, set to admittedly amazing music, that fast forward through the fallout of the characters’ decisions.
That’s not to say that Act 2 is a total bust. Viktor and Jayce Talis, the co-creators of Hextech, have been on diverging paths that have begun to pay off.
Religious fanaticism seems to be one of the focal points of this season. When Viktor returns to Zaun, he’s wrapped in a makeshift robe and carrying a modified, taller version of his cane, drawing religious parallels to Jesus and Christianity. The sick and desperate people flock to Viktor as their Messiah figure, and his followers quickly establish themselves as a bona fide cult.
Although Viktor does perform miracles and heal the sick, there’s something undeniably rotten lurking beneath the surface. What that is exactly has yet to be revealed, but the audience does get several glimpses inside of the magic hivemind Viktor is facilitating.
Jayce, who has recently begun to see the Arcane as something evil since he was sucked into the magic for the duration of the time skip, reacts poorly to this. The context behind his actions is still a mystery to the audience, but the dichotomy of Jayce and Viktor is fascinating.
We get glimpses of Ambessa’s daughter Mel, a member of the Piltover council that has been resolutely pushing for peace, who was magically kidnapped at the end of Act 1. Her storyline, while only briefly shown, leaves the audience with burning questions about her backstory.
Jinx continues to be one of the standout characters of the show as we watch her heal her own childhood trauma by acting as a big sister to Isha. However, even with their dynamic being as enjoyable as it is, Isha is simply a band-aid on Jinx’s psychological issues. Giving Jinx someone who depends on her has matured her as a character, but at the end of the day, Jinx still doesn’t know who Jinx is.
Hopefully Act 3 of Season 2 will display some internal personal growth for these complex characters while returning to the main story at hand. Season 2 Act 2 of “Arcane” isn’t horrible, but the dip in quality is painfully obvious when compared to its previous storylines.
