Arcane (2021)
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Arcane (2021)
Before anything please don’t start a war in the comments I’m a fan like everyone here.
I love Arcane and still enjoyed it but this is not the same show writing wise. I’ve lost all hope with Arcane finishing what it started. Its not like ruined everything level of bad, but Arcane is leaning into a more regular “League of Legends” show now compared to S1 which is a masterpiece. It’s also intentionally branching into setting up future League of Legends shows, and sacrificing what Arcane S1 built.
TLDR:
The creators just cooked up very climatic 10/10 action sequences/emotional sequences (amazing btw), and then filled in the gaps with rushed development. Thats what S2 is so far. It’s great to watch still but it’s so cheap compared to how well executed S1 was.
They are obviously pushing the story towards preparing us for the larger League of Legends lore world, and its messing with what Arcane S1 set up. The “Arcane” portion of the story has come too fast, the set up conflict was resolved too fast, everything is so cheap. Its beautiful on the surface and enjoyable but quality wise it feels surface level.
Few points:
- I thought that Vander/Warwick was gonna comeback as Warwick to be an enemy to everyone. He came back to have a sweet family reunion to be killed again. I also didn’t like that he still had his humanity, feels a tiny bit cheap. He had like 3 different emotional scenes/flashbacks to pad the time to be killed. Examples of good well executed emotional scenes are the end of S1 Act 1, the first Jinx Vi “reunion”, the end of S1, Viktor running alongside the boat etc. I honestly got chills at most of the S1 character climax scenes because they are ALL so well developed, genuine masterpiece.
I’m sure people will disagree but I really notice when emotional scenes are well earned, but this is just my opinion.
- The ending of S1 was arguably the most emotional scene for some people, representing the end of Powder. Now in S2 its plausible that Isha brought Powder back but its SO RUSHED. Still feels very cheap to walk back on committing to the Jinx character. The tea party finale was so climatic because it felt like Jinx was forever gonna be Jinx now.
I guess it paid off for an emotional sacrifice scene to end S2 Act 2.
- EVERYTHING to do with Vi and Jinx reuniting. The WHOLE emotional core of S1 was the sense that Vi and Jinx could NEVER become sisters again. Thats what Eps 1-3 set up, what 4-6 extended on, and 7-9 finalised. Fans were supposed to pray to no avail for them to become sisters again. Now it’s happened for plot convenience???
- Caitlyn just spent like a month??? Becoming Ambessa’s disciple, gets into a fling (done to piss off fans intentionally), and then flips EVERYTHING the second she sees Vi again??? It’s just too much for me to ignore.
- Jayce and the Arcane stuff will hopefully be explained but for now he just isn’t a character. He just comes to fuck shit up. **THEORY** Im very sure that Jayce is doing this for good reason, he saw something in the Arcane world. This is actually a part I really like because Jayce is 100% in the right.
- Viktors character is just done I guess, arc finished. I kinda feel like he’s not dead but so far he’s just a bit twisted. Big question mark on Viktor.
- Mel had a few minutes of screentime and most people won’t know wtf is going on with her.
Comments
felle27
5mo
funny, i think the writing is much stronger this season, albeit more subtly written and with more complicated character arcs
felle27
5mo
think of how jinx flipped from powder and jinx in season 1, that's how caitlyn is now. just because she does something doesn't mean she can't go back to how she was before.
felle27
5mo
idk i think viktor is better this season, jinx/vi i agree with you since it doesn't focus on them as much, but the dynamics still showcase the same things as season 1, not that much has changed
Alex_Sol
5mo
Very strong character work in this season along with amazing dynamics, the final scene witj isha is the most emotional in the show imo, so calling that cheap is deff a take
cinemmon
5mo
i agree with you! i really liked act 1 but my gripe with it is it’s too rushed and act 2 just confirmed this. act 1 set up the fact that caitlyn was going to do ANYTHING for vengeance for her mother. but now she just kinda ignores jinx?? and jinx and vi could get together so fast? i know they care about vander but really? i don’t hate it because i love the show so much but it didn’t really feel satisfying and i don’t see many people sharing this opinion.
