Netflix's "Arcane" (League of Legends)

[God of Nothing]

That first episode was a massive turnoff to be honest. Was half-way through the second when I bailed. Boys on /co/ said to wait until episode three, but I don't see how the plot can improve in any way if it isn't the latest Have Vs Have-Nots but with technomagic shit in the setting.

 

[Random Internet Person]

It's refreshing to have a show that actually celebrates the concept of fatherhood. With how MEN BAD everything is now, it's good to see men being actual loving dads in media, and not the quiet cuck kind. It's part of the reason Silco was such a great character for me.

Don’t forget Vander. He was a real good dad too.

That first episode was a massive turnoff to be honest. Was half-way through the second when I bailed. Boys on /co/ said to wait until episode three, but I don't see how the plot can improve in any way if it isn't the latest Have Vs Have-Nots but with technomagic shit in the setting.

Well…prepare to be disappointed. That kind of plays out a decent amount thanks to Silco.

 

[Random Internet Person]

 

[Red flaming panda]

You know, I heard about this show when anons were raving about it back when it just came out
I thought at the time that it was bullshit, just another shit Netflix exclusive
Well I was shocked when I started hearing how good it was outside of 4chan, and everywhere else
After holding out for months, I finally got around to watching it recently. For a show that's basically one giant ad for Lol it's a really good ad
If only Netflix could actually get more good exclusive like this

 

[Absolutego]

You know, I heard about this show when anons were raving about it back when it just came out
I thought at the time that it was bullshit, just another shit Netflix exclusive
Well I was shocked when I started hearing how good it was outside of 4chan, and everywhere else
After holding out for months, I finally got around to watching it recently. For a show that's basically one giant ad for Lol it's a really good ad
If only Netflix could actually get more good exclusive like this

Fortunately it's not a Netflix exclusive. They just market it that way when they have streaming rights in an area. Riot basically bought themselves a French animation studio and handed them ungodly amounts of money to make a show. I wouldn't be surprised if by the time season 2 comes out Netflix actually lost the rights and Riot's either streaming it elsewhere or trying to self-host.

I agree it had absolutely zero business being as good as it was. I don't even like League lore and I was hooked.

 

[Spit bucket]

I held off watching this for so long despite that I've been playing league since 2014 ( fucking kill me ) I figured it would be some shitty story with only good art direction. This somehow is the best thing Riot has EVER made. All the champions backstories ( so far ) are well written, amazing art and sound. Jinx is by far my favorite ever more now and it looks like shes the most popular. The Cait and Vi dynamic is also handled much better than I thought is was going to be. I don't know how this will end considering they all end up in the League of Legends but it will be a fun ride.

 

[CWC-in-the-minds]

That first episode was a massive turnoff to be honest. Was half-way through the second when I bailed. Boys on /co/ said to wait until episode three, but I don't see how the plot can improve in any way if it isn't the latest Have Vs Have-Nots but with technomagic shit in the setting.

That was kind of my situation. After forcing myself to play the second episode weeks after watching the first one, by the end of it I as hooked on the relationships between the characters and the rich motivations that all characters have in their goals. I'd actually say it's one of the most mature stories in Netflix, even without any of the gore and expletive-filled content that is characteristic of their non-child oriented productions.

I have only two gripes about the plot after enjoying the whole series...

At the end of episode 7, after the firelight explosions at the bridge... EVERY armored enforcer dies AND CAITLYN ONLY HAS A LEG INJURY? Come on...

And in the very last seconds of the series showing Mel's garments glow just as Jinx's bomb breaks the Council Room's windows is a terrible decision IMO: you now expect some Deus Ex Machina event to save one or more of the people in the room. We've already seen important characters die, so now you expect that won't be the whole case at the start of the second season.

 

[God of Nothing]

That was kind of my situation. After forcing myself to play the second episode weeks after watching the first one, by the end of it I as hooked on the relationships between the characters and the rich motivations that all characters have in their goals. I'd actually say it's one of the most mature stories in Netflix, even without any of the gore and expletive-filled content that is characteristic of their non-child oriented productions.

