Arcane Season 2 Episode 3 Review

Arcane Season 2 Episode 3 Review

As a longtime fan of the League of Legends universe and someone who has been eagerly anticipating the release of Arcane for quite some time now, I must say that the first three episodes have not disappointed me in the slightest! The creators have managed to take this beloved world and breathe new life into it, expanding upon its lore and characters in ways that both longtime fans and newcomers can enjoy.


Warning! This article contains spoilers for Arcane Season 2 Episode 3.

Key Takeaways

  • Arcane Season 2 Episode features a highly-anticipated showdown, leading to a heartbreaking realization.
  • A new conspiracy involving Ambessa unfolds, setting the stage for war between Piltover and Zaun.
  • Arcane sets up two major plots that threaten to overshadow its main characters if not handled carefully.

In the third installment of Season 2 for Arcane, viewers are treated to an eagerly awaited confrontation, as well as several significant surprises that drastically alter the course of events in the concluding episodes of the Netflix show.

In the opening episodes of the fresh season for Arcane, we’ve been establishing the current situation in Piltover and Zaun after significant deaths from the previous season. The third episode, named “Finally Got The Name Right”, bridges these worlds, escalating the tension dramatically and introducing some of the most emotionally charged scenes the show has seen yet.

Vi and Jinx Reunite

Arcane Season 2 Episode 3 “Finally Got The Name Right”
CastHailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, Katie Leung, Kevin Alejandro, Ellen Thomas, Reed Shannon
CreativesHenry G.M. Jones (writer), Barth Maunoury & Christelle Abgrail (directors), Christian Linke & Alex Yee (creators)
Based onLeague of Legends
Streaming onNetflix

The episode kicks off showcasing another impressive visual montage by Fortiche. Each installment of Arcane Season 2 has introduced a unique, experimental animation style from the studio, and Episode 3 is no exception. It presents a vibrant, almost comic book-like sequence depicting Caitlyn and Vi’s thrilling infiltration of Zaun. Along their journey, they discover a gift left by Jinx, one of Smeech’s men, hinting that Jinx has separate intentions for Piltover’s ventilation system. Vi proposes to Caitlyn they keep the other enforcers at bay so as not to get entangled in her sister’s scheme. As Vi acknowledges her sister is no longer present, a heartfelt moment unfolds between her and Caitlyn, ending with a long-anticipated kiss.

The Showdown of the Century

Arcane Season 2 Episode 3 Review

Upon the arrival of Vi and Caitlyn at Jinx’s secret lair, she stands prepared for them. The ensuing fight, reminiscent of Arcane, is arguably its finest battle. The confrontation between the two sisters comes earlier in the series than anticipated, yet it retains every ounce of its anticipated power. The show goes to great lengths to deliver a battle that fans have eagerly awaited. It seamlessly combines rapid cuts with dramatic slow-motion scenes, incorporates an impressive musical score, and lands powerful punches due to the 11 episodes of character development Arcane has invested in these sibling characters.

In this scenario, when Caitlyn shoots off Jinx’s finger, Vi seizes the advantage and Jinx acknowledges defeat. However, Vi’s reluctance to kill her sibling delays her action, allowing a girl named Isha, who has grown fond of Jinx during the season, to step in between them. Initially intending to let them both go unharmed due to innocence, Vi hesitates to harm either party. Yet, Caitlyn lacks such compassion, causing Vi to intervene and prevent her from causing further harm.

Paint the Town Blue

Arcane Season 2 Episode 3 Review

Sevika follows through with Jinx’s strategy, bursting open a wind portal which draws them all out of the room. Across the city, vibrant paint spurts from air vents, covering Piltover in a riot of colorful turmoil. Now that Jinx has escaped once more, Caitlyn and Vi engage in a heated dispute, leading to two startling disclosures. Vi finds herself unable to view Jinx as anything but her sister, while Caitlyn remains steadfast in her pursuit of revenge. These insights effectively snuff out the brief spark of their relationship.

The Price of Progress

In Piltover elsewhere, Jayce, Ekko, and Heimerdinger are piecing together the reasons behind the contamination of the Hexcore that’s affecting the Firelights’ tree. Jayce proposes it could be due to “untamed runes”, which is another term for arcane magic that has emerged as a consequence of Viktor and Jayce’s efforts to control it using Hextech. As they explore Hextech’s backup system underground, the team encounters a significant issue.

A strange arcane anomaly has formed, which results in all sorts of Multiverse of Madness-style visuals taking place. The group’s interaction with the anomaly has ramifications on all Hextech devices, including the ones being used in Jinx and Vi’s fight that happens to be occurring at the same time. It makes for a climactic sequence at the end of the episode, with the sister’s confrontation intercut with Jayce’s realization that he has created something hugely out of his control.

A Piltover Conspiracy Emerges

In this episode, we delve into a fresh conspiracy involving Ambessa and Noxus. Upon interacting with Amara, Piltover’s guild merchant, Ambessa becomes aware that she is under the influence of an unusual dark magic. A mysterious voice advises her to abandon her Piltover project. This enigmatic magic transforms into a menacing black rose, a clear red flag signaling impending danger, a clue seasoned League of Legends players will pick up on. Ambessa slays Amara, momentarily freeing herself from the Black Rose’s control, yet she must enlist the aid of council member Salo to conceal Amara’s demise.

In simpler terms, Mel suspects her mother’s intentions and learns from Lest, who eavesdropped on Salo and Ambessa’s meeting, that Ambessa intends to elevate Mel’s brother to a stronger leadership position. As Mel investigates Ambessa’s background, she uncovers mysteries surrounding her brother’s death, which immediately leads to her being captured by the Black Rose’s magic. It is later revealed in the episode’s climax that Ambessa orchestrated the Zaunite attack on the memorial in Episode 1 as a means to escalate tension between Piltover and Zaun, pushing them towards war. In the final scene, she appoints Caitlyn Kiramman as the new general to lead the military campaign.

Arcane Season 2 Episode 3 Review

A Beast of a Problem

Failing to acknowledge, it’s important to point out the concluding sequence in Episode 3 of Arcane Season 2, which connects to the final scenes across all three episodes so far. When combined, these sequences foreshadow the arrival of a new and eagerly awaited character. The storyline unfolds with Singed venturing into a Murk Wolf den, dissecting the wolf, and utilizing its biology to create something novel. In the climactic scene, a beast’s skeleton hangs from the ceiling, being filled with a green chemical substance. This character is likely familiar to League enthusiasts and will likely play a significant role in future episodes.

Arcane Season 2 Expands The World at a Rapid Pace

As an ardent fan, I must admit that the first act of Season 2 feels a bit rushed for me. The characters are introduced swiftly without enough time to fully grasp their personalities as they get caught up in the fast-moving plot. The third episode seems to introduce not one but two significant new plots, which could potentially overshadow the main characters and their stories. It’s a concern that the series might be taking on too much too soon, but only time will tell how Arcane manages its storylines as the season progresses.

The opening act of Arcane Season 2 showcases the series’ strengths brilliantly. It skillfully employs animation to convey both grand and subtle feelings, and crafts impactful character moments using visual symbolism and insightful dialogues. Instead of merely maintaining the high standard they established in Season 1, the creators of Arcane aim higher, introducing fresh, inventive techniques to delve deeper into this world and its characters on screen.

Arcane Season 2 Episodes 1-3 are available on Netflix now.

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2024-11-11 02:44