KARACHI:
The beloved Netflix animated series Arcane has continued its course with the full release of its second and final season. If you are among those who were waiting for all three acts to come out before being able to watch season 2, your patience has been duly rewarded and, in some ways, I deeply envy you.
Although the wait between acts wasn’t as bitter as TV schedules tend to be, the jarring endings to both Act 1 and Act 2 left us regular viewers begging for more with each weekly release. However, now I’m not looking forward to the week-long birthday void of Act 3 with no new content to accompany the occasion.
A brief rewind
Adapted from the game. League of Legends, Arcane is a mosaic containing fractals of broken characters and their various stories, all rooted in the dirty politics that corrupt the fictional cities of Piltover and Zaun. As disparate plots seamlessly intertwine with the themes that unite them, the story and eventual conflict of two Zaunite sisters, Vi and Powder, stand at the center of the narrative.
The story begins by establishing Vi as the headstrong older sister, who softens the dangerous terrain her family treads for her younger sister Powder. Adopted by Zaunite bartender Vander after their parents died in a conflict between the two cities, Vi and Powder come into their own as they grow up.—one as a fighter and the other as a technological genius—because they know they have no choice as children in the underworld. However, a clash of beliefs and methods ends up becoming a lasting consequence for both.
Meanwhile, in the utopian city of Piltover, progress takes center stage as promising scientist Jayce advances alongside his eventual lab partner, Viktor, in fusing science and magic to create Hextech. A risky undertaking, indeed. But what happens when power-hungry leaders find out about Jayce and Viktor’s innovations? Also, what happens when the criminal lords of the Undercity try to create their own magic? Chaos, that is.
Season 1 demonstrated its knack for political intrigue by allowing the characters to drive the narrative. Almost nothing is a coincidence when you’re looking Arcanebut it is most likely that everything is a consequence. And with a cliffhanger this big, you can’t blame audiences for meeting high expectations for Season 2. And oh, Season 2 is no stranger to throwing curveballs at us.
A legacy of justice
You’d think you’d head into season 2 with a clear idea of what to expect, especially with the possibilities season 1 leaves you with. But several surprising twists are ready to sway your judgment. From unexpected alliances to kaleidoscopic realms of magic, this season shoots for the stars. True to form, it also includes unlikely family ties that are sure to open your heart.
What I like most about Arcane It’s always been the fact that you can’t really hate any character. When it comes to watching a show infested with war criminals and unbridled brute force, it should seem easy to pick a side. But really, that’s a debate enthusiasts of the show can have any day, which is what makes it so critically interesting.
Season 2 takes things to the next level and even seemingly pure characters surrender to the allure of power and control. But the show isn’t just loyal to villainy. It also brings out the good in characters who seem to be devoid of it, and if you think that’s a retired trope, you’re in for an eye-opening revelation and an ocean of tears.
The exhaustive exploration of humanity is the sharpest sword the series wields. Between those who seek a larger-than-life purpose and those who declare war, all ultimate goals boil down to one basic instinct: the desperation to protect oneself and one’s loved ones from harm. This reflects the lingering conflict between the two pillars of Zaun from season 1 that can be summed up in Silco’s simple question to Vander: “Would you die for the cause, but won’t you fight for one?”
The destructive nature of love
At its core, the series prioritizes the love that can be rough but perseveres anyway: love for one’s own family. This theme is evident in Vander and Silco’s love for Vi and Jinx in season 1. It echoes Jayce’s ambition to create Hextech after magic saved his mother’s life. The theme advances to become a formidable ringleader in season 2.
Ambessa’s warmongering bias, although hardly justifiable otherwise, is elevated by his love for his daughter Mel. Likewise, Sevika clings to Jinx.—the only family he knows—after Zaun falls into disarray, following the events of the season 1 finale. Even Caitlyn has a transformative arc as she accepts her status as sole heir to House Kiramman. All of that barely covers the magnitude of familial love that is the foundation on which season 2 stands.
But that doesn’t mean discounting the fact that the show also highlights the comforting quality of forgiveness. Although a bit of an idealistic turn, this is also a necessary aspect of human nature that makes itself known from time to time. Furthermore, when death and destruction become imminent, we can only hold on to each other.
Although not much can be said without spoilers, ArcaneThick layers of complexity are evident between the beautiful frames and the various techniques needed to execute them. From incorporating a change in frame rate as a metaphor for love to a hand-drawn piece of charcoal symbolizing pain, the 3D animation program never fails to impress.
Arcane It is as visually striking as it is politically attractive. No matter which of these aspects you look at the program, the other becomes a natural advantage. Add in developed characters and literary elements that you curse yourself for overlooking on rewatches, and you have a masterpiece of a show that only comes around once in a blue moon.
It’s a good thing that Arcane It’s painted blue everywhere to remind you of what makes this show so special.—whether it’s the machine queen Jinx or the movement she unknowingly inspires on screen. While Jinx may be the life force of the show, she doesn’t have to be your personal reason for watching it. If you are looking for one, enjoy a casual look. Arcane It will offer you many explosive reasons to love it from the beginning.
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