I have only two gripes about the plot after enjoying the whole series...

At the end of episode 7, after the firelight explosions at the bridge... EVERY armored enforcer dies AND CAITLYN ONLY HAS A LEG INJURY? Come on...

And in the very last seconds of the series showing Mel's garments glow just as Jinx's bomb breaks the Council Room's windows is a terrible decision IMO: you now expect some Deus Ex Machina event to save one or more of the people in the room. We've already seen important characters die, so now you expect that won't be the whole case at the start of the second season.

i might give it a shot
just not now

way beyond when people stop talking about it probably

 

[DankSmoker]

i might give it a shot
just not now

way beyond when people stop talking about it probably

Next season will probably be later next year so now is your window.

 

[Rembrandt]

Riot is posting a documentary on the making of Arcane. Production value is pretty high but the cinematography gets comically over the top in some moments. They keep placing interviewees in front of the most distracting shit. Artsy stuff aside, it's an interesting insight into the production that's been in the works for half a decade

Part 1 is arguably the best so far, it shows plenty of BTS content, how they achieved the 2D+3D artstyle, showcases previous animation projects from Fortiche + an animation test for Arcane from 2015 that convinced Riot to fund the project fully. Part 2 is mostly about them getting a hang on their morale. Unless you're into HR and team management, it kinda sucks, it just states that they hired two people and got their shit together. All they show in that one is some small tidbits and a quick animatic at the end.

 

[Spit bucket]

This part of the documentary gets really interesting with how much art styles they incorporate into the show. My favorite has to be that they used painting stills for the faces when ever Jinx has a mental breakdown.

 

[Rembrandt]

Yeah I change my mind about part one, part three delivers the goods. It's exactly what I wanted, a step by step description of the whole process, showing appreciation to the craft and the people behind the project at every stage. I wish there was more raw footage of animatics, compositing etc. but I'll take what I can get
They're keeping the lighting process a secret, but judging by the different render passes they've shown at 26:31 (normal maps, ambient occlusion, shadows), yeah, I think that's how the compositing team did it. I'm surprised they didn't do the lighting at the animation stage when they could easily just light the characters in the viewport, makes me even more impressed. I never thought about it that way.

Seeing them get to work on a project like that for years, perfecting their blend of 2d+3d, having Arcane be a passion project of so many artists under that studio, and then hearing about what's going on at Marvel's VFX department? Shit sucks.

 

[Zeke Von Genbu]

I don't know how this will end considering they all end up in the League of Legends but it will be a fun ride.

The original LoL lore where everyone goes to the League of Legends was retconned years ago, now the in-game combat is pretty much all non-canon (save for some events like the Bilgewater one where Gangplank "dies" temporarily) and the concept of the Summoners doesn't exist anymore. This is why for example Jax has entirely different lore if you look for it where his lamp is actually a sacred weapon that carries a special flame of some sort instead of it being a handicap.

The lore in LoL the game from what I've read is pretty much like Arcane, it is all "In this area, these things happen between X characters." and everyone's backstories are written more like mythological tales or rumors with some supplementary material like a short story or a comic. Their is no mention of the "League of Legends" anymore outside of really old characters that haven't been retconned yet.

So Arcane can in-theory go on effectively forever considering how expansive Runeterra is as a setting and how many characters it has.

 

[Spit bucket]

The original LoL lore where everyone goes to the League of Legends was retconned years ago, now the in-game combat is pretty much all non-canon (save for some events like the Bilgewater one where Gangplank "dies" temporarily) and the concept of the Summoners doesn't exist anymore. This is why for example Jax has entirely different lore if you look for it where his lamp is actually a sacred weapon that carries a special flame of some sort instead of it being a handicap.

The lore in LoL the game from what I've read is pretty much like Arcane, it is all "In this area, these things happen between X characters." and everyone's backstories are written more like mythological tales or rumors with some supplementary material like a short story or a comic. Their is no mention of the "League of Legends" anymore outside of really old characters that haven't been retconned yet.

