For as long as video games have been adapted for the screen, video game adaptations have been notorious for being terrible. But in recent years, shows like The Last of Us and Fallout have challenged that assertion. Before either of those post-apocalyptic series came along, a different TV masterpiece broke the video game adaptation curse.
Set in the League of Legends universe, Arcane revolves around two sisters — Vi, voiced by Hailee Steinfeld, and Jinx, voiced by Fallout’s Ella Purnell — who get swept up in a widespread conflict between the city of Piltover and their native land, the underworld of Zaun. It’s a thrilling blend of action-adventure, science fantasy, and good old-fashioned human storytelling.
Arcane Is A Modern TV Masterpiece
Arcane gets everything right: the animation is gorgeous, the writing is razor-sharp, the worldbuilding is intriguing and engaging, the soundtrack is electrifying (paired perfectly with the on-screen visuals), and the voice acting is phenomenal. Steinfeld and Purnell bring real depth and humanity to these characters. The vulnerability of their performances shines through and really sells the complicated relationship between these sisters.
The show has a stunning steampunk aesthetic that you can’t get enough of. The juxtaposition between the grimy underbelly of Zaun and the glitzy city of Piltover is both a dazzling display of sci-fi imagery and a powerful visual representation of class struggle and the divide between the haves and the have-nots. As with all great science fiction, it uses its far-flung fictitious world to reflect the concerns of our world.
Arcane told its entire story in just 18 episodes across two seasons, so it’s a pretty easy binge. Whereas binge-watching hundreds of episodes of The Walking Dead or Grey’s Anatomy could take up months of your life, with the diminishing returns of a long-running series, you can watch Arcane in its entirety over the course of a long, slow, rainy weekend.
In both years it was on the air, Arcane won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program. It also won a handful of other Emmys, a boatload of Annie Awards, and a whole bunch of other accolades. Both seasons have a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s not hyperbolic praise; Arcane is fully deserving of all its plaudits.
Even in the rare times it stumbled, Arcane made up for its mistakes. After the first season was accused of queerbaiting, the second season redeemed it with Vi and Caitlyn’s romance, offering a beautiful representation of a queer relationship. A lot of universally acclaimed TV shows have been overhyped, but Arcane is a rare show that lives up to the hype.
You Don’t Have To Be A League Of Legends Fan To Appreciate Arcane
The fact that Arcane takes place in the League of Legends universe might put off anyone who’s not familiar with League of Legends. But you don’t have to be a fan of the franchise to appreciate this particular show. Obviously, if you are a fan, then there are plenty of Easter eggs to pick up on, but it’s not necessary.
The actual story is a standalone piece, disconnected from the rest of the universe. The relationship between these characters and the beauty of their world can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of their previous familiarity (or lack thereof) with this franchise. The emotions of Arcane’s narrative connect on a universal human level. Everyone is welcome!