There should be no question that Arcane is one of the greatest shows of the streaming era. Its first season felt like the answer to the “curse” that seems to haunt so many video game adaptations, as it managed to take a host of stock characters from League of Legends — a game not well-know for depth — and build hypnotizing, interconnected origins for each of them. That the plight of sisters Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Ella Purnell) was defined by breathtaking animation and blistering action was just the icing on the cake, allowing Arcane to strike the perfect balance between style and substance.
The second installment of Arcane is just as gorgeous as its predecessor, and even more confident in its impressionistic choices. Season 2 teems with bright colors, innovative design, and only occasionally cringe-worthy needle drops. For all its technical prowess, however, there is a major obstacle stopping the show from actually reaching perfection. This three-arc story feels more rushed than its predecessor, with swaths of character development swept liminal space between major time jumps. It’s a frustrating pivot for a show that once felt beyond reproach, especially as it’s caused Arcane’s most intriguing characters to slip right through the cracks.
