There are many reasons to like Arcanethe Netflix animated series set in the world of League of Legends: the stunning animation, the creative use of original music, the captivating relationships. But one of the most impressive things about the show to me is how cautious it is about including references and Easter eggs to the source material.
Unlike many other IP-driven shows Arcane isn’t just a non-stop barrage of “Hey, I know that!” moments. This helps keep the show’s emotional moments from feeling cheap, and it also makes the show’s watchable moments does Including a reference to the world of Runeterra stands out more. (Especially now that… Arcane is too league Canon and there are many in-game connections.)
Here are the best moments we’ve seen in Season 2 so far. What have we missed? Drop the ones you saw in the comments.
[Ed. note: This post understandably contains spoilers for Acts 1 and 2 of Arcane season 2 (or through the first six episodes). Proceed accordingly.]
Act 2 (Season 2, Episodes 4–6):
Riot Games
The design of Warwick in Arcane is a very cool departure from his more “classic werewolf” portrayal in the game, but there are still plenty of references to his league Appearance (like the chambers on his body that pump the green slime into his body).
For my money, the coolest Easter egg of the season is also one of the coolest visual effects: the adaptation of Warwick’s W ability, Blood Hunt. In leagueWarwick can detect that enemies are low on health and moves towards them faster, which is evident in the game by a trail of blood from Warwick to the enemy. Arcane cleverly brings this to life in the fourth episode of a sequence from Warwick’s point of view, with a trail of blood in the air as he races through the city towards the captured Singed.
Jinx calls Viktor by his in-game title
Image: Riot Games
Every league Champion has both a title and a name: Jinx is the Loose Cannon, Ekko is the Boy Who Shattered Time, Jayce is the Defender of Tomorrow – you get the idea. Viktor’s title is the Machine Herald, the Arcane nods when Jinx calls him “Machine Herald” outside his compound in Act 2.
If you lock Viktor up league Lobby, he says, “Join the glorious evolution.” When Viktor said that line in the second act, you knew I was pointing at the screen like Leonardo DiCaprio Once upon a time in Hollywood
Act 1 (Season 2, Episodes 1–3):
Heimerdinger’s code phrase
Image: Fortiche, Riot Games/Netflix
In Episode 2, when Heimderinger breaks into his old lab (now Jayce’s) with Ekko, he uses a code phrase that Ekko doesn’t understand: “The Brambleback has left the jungle.” In League of Legendsthe Brambleback, colloquially known as the “Red Buff” because you kill him, is a neutral monster in the jungle that is generally a high priority for junglers to kill. A blackberryback leaving the jungle? This is a rare sight.
Image: Riot Games
Also in Episode 2, just before Vi, Caitlyn and the rest of Piltover’s enforcers attack Jinx’s hideout, Jinx cleans up the place. The camera briefly lingers on a piece of art on the wall that shows Teemo surrounded by a bunch of mushrooms with flashing lights.
Teemo is one of leagueis one of the game’s most recognizable champions – he’s one of the game’s most recognizable mascots, but also one of the most hated champions by players because he’s so damn annoying.
Image: Riot Games via Surrender@20
While Caitlyn and Vi hunt Jinx underground, they encounter a statue of Janna, an elemental wind spirit who is another champion League of Legends. Jinx taunts Vi with childhood stories her father figure Vander told them about Janna rescuing miners trapped underground as air ran out: “Wild, the crap people do when you suffocate them.”
At the beginning of Episode 3, Ambessa receives a visit from Amara, an influential member of the Piltover Merchants’ Guild. Amara uses mysterious magical powers to keep Ambessa and her muscular rictus silent during an attempted assassination. Rictus manages to break free and Ambessa kills Amara, while a black rose disintegrates in the merchant’s hand and Ambessa warns Rictus that this means trouble. Which seems fitting considering Mel is swallowed by the Black Rose’s magic at the end of Episode 3.
In League of Legends According to lore, the Black Rose is a secret Illuminati-style organization that operates out of Noxus, where Ambessa is from. There are a few champions associated with the Black Rose: the sorceress LeBlanc (whose voiceover says, “The Black Rose shall bloom once more” when locked away to play league), the vampire Vladimir, the spider woman Elise and the snake woman Cassiopeia.
