Woah. So, Arcane Season 2 Act 2 took a turn, and many of us are still picking our jaws off the ground. Justifiably so. Opposite to all expectations, Netflix and Riot Games aren’t playing it safe with this final season. Instead of tightening the narrative plot lines to focus on what was introduced in Arcane Season 1, they’ve expanded the scope of story, adding new elements and teasing potential spin-off material. They continue to lean in on the strong Season 2 soundtrack, using it to bolster the montage use effectively. And there is a lot of montage use.
RELATED: Check out our Arcane Season 2 recaps
To oversimplify, Act 2 brings Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Ella Purnell) together with the discovery (long-suspected by fans) that their adoptive father, Vander (JB Blanc), is still alive. The hitch is that his psyche and self are immersed and entangled with those of a monstrous wolf creature. If we’re allowing a broader perspective, there are also major developments in Mel’s (Toks Olagundoye) circumstances, Jayce (Kevin Alejandro) and Viktor’s (Harry Lloyd) relationship and Caitlyn’s (Katie Leung) leadership of Piltover.
MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW FOR ARCANE SEASON 2 ACT 2
Paint the Town Blue
Time has passed since Piltover declared martial law in Zaun (as advised by Ambessa (Ellen Thomas) in the final scene of Act 1), and the stylized music video montage illustrates exactly how well that’s gone over. The Noxian presence in Piltover is an active threat to Zaun and a persistent annoyance to the Topsiders, as Caitlyn describes to Maddie (Katy Townsend) when she can’t sleep. (To be honest, that was not the rebound relationship I expected to see Caitlyn in.)
Although Jinx is the titular concern of Arcane Season 2 Episode 4, “Paint the Town Blue,” Caitlyn demonstrates a lot of growth as well. Granted, it’s mostly in pursuit of Jinx. However, she’s had Piltover’s leadership thrust upon her, and the fact that she doesn’t blindly accept Ambessa’s direction on every point is impressive. The temptation to abdicate the responsibility for decision-making must be strong.
RELATED: TV Review: Arcane Season 2 Act 1
Meanwhile, Jinx’s preoccupation with the nonverbal but highly communicative Isha (Lucy Lowe) has kept her out of sight while her legend grows unchecked in the Undercity. What’s fascinating is she’s content to keep her head down and her activities under the radar, but Isha is not. Whether it’s hero worship or an understanding of what Jinx’s leadership would mean to the cause, Isha’s ready to step in as proxy until Jinx stops spinning her wheels.
Sevika
Humor in Arcane is subtle for the most part. The exceptions are Heimerdinger’s (Mick Wingert) stream-of-consciousness chatter and when Sevika (Amirah Vann) has to deal with Jinx. Fortiche Studio’s facial animation imbues its characters with such a range of micro-expressions that the artistry is nearly lost in the emotional authenticity. Sevika’s willingness to work with Jinx, her recognition of the sway Jinx holds over the Zaunites with no effort at all, and that smidgen of — dare we say it? — affection for Silco’s (Jason Spisak’s) de facto heir doesn’t change the fact she’d be more comfortable if Jinx was a little less … Jinx.
We saw this in her during the alley battle with Smeech (Lee Citrano) in Arcane Season 2 Episode 2, “Watch It All Burn,” and it’s there again when they set out to infiltrate Stillwater Hold to rescue Isha. Sevika understands people even if she doesn’t like them much. Even when the Jinxers and other rally attendees give Jinx their unexpectedly silent support, Sevika’s face reflects that it only confirms what she knew.
RELATED: Exciting Arcane Season 2 Soundtrack Details Revealed
Arcane episodes always end strong, but “Paint the Town Blue”‘s final moment is exceptional. Seeing the red ragey light fade from Warwick’s eyes as he recognizes Powder within Jinx conveys how the power of human love can find a way through bestial instinct.
Blisters and Bedrock
Arcane Season 2 Episode 5, “Blisters and Bedrock,” is the emotional and chronological heart of the season. As its center, it provides the narrative foundation for everything happening in the Now.
