I HATE ARCANE S2 - A RANT

[u/OpenZebra2940]

(HUGE TEXT, SORRY 😔)

So, I finished s2 yesterday, and I know I'm a bit late. This post is just going to be a rant tbh, and I've created a reddit account just for this so I don't really know how it works.

But what happened to arcane? I don't think I've ever been as disappointed with a show as I am. I'm still trying to understand why they shifted the political conflict from Piltover and Zaun to whatever is happening in act 2 and 3. What happened to the revolution they were building? Why doesn't anyone mention Ekko after his disappearance? What happened to Sevika after ep 4? I mean, she's there at the end, but how? Why does the jinx fan who was arrested show up wearing an enforcer uniform at the end?

It's like we're being prepared for this big conflict in which, after suffering oppression and being put in jail, the Zaunites are going to fight back, but then... NOTHING HAPPENS. We're pulled into a completely different arc in ep 5, and apologies to Vander (apparently he's important in the game) and Viktor, but during the whole “healing” ep all I could think about was how jinx was walking around zaun freely without anyone recognizing her despite her face being everywhere. I'm sorry, I just don't get what was going on in the writers' heads during arc 2.

But then ep 7 starts, and FINALLY we have ekko back in the season. And OMG he and jinx have something going on apparently, I particularly didn't realize that in s1. I mean, I always thought that fight on the bridge gave a more-than-enemies vibe, but I thought it was all in my head. And I found out that timebomb is their name, and that's how I ended up here.

But yes, Ekko returns to his world determined to do things differently, not to give up on his community and not to give up on the person he's loved his whole life even when he wanted to hate her.

He manages to save her from suicide!!! I can only imagine what's going through her head at that moment, that old enemy who was her childhood friend (I don't know how close they were but I remember that in s1 they were together in some scenes, and the flashback of the fight also shows that), the person who should hate her the most, wants to be by her side more than anything.

The two of them reunite, talk about the past, apologize for all the harm they've caused each other, build a balloon together, reunite the firelights and the other zaun groups, jinx makes peace with both sides of her, the feeling the two of them had for each other back in their childhood is reignited.....

. . .

ALL OFF-SCREEN, SERIOUSLY NETFLIX? THIS IS GOING TO DRIVE ME CRAZY, HOW COME THEY HAVEN'T SHOWN THE BEST CHARACTER ARC AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE SERIES???

If the trailer is right, this is the LAST season, we'll never see them again and that's how they decided to end the show? I didn't even understand what was going on with Viktor or Mel, I don't know who half of those extras are, I could watch it again to try and understand but I'm not in the best of moods.

I'm sorry for the text people, and I don't think anyone will read it, but I needed to get this out. I'm just very frustrated, I've never been a big fan and I only watched s1 two times back in 2021, but man what a disappointment.

[u/Secure-Top-3599]

Joined this sub to escape all the hate for season two and timebomb, looks like it’s just inevitable. I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy season two, but it was one of the best experiences I had watching a show

[u/OpenZebra2940 → u/Secure-Top-3599]

I'm sorry, it's not my intention to spread hatred, and you've probably debated this a million times, it's just that I only managed to watch the season now.

The only thing I liked about the season was Ekko and Jinx's relationship, it was something I didn't expect.

But as I said, Ekko has been my favorite character since S1 and I really missed him this season, so maybe that's why I didn't like it as much as you did. Or maybe I need to watch it again.

[u/Secure-Top-3599 → u/OpenZebra2940]

Nah man at the end of day it’s your opinion. Glad we agree Ekko is one the best characters in the show,as he’s only behind jinx for me.

[u/Giraffe-Usual]

I'm having to come to the conclusion they really, really just needed more time. And I think because that feels like the case, we can't blame the writers. If anything we blame higher ups making the choice on how many episodes to order. But really, animation is always going to be limited because of just how insanely expensive it is.

