League of
Legends, Riot Games’ most prized possession, has just received one of the most
refreshing fantasy/sci-fi animated series to date. The nine episodes long
Netflix series chronicles the best story set within the world of League of Legends.
This is something truly spectacular, as this is one of the first and only times
that a video game has been adapted into a television series in a way that isn’t
disappointing. In fact, Arcane is a one-of-a-kind show that screams
originality.
Arcane
is by far one of the best series that has come out on Netflix, it is without a
doubt the best-animated series to release in 2021. I cannot believe how
precisely they’ve adopted the characters, as well as how wonderful the story
and world that they’ve created has turned out. Let’s talk more in detail about
this wonderful show and every aspect of it that truly makes it special.
This
is a story of two sisters caught amidst a war between two very different
nations. They find themselves on opposing sides of the spectrum, as the chaotic
tension and unrest between the utopian land of Piltover, and the pitiful city
of Zaun begin to reach unprecedented levels of angst. Vi and Jinx find each
other on opposing sides of these ravaged lands. The perspective of these
characters takes the center place of this show, as they get further surrounded
into the political, and magical anarchy of this world. They must figure out how
to further their agendas while keeping their relationship as the core of their
motivations.
The
futuristic utopia of Piltover is what lies above the Undercity, also known as
Zaun. The former is the best place to live, at least in the lands of Runeterra,
while the latter is a dystopian, violent fuelled land, full of gang violence,
brutality, and crime. In the games, there isn’t any complexity to these worlds.
It’s just a concept of good and bad. However, the show paints a different
picture. It showcases how the upper class of Piltover, have been keeping the
undercity of Zaun beneath them for their own gain.
The
characters in the show are the main meat of the series. Their stories are
engaging and dynamic. The series focuses on two parallel storylines; one is
based in Piltover, while the other is based in Zaun. It manages to provide a
deeper story for every single one of these characters to accommodate the wider
audience while keeping the lore and the world of Runeterra that is beloved by
fans of the game intact.
The
incredible art direction adds depth and complexity to this world. It has some of
the best animation and an ensemble cast of actors to do the voices. It’s a
testament to how much Riot Games have grown. The artistic style and the way the
characters look within the games are present here. The characters have their
personalities drawn out just by the way they look, the way they speak, their
mannerisms, and their expressions. What pushes it even further past
the expectations is an incredible animation, which is especially prevalent
throughout the fight scenes and all of that action goodness that we expected.
This
series has by far some of the best action sequences that I’ve ever seen
animated on a screen. It looks even better than the live-action trailers that
Riot Games has constantly been known to create for their games, and that is part
of the reason why this show has sold massively. If you’re in here for the
story, the world-building, the lore, and the characters. You will love the life
out of it. However, if you’re just here for some good old-fashioned action,
then you’re going to love it just the same.
The
series keeps a constant aura of mystery regarding its world throughout all nine
episodes and leaves things unanswered for the already green-lit second season.
The one thing that I really enjoyed about this show was that it constantly kept
me on the edge of my seat, whether it was through the ever-evolving plot
points, the highly emotional character moments, or just the fun parts like the
action and the comedy.
The voice acting in this
series is absolutely phenomenal, with some of our absolute favorite Hollywood
darlings featured within it. Hailee Steinfeld in particular as Vi is a
stand-out. She has an adorable personality and keeps the character's colder
mannerisms intact through her voice acting. Kevin Alejandro as Jayce, Harry
Lloyd as Viktor, and Ella Purnell as Powder, also gave notable performances.
These performances elevated the quality of the show even further, making it
seem like an insanely large production rather than a television series.
The
scope and scale of Arcane are unimaginable without the outstanding soundtrack
at the hands of Alexander Temple and Alex Seaver. Who mash together with a
soundtrack that isn’t just orchestral, but also filled with intimately crafted
slow tunes and some ecstatic synth-driven tracks. The music gives that
cyberpunk feeling a kick! It’s also filled with a huge selection of wonderfully
curated songs by Pvris, Pusha T, Curtis Harding, Imagine Dragons, Woodkid,
Denzel Curry, and many more! The soundtrack and the music just enhance the
experience. It makes sure that the audience constantly has moments to look
forward to that they’ll remember for ages.
VERDICT:
Arcane
is a classic in the making, a show for people of all ages that manages to
remain brutal and funny, yet still keeping everything under the PG-13 banner.
It’s not a show made for children, but it’s something that they should be able
to watch without their parents getting too mad about it. It’s a complex story
of political intrigue, two divided worlds, two sisters on the verge of
separating from one another due to lingering moralities and a whole lot of
mystery. Arcane is an action-packed roller coaster ride that you just need to
be on board with. This show has got plenty to keep you entangled in its web,
whether you are a fan of the game or not.
RATING: 10/10
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