If you search YouTube for compilations from “ Arcane ,” the Netflix animated series by Riot Games and Studio Fortiche , it’s telling that one of the first to pop up is titled “Funny moments from ‘ Arcane ’ (to distract from the pain).” There is a fair bit of pain — and only some of it has to do with all the punching and stabbing (both in the front and the back) as factions in the warring sister cities of Piltover and Zaun jockey for power and sundered sisters Vi ( Hailee Steinfeld ) and Jinx (Ella Purnell) try to survive and/or thrive and/or kill each other. Most of it is bound up in character longing, noble intentions missing the mark, or agonizingly bad timing keeping people apart.
You know, the good stuff. Dramaturgically speaking, at least. The ambush at the memorial towards the end of “Heavy Is The Crown,” Episode 1 of Season 2, is a great example of how “Arcane” puts a bit of emotional Hextech inside its visual sledgehammer.
Even before chem-baron Renni (Abigail Marlowe) attacks Jayce (Kevin Alejandro) and seemingly most of Piltover in the bargain, the episode’s writer, co-executive producer Amanda Overton, has built clear lines of interpersonal tension between the characters. Caitlyn (Katie Leung) and Vi are in a strained place, with Vi unable to stomach joining Cait as an Enforcer; Mel (Toks Olagundoye) is barely holding the council together and yet needs to hold center stage; Jayce is still trying to be a man of progress for a city that’s .