Arcane has officially ended its second season, but many fans (me included) are still in denial. There were so many memorable moments that fitting them into a list would be astronomically hard.
To commemorate Arcane Season 2’s success and the journey that Studio Fortiche gave us, let’s count down the moments that had us crying in agonizing heartbreak or cheering with uncontrollable excitement.
Most of these were discussed, shared, and made memes by the fandom live on the day of the release of the corresponding Acts. If you’ve been around social media during that time, then you’ve surely seen the fandom talk about it.
Warning: This list contains MASSIVE SPOILERS!
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And Fans Have Already Fallen In Love
The gorgeous Lest is a Vastaya who can be seen treating Councilman Salo by painting Shimmer on his paralyzed legs. We later learn that she was hired by Mel to spy on Ambessa.
While she only had a few appearances, fans were immediately drawn to her mesmerizing design. Falling in love with a minor character who we will never see again, unfortunately, is the plight of anyArcanefan.
14Caitlyn’s Villain Arc
So This Is How Liberty Dies
Caitlyn’s arc represents naïveté and a sheltered upbringing being shattered by the brutal realities of the world. Her ignorance of the plight of Zaunites and the complacency of Piltover shows just how much classism has corrupted her kind, just nature.
Thanks to Ambessa’s careful scheming in stoking Caitlyn’s anger, the hatred she has for Jinx has also been directed towards Zaun by proxy, leading her to become an authoritarian figure by the end of Act 1.
This goes to show that even our most beloved characters can succumb to the ugly emotion that is hatred.
13Ekko Saves The Day
That’s Why He’s The GOAT!!!
It’s the final battle. Viktor has achieved his Glorious Evolution. With almost all our heroes caught in his web, all hope seems lost. But there’s still time because the Boy Savior is here to save the day.
Ekko is always here to come in clutch, and this time is no exception. Combining his deft hoverboard skills, well-timed rewinds, and heroic determination to save the world, Ekko manages to lob unstable time at Viktor, defeating him and saving Piltover from a bleak future.
Being a hero is a thankless job, because Ekko never got the accolades he deserved, nor did he need it.
12Warwick Attacks
Unmatched Savagery
We all knew that Vander was going to come back as Warwick sooner or later, but none of us were prepared for just how terrifying he really was. Throughout Episode 4, we’re treated to countless foreshadows of the impending carnage through Warwick’s eyes.
When we do see him, he tears through metal and Piltovan enforcers like paper, even severely injuring Ambessa.
Warwick looks and feels like a horror movie monster. His movement is impossibly fast for his size, and we get probably one of the bloodiest scenes in this show. The heavy metal riffs in Misha Mansoor’s “The Beast” add to the intensity of this scene.
It’s immediately followed by an emotional moment where Vander snaps out of his bloodlust, recognizing Jinx as Powder before the episode ends.
11Maddie’s Betrayal
Just when we think Piltover stands a chance against Ambessa’s forces, we witness one of the most unexpected betrayals in the show.
As we’re left to wonder who could have committed such an unforgivable act by our masked traitor, fans immediately recognize Maddie’s awful haircut. Join the Maddie hate train!
It’s never explicitly stated why Maddie betrayed Piltover, and there’s no right answer either. Either way, Maddie got what she deserved, as her bullet ricocheted into her head thanks to Mel’s interference.
Nobody mourned Maddie, not especially Caitlyn. Damn, that’s cold.
10Glorious Evolution
Viktor Achieves His Final Form
With Singed’s help in transfusing Vander’s regenerative blood to Viktor’s cocoon, Viktor’s transformation is complete. All those touched by Viktor’s magic rise up in the air and become the porcelain puppets that Jayce saw in his visions.
Accompanied by Twenty One Pilots' “The Line,” this scene invokes such a deep sorrow not only because we’re losing Vander completely, but Viktor loses whatever’s left of his humanity in the form of Sky.
Viktor’s face splitting open to reveal an emotionless mask also reinforces the idea that he’s thrown away everything he ever held dear to chase his obsession of giving the world his idea of salvation.
9Singed’s Identity Revealed
We Hate Him
In Episode 5, Ambessa and Caitlyn recruit Singed to track down Warwick. Like a true detective, Caitlyn does her due diligence by researching Singed’s background and deduces that he is Dr. Reveck, a disgraced chemist once an esteemed scientist at the academy.
Many fans were already speculating this, as the show has hinted through visual cues and dialogue that Singed’s mysterious daughter might be Orianna, a young girl who becomes a machine and a Champion inLeague of Legends.
With this confirmation, fans are vindicated and excited to see what lore might change in the game.
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8Jayce Goes Insane
Hammer Time
The emotional moment of Vi and Jinx reuniting with their transformed father is immediately contrasted by Jayce’s sudden return and killing of Salo in episode 5.
Many fans were left shocked by Jayce’s actions but could tell he was determined to do the same to Viktor.
And kill Viktor, he did. Jayce blew a hole in Viktor, indirectly killing every follower of the Herald. Not only did this ruin Jinx and Vi’s reunion with their dad, it also caused Isha to sacrifice herself to save her new family.
This prompted many raised pitchforks, sparking a widespread, week-long debate among fans about whether Jayce knew something we didn’t.
It was so popular that even the officialLeague of LegendsTikTok account changed its profile picture to join in on the conversation.
7To Ashes And Dust
2v2? More Like 2v2.5
Of all the fight scenes in Season 2, the final fight in episode 3 takes the cake. With Vi and Caitlyn hot on Jinx’s tail, they face off against her and Sevika in the ancient Shuriman ruins that once belonged to Janna’s followers.
The fight was intense, paralleled with Jayce and co’s disappearance into the Arcane disrupting Hextech, forcing our combatants to fight even more creatively.
Accompanied by Woodkid’s “To Ashes and Dust” the Shuriman chants perfectly fit into the dramatic crescendo of Act 1’s story, culminating with Isha intervening at the eleventh hour, showing just how dire things have gotten.
6Viktor Performs A Miracle
Giving People Salvation
Viktor’s entire character arc in Season 2 was nothing short of a religious experience. His robes, resurrection, shepherd’s cane, and his healing of Shimmer junkie Huck at the end of Episode 2 all speak to Biblical imagery and iconography.
The dramatic music and intense visuals add to the transformation, and we also see that Viktor is visibly exhausted from healing Huck.
At that moment, Viktor understands his new role as a savior, and as we see in later episodes, Viktor genuinely believes that he is helping people (when, in reality, he’s turning people into his puppets).