So Arcane can in-theory go on effectively forever considering how expansive Runeterra is as a setting and how many characters it has.

Damn. Should've know that since the retcon happened right when I joined in 2014. Besides lore they'd have to give most of the old champs new voice lines to really wipe out that time, like Nocturne and Brand make comments referencing summoner's controlling them. Now the lore is pretty much "Overwatch" rules.

I can't really see them making a series like this for every single champ though that would be amazing. Since we've see Mel's mom Ambessa, a Noxian, I would love to see a few arcs on Noxus and the goings on there. Maybe we can see if the theory that all the crows in Piltover are really Swain's is true.

 

[Oilspill Battery]

The Cait and Vi dynamic is also handled much better than I thought is was going to be.

I disagree here. Cait and VI dynamic is probably the worst thing about arcane. Vi lost her parents to people from the upper city, spent a lifetime being oppressed by them, stealing from them, and running from their cops while spending 4-6 years in a prison run by them being regularily beaten by them.

Cait is an overprivilidged brat from a wealthy family that basically personafies everything Vi hates and should hate. The entirety of arcane past act 1 takes place over like 2-3 days, Vi should not be charmed or care for Cait at ALL much less lovlingly brush her cheek, sleep in the same bed or call her cupcake, if anything she should actively be looking for ways to get Cait killed.

She sure as fuck should NOT abandon jinx at the bridge, her sister that she sees for the first time in half a decade, to spend more time with cait (who she at this point, has known for less than a day). That is an actual serious plothole that's only there because the writers had to inser their yuri fetish in the story.

From what I heard there was pushback between the writers and the studio and the horribly hamfisted romance we got is actually the compromize. I can't imagine what it would have been like had the writers gotten their way.

 

[Zeke Von Genbu]

Damn. Should've know that since the retcon happened right when I joined in 2014. Besides lore they'd have to give most of the old champs new voice lines to really wipe out that time, like Nocturne and Brand make comments referencing summoner's controlling them. Now the lore is pretty much "Overwatch" rules.

I can't really see them making a series like this for every single champ though that would be amazing. Since we've see Mel's mom Ambessa, a Noxian, I would love to see a few arcs on Noxus and the goings on there. Maybe we can see if the theory that all the crows in Piltover are really Swain's is true.

I'm pretty sure they'll try to cover all the major nations in some form. Including other factions like the Void and Shadow Isles. The Ruined King game had Ionia characters, Bilgewater, Shadow Isles, and Braum to represent Feljord. So it isn't hard to have most the fan favorite characters and arcs in a handful of Arcane seasons.

I disagree here. Cait and VI dynamic is probably the worst thing about arcane. Vi lost her parents to people from the upper city, spent a lifetime being oppressed by them, stealing from them, and running from their cops while spending 4-6 years in a prison run by them being regularily beaten by them.

Cait is an overprivilidged brat from a wealthy family that basically personafies everything Vi hates and should hate. The entirety of arcane past act 1 takes place over like 2-3 days, Vi should not be charmed or care for Cait at ALL much less lovlingly brush her cheek, sleep in the same bed or call her cupcake, if anything she should actively be looking for ways to get Cait killed.

She sure as fuck should NOT abandon jinx at the bridge, her sister that she sees for the first time in half a decade, to spend more time with cait (who she at this point, has known for less than a day). That is an actual serious plothole that's only there because the writers had to inser their yuri fetish in the story.

From what I heard there was pushback between the writers and the studio and the horribly hamfisted romance we got is actually the compromize. I can't imagine what it would have been like had the writers gotten their way.