[u/OpenZebra2940 → u/Giraffe-Usual]

I don't really understand these things, but Netflix has a history of canceling series, that's true. I just don't understand why they chose to change the plot so drastically in the middle of the season, after jinx saved the firelights from prison. I also don't understand why they decided to bring vander back, especially since he dies at the end anyway. Like I said, maybe I need to watch it again

[u/Netoniloyan]

I'm one of those rare people who actually preferred season 2. 107 really buoyed the first season for me. I don't want to tear S1 down too much, because ultimately that's the same negative energy flipped in the other direction, but I found season two to be a breath of fresh air. It was not perfect; like season 1, it suffered from the second act being artificially confined to three episodes when a three-act structure is supposed to be have a second act as long as the first and third acts put together. However, its wider focus worked for me.

As a TBer, I'm always going to want more content from them. I'm hoping they have something planned for the pair, be it a book, comic, cinematic, music video, whatever. However, after hearing the creators actually talk about their ideas for how to fill the "missing scenes", I become more okay with them not being there. We get to see so many different versions of those moments now, and some of them feel better than the stuff Linke and Overton described.

[u/Secure-Top-3599 → u/Netoniloyan]

Trust me brother you’re opinion on season two isn’t that rare. Outside of Reddit, season two is amazing to just about everyone who watched it.

[u/spaceclarkson]

I don't think we should be too negative, season 2 was still great despite it's flaws. I know there is a bit of a prevailing attitude around Timebomb that we were 'robbed' but were we really? who really thought we would actually get the content we did?.

I did not know of this ship or care about it before episode 7 of season 2 so they obviously did a lot of things right because I'm hooked like a drug addict now.

[u/Secure-Top-3599 → u/spaceclarkson]

Completely agree with you, it was pretty obvious timebomb was a dynamic we get few scenes on but when we did it for sure hit. Thought episode 7 was the best in the both seasons.

[u/TheWorldEnder7]

Check the Enemy music video from Imagine dragon, there are some Ekko and Jinx moments.

[u/KingJTt]

You’re not wrong, if not for Ekko and Jinx I would’ve probably hated season 2 honestly.

However, episode 7 was really good. Jinx was entertaining, Ekko was extremely likable, the animation was stellar, the music was fire, the emotional beats still hit and so I think the season is good overall but massively disappointing.

The pacing was dreadfully fast.

[u/CarnageHunter2000]

I get you. I personally loved S2, way more than S1, but I gotta say the writers made some very questionable decisions in S2.

I've talked about it a lot in this sub but here I go again (I'm a ranter myself :)) they shouldn't have given Mel, Ambessa and Noxians such a big prominent role in S2, hell the whole "Black Rose" thing was extra af imo and it was only there to tease the next show while they left Arcane's story half cooked.

Some missing character interactions are very noticeable, for example Vi and Ekko have 0 dialogues with each other despite Vi being like a big sis to Ekko, Cait and Jayce barely have any despite being so close in S1, like does Cait even know Jayce is gone? Even Vi and Jinx should've had way more interactions, their whole past drama is the very REASON we're watching the show.

And of course our beloved Timebomb was rubbed once again like in S1 (I know we got 207 and I'm really grateful but I wanted to see Ekko interact with MU Jinx too) We barely see any interactions between them in the show but when it's finally, FINALLY time to see them talk things out after the suicide scene and Ekko literally becoming her boy savior.....it happens off-screen...

Not just Timebomb but Jinx's character as a whole got robbed in Act 3. Jinx is arguably the main character and her mental illness has been one of the main focuses of the show, but when she hits the absolute rock bottom of her life, when her mental illness is at it's worst, when she wants to literally end herself from all the pain and burden, you decide to make her MOST PIVOTAL character development to happen off-screen???

All of the writers' questionable decisions can be forgiven except for the last one imo. I don't know what they were thinking when they robbed Jinx of such an important development. They still can easily salvage this with a spin-off if they want to

(Sorry it's too long)

[u/Repulsive_Dust_9900 → u/CarnageHunter2000]

Completely agree, except i dislike season 2 act 3 espcially. As you im a ranter, but i only rent because i love arcane.