Alex_Sol
5mo
Would not say "ignored jinx" is the right choice of words, still 3 eps left and right there n then alot happend
Alex_Sol
5mo
Her whole reason for the rage in the 1st place was family(love) both jinx and vi lost that, why should she have the right right there n then, the alchemist pointed it out also, the true reason behind all the horror be did was love
Alex_Sol
5mo
I think it's all gonna come together beautifully when we get to act 3, all this sounds better in my head tbh
felle27
5mo
also remember the conversation she had with singed when he said he created shimmer to revive his daughter, and think about how that affected caitlyn
EthanNuuu
5mo
@Alex_Sol I agree the scene was beautiful and emotional, but the character was not built up enough. Think about how they built up Viktor and the scene of him running alongside the boat. THAT is an emotional scene to me, ties in everything for his character. Just how Isha was introduced and is now a major character hasn’t stuck with me
EthanNuuu
5mo
Vander’s death goes out in a blaze of glory because it makes sense, Claggor and Mylo were in the OG crew. These characters had 3 episodes of build up and made sense. The visuals and presentation of the Isha sacrifice are the best in the show, but the weight isn’t truly earned to me
Alex_Sol
5mo
With the time isha bad they have her some shinning adorable moments and her dynamic with jinx was strong, if she dies, it might have been a bit soon, but the amount of paralles to vi and powder they added to isha and jinx with also us seeing jinx semi happy for the 1st time since silco
Alex_Sol
5mo
@EthanNuuu i can kinda see where your comming from; but their deaths are not confirmed, and i did not ser any leaks so dont spoil
felle27
5mo
@EthanNuuu i also didn't care for isha enough as a character yet, but i cared a lot about what she meant to jinx and what their dynamic meant so that scene felt earned in my opinion
Alex_Sol
5mo
I feel that for most, like the fanbase in general was going crazy over isha... the amount of "count your days riot" i've seen over isha is crazy... I personally lived her shinning adorable precence and direct parallel to powder
Ernestoast
5mo
This is THE review!
I'm on the same boat, they kinda threw everything that they have built up. Though I have to mention they still executed this mess of a plot beautifully, but heck.. I miss the old Arcane, where they really took their time to carve out each of the character. Now it feels like they care more about the spectacle of the world-building, and the characters are just mere conduits for Riot to prepare the fans for what's beyond this series. First WW, then Janna, now Orianna...
Ernestoast
5mo
Not to mention LeBlanc and possibly Rell? (hinted during Mel's conversation with her brother) idek anymore lol
I just hope Act 3 will glue everything neatly
BaileyB
5mo
I can understand where you are coming from with most of your points, with the exception of one in particular which is when you say "They are obviously pushing the story towards preparing us for the larger League of Legends lore world." For whatever reason, people feel this is the case with this season moreso than season 1 which I just don't understand. I am all for giving the praise that season 1 deserves, but season 1 also does this. What in this act specifically made you think that they are
BaileyB
5mo
just "pushing the story towards preparing us for the larger LoL lore?" You could say the Black Rose stuff and that would be valid, but how is the introduction of Noxus in 1x8 not the same thing you are referring to?
valerian
5mo
3 season would be perfect,I think that’s the reason why it feels rushed,don’t think they put less effort into season 2 writing
FlmKrp
5mo
I kinda agree, i still like this season mostly but i don't think they ever really "took their time" to develop characters even in season 1. One of the biggest rushed development is Caitlyn and Vi forming such a close bond in like just 4 days in season 1.
Alex_Sol
5mo
I dont think the speed of their bond i a valid complaint, for me rn, season 2 is doing better then season 1 like in terms of how far we in comoaring the 2 acts to the other 2 acts, arcanes next act have better potential then season one act 3
FlmKrp
5mo
Idk if im speaking for others but to me slower pacing is important to let the audience connect with the characters emotionally. When the pacing is fast, most of the time, you are missing details and nuances that make a relationship believable and emotionally charged which is the case with CaitVi in season 1. Vi should've hated this enforcer lady for way longer before falling in love. And then when they overcome challenges, they slowly become closer and closer. They didn't have this.
Alex_Sol
5mo
Keep in mind they has less time to conclude the while story in the same amount of epusoeds as last
Alex_Sol
5mo
There is just alot of lore/info being throne at us, it got a bit overwhelming, there was alot to prosess and things where moving fast, but there is no issue with the overall writting ør quality of the show this far
FlmKrp
5mo
In season 2, they should've shown Isha changing Jinx to a softer person again so we really get to know how much Isha means to her but instead they skipped all that during the time jump.