I don't think Vi leaves Jinx on the bridge for Cait, she leaves because she can't stand what Jinx represents when she's goin crazy and Vi needs Caitlyn to get anywhere in the city. It is made abundantly clear by the end of the series that Vi wants Powder back and sees Jinx as not who Powder is now but as a manipulated damsel that she had to save. Jinx detests this assumption, even if she can't fully understand why at this point in the story and it is why she drops the name Powder forever in the last episode. Vi can't cope with the fact that she is the reason Powder is gone, so she makes up excuses for why Jinx exists and refuses to accept her for what she is. Which in the end makes her lose both. That is the whole point of the Vi Jinx relationship after episode 3, Vi won't accept Jinx and work with her, so she tries to punch her way back to Powder who she originally threw away. Jinx wants to be accepted, but is so broken that she just kind of gives up and copes as an insane lunatic.

The Caitlyn stuff is pretty whatever though, she is by far the weakest protagonist and LoL Champion here and the Caitlyn/Vi ship that's been teased overtime since Vi's introduction is kind of a waste of time to explore given how late Caitlyn shows up relative to everyone else. Cait is implied to be understanding of just how wrong her perceptions of Zaun/Undercity are as she is forced to interact down there and with Vi during the middle section of the series. The romance is still kind of weak and Caitlyn is kind of boring overall though. Caitlyn is just unfortunately handled, which is funny to me as I thought Jayce would be more boring than Caitlyn when I first heard he was in Arcane. But Jayce is actually great in Arcane.

The cupcake nickname has been in-game since Vi's release back in 2012, if Vi didn't call Caitlyn cupcake it wouldn't be right to people who've followed her since release as a character. It is just a bit of fan service that is unfortunately handled due to how rushed Caitlyn is in general. I don't think Vi trying to kill Cait works, because that goes against what Vander wanted as Vi's stubbornness in trying to own the Upper city is what caused everything in this series to happen the way it did and in the end she just wants Powder back so wasting time trying to kill Cait is time wasted not saving Powder. Plus she gets to passive aggressively mess with the upper class pretty much for free, which is a nice plus.

 

[Oats12345]

I disagree here. Cait and VI dynamic is probably the worst thing about arcane. Vi lost her parents to people from the upper city, spent a lifetime being oppressed by them, stealing from them, and running from their cops while spending 4-6 years in a prison run by them being regularily beaten by them.

Cait is an overprivilidged brat from a wealthy family that basically personafies everything Vi hates and should hate. The entirety of arcane past act 1 takes place over like 2-3 days, Vi should not be charmed or care for Cait at ALL much less lovlingly brush her cheek, sleep in the same bed or call her cupcake, if anything she should actively be looking for ways to get Cait killed.

She sure as fuck should NOT abandon jinx at the bridge, her sister that she sees for the first time in half a decade, to spend more time with cait (who she at this point, has known for less than a day). That is an actual serious plothole that's only there because the writers had to inser their yuri fetish in the story.

From what I heard there was pushback between the writers and the studio and the horribly hamfisted romance we got is actually the compromize. I can't imagine what it would have been like had the writers gotten their way.

Wait are you saying the studio legit threating the writers if there wasn't a gay romance going on?

I guess I could belive that since for majority of the season I belive them as simple friends until Jinx started calling Cait "Vi's girlfriend"

 

[Oilspill Battery]

I don't think Vi leaves Jinx on the bridge for Cait, she leaves because she can't stand what Jinx represents when she's goin crazy and Vi needs Caitlyn to get anywhere in the city. It is made abundantly clear by the end of the series that Vi wants Powder back and sees Jinx as not who Powder is now but as a manipulated damsel that she had to save. Jinx detests this assumption, even if she can't fully understand why at this point in the story and it is why she drops the name Powder forever in the last episode. Vi can't cope with the fact that she is the reason Powder is gone, so she makes up excuses for why Jinx exists and refuses to accept her for what she is. Which in the end makes her lose both. That is the whole point of the Vi Jinx relationship after episode 3, Vi won't accept Jinx and work with her, so she tries to punch her way back to Powder who she originally threw away. Jinx wants to be accepted, but is so broken that she just kind of gives up and copes as an insane lunatic.

