Show Review: Arcane

Rating: 4.5/5

By: Grace Ai and Sahaj Datta

Arcane returns with the same mix of stunning animation and complex characters in its second season, released three years after its first in 2021. Based on the popular game League of Legends, the show brought each character into their game form seamlessly and expanded much of its world in doing so. It was fun, unpredictable, and incredibly heart-wrenching in all the right ways. 

Picking up from its explosive events in Season One, the show expands its scope, exploring the fallout in Piltover and Zaun while introducing new dynamics and escalating tensions. Every character adds color to the plot, like Caitlyn with her overpowering drive for vengeance, Vi, who must come to terms with who her sister has become in order to protect the city, and Jinx, whose erratic actions lead her to meet an unlikely ally…or two. Viktor and Jayce’s vision and dream of Hextech reshapes both Piltover and Zaun for better or for worse, destinies intertwining across timelines, simultaneously dooming and saving each other. 

The relationships between characters — whether alliances, rivalries, or strained bonds — remain at the heart of the show, grounding the high-stakes action in personal stakes. Fans of the first season will find these dynamics even more gripping as the series pushes its protagonists to their limits, asking difficult questions about loyalty, identity, and the cost of power​.

Visually, the season surpasses expectations. French studio Fortiche Production’s mixture of 2D and 3D animation artfully weaves characters, tone, and setting into one scene, never making it feel cobbled together. Each frame is rich in color and emotion, crafting everything from the chaos of battle to the quiet introspection of its characters, and the visuals blend smoothly with the show’s dramatic score. Prominent artists like Twenty One Pilots and Stray Kids make their way into the show, adding both depth and familiarity through songs like “The Line” and “Come Play”, respectively.

The finale of the show was sudden, leaving some plot lines open to interpretation, which will presumably be picked up by other shows in the works by Riot Games. Overall, Arcane’s final season is one that uses its immersive visuals to explore the complexity of human nature and morality, leaving the audience wanting more of what Runeterra has to offer.