Back in 2021, Arcane pulled off what for so long seemed impossible: It's a video game tie-in show that most people thought was pretty good—good enough to pick up four awards at the 2022 Emmies. And while it's nice knowing Arcane is now officially League canon, even those of us without any preexisting League of Legends attachments are eager for Arcane season 2.
We've been waiting patiently to see how Arcane will pick up from where the first season ended for Vi, Jinx, and Piltover's fragile relationship with the undercity Zaun. And finally, with Netflix's announcement of the season 2 release window, that patience is starting to pay off.
With Arcane's second season just on the horizon, the flow of official details and fan theories grows more frantic by the day. Here's everything we know about Arcane Season 2.
When can we watch Arcane season 2?
Arcane season 2 begins streaming on November 9. Like its first season, the League of Legends series launches in three acts, so don't count on binge-watching the whole thing on Netflix day one.
There's no official confirmation on how long Arcane season 2 will be, but we're expecting the usual three episodes per act structure used in season one, leaving us with nine episodes total. Regardless, Riot and Netflix have confirmed all three dates for Arcane season 2:
- Act 1: November 9
- Act 2: November 16
- Act 3: November 23
Is Arcane getting a season 3?
There will not be an Arcane season 3, so the end of season 2 will be its finale. The three-act finale is set to be Arcane's last, with co-creator Christian Linke confirming this is the end of Riot's debut series, though it's "the first of many stories" planned for Runeterra.
What is Arcane about?
Arcane centers on the origin story of two of League of Legends' most iconic characters: Jinx and her sister Vi. It begins with the sisters' childhood growing up on the streets of Piltover and Zaun, a pair of cities that represent a kind of technological utopia and dystopia. The show eventually broadens its lens to tackle the class disparity between the two cities and the morality of building advanced technology that can be used for war through other LoL characters like Jace and Heimerdinger.
Also, it's about some incredible action scenes, with 3D animation that looks unlike any other show or film I've ever seen.
As anyone who has played League of Legends probably knows, Jinx and Vi aren't exactly best friends. In the game, Jinx is an infamous terrorist with a passion for very big explosions, while Vi is a sheriff hellbent on preserving law and order. Arcane explores the dynamics of their relationship and how they split apart.
But one of the most impressive things about the show is how well it weaves in new characters that aren't in the games. You definitely don't need to be a League player to follow (or enjoy) its story.
Which characters might show up in Arcane season 2?
We're long past days of strict speculation and guessing, Arcane trailers leading into season 2 confirm a number of returning characters from the League of Legends roster. There's the obvious inclusion of Vi, Jinx, and Caitlyn. Then Ekko, Heimerdinger, and Singed appear to be returning in season 2.
Don't blink, or you'll miss it, but Warwick also goes tearing after some unfortunate soul in the extended Arcane season 2 trailer. Riot's latest Come Play teaser dropped him in again with an ever-so-appropriate Awoo! moment, surrounded by what I can only assume is a reference to his League of Legends ultimate. The red aura is enough to spark any Jungle main's excitement.
A season 1 clip of Jayce is in that same trailer, so it's probably safe to assume he'll return alongside Viktor and Mel. Ambessa makes an appearance, too. She's the first Arcane character to go from the animated series into the League of Legends rift, making her a shoo-in for a little more time showing off. I'm also putting on my tinfoil hat and saddling myself to the fan theory that the shadowy visage with glowing eyes is Leblanc.
There are plenty of other LoL characters tied to Piltover and Zaun who could show up in the second season, including Ezreal, Camille, Urgot, Janna, and—the one I'm really hoping for—Dr. Mundo.
Will 'Enemy' still be the intro song for season 2?
Enemy is not the season 2 intro song for Arcane season 2. Oh, the misery.
I Can't Hear It Now by Freya Ridings is the new Arcane season 2 opening song. While you can listen to Ridings' new League of Legends song much earlier, the official soundtrack for Arcane's second season hits Spotify on November 23. The new tracklist includes other artists like Woodkid, Mike Shinoda, and Twenty One Pilots.
As if it needed any more visibility, Enemy by Imagine Dragons and JID is also on the soundtrack. It may not be Arcane's opening theme now, but Enemy sure was a popular one with 409 million views on YouTube, and, more impressively, 1.6 billion plays on Spotify.
Netflix produced a five-episode documentary about Arcane's first season
While we're waiting for more info about the second season, there's still some Arcane content hitting this summer if you need something to stream. In August 2022, Riot's YouTube channel began releasing Arcane: Bridging the Rift, a Netflix-produced behind-the-scenes series documenting the first season's production.
The first episode of Bridging the Rift revealed some the history of Arcane's pre-production—how the initial concept for a Vi and Jinx series emerged. The miniseries will last for five episodes, releasing on a weekly cadence. Expect some looks into the full spectrum of creative disciplines that have a hand in creating a show like Arcane.
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