With the new release of the final act of the second season, Arcane has finally come to a close. And boy, what a crazy finale, huh? This story had me on the edge of my seat, and as a formerLeague of Legendsplayer, I love how Fortiche put so much effort into crafting an original story based on the game’s rich lore.
This show is a veritable masterpiece. It has a beautiful art style, every frame of which is screenshot-worthy, perfectly written characters with complex and realistic personalities, and a soundtrack full of bangers.
Not only that,each scene is rife with Easter eggsthat could trigger a “Pointing Rick Dalton” moment for any lore junkie or League player, from tiny references to huge story implications. But no doubt Arcane-only fans have been left scratching their heads while League fans gasp at every reference.
Not to worry: this list might help you understand the details that might have left you scratching your head.
Any reference to Episode or Act is specific to Season 2 unless specified.
Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
Arcane: All Fight Scenes, Ranked
Arcane features a total of nine fantastic fight sequences, and here’s how they rank against each other in terms of the impact they had on fans!
12Jarvan IV
For Demacia!
Let’s start with a simple one: Arcane excels in background storytelling that enhances the world’s realism, showing the world’s entertainment to make Piltover more lived in. Even Piltover has its own dramas and plays!
In episode 1, we see the banners promoting a play about Jarvan IV, heir apparent to the Demacian throne. In episode 3, we can also see the set of that play, along with a prop crown that is undoubtedly Jarvan’s.
Demacia is a kingdom at constant odds with Noxus, situated at the western-most corner of Runeterra. In the current lore, Demacia is in an awkward political state because its noble houses have not approved Jarvan IV as the new king of Demacia after his father’s untimely death.
With that being said, it’s safe to say that the play is a dramatic retelling of Jarvan’s father’s rise to power.
11Isha’s Goggles And Hat
Two Yordles Might Be Referenced
I won’t tarnish Isha’s memory by sayingshe is actually the Yordle Teemo in disguise, but I will say that her visual design is reminiscent of the Bandle City scout as they share similar bucket hats, earthy color scheme, and goggles.
What are Yordles? They are a race of whimsical mammalian spirits who reside in Bandle City, a mystical realm where spacetime is merely a suggestion. Our beloved Heimerdinger (RIP) is actually one of them, which is why he has been around since the inception of Piltover more than 200 years ago.
Some grieving fan theorists are also still coping with Isha’s loss bysaying she was actually Ziggs. It’s a huge stretch, but in their defense, the mad bomber Ziggs is canonically best friends with Jinx in the"Paint the Town" comic, causing mayhem in Piltover and Zaun alike.
This is most likely a coincidence, but considering the millions of dollars poured into the show, nothing Fortiche does is an accident. That brave little girldeserves a special place in all our hearts.
10Jungle Reference
GG Jungle Diff
Arcaneis set in Runeterra, whereLeague of Legendstakes place. Fortiche has made several references to the in-game jungle to make the world feel more lived-in and immersive.
For those unfamiliar withLeagueterms, matches are mainly played in the Summoner’s Rift. The jungle is where players can roam and focus on killing monsters instead of battling enemy players in lanes, allowing them to act as floaters to assist teammates or gank enemies.
The first season also had a jungle reference, featuring beetle-like rock creatures named Krugs.
During the climactic fight in Episode 3, Caitlyn shoots Jinx’s pistol, piercing a hole and breaking it. In Act 2, you might notice that Jinx has since repaired that pistol and has, in fact, given it a much-needed upgrade, turning it into her in-game weapon, Zapper.
InLeague, Runes are enhancements that provide various benefits to a champion, and the Precision Rune is one of them, which is intended for champions whose main avenue of damage is through continuous auto-attacks, colloquially called ADCs (attack damage carry).
As befitting of her ADC role, Jinx has a Precision Rune carved into the side of her gun, shown in Episode 4 when she fights Warwick for the first time. It’s pretty cool to see in-game symbols incorporated into the show.
In case you’re wondering, Jayce’s Acceleration wild rune that kickstarted the plot seems to be original to the show. I’ve combed everywhere and could only find it inArcane.
8In-Game Items
As acompetitive game,League of Legendsoffers players useful items to purchase during the match to enhance their in-game performance. In the first act, two (arguably three)Leagueitems are featured and used in the universe.
