Why “Arcane” is Netflix’s most underrated series

IIf you haven't seen it ArcaneIt's time to leave what you're watching and get started. Seriously. This sublime steampunk animation is set in the gleaming city of Piltover and its impoverished underbelly Zaun, where oppression has pushed the city's poorest to the brink of revolution.

An action-packed drama about those caught up in the conflict. Arcane has already nabbed an Emmy — and with a second season coming out this week, it's high time more people started talking about it.

It covers some really heavy topics

Although Arcane is a spin-off of the multiplayer strategy game League of LegendsYou don't need to know anything about it – or about video games in general – to enjoy the show. It is completely standalone and focuses on broad themes such as classism, sacrifice and the price of progress. However, ArcaneThe most difficult question is whether the people of Zaun – living in poverty and disease because Piltover showers them with toxic chemicals – should accept their fate or risk violent revolution.

There is no clear answer because Arcane thrives in these morally gray areas. Well-meaning characters commit atrocities while trying to do the right thing – and even the greatest villains have good arguments to make. Speaking of…

Silco is one of the best villains we've ever seen

The deeply compelling villain of the first season, Silco is a murderous crime boss hell-bent on leading Zaun to freedom at any cost. Silco uses terrible methods to advance what he calls the “fundamental violence necessary for change,” but over the course of Arcane we are shown that his way may really be the only means to save Zaun – although it There are boundaries that even he won't cross.

Cold yet charismatic, brutal yet tender, Silco dominates every single scene he appears in – and like any good villain, he can deliver monologues that are nobody's business.

It's beautifully animated

From the ever-changing art style of Love, death + robots to the charming stop motion of Pokémon ConciergeNetflix's animated series often look fantastic. Arcaneanimated by French studio Fortiche, is no different – every background is digitally hand-painted, making each episode look dirty yet beautiful.

Not to mention that ArcaneThere are plenty of fight scenes, ranging from spaghetti western-style saloon brawls to artistic, emotional showdowns. It also features one of the best animated brawls we've ever seen – and while we won't tell you anything, you can trust us when we say there's a good reason this show was named Best at the 2022 Emmys animated show” was awarded.

Come for the animation, stay for the music

Three years later ArcaneDespite being the debut, the show's soundtrack still attracts a whopping 13 million monthly listeners on Spotify. That's because the first season featured a great selection of original songs from Denzel Curry, Pusha T, Imagine Dragons, and Sting, to name a few.

None of these collaborations sound like gimmicks, lured or penned by the respective artists. Curry's “Dynasties And Dystopia” hits as hard as you'd expect from the Miami rapper, while Bones UK's “Dirty Little Animals” is a hedonistic, dirty introduction to Zaun nightlife. Of course, we can't wait to see how Arcane's story continues in season two, but the thought of another soundtrack like this is just as exciting.

The performances are great too

We've already talked about Jason Spisak's creepy portrayal of Silco, but you'll probably recognize many of the actors who appear in it Arcane. The street thug Vi is played by Hailee Steinfeld (Hawkeye, Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse)while her younger sister Jinx is brought to life by Stand outThis is Ella Purnell.

Both deliver heartbreaking performances as siblings torn apart by Silco, while Katie Leung (Harry Potter) plays the naive Piltover heroine Caitlyn perfectly. Arcane is a tragedy that pulls no punches, and it's the phenomenal performances behind each character that will break anyone's heart.

There's so much more to come

If you haven't yet received credits for the first season of ArcaneYou better get going – the new episodes will be released on November 9th. Beyond the shocking cliffhanger ending to season one, there are still so many unanswered questions that will leave you desperately wanting more – in fact, the latest teaser for season two has already hinted at a grisly fate for a fan-favorite character.

Instead of feeling like a show at its peak, Arcane It seems like it's just starting to warm up as it heads towards its final season. There are still so many heroes and villains League of Legends Who could make an appearance, and some of the series' biggest characters have yet to make their way. Is a happy ending in sight? Um, maybe not – but we recommend you familiarize yourself with the first season so you can find out for yourself.