The Nail in the Coffin?

I don’t know if any others who are reading this feel the same way, but I absolutely love the feeling of being completely swept away by a particular film or T.V. series that you didn’t either know about before-hand or didn’t have any preconceived notions of whether the film/series would be good enough to simply sit down and watch. What I always find odd when I approach a film or T.V series that I do know about – through trailers and others discussions – or something which I have high expectations for, is the realisation that the very same film/series doesn’t always fulfil it’s purpose from my own perspective; whether it’s to do with how the characters are portrayed or how the narrative feels shunned by displeasing exposition or lack-of. This is completely the opposite when it comes to something that is completely new to myself and how I quickly become enraptured by a specific facet which results in appreciating how the structure of the story is detailed yet easy to follow or how the characters themselves are shown to be pragmatic to the point in which you care for their actions and how they are feeling. A perfect example of this, for me and presumably others, is the film of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse; an animated feature that many didn’t expect it to be a rather ground-breaking film, but was and still is critiqued as an inspiring animation that goes beyond the calls of duty in implementing a stylisation that hallmarks the artistry of the graphic novels of yesteryear and interweaves this with bold story-telling that is utilised very compellingly. Indeed, it Spider-Verse today remains to be one of many people’s favourite animated films, and even Spider-Man related features, and that was partially down to how surprising it was to behold. Much of the same accolades can be seen within Fortiche’s and Riot Games’ Arcane: League of Legends, a Netflix series that makes for an arresting impression at first glance, but gradually blooms into a spectacular yet bewitching 2-D and 3-D animation filled with an emotionally charged story which inherently that gives this idea that video-games can’t be masterfully adapted, its comeuppance…

Set in utopian Piltover and the much oppressed steam-punk underground of Zaun, Arcane: League of Legends follows the delicate balance between the aforesaid city-states and their discontented feelings they both share with the constraints of a devastated society. Tensions between these city-states boil over with the creation of not only hextech, a way for any person to control magical energy in Piltover, but also a new drug – named shimmer – which transforms humans into monsters within the seedy underbelly of Zaun. This ceaseless rivalry between the two aforementioned states evidently splits families and friends with the situation on the verge of being unsustainable. Amongst the astriction, two sisters – Vi and Powder – steal an artefact of immeasurable power. With love and tragedy on the precipice, discovery and danger collide as heroes are born and long-lasting bonds are broken. Will this new found power change the world? Or will it lead to more ruin? This is the world of Arcane…

Understandably, while there will be audiences who come across Arcane not knowing a single thing about what League of Legends is, it’s important to address from the get-go that it doesn’t actually matter if you’re someone who avidly plays the well-known video game or if you’re someone, like myself, who’s heard of the game here-and-there. Rather inquisitively, what Arcane does so impressively is how it seamlessly slots you into a world which has existed far before the series starts and will continue to exist far far after the story is finished being told. You very much get this sense of idea from the first few opening shots of the series; particularly when the camera gazes past the sisters of Vi and Powder and pans to an extreme wide-shot of opulent Piltover. There’s never a singular moment, from the scene I just briefly mentioned to the very end, where the series begrudgingly plot-dumps lore and story-detail that doesn’t impact the crux of the narrative or character decisions. It’s very much a series that drops you into its world where the narrative gears are slowly turning and how this locale essentially becomes a character in itself by the very end; varying environments that play pivotal parts to integral moments of the story. It’s almost as if you can feel the fresh sunlight brushing against innumerable rooftops and streets of Piltover and even smell the stench of fresh rubbish walking down the alleys of the undercity. Each sides have their own rules, their own culture, their own inhabitants. Arcane makes it very clear that the world it presents, is a rich one that the story isn’t just told in, it’s lived in; it’s tangible just like the characters we see and the expressions and actions that they perform. These aren’t places that are just built to service the characters we’re about to follow, these characters stories are the results of this world’s foundations. It’s from these very foundations where we’re introduced to diverse story-lines – whether it’s a sister duo fighting survive in the rough life that is presented in Zaun or an ambitious scientist bent on making the world a better place at any cost. What’s important to take away from this perspective, of the world impacting the choices of multifaceted characters/story-lines rather than the other way around, is how Arcane doesn’t necessarily hook you from the very beginning, it completely immerses you as the events take place from episode to episode. In a similar vein to how Game of Thrones presented its characters within a world that moulded their singular choices and ultimately collided with other characters’ interests, Arcane sets a similar structural precedent where you have these different characters doing their own thing in the world which then, rather seamlessly, converge and crash into one another to create a moment that’s subsequently impactful to all those involved. As much as those reading could take away that Arcane doesn’t do anything revolutionary with its story or structure, it simply doesn’t need to do anything new to “wow” its audience. Arcane‘s story structure is utilised very effectively thanks to the way in which the series balances the overarching plot into three segments – with the first three episodes (Act 1) depicting the early lives of our champions, then towards Act 2 where we perceive each of the characters’ changes and their intentions, which then leads to the final Act where these character intentions play a pivotal part into how the series ends and where each character places themselves amongst an ever changing world.

