#when we get to s2 it'll be interesting to be like. here's everything they set up that got Discarded

[lovevalley45]

i forgot they namedropped quentin turnbull in s1 and then he showed up in s2 like. wow consistency who woulda thunk

[imagine-a-sanctuary-like-this]

Some early thoughts on Arcane S2

Just a few thoughts on the 1st Act of the new season. No strong commitments or opinions just yet, it's still early on in the story. I'll start with what I especially liked, then cycle into things I'd have liked to see done differently.

Animation

Visually, this season's a step up from the last. I've especially enjoyed the differently-stylized into sequences to each episode (the charcoal-like funeral, the overlords' last supper and the Grey, respectively). I've read some complaints about the music-video-esque treatment of the fights, but I enjoyed that. The music's not my thing, but it fits the steampunk/sci-fi-fantasy aesthetic pretty well.

Vi/Cait

Good to see it become canon! I also like the tragedy they seem to be setting up, and I do like how they wrote their relationship. Again, have read complaints about them getting together and breaking up too quickly, but I think it makes sense - the kiss is a pay-off to almost a season's worth of build-up. The breakup is the result of the gap between the characters' beliefs, conditions and natures. There's always been tension between them, and they're not perfect for each other, so them getting together all at once would not have been believable. Also, since Act 1 sees basically everything uprooted and thrust into chaos, it makes sense for them to make impulsive decisions trying to find comfort. Sure, they're probably not deeply in love, they've known each other for a short time, but they've clearly liked each other for a while. I don't really get where the people that think it's rushed are coming from.

Cait's arc set-up

I really like where it's going! The arc they seem to be setting up looks like it'll be about the effects of grief on perpetuating hatred and violence, which fits right in with the story. I do wonder if they'll attempt to take Cait to the 'extreme' and then bring her back in a sort of redemption arc. It seems like that might be difficult to do after some point. But I'm excited to find out where it's going.

Jinx, Isha and Sevika

Not much to say here, I like how Jinx's family themes continue even after Silco's death. All kinds of nice parallels going on. I like it.

Alright, now for the stuff I'm not so positive on. There's quite a bit, but simply because it is easier to criticize than to praise, especially when S1 has set a very high standard.

Too many plotlines

I've seen people talk about pacing issues, and I do agree, but to me the more fundamental problem (which is the cause of the first) is that this season's juggling too many plotlines. Just the ones that come to mind:

(1) Zaun vs Piltover, undercity uprising (2) Mel and the Black Rose (3) Ambessa's Noxus interference (4) "The Arcane is waking up" (5) Vi, Jinx and Warwick family drama (6) Victor's becoming (7) Vi and Cait relationship drama (8) Singed

My hope is that these will be bettered by uniting some of the plotlines. Victor and the Arcane will probably end up one storyline, same with the Black Rose and Noxus. Still, the story feels over-loaded with STORIES, and not in a very water-tight writing kind of way, but rather in a 'there's too much going on' kind of way. I'm afraid that they will not have enough screentime to set up, develop and pay off all of these, while also doing justice to the character arcs. I might be wrong, we will see.

For now, I feel like they should have cut one of the plotlines above to make more space for the story to breathe. It's also a little thematically messy. There's usually at least a loose thematic connection (family, using magic/science for good/bad, dangers of the arcane, oppression), but sometimes it feels too loose. Again, I'm sure some of this will come with time as we get these 'looser' plots developed, like the Black Rose, Noxus's political interests, etc. Hopefully, they can pay it off right.

A consequence of so much going on is, yes, some moments are not given enough time. This was most evident for me in the Jayce/Viktor goodbye scene. Perhaps it is meant to be underwhelming and this will be relevant later, but as it stands, it's rushed. I've seen someone given another good example, Jayce and Heimer's reunion scene - it should have been tensed with residual conflict, but there's kind of... nothing.

Another consequence is that some characters screentime feels insufficient for their story importance (e.g., Jayce, Viktor, Ekko), while others', excessive (Maddie, the enforcer dudes). Isha's screentime is fine, since she works as a parallel to Powder, and Salo's is also alright because of politics plotline. I've seen some leaks about Maddie which I will not detail here, but I'm not sure that they justify her abundant screentime.

Scale of conflict

I quite dislike the seeming shift away from the core Zaun vs Piltover conflict towards a more 'global' feel. Makes sense for S2 to have a bigger scope, but this is a little too big for my liking. Both the Arcane waking up and the Noxus stuff is very global, and since the show is more about Arcane than about world politics, I would've preferred to have seen the latter cut down in favour of more screentime to the former, as well as main characters from S1.

I also quite dislike the 'let's put aside our political differences to save the world' direction that this all seems to be winding up to, because it kind of puts the more interesting, interpersonal conflict on hold, and takes what I'd consider the 'easy way out' of the moral difficulties of the conflict. I do not know if this is what they will do this season, but it feels like they're edging towards that with the Jayce, Ekko, Heimer and Victor stuff (and possibly the Grey?).

