The following contains spoilers from seasons 1 & 2 on Netflix’s Arcane.
The wait is over—act two of Arcane season two is here, and the internet is losing its mind. Rightfully so.
The show is dropping in three acts, and with the first two already out, you’re probably wondering if you should just hold out until the final act drops so you can binge it all at once. I get that.
And if you’re one of those people, from one fan to another, I think you may want to spot here, because spoilers ahead.
But for those of us who can’t help themselves, let’s talk about Arcane and everything in season one that you may have forgotten.
The World of Arcane
The adult animated series Arcane is based on the hugely popular video game League of Legends, with many of the characters appearing in both worlds.
Initially, Arcane was meant to be a backstory for the Legends, following the established lore of League of Legends. However, Riot Games—the developers behind LOL—took a risk in deciding to retcon much of the original lore, ultimately reshaping the narrative. As a result, while Arcane may stray from LOL canon, it’s still considered part of the official universe.
In Arcane, we follow the story of sisters Violet (nickname Vi, voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) and Powder (also goes by Jinx, voiced by Ella Purnell), orphaned at a young age but eventually finding a new sense of family. They live in Zaun, a gritty, industrial city beneath the more affluent and gleaming Piltover, where the divide between the two creates a stark contrast in quality of their respective residents’ lives.
Zaun, often called “the undercity,” is so far beneath the surface that its residents rarely catch a glimpse of the sun, let alone experience what a “view” is. Zaun is steeped in darkness and poverty runs deep. Still, its residents hold take pride in their roots, finding strength and resilience despite their harsh surroundings.
Without spoiling too much, an “incident” tears the sisters apart, leading to years of separation. When they finally reunite, they’ve both transformed into shadows of their former selves. Vi, now hardened by trauma, wears her pain like armor. Powder—now calling herself “Jinx”—seems to have lost herself entirely, caught in a spiral of madness.
Without giving too much away, an “incident” separates the sisters, making them go years without one another. When they finally found each other again, the two couldn’t be more different from what they once were. Vi was extremely traumatized and hardened, while Powder seemed to have lost her mind and decided to go by the name “Jinx.”
Spoilers for Season One
Note: You should skip this section if you haven’t watched Arcane.
But if you’ve already seen the series, here are some plot points that season 2 will dive into—without giving too much away.
- Jinx. Her character is going to develop a lot more this season.
- Vi and Jinx’s complex relationship.
- The aftermath of the finale.
- Caitlin’s trauma.
- Ekko
- Viktor’s plans.
- The divide between Piltover and Zaun.
Season 2
Fans couldn’t wait for the second season of Arcane, which brought together long-time League of Legends enthusiasts and newcomers eager to dive into its gripping narrative.
Riot’s decision to retcon the lore and make Arcane officially canon created a level playing field for both League of Legends veterans and Netflix fans. Typically, adaptations can breed tension between longtime fans and newcomers, but Arcane has managed to unite both camps.
That’s why the show has landed a 100% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences weren’t too far behind at 96%.
After a long wait, Arcane season two finally arrived, and it’s everything fans hoped for—breathtaking animation, voice performances that deserve an Emmy, and emotional storylines that pack a serious punch.
If you’re putting off season two, and you ignored my earlier spoiler warnings, you might want to give that up and get on it.
Related: ‘Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice’ League Had All the Hype—But Where’s the Punch?
This article is for informational purposes only. Trendy Matters has no affiliation with any of the brands or individuals mentioned. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author. Neither author nor Trendy Matters receive a commission through links in this content.