Alex_Sol
5mo
It's impossible for everyone to connect to everything wether u want ør not, everyone has diffrent opinins afterall
Alex_Sol
5mo
Give me å reason to adapt months of nothing major happening only to show how one realtiondhip that was already obvious from the get go
FlmKrp
5mo
I guess thats the huge drawback of being a high budget animated series. So much to be done in 9 episodes so a lot of "fat" is trimmed. Arcane is a good show. But it could be much better.
Alex_Sol
5mo
The way the my showed them in ep 2 was enough for me tbh to be convincend on them, the montages they have been doing is a very efficent way to move forawrd fast without dusturbing the plot
Alex_Sol
5mo
Those things they trimm so far have been giving to is montages and that's a better way of consuming it tbh, og de only get 9 epsioeds thats upgrades the overall quality
Alex_Sol
5mo
Arcane is very so much to me the definition of quality over quantity, but then again that's all me... you all are free to your one options, om sure they are all correct in their own way😼👍
FlmKrp
5mo
I dont get how its a better way of showing it. You cant just montage character development. Show people interacting and bonding throughout an extended period of time like humans actually do and that's how you not only build a bond between 2 characters on screen but also with your audience. Also "moving the plot forward fast" is not inherently a good thing. I mean you only need an extra episode or two. You may feel an emotional connection with these characters but I mostly dont
BaileyB
5mo
Saying season 1 doesn't take time to develop the characters is insane to me. CaitVi is a dynamic that some people reckon is rushed, which I don't really agree with. The visuals imply something between the two of them in episode 6, but I think it is only until episode 7 that their relationship is clearly established.
FlmKrp
5mo
I dont think quality over quantity works here cus theres so much stuff packed into 9 episodes which is why some people are complaining its rushed
Alex_Sol
5mo
Yea an ep ør two mainly for two characters realationship, they was already ment to be, powder meets jinx
FlmKrp
5mo
I also agree with the idea of giving Warwick more time to actually be a mysterious menacing threat. They had bits of it but i would've liked more
Alex_Sol
5mo
I think your overdoing that one little detail that i personally did not relize, cause why would I, their dynamic was already Peak, there was almost a while ei dedicated to them , and im sure that sims up most of whats happend, combind that with the montage, and also the fact that er already like both characters...
It's not a flaw for arcane but could be for å diffrent show, cause most other shows dont do it like arcane
FlmKrp
5mo
I just dont find it believable that caitlyn feels so strongly about Vi in such a short time
FlmKrp
5mo
"taking their time" means taking longer than usual to do something and I dont think arcane as a show in general does that
FixinGud
5mo
Agree with most of your points; loved act 1, but with act 2, I felt emotionally hollow by the end due to how rushed and poorly-written many parts of it felt (praying act 3 resolves most if not all of these issues)
FixinGud
5mo
It could be that too; just have to see what happens next. I wrote my critical thoughts in length for arc 2, but I'm hoping it'll all age like milk once this final arc comes out
Winterseason
5mo
You said exactly what I was thinking. This does not mean this is not a good (great, even) season, but I do think this act felt a bit rushed. Hopefully Act 3 will make up for it 🙏🏻
Alex_Sol
5mo
Peak act, stronger then then act two season 1 easily, not need to make up for anything, but act 3 will clear some things up
FlmKrp
5mo
I think its as good as s1. I don't think it got significantly worse or significantly better
EthanNuuu
5mo
the thing with Cait/Vi is that while yes Vi SHOULD hate all enforcers, the journey Cait/Vi go through together breaks that. Its fast yes but they justify it imo. Stigma is something that can break quick if for example someone from that group saved your life. They also had great chemistry from the jump (great writing) so them having feelings was also 100% good with me
EthanNuuu
5mo
I was fine with basically everything in S1. In terms of “pushing the League of Legends” stuff, it all was well placed and earned. While yes the noxus stuff always present in the background (Black Rose chasing Ambessa), that doesn’t mean it just gets pumped in. Black Rose gets introduced in a very short scene at the start of an episode and 99% of viewers would be confused.
EthanNuuu
5mo
introducing more League of Legends stuff into Arcane IS NOT BAD, but when its done so fast with this much volume it feels too much. Arcane S1 was very much a contained story with like 80% focus on our main characters. I felt the transition from the S1 vibe to the new vibe was too jarring. Now we’re fully into the magic Arcane stuff. The end of S1 was so tragic and was the peak of Jinx, I thought it was the final straw for her committing to her insanity.
