Top 10 Best Moments in Arcane Season 2

"Heavy Is the Crown"
“Arcane” is full of epic fight sequences. But for the season two premiere, the showrunners really upped the scale. At a memorial in Piltover for the fallen Council members, Chem-Baroness Renni[a] and her minions attack. As Renni fires up her Chainsword, and Chemtanks drop from the sky, the memorial devolves into mayhem. Jayce, Vi, and Caitlyn all get their moments to shine. The animation is fast and furious, dragging us into chaos. In the end, as an absolute behemoth of a Chemtank bears down on the heroes, everything seems to hinge on the next shots from Caitlyn’s rifle and Jayce’s Mercury Cannon … until Ambessa arrives to ‘save’ the day. Whew, talk about starting with a bang! [note: ‘save’ is in scare quotes because really, she set the whole thing up]

“Watch It All Burn”
Some “Arcane” fights are bloody, desperate, emotional, and/or epic. This one was just a whole lotta fun. When Chem-Baron Smeech and his goons corner Jinx, an unexpected ally rushes to the rescue. And Jinx has a present for her: a new left arm. Sevika’s flat stare at Jinx at the prosthetic’s flamboyance still has us chuckling. Because it’s not just any old mechanical limb. It’s tricked out in true-Jinx style, complete with a slot machine handle that activates an array of abilities. The fight showcases animation studio Fortiche[c]’s slick combination of 2D and 3D elements, as Sevika cycles through the arm’s functions. Soon enough, Smeech …is smush.

“Paint the Town Blue”
Jinx may see herself as, well, a jinx, but Isha[d] just sees a hero. After all, it was Jinx who rescued her from thugs on the streets and, eventually, took her in. While many Zaunites feel the same about Jinx, Jinx is reluctant to embrace the role. She’s roused to action when Enforcers imprison Isha and other undercity denizens in Stillwater Hold. As Jinx breaks them out, she’s being sarcastic when she calls herself a ‘hero’. But in a moving moment, the Zaunites each place grateful hands on her shoulders. Of course, being a hero is dangerous work - and she’s soon wrestling with a crazed Warwick so that Isha and Sevika can flee. The chaotic fight that follows ends with a shocking realization …

“The Dirt Under Your Nails”
In the War for Piltover, Ambessa’s soldiers besiege the Hexgates, and Caitlyn is betrayed into Ambessa’s hands. However, Mel, now with magic to back up her words, has a few things to say about that … It’s two-on-one, but Ambessa has protected herself against Hextech and the Black Rose with the rune-inscribed shards of Rictus’ glaive. All seems lost as Ambessa thrusts her blade through Mel’s shield - right into Caitlyn’s eye. But Caitlyn has a surprise in store: she’s used the knife stuck in her own side to cut away Ambessa’s runes, leaving her vulnerable to the Black Rose’s attack. Ambessa thought her daughter was still a fox, lacking the merciless qualities of a wolf. But in her final moments, she’s actually proud of her daughter … SB [“You are the wolf.”]

“Blisters and Bedrock”
It seemed like nothing could bring the estranged sisters back together … until the reveal that Vander was alive. Infused with Shimmer, and subjected to grisly experiments, Vander had been transformed into the werewolf-like Warwick. When the sisters find him again, he lunges at Isha in a blood-frenzy - and Vi comes out swinging. Amid flashes of light and clouds of red haze, the two brawl, with breathtaking slo-mo sequences capturing the carnage. At the last instant, Vi recognizes Vander within the beast, bringing him back to himself. The family is reunited - with Isha joining the hug.

"Pretend Like It's the First Time"
In retrospect, we were naive for thinking that the Act III opener would give us a break from emotional turmoil. But we were still recovering from the explosive Act II finale. In this poignant episode, Ekko and Heimerdinger are transported to a parallel world, where Vi died looting Jayce’s lab; Powder remained Powder; Hextech was never invented; and Zaun is thriving. Ekko discovers a very different relationship between himself and Powder. But he knows that he has to leave to save his own world … Their kiss is bittersweet. In the next episode, Jinx tells Vi that there’s no good version of her. But Ekko now knows firsthand that isn’t true - and brings her back from the brink at the last moment.