The first item featured is the Turbo Chemtank in Episode 1. It’s an item that prioritizes chasing enemies down for tankier champions. This item was also referenced in episode 8 of season 1, when Jayce and Vi fought a bunch of Chemtank guards.
Next is the Chempunk Chainsword, wielded by Chem Baron Renni during the attack on the memorial in the latter half of Episode 1. While it isn’t the same design as shown in-game, it does bear a striking resemblance to the item. In-game, this item is best suited for bruiser champions.
Lastly, we have the Kaenic Rookern, which was a surprise for manyLeaguefans. It’s an item that provides magic resistance, evident in Rictus and Ambessa’s use of the item to absorb magical damage throughout the show.
6Zaun’s History And Janna
The Zaunite Spirit Goddess Of… Fresh Air?
Janna’s been referenced multiple times throughout Season 2 as aZaunite patron deity of wind and fresh air.
Information about Janna mostly comes from folktales and legends, but since the show closely sticks toLeague of Legendslore, we know that Zaun was also once part of the ancient Shuriman Empire.
Also known as “Jan’ahrem,” or “Guardian” in the Shuriman language, Janna is a wind spirit who was once a guardian deity of seafarers, and protected a Shuriman port city later named Zaun.
In the climactic fight between Jinx and Vi, you’ll hear a Shuriman chant as a prayer to the goddess inthe soundtrack “To Ashes and Blood” by Woodkid.
As time passed and Zaun became what it is now, people started praying to Janna again, and she became a Zaunite symbol of fresh air amidst the pollution in the undercity.
10 Best Shows Like Arcane
From Death Parade to Kiss Me First, these shows have a lot in common with Arcane. Fans of the League of Legends Netflix show should watch them.
5Jinx’s Theme And League Outfit
Come On, Shoot It Faster!
Jinx wasn’t always the deeply complex character we’ve now come to appreciate. BeforeArcane, she was just a criminal maniac who was a constant thorn in Vi and Caitlyn’s side. Now, her character is carefully portrayed in such a nuanced way that it makes the old Jinx a caricature in comparison.
Jinx was first released inLeaguein 2013with her own theme song"Get Jinxed," and that song has been featured twice throughout the show.
The first time was in Season 1, where she’s blasting the song in her hideout and can’t hear Silco yelling at her. The second time is in Episode 2 of Season 2, where Sevika cranks the slot mechanic on her new arm, and the song blares during her fight against Smeech.
The Loose Cannon’s oldLeagueoutfit was also an Easter egg in Arcane, appearing in Episode 4 when Jinx and Sevika break the Zaunites out of Stillwater Prison. One of the Jinxers wears Jinx’s old outfit, complete with a pink and black bikini top and short shorts.
4Black Rose
Noxus’s Illuminati
In Episode 3, Ambessa is attacked by an agent of the Black Rose, and since then,Leaguefans have been jumping for joy, knowing that the show has acknowledged the secret cabal.
But who is the Black Rose? They are a secret society composed of the Noxian aristocracy, founded and led by the ancient sorceress LeBlanc after she made a pact with Vladimir to seal away the brutal Mordekaiser. That pact led to the formation of Noxus, and the cabal now controls it in the shadows.
Whatever Ambessa did, it drew the Black Rose’s attention.LeBlanc and her cabal’s involvement in Arcaneall but confirms that a futureLeague of Legendsanimated series would be set in Noxus.
In case you’re not convinced the sorceress is LeBlanc herself, she has the same eye markings, and her magic revolves around illusions and chains. LeBlanc is also known to have inscrutable goals that seem to serve a greater, unseen purpose.
A Highly Anticipated Revelation
In the game, Orianna was a curious and empathetic girl who fell to illness. Her father, an artificer named Corin Reveck, desperately tried to save her by replacing her body “Ship of Theseus”-style until all that remained was a clockwork machine.
While there were manylore deviations inArcane, many fans theorized that Singed is Orianna’s father. He was a disgraced scientist obsessed with “curing” death, and keeps a key in his locket that leads to Orianna’s chamber, complete with a music box that is iconic to Orianna.
That is until we got confirmation in Episode 5, where we finally hear Caitlyn name-drop Singed as Dr. Reveck, the very same father who turned his daughter into a living machine. We even get to see Orianna in the finale, who supposedly evolved thanks to Viktor’s Glorious Evolution.