EthanNuuu
5mo
I mean S1 barely wasted time compared to S2. With the music video montages and the action sequences (with slow mo) it eats up the short runtime. S1 was fast (some even say rushed not me though), but it was efficient.
S2 feels like the plot is moving the characters not the characters moving the plot.
I mean theres no arguing how insane it was to throw Vi into a jail cell with Jinx after a VERY short montage in S2e2, you can’t tell me thats a good decision. Theres so many moments like this.
EthanNuuu
5mo
ep 1 of S2 was the simplest so it didnt have ANY issues that I mentioned above, but from there I just started noticing things I’d never noticed before in Arcane. Artistically S2 is even better than S1, like the montage for Vi’s mother is just 11/10. Everything outside of the artistic sequences has issues to me. Bringing Vander back is fine but bringing him back JUST to reunite Jinx and Vi, so that they can be together in the plot resolving everything makes my eyes roll
EthanNuuu
5mo
Isha suddenly becoming a huge part of Jinx in like less than 5 minutes of screentime, changing her whole character is too much after we just went through a whole SEASON of Jinx development. Its not like it can’t work with Jinx taking a mother role (its a good direction imo) but its just too rushed. Theres not an appropriate amount of time dedicated to things to unfold organically.
EthanNuuu
5mo
Another example is Caitlyn in these two Acts. We spend like 3 episodes drilling the fact that Caitlyn is over the edge and wants to kill Jinx. She still has her humanity (obviously), but the ends justify the means now. We get multiple moments showing us Caitlyn being different with the end of Act 1 being the peak of this. Then we see her not even being involved in anything, and then getting pissed that Ambessa is being too brutal. All that we see of this operation is a police brutality montage
EthanNuuu
5mo
Act 3 looks to be a full out war arc. Everything from S1 is almost irrelevant now that Arcane magic demons are involved, and that Ambessa wants to take over hextech. Jinx/Vi is literally just whatever now, Vi/Cait is still developing (good), Viktor/Jayce dynamic is likely done (busy fighting space demons), Mel’s character is just about Black Rose now, Heimer/Ekko probably will just come to fight in the war
EthanNuuu
5mo
it went from 80% character work into the plot needs to expand expand expand. Ok Vander back to progress Vi/Jinx relationship, Vi meets Caitlyn to resolve all drama. Ok get everyone to group up at Viktors Jesus crib so we can have a climatic and confusing end to Act 2. Isha just dropping out of the sky was too much for me. There wasn’t any skipping of anything in terms of character work in S1. Character work is Arcanes BIGGEST (BIGGEST) positive, and why I will always promote the show.
EthanNuuu
5mo
You could tell from the start of S2 that spectacle was gonna be favoured. The highlights were now gonna be the high budget animation scenes.
Im not even hating on the final Isha scene, it just feels like the creators are going like “here now cry” after a whole Act of spectacle. Like her character was put in because they had this sacrifice scene in mind, at least give Isha more focus. Beautiful scene though its good in isolation 👌👌
EthanNuuu
5mo
TLDR of my rant: Arcane definitely was supposed to be 3+ seasons and idc what the directors claim now, originally it was 3+ seasons. S1 was a complete and contained story, S2 was written to just end the story to open it up for future shows.
felle27
5mo
you make some fair points but what is that ending statement? season 1 was in no way a complete and contained story, jayce, viktor, caitlyn, vi, mel, ekko and ambessa never got a resolution in season 1. I just rewatched the finale of season 1 the other day and it literally sets up things like the black rose aswell as the supernatural element of hextech
felle27
5mo
none of whats happened in season 2 came out of nowhere so far except 2 characters being maddie and the dude who became friends with vi, everything else builds from how season 1 ended
felle27
5mo
it's an interesting conversation to have because you could definitely argue that this season has been rushed, i would get that, and i agree that its faster than season 1, but i think everything that has happened so far has made sense when you look at what season 1 was building towards
EthanNuuu
5mo
Arcane gained huge traction because it made the lore of League of Legends human. Mostly everything in S1 focused on the characters and their dynamics. Now the dynamics are sidelined to progress the plot, things just develop just to develop.
