I have a handful of favorite shows when it comes to Netflix, shows that rise above all the rest as examples of genuine quality and craftsmanship. Some of these are incredibly dark and dramatic, like Baby Reindeer. Others are more light-hearted, like the first season of Stranger Things. Others are hilarious and tense, like the heart-pounding Beef or terrifying, like the Korean zombie period drama Kingdom.
But many of my favorite Netflix shows are animated. Blue Eye Samurai, BoJack Horseman, The Dragon Prince and last, but not least, Arcane.
Arcane’s first season was simply mind-blowing. The animation is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, a rich almost painterly-style that manages to be both dark and popping with color. The story takes place in the twin-city of Piltover and Zaun. The former is a sprawling, almost Utopian city of wealth, power and scientific and technological advancement. The latter is the former’s dark and seedy underbelly, filled with crime and drugs and poverty. The tension between these two halves is at the root of all that follows.
Born into this impoverished under-city are two sisters, Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Powder (Ella Purnell) who will later take on the name Jinx. As unrest between Piltover and Zaun escalates, the sisters find themselves at odds, navigating the various factions of an increasingly dangerous conflict. Meanwhile, a young innovator and politician named Jayce (Kevin Alejandro) has discovered a way to harness magic and combine it with steampunk technology, tapping into untold prosperity—and unleashing even greater dangers upon the city. His partner, the sickly and idealistic Viktor (Harry Lloyd) brings an egalitarian passion to this project.
In this mix we have an unruly cast of characters including the marvelously wicked—yet utterly empathetic—Silco (Jason Spisak) a crime lord with a heart of gold, or at least with streaks of gold in it; Caitlyn (Katie Leung) a young Enforcer on a quest; and Vander (JB Blanc) the affable de facto leader of the underworld, plus lots of other complex, well-written characters.
I cannot recommend Arcane highly enough. Even if you normally don’t watch animated shows, you absolutely need to watch this one. Fans of fantasy, steampunk, action/adventure and great character dramas will all find something to love here. The story is incredibly well-written with complex, empathetic characters in a conflict that will put you on the edge of your seat and tug at your heart-strings.
I don’t want to spoil any of it beyond the basic premise, because you should experience it all for yourselves. It really is like nothing else out there. Season 2 has been a long time coming, with Season 1 having released on Netflix in 2021. I have high hopes that the wait will have been worth it. I’ll be reviewing the new season in parts, so expect a review of Part 1—the first three episodes—here on this blog (subscribe!) over the weekend.
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P.S. For Valorant players, there’s a new Arcane crossover bundle out right now. Check it out.