This is where some of the final act’s shortcomings become clear. With allies and support now on their side, Vi and Caitlyn hope to change Piltover for the better while conquering their own personal demons. The two women grow closer as the world threatens to swallow them whole, meeting up with a resistance movement as they seek to address the council and put a stop to Silco’s underground movement for good. Vi and Caitlyn’s romantic experience hasn’t faded away after the last act’s flirtatious interactions - to my surprise it is even gayer. Arcane understands that villains are complicated, and behind each evil scheme sits an emotionally distraught person believing they’re doing the right thing. She comes so close to reuniting with Vi, only to be stopped each time by her own broken mind, or an irrational jealousy of Caitlyn as she grows closer and closer to those she once called family. She doesn’t deserve any of this, but she absorbs events in a way where she always feels betrayed, like the world is toying with her at every turn and nobody can be trusted. The same can be said for Jinx, a fantastic heroine who is a victim of her own twisted circumstances. At times, he’s even one we can sympathise with. He’s still the show’s big bad, but in a more nuanced way. But in moments of tragedy there is a genuine bond to be found between them, that despite all of his ill intentions, Silco does see Jinx as a person to be cared for and will do anything to save her. We catch a deeper glimpse into her troubled relationship with Silco, and how the corrupt mobster has morphed this young girl into a surrogate daughter he can bend to his whims. Related: Halo Infinite Campaign Preview - This Is It, ChiefĪrcane’s final act is a prologue to Jinx’s inevitably fractured mind, an eventual surrender to the trauma that has clung to her since Vi’s abandonment. It’s also very, very gay - and not in the queerbaity kinda way. Yet the animation, dialogue, and chemistry between all of its characters remain excellent, pulling you into the League of Legends world and refusing to let go in a way that few adaptations have managed to achieve.
Major moments are over in a quiet flash, while confrontations that should carry weight often fall flat. The show is clearly gearing up for a second season, so it’s a shame more focus is placed on laying the groundwork for its arrival instead of weaving a meaningful narrative that can stand on its own. The stakes are high, and Arcane does a commendable job of executing upon them even if it feels rushed or inconsequential at times.
Vi and Jinx’s harrowing journey is filled with violence and bloodshed, with the previous episode seeing the older sister kidnapped alongside Caitlyn as they’re dragged further into a conspiracy there is seemingly no escape from. Arcane has a lot of ground to cover in its final trio of episodes, which are tasked with concluding an ambitious origin story while carving a path forward for the future.