“The Dirt Under Your Nails”
The conflict between Zaun and Piltover is embodied in several relationships - including Jayce and Viktor’s. In season one, the scientists believed in each other when no one else did. So we were all shocked in season two when Jayce blasted Viktor, leaving him almost dead. But Viktor’s quest to rid the world of weakness and imperfection had transformed him into the Machine Herald, and it turned out that Jayce had seen the fields of dreamless solitude that would result. So too had another version of Viktor. Once Viktor understands that, he urges Jayce to leave. But this time, Jayce stands by his partner … and the two vanish. Into death, or into another world? We’re left in suspense.

"Finally Got the Name Right"
“Arcane” is a tale of two cities and two sisters - and Act I all led up to this showdown. Now convinced that Powder is gone, Vi tracks down Jinx … What follows is a charged, emotional throwdown where both sisters go all out - Vi with her Atlas Gauntlets, and Jinx with her full arsenal: Pow-Pow, Fishbones, Zapper, Flame Chompers, and even her bare fists! Meanwhile, Caitlyn battles Sevika; and elsewhere, Jayce, Ekko, and Heimerdinger[e] have an arcane encounter that plays havoc with Hextech - making the battle all the more intense. Ultimately, Jinx loses a finger,and Vi gets the upper hand - which may have been what Jinx wanted all along. It’s only Isha’s intervention that saves her, with Sevika enabling their escape.

"The Message Hidden Within the Pattern"
Oh boy, this one is gonna hurt. Isha was alone in the world when Jinx stepped in to save her - and Isha became devoted to her new sister-figure. So, with Jinx in peril after Vander loses control of the beast within and Ambessa charges in, Isha decides to return the favor. As she runs through the battlefield, memories of their time together flood through her mind. History repeats as Isha skids in and loads Hextech gemstones into Jinx’s gun. A distraught Jinx is helpless to stop her. Isha’s finger gun salute is the same gesture that Jinx once made to her. Looking up at Vander, Isha pulls the trigger … In a series full of tragic moments, this one had all of us wiping our eyes.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions:

The Chemistry Crackles as They Finally Get the Moment They Deserve

The Flashback Gives Us Insight Into the Formative Relationships That Preceded Events

Ashnikko[f]’s Alt-Pop Anthem Captures the Spirit of Rebellion in the Face of Caitlyn's Dystopian Crackdown

The Careful Use of Color Illustrates the Bleakness & Bright Points of Pain of Grief

Warm Memories Return the Man From Within the Beast

“The Dirt Under Your Nails”
The horrific accident that tore Jinx and Vi apart, and the conflict between Zaun and Piltover, locked the sisters into a cycle of violence. But, as the memory of Silco tells Jinx, there is a way out … In the finale, Jinx seems to have abandoned the city, but makes a glorious, eleventh-hour return. It all comes full circle when she’s again faced with a choice. To save Vi, Jinx lets herself fall with Vander, who has lost all memories of himself, and triggers another monkey bomb … Curiously, there’s a streak of Shimmer right before the explosion … and we later see Caitlyn examining blueprints of air ducts in the Hexgates. The series ends with an airship sailing away ... And we’ll leave how to read that up to you … [note: suggestively; as the implication is that Jinx is still alive!]


What “Arcane” moment is keeping YOU up at night? Tell us in the comments!

am-BESSA
[b]suh-VEE-kuh
https://www.yarn.co/yarn-clip/5e1cdfa4-0f2b-4be9-ba1e-092081b4d986
[c]https://youtu.be/6Evi1xvH7Og?si=oUEISezYq0_JPxDH&t=2
[d]EE-shuh
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[e]https://www.yarn.co/yarn-clip/af9f8b47-e9f9-494a-86d7-1e52526d5860
[f]https://youtu.be/PDrP-WfCckc?si=jul-WHsGfx56l8_h&t=8
[g]cuh-SAWN-drug KEERA-min
[h]https://www.yarn.co/yarn-clip/e382c3e4-97be-45b9-b134-80be5522e305