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Arcane season 1 is an animated adventure series created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee. It premiered its first season on Netflix in November 2021. The second and final seasons are set to premiere between November 9 and 23, 2024. The adventure series focuses on the origin story of sisters Vi and Jinx from the League of Legends video games released by Riot Games.
The show's official logline, as per Netflix, reads:
"Amid the stark discord of twin cities Piltover and Zaun, two sisters fight on rival sides of a war between magic technologies and clashing convictions."
Vi and Jinx do not reconcile at the end of Arcane season 1. In fact, they drift further apart and fight on opposite sides of the brewing war between Piltover and Zaun.
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The fallout between Vi and Powder in Arcane season 1 explained
Arcane season 1 focuses on the story between Vi and her younger sister, Powder (aka Jinx), from the city of Zaun. After their parents are killed in a battle, the young girls are raised by Vander, the city's community leader. Years prior, Vander had worked with Silco, now a notorious crime lord, to fight for their city's freedom.
Zaun and Piltover are two cities that were once united and thriving. After their division, the latter prospered tremendously with the growth of innovation and technology and became known as the City of Progress. On the other hand, Zaun became its underbelly beset by corruption, pollution, and vast inequality. The series revolves around the Zaunites' fight for a better quality of life.
One night, the two sisters and their adopted brothers, Mylo and Claggor, plunder Jayce Talis' penthouse in Piltover. Unaware that he is an inventor, Powder steals some of his magical blue crystals and inadvertently causes an explosion. The group narrowly escapes being caught, but their actions alert the city council.
When Silco takes Vander hostage, his kids (Vi, Powder, Mylo, and Claggor) track him down to a warehouse. With her exceptional fighting skills, Vi defeats several of Silco's henchmen. However, Powder makes an error in judgment and uses the crystal to create an explosion, thinking it will save her family.
Instead, it ends up killing Mylo, Claggor, and Vander. A distraught Vi blames her sister, saying, "You’re a jinx, do you hear me?" and walks away. Heartbroken, Powder joins Silco's group and takes on a new identity as 'Jinx,' believing that she brought nothing but bad luck to her loved ones.
Read more: Arcane officially becomes the most expensive animated series ever produced
Jayce Talis helps further Piltover's technological interests in Arcane season 1
In his childhood, Jayce had received a magical blue crystal (the one Powder steals) from an ancient sorcerer named Rune Mage Ryze. According to League of Legends lore, the hex crystals hold magical powers that can be harnessed to create an arcane technology known as Hextech, which combines spirit and elemental magic.
Jayce secretly conducts experiments away from the disapproving Piltover Academy, as the crystals are highly unstable and volatile. However, the academy discovers them after an explosion set off by Powder. Viktor, assistant to the Dean of Piltover Academy, eventually helps Jayce complete his research and develop the technology to further Piltover's interests.
Over time, Viktor and Jayce find multiple applications for Hextech, including weaponry, medical treatments, and mining work. Together, they create the Hexcore machine to treat Viktor, who is terminally ill and disabled. Their plan succeeds, and Viktor is cured of all his ailments, regaining his ability to run for the first time in years.
Everything to know about The Progress Day Attack in Arcane season 1
Sometime later, the residents of Piltover are seen honoring the city’s founding 200 years ago in a celebration known as 'Progress Day.' Jayce and Viktor plan to announce their latest invention, the gemstone device, to the public on this special day. However, they are advised against it by their mentor, Heimerdinger, who fears the powerful device getting into the wrong hands.
Over the past few years, Silco has been supplying Zaun's youth with a potent narcotic known as Shimmer, created by the scientist Singed. The masked vigilante group, Firelights, makes it their mission to defeat Silco and rid Zaun of the enhancement drug. On Progress Day, they intercept a shipment of Shimmer set to enter Piltover and successfully set fire to the drug.
Failing to stop the Firelights, Jinx bombs the capitol building in Piltover that claims the lives of 6 enforcers. She also manages to steal Jayce's highly-guarded hex crystal along with some of his research papers. In lieu of the attack, Jayce is given a seat on the Council and begins dating the councilwoman, Mel Medarda.
Read more: 8 best fantasy shows to watch if you like Netflix's Arcane season 2
Vi and Jinx cross paths again at the end of Arcane Season 1
Vi, imprisoned in Stillwater Hold this whole time, is released by the enforcer Caitlyn. The two join forces to take down Silco and his second-in-command, Sevika. Later, Jinx learns of Vi's return, and the two sisters reunite, albeit briefly, in Zaun.
Furthermore, Vi convinces Jayce to use his Hextech weaponry to destroy Silco's Shimmer factories in Zaun. However, the inventor has a change of heart after witnessing his weapons accidentally killing an innocent child worker. He meets Silco to broker a peace treaty between the two cities. Jayce guarantees Zaun's independence in exchange for Jinx, which Silco agrees to do.
Jinx and Vi finally come face to face in the same warehouse where Vander and their adopted brothers were killed. With Caitlyn and Silco also present, Jinx asks Vi to choose between herself and Caitlyn, but she refuses. A gunfight ensues, during which Silco tries shooting Vi but misses. Jinx fires back in response and ends up killing him.
Jinx tearfully mourns the death of another father figure in her life. Also, the sisters come to a stark realization that there is no possibility of reconciliation between the two.
Piltover and Zaun prepare for war in Arcane Season 2
At the end of Arcane season 1, Jinx is seen using the gemstone as a rocket launcher, which she fires at the Piltover council just as they decide to grant Zaun independence. The fate of the two cities hangs in the balance due to Jinx's actions. They were close to peace before, but now seem headed for a bitter war.
Meanwhile, Heimerdinger and Zaun's inventor, Ekko, meet to discuss the latter's experiments with time manipulation and its potential implications. Singed, who created the drug Shimmer, is also busy working on his next mutation that can play a significant role in the impending war.
Cast of Arcane Season 1
Arcane Season 1 featured Hailee Steinfeld as the voice of Violet / 'Vi', while Ella Purnell voiced the character of Powder / Jinx. Kevin Alejandro lends his voice to Jayce Talis, Katie Leung to Caitlyn Kiramman, Jason Spisak to Silco, Toks Olagundoye to Mel Medarda, Harry Lloyd to Viktor, JB Blanc to Vander, and Reed Shannon to Ekko.
Furthermore, Mia Sinclair Jenness voiced the younger version of Powder, Faustino Duran the young Jayce Talis, Molly Harris the young Caitlyn Kiramman, Imogen Faires the young Mel Medarda, Edan Hayhurst the young Viktor, and Miles Brown the young Ekko.
Other supporting voice cast members include Amirah Vann as Sevika, Ellen Thomas as Ambessa Medarda, Brett Tucker as Singed, Remy Hii as Marcus, Abigail Marlowe as Eve, Yuri Lowenthal as Mylo, Roger Craig Smith as Claggor, Josh Keaton as Deckard, Fred Tatasciore as Benzo, Shohreh Aghdashloo as Grayson, and Miyavi as Finn.
Watch all episodes of Arcane Season 1 on Netflix.
