Netflix’s Arcane Comes To A Rushed Conclusion

Based on the popular video game League of Legends, Arcane has set a new precedent for video game film adaptations. 

Released in 2021, Arcane was an immediate hit with viewers and critics alike, in its first season, winning four Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Animated Program in 2022.

The studio behind Arcane, Fortiche, mixes 2D and 3D animation to create its unique style, placing it on par with movies like Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse.  

Although most characters in Arcane originate from League of Legends, the series expands on their backstories. Arcane’s inaugural success set high expectations for the final season, and fans questioned if nine episodes was enough to bring the show to a satisfying conclusion.

Season 2, which was released last fall, immediately throws viewers into the rising conflict between the two main regions, Piltover and Zaun, with frequent and elaborate fight scenes.

Arcane does a wonderful job of introducing a nuanced conflict where there are no clear “good” or “bad” characters. Season 2 continues to do this with the character Caitlyn, who makes questionable decisions to get revenge for her mother’s death. 

Caitlyn’s morally grey decisions in the new season showed Arcane’s commitment to fully exploring their characters. However, the pacing of Season 2 makes it difficult for the show to flesh out important character decisions.

For example, Vi, who once declared to never join the organization responsible for her parents’ deaths, becomes an enforcer in just one episode. The quick pacing makes her decision  feel uncharacteristic rather than an important plot point for her development. This season’s fast pacing undermined important character deaths and left some storylines unresolved. 

Co-creator Christian Linke revealed in an interview with Dexerto that the series finale was originally more than an hour long but was cut down to 50 minutes due to the expense and time required to animate such a long episode.

Linke also clarified that the series was always intended to end after two seasons, despite rampant rumors among fans that five seasons were planned.

The showrunners announced that another series set in the League of Legends universe is in development and will explore the regions of Noxus, Ionia and Demacia. 

Fans are excited for the new series, but it’s evident that Arcane left them wanting more.