Arcane: The Battle for the Crown - Review

After bingeing the whole series, many viewers, like myself, regard this show as a masterpiece. I want all future video game adaptations on the big or small screen to take notes.

The first season of "Arcane" consists of nine episodes, which were published in three-week increments on Netflix in November. According to Deadline, from November 15 to November 21, "Arcane" ranked in Netflix's top ten globally, with around 38.4 million hours watched on average. Overall, "Arcane" has a 9.4/10 IMDB audience rating, making it Netflix's highest-rated original series, surpassing titles like "Stranger Things" and "Narcos." "Arcane" is now ranked 14th among the top TV programs on IMDB.

Why are viewers so taken by "Arcane"? What makes it appealing? To put it simply: it's an incredible spectacle. Everything about "Arcane" came together and functioned well, from the complicated characters and their evolution to the unique animation style.

Yes, the program and characters are based on Riot Games’ video game, "League of Legends," but both video game veterans and others with little understanding or interest in the game can enjoy it. The first three episodes perfectly set out the key characters and their characteristics and set them on a path of growth. Their origin stories wonderfully set up a complex but tightly interwoven web in which they will intersect in equally profound and tragic ways as time passes. What makes Arcane's fantasy-meets-steampunk universe so appealing is how easy it is to understand. The show does not spend time with exposition and does not presume you are familiar with the characters.

The first three episodes do a very good job of developing the characters, even those who do not survive. There are aspects of the protagonists that you admire and dislike, and vice versa for the antagonists. The primary adversary was one of the show's breakout characters, whom audiences praised for a superb voice acting performance.

The second batch of three episodes demonstrates how time has affected the characters and prepares them for the main confrontation. The development of each character is most visible in this act. As they engage more, they learn their views are not the only ones that exist, and they must face and confront themselves to change, hopefully for the better. This set also delves into the characters' connections and makes the audience care about them. This act contains genuine stakes, which produces tension and attachment.

The final three episodes bring the primary story and conflict together with bursting results and set up a wonderful cliffhanger for audiences who will be rolling for the next season, which Riot Games confirmed on November 21st, according to Polygon.

The setup formed by the first six episodes is brought to an explosive head in the final three episodes, as characters confront their former sentiments and beliefs and begin to evolve into whom they were maturing.

This was an emotional final act, as I was feeling a variety of emotions and crying uncontrollably several times. Aside from the emotion, the animation was a major feature, as every battle sequence was done so brilliantly that it was beyond what live-action could ever produce.

Furthermore, I enjoyed the role that music played in the tale, whether through graphic imagery, combat sequences, or even the opening at the beginning of each episode.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I agree with the consensus that "Arcane" is one of the best video game adaptations and shows I've ever seen. With projects like this and "Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse," I hope that studios and audiences alike will come to value animation as a medium. "Arcane" is the epitome of what the animation medium can accomplish, I.e. legendary status.

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