Yes the plot getting more broad is NOT an issue, its an issue that its gotten broader and sacrificed the delicate character work. Both can be done but S2 completely favours spectacle. Its not the SPEED its the narrative STRUCTURE that is suffering
EthanNuuu
5mo
SPEED has never been an issue, S1 was speedy. But S1 allowed for speed because the structure was so tight.
Im gonna keep mentioning this because its the easiest to understand; Ep 9 S1 was presented as the END of Vi and Jinx as sisters. It held emotional weight and made us cry because it felt like the end. Now in S2 Vi gets thrown into jail WITH Vi after a short montage, and the Vander factor solves everything. If you see no issue with this then I give up
felle27
5mo
@EthanNuuu 7 have no idea what you mean by the jail thing but i can answer the vander thing. To me, the end of season 1 wasn't presented as the end of vi and jinx as sisters, but the end of vi and powder as sister. they are still sisters as long as vi accepts jinx for who she is instead of wanting her to be powder again, and this is exactly what she does in season 2. jinx is still jinx, so the decision she made in season 1 to "kill" powder still has weight.
felle27
5mo
also i think the character work has decreased so i agree about that, but i think it's sacrificed for a larger focus on themes instead of spectacle as you say. i don't think the dynamics are sidelined tho, since the dynamics are, just like season 1, what drives the plot. i want to reserve some criticism i have until the final episodes are released because there are flaws with this season that were not present in season 1 as much, but i still think the writing is on a similar level to season 1
EthanNuuu
5mo
the jail thing is the start of ep 5 S2. Vi gets her montage and gets thrown into a cell with Jinx and then Jinx mentions “Vander is back”. Nothing in the show has ever been this contrived. Mind you this is the first meeting since Jinx shot the rocket
EthanNuuu
5mo
I argue that spectacle is being focused on because of the sheer quantity of fights/high level art sequences and the lack of any other significant moments. Every episode has a big moment and any downtime is sacrificed to move towards the next big moment.
I remember when these moments were earned in S1, like Vi and Jayce fighting chem barons with their new weapons. It was sick. Now its just the main praise of the show which before was the character work
EthanNuuu
5mo
things are just very snappy and superficial to me in S2. The Vander inclusion in S2 really feels like an easy way to gather every character together so the big climax of ep 6 is possible. Warwick having his humanity was a mistake, he could have memories but to have his humanity feels sooooo cheap
EthanNuuu
5mo
so many moments to me feel like the writers are trying to force emotion out of the viewer. It never was like this in S1 but I’ve felt it like 5+ times this season. Huge build up in ep 9, dropped instantly when Jinx meets Isha. Huge build up Cait ditching Vi on her quest to kill Jinx, dropped without Cait having any meaningful scenes. Heimer Ekko sidelined because theres no way they could have fit into the season so far
EthanNuuu
5mo
the scenes themselves in a vacuum like the family reunion and Isha’s sacrifice are great and I can appreciate them. But looking more broadly its just not well set up to me, and feels like a short cut to making the viewer feel emotion. Every emotional payoff in S1 was tightly planned . E.g Viktor running alongside the boat was straight peak character moment
EthanNuuu
5mo
the main argument against the criticism is that it all makes sense still. Yes in the end it makes sense, like Caitlyn betraying Ambessa makes sense. But what we are shown feels very disproportionate. Like when things are built up and resolved there needs to be a balance between them. This is narrative structure. S2 has plot driven narrative structure where the plot is influencing the characters more than the other way. Its a legit criticism and its not a small thing either
felle27
5mo
you're completely right that the scenes with emotiotional payoff didn't have a lot of build up in season 2, but that's because the build up comes from season 1. for example, i cared about isha because of the obvious parallells to powder. at this point i have learnt that season 2 is pretty much just gonna be payoff for stuff set up in season 1, which is kind of a shame since i wanted more from these characters, but that's why it feels so different. the seasons go hand in hand that way
felle27
5mo
i disagree on the warwick thing, since humanity is such a big theme in this show, and i also don't think vi was in a prison cell, that was just where she was staying so just as contrived as when jinx knew exactly where vi, silco and caitlyn were when she kidnapped them for the dinner party scene
felle27
5mo
also could you give some examples as to why this season is plot driven? i feel like every single thing that has happened so far originates from a character making a choice out of love for something or someone (which is a theme i think this season does so well)
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