War, mercy, and family

The blue-flamed 'Arcane' goes out with a bang

KARACHI:

Netflix's beloved animated series Arcane has run its course with the complete release of its second and final season. If you're among those who were waiting for all three acts to be out before you could check out Season 2, your patience has been duly rewarded, and in some ways, I deeply envy you.

Although the wait between the acts wasn't as mood-souring as television schedules tend to be, the jarring ends to both Act 1 and Act 2 left us on-time watchers begging for more with each weekly release. Yet now I'm hardly looking forward to the emptiness of Act 3's one-week birthday with no new content to accompany the occasion.

A short rewind

Adapted from the game League of Legends, Arcane is a mosaic containing fractals of broken characters and their distinct stories, all of which are rooted in the dirty politics corrupting the fictional cities of Piltover and Zaun. As disparate plotlines weave seamlessly into the themes stringing them together, the story and eventual conflict of two Zaunite sisters, Vi and Powder, stand out at the crux of the narrative.

The story begins with establishing Vi as the headstrong older sister, who softens the perilous grounds that 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 brawler and the other as a tech genius—because they know they have no other choice as children in the underworld. However, a clash in beliefs and methods ends up becoming a lasting consequence for the two.

Meanwhile, over at the utopian city Piltover, progress takes the frontstage with up-and-coming scientist Jayce making strides alongside his eventual lab partner Viktor in fusing together science and magic to create Hextech. A risky endeavour, indeed. But what happens when topside's power-hungry leaders catch wind of Jayce and Viktor's innovations? Moreover, what happens when undercity's criminal overlords attempt to create their own magic? Chaos, that's what.

Season 1 proved its skill at political intrigue by allowing the characters to drive the narrative. Hardly anything is a coincidence when you're watching Arcane, but everything is most certainly a consequence. And with a cliffhanger so grand, audiences cannot be blamed for indulging 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're heading into Season 2 with a fair idea of what's in store, especially with the possibilities that Season 1 leaves you with. But various surprising turns are ready to sway your judgement. From unexpected alliances to kaleidoscopic realms of magic, this season shoots for the stars. True to form, it also packs unlikely familial bonds that are sure to rip your heart open.

My favourite thing about Arcane has always been the fact that you can't truly 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 the show's enthusiasts can have any day, which is what makes it so critically engaging.

Season 2 takes things up a notch with even seemingly pure-hearted characters surrendering to the allure of power and control. But the show isn't only loyal to villainy. It also digs out good from characters who seem to be devoid of it, and if you think that's a retired trope, you're in for heart-swelling eye-openers and an ocean of tears.

The thorough exploration of humanity is the sharpest sword that the series wields. Between those seeking a larger-than-life purpose and those declaring war, the end-goals all boil to a base instinct: the desperation to protect oneself and loved ones from harm. This mirrors the persisting conflict between the two pillars of Zaun from Season 1 that can be summarised in Silco's simple question to Vander, "You'd die for the cause, but you won't fight for one?"

The undoing nature of love

At its heart, the series prioritises love that may be rough at the edges but perseveres all the same: the love for one's family. This theme is evident in both Vander and Silco's love for Vi and Jinx in Season 1. It is echoed by 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 warmonger slant, though hardly justifiable otherwise, is elevated by her love for her daughter Mel. Similarly, Sevika clings to Jinx—the only family she knows—after Zaun falls into disarray, following the events of Season 1's finale. Even Caitlyn has a transformative arc as she embraces her status as the sole heir of House Kiramman. All that hardly covers the magnitude of familial love that is the foundation that Season 2 stands on.

But that is not to discount the fact that the show also lends the spotlight to the heart-easing quality of forgiveness. Although a little idealistic of a turn, this too is a necessary aspect of human nature that makes itself known every now and then. Besides, when death and destruction become imminent, we only have each other to hold on to.

Although not much can be stated without spoilers entering the mix, Arcane's thick layers of complexity are evident between the beautiful frames and the various techniques it took to execute them. From incorporating a switch in frame rates as a metaphor for love to a hand-drawn charcoal piece symbolising grief, the 3D animation show never fails to impress.

Arcane is as visually striking as it is politically appealing. No matter which one of these aspects you watch the show for, the other becomes a natural bonus. Add fleshed-out characters and literary elements that you curse yourself for overlooking upon a rewatch, and you have a masterpiece of a show that only comes around once in a blue moon.

It's a good thing that Arcane is painted in blue all over to remind you what makes this show so special—be it the machine queen Jinx or the movement she unknowingly inspires onscreen. While Jinx may be the lifeforce of the show, she need not be your personal reason for watching it. If you're looking for one, indulge a casual glimpse. Arcane will offer you plenty of explosive reasons to love it from the get-go.