Indeed, what’s clear to perceive straight away in watching Arcane is how it doesn’t limit the overall experience just towards those who are familiar with the characters from the acclaimed League of Legends video game. Since the series is a prequel to who and what the characters of the show ultimately become from the aforementioned video game, it makes for a nice viewing for those who are completely unaware of the characters and the world of this touted franchise. However, Arcane just doesn’t present your typical and formulaic prequel that loses its purpose in focusing on different and nonsensical plot-points (I’m looking at you X-Men Origins: Wolverine), it can be seen as an established tragedy that, again, immerses you as you the episodes and see how the characters change as part of this tragedy and due to an ever changing world that they’re a part of. Unlike a lot of origin stories that are overly concerned with setting up needless caveats and overall plot points, Arcane understands that it needs you to care first and foremost about the characters. By no means is this Solo: A Star Wars Story where everyone begins and ends the story exactly the same but with their iconic swag, no. Within Arcane, every character is different by the end of the story and it ultimately feels natural. Upon reflection of the series itself, as I’m writing this, we’re not just presented with your typical prequel story that is try to force a character into becoming their technically canonical selves when there isn’t enough evidence to support a change like this. I mean, this is by no means the Star Wars prequels where you feel as though the character of Anakin and his change to the dark-side felt awkwardly abrupt without any evidence, in prior events, to support this sudden and drastic change and how the character itself felt more of a prop than a person with his own internal logic or motivation; Inevitably, he was served for the needs of the plot and not the other way around. Instead, digressing from that little rant there, what’s pleasing to see with Arcane’s characters is how not one of them feel as though they’re doing a certain action just because the plot needs them to. The motivations of each of the characters that we see are fundamentally clear as crystal and significantly perpetuate the tragedy that unfolds before our very eyes. Whether it’s one of the main characters, such as Powder, who undergoes a harrowing journey and regrettable transformation that is organic based on her ties with sister and wanting to feel loved and contributed or a side-figure like Marcus who undertakes an alteration in first becoming an arrogant glory-hound and later a sleazy chief-of-police who secretly works for the slimy underground kingpin of Silco, non of the cast of characters feel as though they’re a trope or gimmick to serve the story. Every character that we see on-screen feel tangible; sucking you deeper and deeper into the story as you wish for the best outcome for everyone, only then to watch it crumble to the point where you empathise for what a particular character has become. They inherently manifest a story where you want them to succeed (based on their singular personalities and qualities) and its compelling when much of this wishful thinking from our points of view shatter into pieces. Even if it’s a character that you don’t like, you wholly understand why they do the things that they inevitably do. In terms of criticisms, my only concern in relation to Arcane’s narrative and story-pacing would be its ending (which I won’t spoil in case anyone wants to go into this show blind like I did). The conclusion overall felt rather abrupt to the point where, I felt certainly, that the development of certain characters could have been established more and how everything leading to the final sequence was rather rushed. It could sound that I am a bit bitter, since I did want more episodes once the final credits were rolling. Despite this misgiving however, it’s hard to not to overlook want a tremendous job Riot Games and French Animation Studio Fortiche do in establishing a story and world that, although is of course fantasy, strives to propose characters in a world that seems visceral and almost touchable. If anything, for those still dubious on whether to get themselves invested on a promising show, is to simply view the first three episodes (Act 1) since it forms the crux for what lies ahead and truly packs an emotional punch that you didn’t expect coming.

What’s interesting to ponder over when video-games get adapted are the characters themselves and how, in having a large cast of characters to select from like League of Legends have in their disposal, it must be harder to focus on the personalities that mattered and establish interesting characters that audiences could actually care about and even relate to on a personal level. With great majesty, Arcane turns this preposition into a strength where they initially gather there varied and larger-than-life figures and condense them into rather nuanced and palpable persona’s that greatly impact the viewing experience. One such character that Riot Games and studio Fortiche have greatly condensed, to the point where she becomes and integral part of the story and a character that I certainly cared for at least, was that of Powder – who later changes into the known League persona, Jinx. While Jinx in the games can be perceived as a rather discount version of Harley Quinn, in the series she is deconstructed and is shown to be an innocent girl who just wanted to be loved. Someone who simply wanted to help, when she couldn’t. Someone who wanted to be accepted, but couldn’t help but cursing everything she touches and inevitably having to face the reality of everyone who she loved, eventually dying or abandoning her. The more she tried, the more she jinx’s her own life and everyone around her, and the further she slips away from the edge of sanity, eventually the young, innocent girl who just wanted to be loved is no more. In a lot of ways, and rather coincidental after researching the inspiration of Jinx after watcher the whole series, was how the aforesaid character reminded me of a lot of Gollum from Lord of the Rings and how both of these characters share this innate sense of great vicissitude; a change of circumstance that was once full of virtue and good-will, but has turned unpleasant; for themselves and others. The series does a fantastic job of making you care for a character that, naturally, turns into a schizophernic where we hope and wish that she finds a way to make amends by the end (something which I touched upon earlier). Jinx is just one of the Champions we find out the backstory of and see how they grow-up in a world that’s ever changing. Whereas we have a young scientist who wants to use his new found creation to help make the world a better place, we also have underground kingpin’s who want their just-desserts, a father trying to do what is best for his family and followers and so much more.

