The Screen Scribe

There are many shows that can lay a claim to the title of best animated show of all time. Dragon Ball Z. Avatar: The Last Airbender. The Legend of Korra. Attack on Titan. Death Note. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. X-Men: The Animated Series / X-Men ’97. Batman: The Animated series. There are so many. But, in my humble opinion, I now think Arcane has the beating of them all. Throughout my lifetime I have watched all of the above with the exception of X-Men ’97.

I know, gimme a break. There’s been a lot of good TV this year.

But Arcane takes the biscuit.

Arcane: Season 2 – Act 3, the final act in the two-season run of this League of Legends adaptation, turned the final page in the story of sisters Vi and Jinx, and all accompanying characters in this tragic story of class inequality, family (both blood and found), war and discovery. There are many who are arguing online that the new season was rushed and needed at least two more seasons to flesh out what they perceived as a condensed story for season 2.

To that I say nay.

Season 2 may not have had the slow, deliberate pacing of its first season, but I believe that was intentional. Season 2 is the second half of a two-part story. The first half, Season 1, was the build up. It laid the foundations for its second half to build on. Yes, season 1 was a devastating, emotionally traumatic examination of family, love, power and loyalty. But its success is the very reason why season 2’s quicker pacing is deserved. I have not had the time to do so, but I can nearly guarantee that if you watch season 1 and 2 back-to-back in sequence, you will see what I mean. It’s a complete story, from Season 1 Act 1 to Season 2 Act 3.

Unlike the final season of Game of Thrones, Arcane’s ending is wholly earned through superb character development, expansive and organic worldbuilding, and a gripping, resonant narrative that is never dull or extraneous. There is no fat on the meat of this show. Everything is deliberate, thoughtful and progressive. I can think of very few shows, live action or animated, with writing as strong as you see in Arcane. Game of Thrones in it’s prime definitely, maybe Attack on Titan. It is just a work of absolute art from beginning to end.

Speaking of its end. Season 2, Act 3.

Wow.

Just.

Fucking.

Wow.

It blew me away. It brought me to tears on several occasions, especially in episode 7, and the final scenes of episode 9. It stuck with me for hours afterwards. It was genuinely haunting and beautiful. Much like Game of Thrones, there were no happy endings to be found at the close of Arcane’s story. Only bittersweet victory and the consequences of choices made. The events in Piltover will undoubtedly be felt throughout the other shows in development, as will the journeys of several characters very likely continue in them.

I don’t want to go into too much detail for fear of spoiling anything, but from beginning to end this show is an absolute masterpiece that sets a ridiculously high bar for future animated shows and even live action shows to be compared to. From its ground-breaking animation style, complex, relatable and morally ambiguous characters, and a tragic, thought-provoking story that at its core examines the very meaning of what it is to be human, Arcane is a must-see show, whether you like animation or not.

To borrow a quote from Vi – “It’s been real, cupcake. Thanks. For everything.”

5 / 5 ✨ from the Screen Scribe.

Arcane, Seasons 1 and 2 available now on Netlfix.