I'm talking about the bridge scene where she literally abandons jinx for no reason at all.

This is the first time she has seen Jinx eye to eye since they were kids. When she saw powder/jinx on the bridge she had literally no reason to leave.

Even ignoring the fact that she has no reason to give a shit what happens to cait, cait could have gone with ekko, leaving HER behind instead.

She saw her baby sister for what is the first in half a decide and she decided to leave her to get beaten up by ekko just so she could hang out with cait who at this poitn she knew for less than a day?

There is literally no reason for her to not stay behind on the bridge. That was literally her last chance to show to jinx that no, she will not abandon powder, but she literally willingly abandoned powder in this case when there was literally no reason to.

Literally, what reason did she have to NOT stay on the bridge with jinx? Taking care of cait?

A.) Why does she give two shits about cait, cait is a cop she's known for less than a day.

B.) Leave cait with ekko and stay with jinx.

The Caitlyn stuff is pretty whatever though, she is by far the weakest protagonist and LoL Champion here and the Caitlyn/Vi ship that's been teased overtime since Vi's introduction is kind of a waste of time to explore given how late Caitlyn shows up relative to everyone else. Cait is implied to be understanding of just how wrong her perceptions of Zaun/Undercity are as she is forced to interact down there and with Vi during the middle section of the series. The romance is still kind of weak and Caitlyn is kind of boring overall though. Caitlyn is just unfortunately handled, which is funny to me as I thought Jayce would be more boring than Caitlyn when I first heard he was in Arcane. But Jayce is actually great in Arcane.

The cupcake nickname has been in-game since Vi's release back in 2012, if Vi didn't call Caitlyn cupcake it wouldn't be right to people who've followed her since release as a character. It is just a bit of fan service that is unfortunately handled due to how rushed Caitlyn is in general. I don't think Vi trying to kill Cait works, because that goes against what Vander wanted as Vi's stubbornness in trying to own the Upper city is what caused everything in this series to happen the way it did and in the end she just wants Powder back so wasting time trying to kill Cait is time wasted not saving Powder. Plus she gets to passive aggressively mess with the upper class pretty much for free, which is a nice plus.

Arcane rewrote shitloads of league lore to make the story work to the point of altering half the timeline. By the time jayce rolls around Camille and her family have been profixing off hextech for more than 80 years.

Not to even mention skarner.

"We must shoehorn in a gay romance where it doesn't fit because of the LORE" doesn't work when they're already broken the lore of several characters to make arcane in the first place and already said that its not canon to the main timeline.

Wait are you saying the studio legit threating the writers if there wasn't a gay romance going on?

I guess I could belive that since for majority of the season I belive them as simple friends until Jinx started calling Cait "Vi's girlfriend"

No, the writers wanted to shoehorn in a gay romance and the studio told them to fuck off.

 

[Muttnik]

The gay romance was honestly fine imo. It's a little rushed but it isn't done in an abusive way like She ra or in a FUCK YOUR HETERO LENS way like korrasami.
One thing I really liked about Vi is that she wasn't this typical Tumblr bitch who hated men. She was readily working together with Jayce and Vander is pretty much her main inspiration.

 

[s0mbra]

I agree their romance feels a little rushed, but I think the whole point is to unite topside and the under city. As boring as I think Caitlyn is, she actually gives a shit and shows that she gives a shit about the under city and actually felt for vi.

I know one of the writers on Twitter has been really hamming the ship up, and I hope they don't go too crazy with muh gay romance, because as sorta rushed as it felt it still felt natural and not all in your face like so many other shows and Vidya before. And apparently it's been teased for ages so it's not like it was out of left field.

As for vi leaving jinx? Jinx is a fucking phsyco and there's nothing vi can do and she knows it now.

I haven't seen the behind the scenes stuff yet but can't wait. The art is what really convinced me to actually watch the show, and you can tell there was a lot of love and passion put into it, which sadly is rare nowadays.

Also I can't stop reading Vi as "vee" even now.