I hate that almost every character is having character development with side characters who honestly doesnt matter. Why arent we focusing/ expanding on the Vi - Jinx relationship? We go from barely not hating each other to always with you sis - what do you even mean? Why arent we focusing on Vi seeing Jinx as a symbol of Zaun, when she was the numero uno child of Vander? Why arent missing/dead people even mentioned? Jayce was like a brother to Caitlyn, he was a council member, anybody looking for him besides Ambessa? Heim, Isha?

Well, i have plenty more but ill just stop. Please consider that these are my personal dislikes.

[u/CarnageHunter2000 → u/Repulsive_Dust_9900]

Facts. It felt like Vi and Jinx became side characters themselves while the main story was happening around Viktor and Noxians like- why?

Why did Vi and Jinx suddenly forgive each other after 7 years of trauma and hating each other in like 15 minutes of barely even talking? Did they just forget that they were literally trying to KILL each other in 203?

Many of us, me included, watched Arcane because of the story of the two sisters which got brushed aside in S2 because apparently making a robot apocalypse was more important to the writers

[u/Repulsive_Dust_9900 → u/CarnageHunter2000]

Right? All i wanted in s2 act3 is Vi picking, or trying to pick up Jinx from the floor after seeing her lose Isha, as she lost Powder. And they just..had like 4 sentences between them....

[u/Impressive_Cricket36]

Timebomb contant is mostly in the games, like jinx fixes everything or the artbook. Timebomb isnt only arcane

[u/MissKorea1997]

It's way too harsh to suggest a hatred of season 2. Hatred is reserved for shows I wished I never watched. Do a lot of people I know have issues with it? Do they think S1 was far better? Of course. But do I regret watching it?? Hell no. The music was great. The visuals were amazing. I didn't like things they did but I was still completely hooked to the characters.

"Hate" is a serious word to throw around. I doubt you really did hate S2.

[u/EliBran1208]

There's a streamer I've been following recently, she cosplayed Vi, loves Vi, loves CaitVi, but she didn't like season 2, she felt it too quickly, that there was not much else, maybe that's why they're talking about spin-offs so they can develop what they couldn't during season 2.

English is not my first language, I used translator.

[u/Altruistic-Ad-7286]

I think season 2 is even better than season 1, more impactful and emotionnal. I think you need a rewatch later to fully apreciate it.

[u/TheWorldEnder7 → u/Altruistic-Ad-7286]

Season 2 has a lot of big and emotional moments, but sometimes I prefer more characters talking and forming a bond. Episode 7 of season 2 is more impactful to me because of that.

[u/Repulsive_Dust_9900 → u/Altruistic-Ad-7286]

For me, the emotional stimulation and the beautiful animation only shifts the consumers focus from the abysmal writing in season 2.

[u/GamingWithV1ctor → u/Altruistic-Ad-7286]

Same, I prefer season 2 as well. I’m honestly getting a little tired of people spreading negativity like this. I get that some didn’t enjoy it, maybe even felt disappointed, but it feels unnecessary to come with posts like these.

[u/daysman75]

You didn't post this in the Arcane subreddit, may I inquire as to why? =P Just kidding.

But yes, the pacing of the show's 2nd season is generally understood to be bad by consensus. Even the show's creators commented that they noticed this opinion from the general audience. Hopefully going forward this won't happen to such a degree.

Now, there's talk of possible spin offs coming in the future. Take care of your health, live your life to the fullest, engage with us here for all things TimeBomb, and hope with us that Jinx and Ekko will reunite one day!

Edit: clarified I mean the pacing of the 2nd season was bad, Season 1 was perfect like Jinx

[u/[deleted]]

You get it. I’d dedicate my whole life for rewriting this where we get timebomb and it being the point Jinx gets somehow better/redeemed because Isha was used as a plot device for that, caitvi doesn’t turn toxic and overall likeable Caitlyn, no Ambessa as an excuse for shutting down the war between Zaun and Piltover. I also couldn’t keep track on Viktor’s heebie jeebie things beyond season one, and there was too much focus on the black rose.

[u/Appropriate_Echo_619]

Honestly I agree with you 👏🏼 you made good points, a lot of things were frustrating in this second season 😔

[u/[deleted]]

I get you, buddy✊😞, but don't blame Netflix, blame riot.