Viktor and Agency

Once again, with so little screentime it's difficult to tell, but the set-up seems to suggest a certain direction here, which I can't say I like. It's unclear whether Viktor is controlled or mind-addled by the Hexcore, but I do dislike the seeming lack of emotion. If he's controlled, it kind of takes away from what S1 was building towards. I do like that Jayce is pushed to use the Hexcore on Viktor (he chooses to do it, despite promising to destroy it), but I feel like the fallout would have been more compelling, especially in terms of Viktor as a character, if he'd seemed more in-control.

They seem to have chosen to go with something else, and I don't doubt they have an idea for his arc, but I wish there'd been more of the original League concept in Arcane's Viktor. As it stands, all the desperation from S1, the anger and helplessness, have sort of... gone, without a good conclusion (I don't really consider Sky's death a good conclusion). Or at least, without one for now. I thought that S1 had been building up to the Machine Herald stuff. Maybe this is an intentional subversion. I've never found Viktor's character to be very compelling, but he was at his best when pushed to desperate measures by his dying body.

This is a matter of personal enjoyment, but I do genuinely hope they bring some emotions back for him, and I really hope he is not controlled by the Hexcore.

[amethystina]

Hey! Just wanted to tell you how deeply in love I am with Who Holds the Devil. This is a stunning story, it's so in character and so realistic, it's really like S2 that you chose to bless us with. Of course I love the show's ending, but it leaves so much up in the air that seeing it explored in such meticulous detail is a blessing! Wishing you all the inspiration and joy. When they FINALLY kiss, I'm going to lose my mind, lol.

Hi! Thank you so much! 💜

I feel you on the ending of the drama. I think it was a pretty satisfying ending considering everything that had happened, but it's true that it left a lot unsaid, unresolved, and unexplored. And so, unsurprisingly, my first thought was that I wanted to know what happened next. But I also soon realised that the only way I would get it exactly the way I wanted was to write it myself, so here we are.

Tale as old as time xD

I didn't set out to write what is essentially turning out to be a second season, though, (my timeline for the first draft was very contained and to the point!) but as I started writing I just couldn't help going deeper and deeper, adding more and more details. I guess because the characters are just that interesting? And there's just so much potential? And so much to explore? Every character has so much room to grow!

How could I possibly cut any of that out?

So yeah. I just can't help myself. And I'm so happy to hear that the characters feel accurate and realistic! I think that's probably one of my trademarks by now — I make a sport out of trying to capture the characters' personalities as well as possible. And so it's very satisfying to hear that I've managed! Thank you!

As for when they finally kiss, I'm probably going to have a mental breakdown when we reach that point, simply due to the pressure I'll be under. What if I don't deliver? What if it's not what everyone is hoping it'll be? I'll never be able to forgive myself if the kiss ends up being underwhelming after such a long wait x'D

Like, I know exactly how and when it'll happen (not when as in which chapter but at which stage in the story) but I also have to write it well. At that point, I will have put you all through such a long, drawn-out slow burn that the stakes will be incredibly high. And I am terrified of disappointing you.

But, that said, I'm too stubborn (and too fond of this story) to let that stop me. So we'll get there eventually! And I hope you will enjoy it when we do! And that the road there will be just as enjoyable as it has been so far!

Thank you so much for the kind words 💜

[thewickedbohemian]

Thoughts on a way early Tracker S2 premiere (seriously, this does not feel like an 8pm timeslot show)

so we're just recapping everything out here

ok can we see...

why does it look like Colter's trying to rob a house

nice distracting the dog but what about the way out

and what was on the notepad and why break in just for a picture of it

I feel like Colter got a lot of satisfaction out of that dramatic reveal

so just like last season we start at the end of another job kind of

I was worried the reason the other handler was gone was going to be something tragic

you go girlboss Reenie starting your own damn firm

Lindy Booth guest appearance, that's a nice surprise

so the marshal's a condescending prick, surprise

whole family gone, car there, no phones that is weird

so the other guy might be good might not be who he says he is

so the family doesn't exist, wtf (and there's the sneak preview that Lindy's playing the mom)

and there's the kids, where's the parents

WitSec, they were right about weird

that gas station just had the aura of "Colter's about to step in metaphorical shit"

blue lights, hope they keep up dark-that-isn't-pitch-dark

So yet again Lindy's playing a badass bitch at the metaphorical center of that kind of shitstorm

was that a bad guy or did she tase a mf just to get his keys

some of this conversation veers uncomfortably close to Cassandra's arc themes something something fate echoing in the multiverse (esp. given Colter's Stone vibes, not saying she's gonna recur but who knows)

does Lindy look a bit off or is it just me (could be age, weird makeup job or something I didn't notice/was covered when I saw her as Cassandra but it got my anxiety worried about her health)

called it, other marshal's a bad guy (didn't call him being her ex and now he has the kids...)

could have been a little quicker on the phone call Colter

I don't get the feeling he put the knife away because his heart grew three sizes

non-WitSec-name reveal (and there's some biblical parallel one could make with it being Rachel)

so what ace does Colter have up his short sleeve by making the evil ex think he's won?

