(Red alert! Red alert!: spoilers ahead! TW: mentions of suicide and fictional peril)
Arcane season two… oh boy, I, Cathleen Whitson, have never cried so hard, not even while watching Titanic. But putting that aside, I really believe Arcane had a fantastic storyline. Still, I found myself feeling a bit unsatisfied with certain parts of the narrative, particularly the resolution of Jinx and Ekko’s story. I feel Powder deserved a happier ending, especially considering her sacrifice, which showcased her growth as a character. It just seems to me that there was so much more Powder could have contributed to the plot, especially regarding Ekko and the turf war.
As for Vi’s happy ending with Caitlyn, I can’t help but feel they’re not the best match—almost toxic, in fact. Caitlyn has done some pretty awful things to Vi and hasn’t made much effort to win back her trust or support. After all those years Vi spent in jail, thinking about Powder and how to reunite with her, it felt like Caitlyn suddenly took center stage, turning it all into a ‘Caitlyn this’ and ‘Caitlyn that’ situation. I genuinely think the dynamic between Caitlyn and Vi in season 1 was much better than what we saw in season two. My support for their relationship has waned; it shifted from a narrative of privilege and oppression to one of oppressor versus oppressed, which is undeniably toxic.
Caitlyn’s radicalization was glaringly evident in the third episode of Act one, Finally Got The Name Right, where she was willing to kill Isha in a fit of rage just to prevent Jinx from escaping her grasp again. Her obsession with avenging her mother made her dangerously reckless, to the point where she was ready to hurt a child—or even Vi—to get to Jinx. This pattern continued when Vi and Caitlyn broke up a mere 30 minutes into their relationship because Caitlyn’s extreme behavior just couldn’t be ignored. Ultimately, it ended with a gut-wrenching moment, quite literally a gut punch to Vi, when Caitlyn pulled out a rifle and gut-punched her with it.
I can’t forget to mention that Jayce managed to save Viktor from the explosion in the counselor’s building using the Hexcore, which helped Viktor heal and eventually started him on a path to healing others. He ends up building this whole society focused on healing and promoting a chill, peaceful way of living. But things get messy because Viktor eventually turns against Jayce since Jayce’s choices hurt him. Viktor thinks humans are flawed and can’t really govern themselves, claiming that their feelings can lead to both amazing accomplishments and huge mistakes.
Arcane is really something special, mainly because of its eye-catching art style. The mix of bright colors and detailed designs makes the world pop and brings Piltover and Zaun to life in such a cool way. It’s not just pretty to look at; it also makes the story more engaging, pulling you right into the adventure.
Speaking of the story, it’s super captivating too! It dives deep into the lore of the League of Legends universe, weaving together the origin stories of some fan-favorite characters. It gives you a new angle on their backgrounds and what drives them, making the storyline more than just character development. You really get to explore themes like conflict, ambition and the clash between social classes.
What I love most is how Arcane makes all this complex lore feel accessible. You don’t need to read a ton of background info to enjoy it. The series lays out its backstory in a way that’s entertaining and thought-provoking, so whether you’re a long-time fan or totally new to the game, you’re going to enjoy it. The combination of vibrant animation and a gripping narrative creates a viewing experience that really keeps you hooked!
Season two had a really fast vibe. It was still fun to watch, but it just didn’t hit the highs of the first season. One major thing that stood out was how the story felt more squashed since the creators tried to pack it into just nine episodes like the last season but the first season was slower and had more build-up. This rush kind of made it less gripping and took away some of the tension that kept us on the edge of our seats in the first season. So, while there were still some cool moments, the quick pace took away some of the depth and richness we loved in the beginning.
I think the most interesting part of the story is definitely Mel’s journey of self-discovery, especially when it comes to her magical powers. It all kicks off when she gets, captured by this mysterious character, The Black Rose. Fans of League of Legends might notice that this is a nod to LeBlanc, who tells Mel that she has this magical essence inside her—a truth she’s still figuring out. It really adds some depth to her character and changes the game for her story.
As things progress, it feels like Mel and Jayce have a real connection that could’ve turned into something amazing. But, honestly, their relationship gets rushed, and then Jayce makes that heartbreaking sacrifice. It’s such a bummer because they were building something special. I get that not every story can have a happy ending, but it would’ve been nice to see at least a couple of characters find a little happiness together even with all the chaos around them. Their story could’ve been such a beautiful exploration of love and partnership!
