EntertainmentTVAnimation ShowsArcaneArcane season 2: What actually IS ‘the Arcane’ in Netflix’s animated series?When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentTVAnimation ShowsArcaneArcane season 2: What actually IS ‘the Arcane’ in Netflix’s animated series?When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Netflix)
Warning! This article contains major spoilers for Arcane season 2 – Act 1.
After a patience-testing three-year wait, Arcane season 2 has finally premiered on Netflix. Picking up exactly where its predecessor left off, the new instalment opens with Piltover’s remaining council members clashing on how best to deal with the Zaun rebels, as Caitlyn and Vi vow to take down Jinx once and for all.
What is the arcane in Arcane?
(Image credit: Netflix)
So far, not much has been furtherexplainedin season 2, but we do know that ‘Arcane’ is a powerful magic. Its power is often channeled through runes, which is a neat take on how League of Legends can apply power-ups/enhancements – called runes in-game – to their champions before a match.
In Act 1, Jayce talks of ‘wild runes’ to Ekko, describing them as the Arcane’s fingerprints; more raw and natural than the ones he uses in Hextech. As they investigate the strange markings on Ekko’s diminishing undercity tree, Heimerdinger hypothesizes whether the pattern has suddenly appeared on its bark due to Jayce and others' overuse of Hextech.
“I’ve seen miracles spring from the hands of mages many times, but so often they turned to horrors,” he begins. “I’d always presumed it was due to mankind’s turbulent relationship with power. But perhaps it is a property of the Arcane itself.” Interesting…
Ambessa and Amara’s altercation
(Image credit: Netflix)
Those who harness and wield arcane magic are, appropriately, called mages; think The Force and Star Wars' Jedi. Ambessa Medarda encounters one, Amara (who briefly appeared in season 1), in episode 3. The pair seem to share a clandestine meeting in ‘Finally Got the Name Right’, in which Amara admits she’s paying Ambessa a visit to “settle a debt”.
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“My bookkeeper is down the hall,” Ambessa replies with an eyeroll, to which Amara ominously replies: “What you’ve stolen is more precious than any gold.” With that, she looks to conjure a red smoke beast to apprehend Ambessa’s bodyguard as she threatens Medarda with a blade and thorny flowers growing mystically from her palms. “Did you truly believe Piltover was beyond our reach?”
“My son is dead. Is that not enough to sate your bloodlust?” Ambessa shouts defiantly, as Amara teleports behind her and pulls her head back, exposing her throat. “We know what you’re chasing in Piltover. We will not allow it,” she whispers.
“Allow?! Thank you, your visit only confirms my suspicions. Try to stop me, insolentwitch,” Ambessa growls, as her guard uses his rune-assisted weapon to distract Amara while she plunges her sword into her. “You have no inkling what family means to me,” Ambessa adds, when Amara suggests she “should’ve given up the feud”.
Medarda then tells her guard to “triple” their security, insisting that Amara’s murder will have seriously scary consequences.
In the games, many members of the Black Rose are shapeshifters, so the sorceress who attacked Ambessa was probably using Amara’s likeness to gain access to her.
So, what is the Black Rose?
(Image credit: Netflix)
In LoL, the Black Rose is a secret organization stationed in Noxus, which is where Ambessa was from before she came to Piltover in the show.
Comparable to the Bene Gesserit in Frank Herbert’s Dune, they operate predominantly in the shadows, steering the empire’s politics and guiding its throne in whichever way they see fit – which tends to be in favor of those who can wield the magic hidden within the Immortal Bastion, the old fortification in which Noxus’s capital city is built on. They are believed to have a deep network of spies working across Runeterra.
What’s going on with Viktor in Arcane season 2 – Act 1?
(Image credit: Netflix)
Considering we’re just three episodes in, and the Latin origins of the word ‘arcane’ mean ‘secret, closed’, there’s bound to be more revealed about the Arcane. We can hardly wait…
The first three episodes of Arcane season 2 are streaming now. Ensure you never miss one with ourArcane season 2 release schedule. For more, check out our guide to thebest Netflix showsfor some viewing inspiration.
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League of Legends co-creator responds to report that Arcane was a “financial miss,” says “people think we make things like Arcane to sell skins, when in reality we sell skins to make things like Arcane"Arcane writer shares where she wants to go with a new story in the League of Legends universe
League of Legends co-creator responds to report that Arcane was a “financial miss,” says “people think we make things like Arcane to sell skins, when in reality we sell skins to make things like Arcane”
League of Legends co-creator responds to report that Arcane was a “financial miss,” says “people think we make things like Arcane to sell skins, when in reality we sell skins to make things like Arcane”
Arcane writer shares where she wants to go with a new story in the League of Legends universe
Arcane writer shares where she wants to go with a new story in the League of Legends universe
LatestPlanescape: Torment was a revolutionary RPG, but many of its devs had no experience with the D&D campaign it was based on: “What the f*ck is that?“See more latest►
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Planescape: Torment was a revolutionary RPG, but many of its devs had no experience with the D&D campaign it was based on: “What the f*ck is that?”
Planescape: Torment was a revolutionary RPG, but many of its devs had no experience with the D&D campaign it was based on: “What the f*ck is that?”
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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1
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2
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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”