Arcane, Riot’s hit Netflix show based on the League of Legends canon, is back for its second and final season. But before you dive back into the world of Runeterra, trust these words of advice: Rewatch the original season. It’s been three years to the exact month since season one was released, so you might be more than a little rusty on the current events in Piltover.
Typically, television shows cleverly bookend their seasons to account for the 12-month (or often longer) wait between releases. Some, like House of Dragons, have season arcs with a distinct beginning, middle, and end. Others, like Industry, use real-world events like COVID-19 to contextualize the passing of time.
Arcane takes an entirely different approach. Not only does season two pick up right where the first left off, but it does so with a massive scene that would feel like the apex of most other shows.
When I watched the first episode of season two, I honestly thought it was beginning in media res—all action, intentionally little context. As it turns out, all that context already took place in the previous season. I’d simply, quite innocently, forgotten.
Now, I’ll admit: My memory isn’t always the greatest. I forget things all the time (as my partner and parents are quick to point out). But Arcane season two feels different—it’s the resolution to a massive cliffhanger, and a detailed understanding of season one is fundamental to enjoying the full narrative arc. If you’re at all like me, don’t go in without doing your prep work.
Should I Watch Arcane Season 1 Before Season 2?
Obviously, if you haven’t seen any of Arcane yet, start from the beginning. If you have seen the first, but you watched it in late 2021 like many viewers, I highly recommend you give yourself a refresher.
Thankfully, season one hasn’t gone anywhere. I took a day to rewatch those nine initial episodes and was glad I did. Learning the origins of Vi, Jinx, Ekko, and so many iconic League of Legends characters is part of the fun of Arcane, and rediscovering those stories will set you up for success with season two.
Will There Be a Season 3 of Arcane?
No. As mentioned before, there are two seasons of Arcane to date, and those are the only two seasons we’ll get.
Riot spent a reported $250 million to produce and market both seasons of the show, making it the most expensive animated TV show ever. So, it’s no wonder why Arcane was capped at just two seasons. (Riot had apparently planned for five seasons, but eventually descoped the project.)
As Chinese author Lin Yutang once wrote, however: “Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone.” Plenty of television shows overstay their welcome and leave little, if any, to the imagination (cough, The Walking Dead). To see Arcane end on its terms—albeit for insane budget reasons—is a refreshing thing.
Season one and the first six episodes of season two of Arcane are streaming now on Netflix. The final three episodes are scheduled for release on November 23.
