It was one of the big phenomena on Netflix in 2021: the platform unveiled an animated series for adults adapted from the world of video games League of Legends. And against all expectations, what we thought would be a niche release turned into a real global success, exciting the general public well beyond just the circle of players. Produced by Riot Games, the game's publisher, and directed by Fortiche, a French animation studio that has long become an expert in the franchise, season 1 ofArcane even won the first Emmy Award for Best Animated Program, all streaming platforms combined. But while Vi and Jinx will be back for a second and final season starting this Saturday, November 9, the time has come to rewind season 1, very rich in information and twists and turns.
Arcane on Netflix: the story of Vi and Powder, two inseparable orphans who soon become enemies
From the start of season 1, we understand that Vi, aka Violet, and Powder will be the cornerstones of the series. The two sisters are orphans but inseparable. Living in the poverty-stricken slums of Zaun, they are protected by a certain Vander. Vi is still a teenager and Powder is a child. But Vander, a figure of the patriarch and in favor of peaceful discussions with the bourgeois town of Piltover which is on the surface, is in conflict with Silco, ruthless boss of a kind of underworld. And when Silco kidnaps Vander, Vi organizes a rescue mission and asks Powder not to get involved. But Powder does not listen to his sister and, thinking he is doing the right thing, throws one of his famous grenades, forcing Vander to jump from a building, which kills him instantly. Furious, Vi lashes out at Powder and leaves, leaving her alone in the street. She is recovered by Silco who takes her in, raises her and fuels the argument between the sisters. He makes her his daughter. After a time jump, Vi and Powder became two young girls. But Powder no longer exists, she has become Jinx under the harmful influence of Silco. Vi has a hard time admitting it and doesn't want to face the facts: her sister has definitely shifted to becoming the terrorist everyone fears. She continues to do her best to divert the latter from Silco and save her.
Birth of Hextech and corrupted use of magic
In Piltover, scientists attempt to master the magic that surrounds the world of Piltover and Zaun, also called the Arcana. Under the mentorship of Professor Heimerdinger, Jayce and Viktor believe they have discovered a way to harness magic through science. They see it in particular as a way to care for the sick or injured, as is the case with Viktor and his fragile health. Heimerdinger is reluctant to this practice which he finds dangerous, because we do not know how so much concentrated magic could react and corrupt its initial objective. But Jayce, not listening to his mentor, uses Hextech to turn it into a powerful combat technology.
In Piltover, the Council of All Disagreements
Within the Council that governs Piltover, there are opposing points of view. Some are for entering into an armed conflict against Zaun in order to contain them immediately before any rebellion, while others, like Mel, think that a confrontation will only widen the gap felt by the inhabitants of the slums and stir up their resentment. The first want to rely on the technology developed by Jayce to control them. Mel's mother, Ambessa, a powerful general from Noxus, arrives with her army to convince her daughter to enter the war and places her soldiers at the service of the Council.
Vi and Caitlyn's star-crossed romance
At the same time as all these events, Vi becomes “friends” with a soldier from Piltover, Caitlyn Kiramman. She is the daughter of one of Piltover's councilors and a descendant of one of the surface city's most influential families. The two women try to ease the tensions between their two worlds, and over the course of the episodes, see their relationship develop in a more intimate way while everything opposes them. Whether they will ultimately make this romance a reality is one of the big questions of season 2.
The fatal fate of Silco
Throughout the season, Silco intends to attack the surface populations by also arming itself with magic and the technology that can result from it. He then prepares a rebellion to strike at the strongest Piltover and himself ingests a certain quantity of magic. However, Jayce disrupts the relationship between Silco and Jinx when he offers Silco peace in exchange for Jinx. Convinced that Silco will betray her, Jinx kidnaps Silco, Vi and Caitlyn in order to question them. But tensions rise and when Jinx sees Silco pointing his gun at Vi, her instinct tells her to protect her sister and she shoots Silco several times. When she realizes what she has done, she throws herself at his feet. As he dies, the latter admits to him that he would never have delivered him to Piltover.
The final episode of season 1 ofArcane sur Netflix
During a deadly attack on the people of Zaun, Jayce realizes that he has allowed himself to be corrupted by power and did not use Hextech as he should have. He wants to rectify the situation and enter into peace with Zaun. A vote is then organized in the Council: it is supported by Mel and the other councilors. They are all about to vote for peace with Zaun when Jinx, desperate after Silco's death, decides to take revenge and launches a huge missile directly into the Council Chamber. It is with this attack that the season ends.
