Arcane has wrapped its second and final season on Netflix, bringing a close to the saga of Zaun, Piltover, and the various characters (both from League and not!) within. The show has been a big success for Netflix, both critically and in popularity, and has drawn interest even from people who have never and will never touch League of Legends. But how about those of us afflicted with playing League on the regular?
We gathered a few of Polygon’s League players, each of whom has a different relationship with League lore, to discuss how the show handled adapting the game’s universe, our favorite moments and characters, and more. Whether you play League or not, we’d love to know what you think as well in the comments.
What do you think of Arcane’s overall depiction of the League universe?
Pete Volk: I’m stunned at how good the show is compared to what it had to work with. I love League, but never in a million years could I have imagined a show this good, the kind that I could watch with my partner who doesn’t play League and we’d both love it. And it’s the best-looking show on TV.
I also have to say again how much I admire Riot and Fortiche’s restraint. We’re in an era of IP-driven media where it seems like the point of a lot of projects is to stuff in as many recognizable Easter eggs as possible, hoping that audiences’ fond memories of other projects will transfer over to this one. Instead, Arcane had a light touch when it came to its references from the world of League of Legends, using the game as a foundation to tell the story they wanted to tell. That doesn’t mean it feels divorced from the world of League: Rather, Arcane has strengthened the existing world-building and made me, a person who never much cared about the lore element of the game, much more invested in the world, its factions, and its characters.
Cass Marshall: Arcane did a great job of depicting Piltover and Zaun, but I was especially impressed by how they occasionally wove in other champions and references to the greater setting. The depictions of Janna and Orianna are pretty brief, but they make the world feel more connected to League. Also, I enjoyed getting to see so much of Noxian culture and aesthetics........