Of course, it’s hard to see Vi hit her rock-bottom life — drinking, fighting, passing out, rinse and repeat. This response to Caitlyn leaving her because she’d kept her from shooting at Jinx when Isha could’ve been hurt collaterally contrasts with Jinx’s reaction to loss. Where Little Sister blows things up to feel better, Big Sis hits things/people just to feel.
Learning Vander’s alive sobers Vi up quickly. Despite her well-earned distrust of anything Jinx says, she can’t help but hope. And when it matters, she trusts Jinx enough to let down her guard enough as Warwick leaps at her for Vander to recognize her and remember Felicia (Jeannie Tirado).
RELATED: Read our Arcane Season 1 reviews
Felicia
Adding the layer of Vander’s memories to what we know about him, Silco and the girls explains so much and fills in the corners of his relationship with Silco and both men’s attachment to the girls. The friendship between the three Zaunites, the promises made, and the hopes carried are cornerstones of the narrative. There’s warmth and joy there, and it’s in that world of love that the girls were born into.
Learning that Vander tried to reach out to Silco before the end casts a pall on Vi and Jinx as they consider how their own relationship has suffered through chance and choices. Despite everything, they’re still able to slide into their sisterly roles, trash-talking and all.
Black Rose
Arguably, the most intriguing new presence introduced in Arcane Season 2 is the powerful and malevolent Order of the Black Rose. They’ve threatened Ambessa, kidnapped Mel, and murdered Kino (Keston John). They’re able to infiltrate any space. The animation of their thorny vine-like chains is nightmarish, and they’re not above playing mind games, as seen in the Oculorum.
RELATED: Arcane: Co-Creator Christian Linke Shares How Finding the Middle Made Arcane Real
If Mel is “the child” with some innate power the Black Rose seeks to control, it would explain why she and Jayce escaped injury in the Council Chamber attack. But what does it mean for her and Ambessa? Also, what’s she going to say when she returns to Piltover and discovers what Jayce has been up to? Speaking of which…
Jayce…?
The drawback to the overriding conflict between Zaun and Piltover and the impossible to look away from a reunion of the sisters is that the other dramatic events of Act 1 have been backburnered. In the Hexgate base, both Salo (Josh Keaton) and Jayce have been significantly changed. Viktor, in his new incarnation as Hex Messiah … er, The Herald, cured Salo of … well, of being Salo. Meanwhile, Jayce has clearly been traumatized by his time in the Arcane space. So much so that he believes murdering Salo is justified. It makes one wonder, considering the beard, how much time has elapsed for him in the sphere.
The Message Hidden in the Pattern
Here comes the gut punch of the Act. Arcane Season 2 Episode 6, “The Message Hidden in the Pattern,” marks the first major character deaths of the season. In wrapping around the visual of the obliterated commune arch and having Singed (Brett Tucker) predict the community’s fall, the writers effectively foreshadowed Viktor’s death when no one expected it. It’s somewhat comforting that his consciousness lives on in his connection to the Arcane and Sky (Kimberly Brooks). Furthermore, his title, The Herald, hints that something bigger is coming. Something Arcane-sourced that whatever is controlling Jayce fears.
RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: Arcane’s Vi
With Jayce doing the bidding of some Arcane consciousness, what’s happened to Heimerdinger and Ekko (Reed Shannon)? Not gonna lie, Ekko’s my favorite, so I’m rooting for him to escape the Hex singularity with some significant superpowers. And hopefully, Heimerdinger survives, too.
While Viktor’s death could be seen as a transcendental passage, there’s nothing but tragedy in Isha’s attempt to stop Warwick’s berserker rampage and the Noxian/Enforcer slaughter of the Zaun residents. Furthermore, we can only imagine what her death will do to Jinx. As Act 3 approaches, we’re bracing for both the inevitably epic conclusion and the reality that this is the end for Arcane: League of Legends. For now.
Arcane: League of Legends is currently streaming on Netflix.
- JENTRY CHAU VS. THE UNDERWORLD Recap: (S01E08) Fifteen Finger Discount - December 9, 2024
- JENTRY CHAU VS. THE UNDERWORLD Recap: (S01E07) Into the Zhong - December 9, 2024
- JENTRY CHAU VS. THE UNDERWORLD Recap: (S01E06) All’s Fair in Love and War - December 8, 2024