When it comes to reviewers and film critics alike putting their views across towards an animated feature or series that upholds a likeable animation style, there’s always a guarantee that these critics will likely murmur how the animation style is ‘unique’; a phrase/word which I think gets banded around too often in relation to animation. This is something that I’m also guilty of as well, where I think sometimes I’m using too many superlatives towards an animation project that doesn’t necessarily uphold what I’m saying. Despite my own reviewing misgivings however, I feel as though saying that Arcane does have a “unique” or “distinctive” stylisation is indeed warranted this time around. To put it simply and more effectively, the animation style presented within this series is rather inspiring and is something that I haven’t ever seen done before by anything else; certainly not to this degree anyway. The reason as to why I think the animation is so effective is due to its implementation of combining 3-D constructions and environments with larger-than-life 2-D character models that immediately pop within the frame; similar to what you may see in a graphic novel. As much as I have dismissed 3-D modelling within Japanese anime, it certainly works here as there is a fluidity to the motion in which the environment or characters move. There’s never a moment where you’re begrudgingly watching a sequence that is stuttering due to the 3-D models. The visuals themselves rather pay homage to what you would see in the concept art of a project and how the painted hue’s are brought to life through motion. Like the blend of 2-D and 3-D, Fortiche does an excellent job of also managing to blend realism with the eccentricity of the fantastical construction that we have in our disposal. Whereas we have nuanced and defined facial expressions from characters that deceptively makes you think that Fortiche implemented motion-capture in some way, the said studio also creates a playful aesthetic where these aforementioned expressions and actions can be accentuated to highlight the certain action that we’re seeing. This is further brought to life with the inclusion of the appropriately placed soundtrack that wonderfully elevates specific sequences. While the music choices won’t be to everyone’s liking, it can’t be denied that each song makes it mark on the sequence that they’re placed in. With all that’s said about the animation, where I could waffle on-and-on, I truly think that what Fortiche have executed with the animation in Arcane is equally as significant as what was achieved in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Both projects share a stylisation that is immersive to the seen eye and can’t be replicated by anything or anyone. Based on its animation style alone, Arcane is a special watch. A scene that best represents this special feeling is in the video below – where the character of Ekko faces Jinx. This scene solidifies so much about Ekko without ANY words. Right after seeing her again he decides to play the game they use to play when they were younger, but only after he actually beats her and looks down at her does he realize that he can’t turn back the clock no matter how much he wants to. I’m sure, despite what he said, he genuinely hoped that Powder was still in there somewhere and that was only strengthed by Vi’s insistence that she could get Powder back. I wonder if Ekko has EVER beaten Jinx in that game before, if not then the moment he did, it solidified that time really has moved passed the good old days that could never be brought back…

Along with a plethora of other shows and films that I have seen throughout this year, Arcane is certainly on top of the tree when it comes to best T.V. series that I’ve seen all year round. Like I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I always enjoy those moments when you suddenly watch a show out-of-the-blue which then later you’re hooked by for whatever reason. As much as Arcane did this for me recently, it’s more than just a good series to watch. There’s a great many things to admire about the said show, whether it’s to do with the quirky yet discernible characters that you learn to like and empathise for or an animation style that always supersizes your expectations. It goes without saying that I’m eager to know more about the story in the proposed next season and what other character we may get to know. For sure, it certainly has the ingredients to become a show that a great many more will adhere to. In fact, it reminds me so much of Game of Thrones in terms of possessing a structure and characterisation that is balanced, complex and easy to follow. My only hope for this shows future would be give it legs; to give it a fully-fleshed out story that it truly deserves but a narrative, non-the-less, that strikes a balance with the characters motivations (unlike what Game of Thrones sadly threw away right at the end). If anything, to finally say, do at least watch the first 3 episodes and see what you think…

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ – Alex Rabbitte