Arcane: Season 1 Finale

   
Created & Written by: Christian Linke, Alex Yee

Directed by: Pascal Charrue, Arnaud Delord

Starring: Hailee Steinfeld (Vi), Ella Purnell (Powder/Jinx), Mia Jenness (young Powder), Kevin Alejandro (Jayce Talis)

Wow. 

I wasn't even sure if I was going to watch this one, and I'm so glad that I did. 

I figured I would enjoy it when I first saw it was announced a long time ago, mostly because I knew it was an adaption of the League of Legends world, which is full of magic and fantasy. However, I'm also really not invested in that world, so I figured I'd only go for it if convenient. And it kind of wasn't-- there have been so many new or returning series premiering over the past month, I thought it would be too much to squeeze another in. But the timing ended up working out, and my goodness, the internet was blowing up with excitement and positive reviews as the first three episodes dropped on Netflix. 

I immediately understood why. It took the very first scene to make me feel invested--and you know that's great writing. I don't remember too well what actually happened (I haven't rewatched it), but I remember two characters in a wilderness scene who appear to be struggling to survive, encountering a stranger with whom they share a knowing look of desperation. The faces of all three characters conveyed such deep emotion and empathy, paired with the music and great animation, that I immediately connected with it. I wanted these characters to survive, and I wanted to know how they would. Major props to writers Christian Linke and Alex Yee, and to Riot Games and French animation studio Fortiche for the art. 

The only complaint I would say that prevailed through the whole season was its complexity. I definitely understood all the major beats, but there were many times that side characters were on-screen and I couldn't remember who they were and I definitely couldn't remember what they wanted or how they fit into the story. It may just be me, but that flaw remained through to the very end. I'm sure it would be remedied with a simple rewatch, but I don't often rewatch series. 

However, the main story, which centered around sisters Vi and Powder/Jinx, was flawless and tragic and perfectly executed. Netflix dropped this season in weekly, three-episode increments, which worked very well for the story. The first three episodes served as a foundational arc, telling the story of Vi and Powder as young kids, the adventures that would shape their future and provide motivation for the two of them going forward. By the end of episode three, they face a very high-stakes moment when Powder is in desperate need of validation and companionship after making a mistake, but the mistake is so severe that Vi cannot provide this validation. In a fit of emotion, Vi turns away, leaving her younger sister feeling shattered and utterly alone. A crime lord then takes this opportunity to step in and "rescue" Powder, providing a direction for her new rage and bitterness, and a new, twisted sense of purpose. This heartbreaking event ends the first installment, and the following week's episodes take place years later, when the two sisters' separate directions have been set. 

It was one of the most highly emotional, shattering, and horrible moments I've seen in an animated show in recent years. Probably alongside the season 1 finale of Invincible and the series finale of Castlevania, all of which aired this year. 

I wasn't quite so emotionally affected by the remaining six episodes, though they still definitely delivered the same exceptional quality of storytelling and animation. As one of my friends wrote in his own Facebook review (and I paraphrase), Arcane is an example of what happens when animators and storytellers are given free reign and simply allowed to tell the story they want to tell, unbridled by meddling network executives or mandated themes. I fully agree. The story of Vi and Jinx (Powder's chosen name after the betrayal) remains as the cornerstone of the show, which becomes more about a utopian metropolis and the survival of its impoverished underground. 

Although (as I mentioned above) the characters became a few too many for me to easily keep track of, I still understood everything overall, and each plot intertwined with the other in genius ways. The final cliffhanger at the very end served to tie it all together expertly. I'm pretty excited for season 2, especially after that cliffhanger. Plus, it's already been confirmed, so it's only a matter of time.