By Owen Glancy Arts & Features Editor It’s no exaggeration to say that “League of Legends” is a game that’s as divisive as it is popular. As one of the most played competitive video games on the planet - that already had a multitude of animated trailers and music videos - an animated Netflix series based on the game was an inevitability. However, despite how easy a decision this was to make, the production process was anything but. Studio Fortiche, the same animation studio responsible for many of “League’s” promotional videos, was given the herculean task of translating an entirely multiplayer game into a coherent TV series. The difficulty of adapting the source material was just the beginning of the production staff’s woes as delay after delay would nearly get the project canceled. It would take four years for the show to be announced, and another two to actually release back in November 2021. When “Arcane” was released, it was a massive paradigm shift for not just animation, but for all video game adaptations across the board. The initial season was so good, even people who hate “League of Legends” were fans of “Arcane.” Following the breakout success of the first season, “Arcane” was immediately greenlit for a season two that was meant to serve as the series’ last. In November 2024, we finally got to see “Arcane Season 2.” Did it live up to the hype? In most ways, yes! After the explosive ending of season one, season two immediately follows up on that momentum with a first episode dedicated entirely to showing the residents of Piltover reacting to and dealing with the tragic killing of half of their leaders at the hands of Jinx. This first sequence is nearly entirely silent, letting the phenomenal music and animation take over and really hammer home just how devastating this moment was for so many of the central characters. It’s a perfect moment of “show, don’t tell” that right off the bat shows that “Arcane” has still got it. However, that moment and all of the others like it throughout the rest of the season would have been impossible without the phenomenal music and animation that the series is known for. Artists like Stray Kids, Twenty-One Pilots, and Imagine Dragons were massive contributors to the show’s soundtracks, and it shows with every episode having a segment that’s almost like a music video. These music video portions of the episodes were initially criticized by many for being too abrupt and disruptive. While it is definitely true many of these moments come out of nowhere, these segments are incredible for adding some variety to both the visuals and tone. If there’s the opportunity to do something more creative like this over doing a more traditional montage, then why not take it? It takes away nothing, and instead leads to segments of phenomenal songs paired with breathtaking visuals. Truthfully though, a show’s technical aspects are often the least important part to consider when measuring its quality, with that metric going instead to the story and characters. Thankfully, “Arcane Season 2” is mostly great in both of these aspects. The central conflict between Jinx and her sister Vi is still just as powerful and emotionally gut-punching as ever. Jinx has gone from a mentally broken enforcer of a drug lord to a savior figure in the eyes of her people, with her budding friendship with an abandoned child named Isha making her realize she could be more than the criminal people see her as. Vi on the other hand has essentially abandoned Zaun, her homeland, to become a member of Piltover’s Enforcers mostly in an effort to lock up her sister, but also to be with Caitlyn, a fellow Enforcer Vi has feelings for. This fundamental divide between sisters and the radical changes to both Piltover and Zaun that their conflict brings was the major focus of season one, and was a big part of the reason that season one felt so personal, because it was. Sadly, season two chooses not to focus on Jinx and Vi as much in favor of a much bigger scale conflict between Jayce and Viktor that eventually balloons into a potentially world-ending threat. While it was expected that season two would up the stakes, it’s safe to say that the writers went too far. This leads to what is season two’s fatal flaw, what makes it mostly phenomenal instead of entirely phenomenal. The pacing is just too fast in the back half. The first three episodes of the season are perfectly paced, showing the growing tension between Jinx, Vi, and Caitlyn finally explode in a masterfully animated action scene juxtaposed with Jayce, Ekko, and Hiemerdinger’s investigation of the Hex Gates deep beneath Piltover. Despite this incredible start, the show can never quite seem to surpass it as there is just too much going on for only nine episodes. If the season had taken some more time to explore the consequences of the Hex Gate investigations, Vi and Caitlyn’s relationship, and the growing threat of Ambessa taking over, the final battle in episode nine would have felt so much more personal. However, because of the show’s insistence on only being two seasons long rather than three, we get lots of big moments and hype reveals that feel emptier and less impactful than they did in season one. Despite this major flaw, it’s important to note that the show is still excellent. It’s still one of the best seasons of television released in 2024, and one that succeeded in making me and thousands of others cry at many moments throughout. “Arcane Season 2” is as complicated as it is compelling. It’s a show full of interesting characters, excellent action, and banger music, but it’s also a show that ends up putting the cart before the horse and cramming nearly an entire additional season of content into the last three episodes. However, it’s still “Arcane.” Even if slightly worse than season one, season two is still truly great and only helps in cementing “Arcane’s” status as one of if not the best video game adaptations ever made. Rating: A Excellent in all universes