Netflix’s Greatest 2-Part Video Game Adaptation Quietly Makes the Case for a Revival

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an evil general wearing armor glaring at the camera in Arcane Season 2

Published Aug 29, 2026, 11:23 AM EDT

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It's been nearly two years since the finale, but Arcane still holds the crown as one of the best adult animated series to date. Despite the series being rooted in the world of League of Legends, viewers don't need to research the game's lore before watching the two-season Netflix show. That's because Arcane has done its due diligence in building a world so immersive that anyone can get lost in the fictional cities of Piltover and Zaun.

The show includes many characters with complex morals and their own agendas, and though no story is more resonant than that of sisters Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Ella Purnell), the series builds a far bigger world, leaving corners of Runeterra open for further exploration. Arcane's resurgence on the Apple TV Store proves there's still more to dig into — giving it all the more reason for a much-needed revival.

What Is 'Arcane' About?

Arcane Season 1 begins with young orphans Vi and Jinx, then known as Powder, growing up in Zaun under the care of former rebel leader Vander (JB Blanc). Their lives are upended when Silco (Jason Spisak) kidnaps Vander, and a rescue mission goes horribly wrong, leaving scars behind that alter Vi and Jinx's relationship as they grow into adults. Meanwhile, in Piltover, brilliant inventor Jayce (Kevin Alejandro) faces punishment from the academy for attempting to recreate magic. With help from Viktor (Harry Lloyd), a brilliant scientist from Zaun's undercity, Jayce develops Hextech —a technology that combines magic and science and transforms Piltover into the City of Progress.

Season 2 raises the stakes even further as the boiling conflict between Piltover and Zaun erupts into a civil war. While some in Piltover are determined to fully eradicate Zaun, external forces have their own agendas. General Ambessa Medarda of Noxus (Ellen Thomas) sees the unrest as an opportunity to involve herself and expand her realm's influence, with Hextech becoming one of her primary targets. With diplomacy effectively off the table, Arcane becomes an all-out battle between the rich and the poor, the powerful and the oppressed, and humanity and cosmic forces beyond anyone's wildest imaginations.

'Arcane' Currently Holds a 100% Score on Rotten Tomatoes

To say that Arcane is a masterpiece would be an understatement. In an era increasingly filled with shallow, AI-generated graphics, Arcane is a love letter to the art of animation, with a video game-esque art direction that translates beautifully to the streaming platform. It proves that years of dedication to the craft can pay off in the long run. Season 1 alone reportedly took approximately six years to develop and produce, followed by another three years to complete Season 2. Creator Alex Yee even shared that he spent roughly 27 hours figuring out what Season 2's final line would be.

That level of care shows, and it's one reason Arcane still holds a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The result of that extensive timeline and meticulous attention to detail is a rich, colorful world and a story that expands alongside its characters. As Piltover and Zaun evolve in the aftermath of Hextech's discovery, so do the people who call them home. Arcane is more than Vi and Jinx's story; it's also about the people around them fighting to reclaim control of their lands and grappling with the sacrifices they're willing to make. Together, their stories create some of the show's most shocking twists, betrayals, and bittersweet moments.

An 'Arcane' Revival Could Continue What the Finale Left Unfinished

While Arcane has no bad episodes, its second and final season's biggest problem is that it tried to cram too much into just nine episodes — or, as co-executive producer Amanda Overton put it, “Let’s put 50 pounds of stuff in this bag.” Although the finale delivers a heartbreaking yet conclusive ending for Vi and Jinx, characters like Jayce, Viktor, Mel (Toks Olagundoye), and Ekko (Reed Shannon) have arcs that could have benefited from more room to breathe, leaving some of their fates uncertain. With Arcane now finding a new audience on Apple TV, its resurgence makes a convincing case for a revival.

Vi and Jinx may have reached the end of their journeys in Season 2, but a new chapter is already waiting for Piltover and Zaun. Jayce and Viktor may be presumed dead, although their cosmic finale has sparked theories that they could have ended up somewhere else. Meanwhile, Hextech is left without a clear leader, and the newly united council representing Piltover and Zaun must prepare for whatever threat comes next. With Noxus and other regions of Runeterra still waiting to be explored, Arcane has no shortage of stories to tell. Season 2 may have closed one chapter, but as Caitlyn says in the finale, “And though we are doomed to revisit the error of our ways, our story isn’t over.”