I think there were two problems with season 2 of arcane. Not enough time and the pure amount of bullshit fan service they put in to make us happy. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed arcane season 2. But especially after seeing other takes on it I definitely agree that it was not up to season 1’s quality.
Season 1 told a well crafted, well paced story. Everyone acted in character and no one’s was pushed to the side to make the story work. Season 2 on the other hand, oh boy.
Season 2 shoved so many character traits aside for fan service. Vi joining the enforcers, the people that killed her parents and caused the death of her entire fucking family, everyone she cared about except for jinx and ekko (and later Caitlyn and as we find out, vander). And it was clearly done just for the lesbianism. And I enjoyed the lesbianism, but basically all in season 2 was for fan service so I can’t say I liked it in storytelling terms.
Also, jinx’s craziness being tuned down. I don’t dislike the redemption arc, and I suppose the shimmer made her more stable, but they got rid of one of her key fucking character traits. Being batshit for her fucking family. Season 1 jinx tries to shoot Caitlyn multiple times for daring to have any relationship with vi, whom she is currently not in good terms with. But when the enforcers (jinx’s enemies whom she killed multiple times in season 1) take her little fucking sister/daughter she is just so chill about it. Like I understand maybe she’s chiller now because of many things SUCH AS GETTING UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE FROM ISHA, but when they take that source away you think she’s gonna be chill? She started a civil war over her sister getting a girlfriend, I don’t think she’s gonna be “they mocked my pants, how dare they” while her little sister daughter is rotting in a jail cell, scared and alone just like a certain young jinx was.
I can actually forgive Warwick and pit fighter vi, I frankly enjoyed that part of season 2 and I think everyone’s actions were kinda in character. Vi’s’ pit fighter arc, although not well shown, was due to not having anyone anymore, not just the Caitlyn thing. I think Warwick was a creative way of causing something new instead of just letting vi rot in the fighting pits forever. Honestly I really liked the entirety of the second arc, so we’re skipping to the third arc.
Right off the bat we enter aus. I personally like Jayce’s, it’s a good way of showing what would have happened. But Ekko’s, oh boy. A perfect au is very interesting and a good way of causing character strife. But au powder is NOTHING like the real powder. She is solely fucking fan service for timebomb fans (more on timebomb later). As someone who really likes young powder and identifies with her strongly, I am so mad at the way they treated her. Powder (and therefore jinx) has always had schizophrenia. It is genetic, as vi has also had it. And fun fucking fact, genetic mental illnesses don’t vanish because of puberty. In fact I think mine got worse because of it. However au powder is sane as fuck. And also a personality less waitress fan service straight ship character. I don’t hate timebomb, but I hate how it was handled. Especially in this fucking episode. I do agree timebomb has a higher likelihood of being canon in an au, but if you have to butcher my favorite character to make it so then maybe that says something about that ship.
Now, back in the real world. I think this arc was the worst offender, tossing character personalities aside for sex and timebomb. Vi may not know her sister super well anymore, but she isn’t stupid. If my mentally unstable sister whom had just had her sister daughter figure die was talking about breaking the cycle and saying sentimental shit and locking me in a jail cell I would not ignore that to eat my girlfriend out. I don’t dislike Caitvi, in fact I do ship it, but really the entire season 2 disregarded Vi’s character to make it happen.
Now, ekko coming to save jinx. Once again, fan service. Ekko warps into jinx’s hideout with time travel and manages to someone TALK her out of killing herself. Maybe I don’t have much experience with people about to kill themselves but from my experience with those whom are suicidal to some degree you can’t just talk someone out of killing themselves when your last interaction was her blowing you up. It wasn’t like he was the only option either. Have vi be a good sister and talk her out of suicide. Have sevika check on the hideout because maybe she got news of the Isha thing and being like oh shit. There are ways for jinx to not kill herself that don’t disregard character dynamics and put romance on a fucking pedestal.
I actually have nothing bad to say about the finale, so I’ll just conclude my feelings with the art book instead. My issue with it was showing that jinx had feelings for ekko. SHE FORGOT ABOUT HIM FOR AN ENTIRE SEASON. And I’m not villainizing her for that, but genuinely you think about your crush more than that. And that brings up the entire issue with timebomb. It is too rushed. I can see timebomb taking place in the main universe years in the future. Where jinx and ekko have already developed a friendship and come to terms with each others actions. With the right characterization I could accept it and like it. But with how arcane did it I fucking hate it. They through what I watched arcane for out the window for a cliche fucking straight romance. You’d think they spent all that time denying jayvik so we could have that, but no, gotta butcher my favorite character multiple times.
In conclusion, if you want what arcane season tried to do in a better way, read @lazylittledragon’s modern au, it works way better than arcane season 2 and you still get Caitvi, timebomb, and Isha with a side of jayvik and a better sister relationship. I now plan to rewrite season 2 because I could definitely write a better one. And that is an insult to the arcane team.
