5 Reasons to Watch Netflix's Arcane Even If You Haven't Played League of Legends
Miscellaneous / / November 10, 2021
The new animated series will pleasantly amaze you with gorgeous animation, great action and a well-thought-out story.
On November 6, the first three episodes of the Arcane animated series based on the League of Legends universe were released on Netflix. The project has already received high marks from critics and viewers, and also moved the Korean Squid Game in the world streaming chart, which broke every conceivable viewing record.
And this is one case where rave reviews are justified: Arcane is worth considering, even if you're not a League of Legends fan or gamer at all.
This game has been around for over 12 years, and a whole universe has developed inside it. In addition, the developers are constantly telling something new about the characters, so the world of League of Legends is quite dynamic and constantly evolving.
Trying to fit all this into several episodes would be an overwhelming task, so the creators of "Arcane" did differently. They wrote the script with the expectation that the show will be watched by both dedicated fans of the game and those who hear about it for the first time in their lives. And in the end, the authors managed to make the series interesting for absolutely everyone.
1. You will very quickly figure out what is happening
Arcane takes place in the two-tiered city of Piltover, where class inequality is rife. Those who live upstairs belong to the cream of society, while the inhabitants of the underground area - Zauna - are forced to survive in the slums.
Periodically, the population of Zaun revolts against the established order, and during one of these uprisings, two sisters, Wai and Powder, are left orphans. They are taken under his wing by the underground leader of the underworld - Vander. A few years later, the girls, along with two friends, rob a science laboratory in Piltover. And it does not end well.
This incident leads to a conflict between Vander and the local police, which demands that the burglars be handed over to them. And then a villain named Silko intervenes in their clash. He has long longed to take revenge on Vander and for this he comes up with a dangerous substance.
In parallel with these events, the story of the young scientist Jace Talis develops. He worked in the same laboratory where Wai and her friends entered. The hero tried to figure out how to curb magical energy, but he did it by not entirely legal methods, and now he faces a trial at the Piltover Academy.
Of course, without knowing the basics of the universe, it will not be easy at first, especially during the first two episodes. After all, screenwriters do not even try to waste time on stories about the structure of the world. Instead, they show this very device.
The viewer is immersed in the events from the very first seconds, and at first such a presentation causes confusion. But at some point, "Arcane" is addictive, enchanting with the incredible beauty of everything that happens.
2. The animation and production were fantastic
The bright visual series of the series will definitely appeal to everyone without exception - even those who, for some reason, will not be hooked on the plot. Three-dimensional graphics are combined here with traditional animation, and the characters seem to be drawn by hand in large strokes.
The artists worked on the environment in such detail that from time to time you want to pause the playback in order to better see the locations and faces of the characters. Even small wrinkles or scratches received in battle can be seen on them.
But the coolest thing was, of course, the elaboration of the action scenes. Arcane's production team understands well how to film hand-to-hand combat so that the audience can literally feel every blow.
And towards the end of the third episode, an incredibly cinematic moment awaits the audience, when the explosion is shown again and again from different angles, reveling in the terrible consequences of destruction. And it's a fantastically emotional and poignant scene that you'll want to revisit.
3. The characters turned out to be voluminous, and their relationship was deep
Even if you hear the names of the protagonists for the first time, it will not prevent you from falling in love with these heroes. The authors managed to breathe life into the characters of the game, and it turned out just fine. First of all, they made the family drama the center of the plot.
Moreover, for three episodes, it is revealed so deeply and interestingly that by the end of the first act you will languish in impatience, thinking about how the relations of the main characters will develop further.
In general, League of Legends is considered far from the darkest game, but in the animated series there are enough both serious topics and scenes of violence. The cartoon does not turn into a harsh slasher, but they do not hesitate to show blood here. So "Arcane" is definitely not suitable for very young children.
4. The story of the origin of insanity is told very touchingly
The main storyline is dedicated to the famous character of the game - the reckless hooligan Jinx, who, with her explosive character and love of destruction, is very reminiscent of Harley quinn. The main thing that brings these girls together is their trademark madness. And if the cause of Harley's mental disorder was love for the Joker, then another explanation was found for the insanity.
In the first act, the heroine has not yet managed to take the nickname Jinx. Her name is Powder, and she is a fragile, emotionally vulnerable teenager seeking support and recognition. But the girl's desperate desire to be useful ultimately turns into disaster.
It turns out that the first three episodes are a typical origin, that is, the story of the origin of the character. And here viewers who are familiar with League of Legends at least superficially have an advantage: it will be more interesting for them to follow the development of Jinx at first. But the audience, which has just begun to join the universe, will not immediately be able to figure out what's what.
5. The cartoon will feature not only characters from the game, but also new heroes
But if you are already starting to think that without basic knowledge of League of Legends, you shouldn't even try to watch the series, this is not so. For example, some characters were not in the game at all - the creators invented them specifically for the show. So, one of the most striking heroes of the first act - Silko and Vander - did not appear in League of Legends.
Thus, Arcane is not a direct film adaptation, but rather an addition to the main story, expanding the world of the franchise.
By the way, this time Netflix moved away from its usual concept, and the season of the series did not begin to spread in its entirety. Arcane will be shown in blocks, three episodes each. The first one ends with ellipses, and the next chapters will be released on November 14 and 21. But it is already clear that the action in them will center around the adults Wai and Powder.
In any case, even from the first three episodes, it is clear that the authors managed to create an excellent series that can captivate both gamers and ordinary viewers. League of Legends fans will surely learn something new about their favorite heroes and notice references that only they can understand. And the rest will be delighted with the beautiful animation and the well-written emotional story.
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