Two sisters, two worlds, and an endless fight despite all means to get back to each other. From the universe of the popular Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game League of Legends, “Arcane” emerged. The show covers a wide variety of themes expressed by their extensive cast, including familial hardships, LGBTQ+ relationships, class distinctions, the dangers of technology and the morality of war. Season 1 was released in November of 2021, and “Arcane” just released its final season in November of 2024. The series took nine years of planning to complete, and was made on a budget of $250 million. The show was able to fill its relatively short runtime of nine episodes with breathtaking animation, storytelling and cinematic music. “Arcane’s” soundtrack featured a collaboration with world-famous artists like Imagine Dragons, Twenty One Pilots and Stray Kids for their soundtrack, catching the attention of not only gamers, but also music fans. This show has been regarded as a modern masterpiece, boasting a IMDB rating of 9/10, placing it among the the Top 50 TV Shows of all time.
“‘Arcane’ Season 2 was really good,” Lambert senior Kenneth Nasah said. “It really succeeded in capturing the narrative of not simply good versus bad but instead just telling people’s stories.”
“Arcane” is set in the League of Legends universe Runeterra, focusing on the cities of Piltover and Zaun, with Zaun depicted as the slums of Plitover. This steampunk, high-action setting serves as the perfect backdrop for the main casts’ struggles that are often exacerbated by their environments. For example, Viktor, a renowned scientist, is hindered from reaching his full research potential at Piltover because of his Zaunite birth background. However, his lab partner, Jayce, is a direct foil to him: with a prestigious background from Piltover and given the funding, lab and equipment to pursue his research. This dynamic captures the class dynamic struggles that “Arcane” strives to encapsulate.
“‘Arcane’ Season 2 was really good,” Lambert senior Kenneth Nasah said. “It really succeeded in capturing the narrative of not simply good versus bad but instead just telling people’s stories.”
“Arcane” is set in the League of Legends universe Runeterra, focusing on the cities of Piltover and Zaun, with Zaun depicted as the slums of Plitover. This steampunk, high-action setting serves as the perfect backdrop for the main casts’ struggles that are often exacerbated by their environments. For example, Viktor, a renowned scientist, is hindered from reaching his full research potential at Piltover because of his Zaunite birth background. However, his lab partner, Jayce, is a direct foil to him: with a prestigious background from Piltover and given the funding, lab and equipment to pursue his research. This dynamic captures the class dynamic struggles that “Arcane” strives to encapsulate.
“The characters are just so interesting with so much depth,” Lambert senior Luke Rosin commented. “There’s not a character that you’re bored to see on screen.”
“Arcane” Season 2 often succeeded in areas where other popular shows have failed, such as having a strong female lead as their main character, telling a lengthy story within just nine episodes, and featuring powerful, genuine character deaths.
“Everything that happened just felt like the natural course of action, like there was just no other way it could’ve happened,” Lambert senior Tiffany Ju reflected.
“Arcane” serves as an example of an absolute masterpiece, created when authentic writing meets skilled animators who truly care about the characters. To fans’ surprise, they ended the massive franchise after only two seasons, an impactful decision in a landscape where franchises are often just overextended to gain profit. Ultimately, “Arcane” Season 2 expands on the ambitious storytelling and stunning animation that made its predecessor a cultural phenomenon, solidifying its place as one of the most visually and thematically striking animated series in recent years.