Jinx, also known as Powder, really deserves a break more than anyone else. Her life has been a rollercoaster of trauma and challenges, especially with important people like Vander, her sister Vi and Silco. Each of these relationships brought both love and pain, leaving her in emotional chaos. After a long and tough journey, she thought she found a bit of hope for a normal life, thanks to her bond with Isha.
But just when things seemed to be looking up, Isha’s sacrifice hit her hard and shattered the stability Jinx had fought so hard to achieve. The moment that hit me the hardest was when Isha gave up her life to save Jinx, Vi and Caitlyn from Vander, who turned back into a beast. It completely erased all the effort Viktor put into healing him. The music during the sacrifice scene just added so much emotion—Eason Chen totally nailed it. Especially with the montage of Jinx and Isha being together. The lyrics in Mandarin are so beautiful, especially when it says, “Push aside the mountains, let her see me, tell those stars to shine on me faster, blow away the dark clouds with that blue in my heart.” I still get emotional just thinking about it! The way this song connects with Isha and Jinx is just perfect. Arcane really knows how to pull at your heartstrings!
As time went on, Jinx felt more and more alone and overwhelmed by fear after she turned herself in. The thought that her sister Vi might never be on her side again really weighed her down. The feelings of abandonment and betrayal just deepened her isolation.
What stung the most was how Caitlyn treated her. Caitlyn’s harsh words got to Jinx, especially when she said Jinx couldn’t change—like she was still the same person from the past. It felt like a slap in the face, dismissing all Jinx’s efforts to turn her life around. Instead of seeing how hard she was trying to shake off her past, Caitlyn just focused on that one terrible moment when Jinx killed her mother, reducing her to that single act of violence.
This lack of understanding made Jinx feel even more worthless. Despite genuinely wanting to change, she felt trapped by her traumatic past, convinced that she could never do anything right. It became this endless cycle of despair, reinforcing her belief that she truly was a jinx, complicating her journey for redemption and connection in a world that seemed to have shut her out.
Episode seven was definitely the most emotional but also so beautiful. Ekko and Heimerdinger find themselves in this alternate universe where Vi had died, and instead of Jinx existing and Powder being adopted by Silco, Powder is still Powder and not the explosive Jinx, and they’re actually a couple. It highlights their connection as soulmates. Ekko’s love for Powder is just on another level; he cares about both her Jinx and Powder sides equally, without picking favorites. It’s even more touching when he pulls Jinx, in the OG universe of Zaun, back from the edge of suicide—it really shows how deep his feelings go.
Everything builds up to an epic finale where Mel’s mom, Ambessa, declares war on Piltover and Zaun in an ambitious bid to take over both cities. This marks the beginning of the biggest battle ever in *Arcane*. In the midst of it all, we witness a deeply emotional sacrifice and a jaw-dropping twist that will leave you stunned! This part of the series showcases how Zaun and Piltover unite against a common enemy, setting aside their differences to protect one another. They come together as allies, realizing that their social class, wealth and status don’t matter when it comes to defending their homes. In this moment, they truly stand by each other, almost like family.
After Caitlyn and Mel were captured, Ambessa dropped a bombshell: Maddie had actually been spying on Caitlyn the whole time, even when they were together after Maddie broke up with Vi. It was a real shocker to find out that Maddie, who seemed so close to Caitlyn, was the one who betrayed her. There was a hint earlier in the story when Salo casually said, “Oh, don’t worry, we’re keeping a close eye on her,” but he never got into the details about how. The full truth didn’t come out until the very last episode of Arcane.
Honestly, the most gut-wrenching moment had to be when Jinx sacrificed herself to save Vi. It really showed how deep their sisterly bond is. But it’s tough to see Jinx struggling to find happiness in her life—she feels like she’s stuck in limbo. Is she really gone for good, or could there be a chance she’ll come back? That’s definitely up for debate.
No matter what people think about Arcane season two, it was such an amazing ride while it was out. I really hope Netflix decides to dive back into this universe instead of just leaving it at one series. With Arcane being the sixth most-watched show in the U.S., there’s so much potential for more awesome content like this, and if they keep it going, who knows what could happen next! I sincerely hope Riot makes more shows like this one!
