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Netflix and Riot have put some serious money into Arcane, the animated show that seeks to deepen the League of Legends universe and explore the backstories of characters we’ve never seen in this light before. From the first episode’s opening moments as Vi and Jinx dart across rooftops in search of a workshop to ransack, it’s clear that Fortiche Productions is keen to expand upon this fictional world that hardened MOBA players and curious newcomers alike will find enthralling. Surprisingly, it works.
It’s easy to get lost, but the production values are so stunning and the performances so impressive that Arcane pulls you in and refuses to let go. Arcane focuses primarily on the characters of Vi and Jinx, voiced by Hailee Steinfeld and Ella Purnell. The two characters find themselves orphaned after the tragic passing of their parents, and are taken in by the lower classes, finding shelter in the underground city of Zaun where crime is rampant and people aren’t afraid to betray one another to make ends meet. But they forge a new life, and one they come to treasure.
Above sits Piltover, a dystopian city infatuated by its own decadence. Enforcers walk the street, threatening to capture those who don’t belong - which includes our duo of heroines - with the opening minutes following them and a ragtag group of friends trying to pilfer a workshop filled with magical equipment. Each character moves with a cel-shaded sense of purpose. Facial expressions are emotionally resonant while punches land with a satisfying thud. An early chase sequence has a whole crew of people being chased by guards, and you can really feel them smashing into walls as they struggle to stay on their feet.
Arcane is intended as an origin story for Vi and Jinx, which is arguably the smartest thing Riot could have done with a project like this. League of Legends is unwieldy by nature, so choosing to tell a smaller, isolated story based on two of its most beloved characters avoids the pitfalls that often surface with more ambitious adaptations. By tightening its focus, Arcane is able to make us care for its characters and this slice of its gargantuan world. Time will tell whether it sticks the landing, but I think it just might.
I’m no League of Legends expert, if anything the franchise has always overwhelmed me, with much of its meaningful lore and character moments being stuffed away in supplemental material that I’ve no interest in rifling through. Arcane feels like a direct reaction to those complaints, beginning the narrative in a place where I could grow to appreciate its characters and understand their motivations. I’m sure a lot will be written about this show by LoL experts who spot every hidden Easter egg, but a decent majority of watchers will be relative newcomers - if my experience is anything to go by, they’re in safe hands.
Vi and Jinx are on a mission to lessen the societal divide between their struggling homeland and the illustrious city above, and how they can learn to wield magic in a way that will finally give them an opportunity to fight back against the ruling class. It’s not exactly an original tale of perseverance, but it’s so stylishly executed that its more innocuous plot elements are trivial to overlook. Things also grow complicated as the plot progresses, with Vi and Jinx coming to stand for diametrically opposed ideologies that even I struggled to take a side on, seeing merit in both perspectives. I can see allies turning against one another as the show continues, attitudes defined by grief as much as they are by righteousness, and I hope it continues to sport such layered complication.
Seeing Jinx begin her life toying with firearms and explosives as a little girl before growing into a force to be reckoned with is so satisfying, the growth in her combat capabilities juxtaposed with how she drifts further and further apart from the group of friends who come to view her as a burden. While Arcane is clearly trying to explore the dichotomy between the rich and the poor, it avoids the infantile mistake of making the conflict so black and white. Those who grew up in prosperity find themselves blamed for crimes they didn’t commit, subject to a system that for years they have considered beneficial.
When the tables turn, it doesn’t take long for them to realise that this world needs to change for the better. Characters you know and love from the wider universe will encounter each other in Arcane, and they will fight and seek to kill one another for what they view as the right thing. Set pieces like this would work anyway, but the show makes an effort to flesh out select backgrounds and give its heroes a reason to stand out beyond their flashy appearance.
Arcane’s visuals manage to mimic the game to a stunning degree, turning fluorescent scraps normally confined to fancy cinematics into an unfolding story that dances off the screen. Select motifs and thematic elements are played out to a laughable degree, with the show intent on establishing a selection of evil baddies for our heroes to contend with as they grow into the characters we’re familiar with, but it’s what a universe like this needs if it hopes to succeed on its first run. League of Legends has been one of the world’s biggest games for years, and only recently has it begun to indulge in spin-offs and adaptations that treat the franchise like the juggernaut it really is. I’d describe it as quietly popular, but Arcane stands a chance at changing that perception in a big way.
I don’t want to start throwing spoilers around as a part of my first impressions, but I’ll have more to say about Arcane in the coming weeks as future episodes arrive and the narrative begins to really make its mark. But right now, this is a show worth checking out for the League of Legends faithful, while it also positions itself in a place where newcomers can jump into its world and not feel completely lost. Certain locations and characters will go over your head, but it’s worth preserving for the luscious visuals and evocative performances. This isn’t going to make me install a MOBA, but it isn’t trying to, and that rules.