By KAITLYN HENSON
Staff Writer
If you’re familiar with the franchise League of Legends, then chances are you may have heard of Netflix’s newest series Arcane, centered around the origin story of League Champions Jinx and Vi. Although I don’t know much about the game nor have I ever played it, Arcane is surprisingly one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long while.
The show was created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee and centers around the world of League of Legends, particularly the golden city of Piltover and the underground of Zaun. Jinx and Vi, two sisters who lost their parents at a young age, struggle to survive in the streets of Zaun, unbeknownst to them that a greater evil will someday split them apart, and their relationship will never be the same again. I remember first seeing the trailer for Arcane and sparking an interest in what the show was going to be about, but I wasn’t sure whether or not I would understand what was going on. Luckily you do not have to have knowledge of the game to enjoy watching Arcane, as this show does a wonderful job of kindering to a larger audience while long time League players will understand the hidden references, and know the small hints for what’s to come.
From episode one this world is captivating to look at, through it’s outstanding visuals and strong voice acting from each of the cast. Everything in Arcane is beautiful to look at, with 3d animation similar to Into the Spiderverse. The amount of time and effort put into every frame and second of this series is absolutely insane, this show’s visuals are unlike anything anyone has ever seen before. And the characters of Jinx and Vi are so complex and well-written, I feel so much emotion for these sisters knowing what they will eventually become. Jinx’s slow fall to insanity is so carefully thought out and crafted perfectly, you can see the pain in her eyes as deep down she wants to fix things with Vi, whereas Vi wants to find her again and make things back to how they used to be.
The gravity and emotion these episodes carry feel so real and so intense, and everything about this series is groundbreaking and beautiful. I never expected to like Arcane as much as I do now, and it surprises me how much I didn’t care for the League of Legends franchise for a while. I’m really hoping that there will be more animated series from League in the future because what they are doing right now is extraordinary. If you haven’t checked out Arcane yet, I highly recommend checking it out. It’s breathtaking, it will make you cry, and it will leave you wanting more. Arcane is a beautiful series that deserves all the hype it’s getting and much more.