It was no secret that this show was something special in the making after its 1st season, but after hearing it would conclude with season 2 I was sad yet exhilarated. The creators could've easily dragged this series on but decided to stick with their guns and end it on the terms they set. I wanted Arcane to be around 3-4 seasons long so the announcement of 2 was shocking to me given how much it took the world by storm in 2021. But it gave the creators the freedom to go all out with its final season and hold no punches, and I'm sad to say it was still very rushed and lacked the character drive of season 1.
Season 1 of Arcane shattered boundaries by setting the stage perfectly with only 3 episodes, then proceeding to commit and deliver one of the best 1st seasons in TV history along with the likes of GOT, AOT and True Detective. The final season in comparison felt very lackluster, lacked focus, and above all had poor execution. Some of the writing decisions on paper seemed brilliant, yet seeing them play out was another story. The contrast of care put into characters in season 1 & 2 was night and day. The story surrounding Viktor & Jace, arguably the two most important characters in the series, needed much more time considering the stakes yet their story, like much of this season, feels like it comes and goes.
Despite my complaints one of the best aspects of arcane is its animation. Studio Fortiche brought a whole new level of creativity that can't be boxed into any category. It's a breath of fresh air and adds a unique look into this story. But I'd argued that the writing in season 1 is what made this show a must watch. In hindsight it doesn't hit the same knowing where the story goes, but it still holds weight with its characters that are unique to that season. I'd also add that many aspects of season 2 act 2 were great and it was the highlight of the final season.
While there are some all time great female characters in TV like Kim Wexler & Annalise Keating to name my favorites, it's not often when both leads of a show are female characters and are also written very well. The dynamic of Violet & Powder is one of the best in Arcane and the performances of Hailee Steinfeld & Ella Purnell / Mia Sinclair Jenness only further invoke the emotional appeal of these characters that have so much depth in that regard, despite the execution with these two not seeing its full potential in the end.
If you're recommending a show to anyone, this is still a good one due to the fact that it hooks you with an all time great TV episode just a couple of episodes in, and only has 2 seasons that give you little to no room to breathe. While I'm disappointed with the lack of care in the back half, I understand that others experiences could differ from mine.