Surprise sniper, motherforker

he gets some reward, she set up a charity, I would say everybody wins but people died

the law offices of we are eventually going to expand the ensemble or make a damn spinoff

another mythology-arc-case, another instance of setting up the pattern of blowing his team off for his work so it'll be much sweeter when he doesn't

another new love interest who dis (besides Maggie from Supergirl if my faceblindness isn't failing me)

Gina's sister? talk about involvement in a case

chekhov's notepad, it wasn't the content he was concerned about but the handwriting

next promo vague-ing about case but Russell appears to be back (and now given common Smallville connections I'm wondering if/when Aaron Ashmore's gonna guest star)

[ginjointsintheworld]

One perk of NA ending with little notice is that they’ll hopefully go back to their wholesome roots and write a heartfelt, joyful wrap for all the characters. A sudden cancelation sucks but in their case they’ve still got 13 episodes to make things make sense instead of just being stuck with these weird storylines so if they try they can actually end the series pretty well. They should use the fact that they’re done to take advantage of everything like I wanna see family members, old friends, more hangouts, good old silly cases, and an end of series flashback. If written well, they can add all the fun, deep stuff without making it seem rushed.

Like with this season irdc about everyone else(Shaprwin’s pending engagement killed all hope for me of Helen getting to be interesting again with an independent plot)but I’d love to get Lauren and Leyla to a good place by 4x22 and then back together latest by 5x2, even if they’re still working things out, and then the last 3 episodes of the show is just them in relationship bliss and maybe Lauren meeting Leyla’s mom or something. Or just more about Leyla because it’s been seasons! I know it’s a big ask but it’s the end, they can throw in some fan service if they want. And I’m thinking that a 5 year time jump in the finale is the perfect amount of time to let us catch up on everyone and with Leyren, ideally they’d either be married or about to get married. If they really wanna feed me they’ll slide in a scene of a pregnant Leyla waiting on a late Lauren in the doctors office before their ultrasound appointment 🥺 I know I’m setting myself up with all these hopes and dreams but they’ve built them up so they might as well just make them happy like anything else would be evil lol. Especially a ‘Leyla is abruptly written off but she’s happy’ and ‘Lauren’s single because Self Love’ ending 😑 like no thanks. Give us the J O Y.

i know i did my own grumbling when it was revealed that s5 would be a shorten season but honestly? there are shows that pack a lot of really good, well written, well paced, content into 13 episodes of less, ex. love victor s2 and tslocg. so there's no reason to think that it's impossible to do so here. hell, maybe it'll actually be better that the writers know they don't have 22 episodes to fuck around with LOL. but yes, agreed, i hope the writers get more back to the show's earlier roots of patient driven cases and most importantly, synergy between all the main characters. everyone collaborated with everyone s1-2 and as we got into s3 (maybe it was partly covid worries that played a factor) they started to become more isolated into their own spheres and it started to strain on the storytelling in a way because before when you had 1 or 2 cases that all the characters got in on, now they have one for each person and there's only so much time in an episode. they know how to write the show well, they just need to take a step back and breathe lol.

i've sadly already given up on helen's arc this season. i genuinely thought that once they got to london, she'd finally take the forefront of the story while max fell more into a supporting part to it but. alas. we're back on the max vs fuentes shit so. i expect that and the long distance aspect will detract from helen's medical director and family affairs journey. but (and i know other people are over it) i'm still interested to see how floyd's baby drama + navigating NA and iggy's trevor, trying to regain his stride in psych, stories play out. as for lauren and leyla, i'm not playing around, i wanted them resolved and back TOGETHER by 4x22. go into s5 with a clean slate, no more potential drama lurking around corners. whatever manufactured situations the writers gotta cook up to put them in the space to heal, i'll gobble it right up! i need to see them settled and thriving in their doctor girlfriends dynamic that was tragically cut short this season. and if they gotta promote leyla to main character status to make that happen, well then who am i to argue?

i'm all for a time jump at the end. why not? it's not like this show has some grand mystery they need to resolve like it's LOST or Manifest. they can sprinkle in all the fanservice they want. my current finale episode pipedream is lauren proposing to leyla but the episode is very shenanigans-esque. like opening with a typical, ED crazy day and lauren runs into floyd entering her office while she's leaving and the ring box falls out of her pocket and they both stare at it all 👁👄👁

'is that... what i think it i--'

'NO. maybe. yes.'

and it turns out lauren's been carrying it around for weeks trying to find the right moment to propose. and we get lauren, leyla and floyd working the case of the week together and floyd needling lauren at every turn like 'now? what about now? this is a good time?' just playful energy. i feel like that's the way the show should end, on a playful, hopeful note.

anyways i know we're all getting ahead of ourselves here because s4 hasn't even finished airing yet and the writers have burnt through a lot of people's patience with this season, but i really do think they'll do their best to give the show the final season it deserves and recapture what the fans love about the show. to use my favorite phrase for the season, we just gotta wait and see lol.