Colourful. Chaotic. Captivating.

These three words sum up the TV show adaptation of Riot Games' multiplayer battle arena video game League of Legends (LoL) quite well. Arcane captured hearts and attention upon its release in 2021, boasting stunning animation and intricate storylines featuring beloved champions from the game. As such, the announcement of Arcane season two led to it becoming one of the most anticipated TV shows of the year, and the turnout was remarkable. It climbed up the charts almost instantly, becoming Netflix's most popular TV show for weeks.

Season two, released in three parts, concluded on November 23 with Act III, which delivered the last three episodes of Arcane. Arcane is a tale of two sisters, Vi and Powder, known more commonly as Jinx. It's a tale of two cities, Piltover and Zaun, of magic and science, love and loss, war and alliance. Act I picks up the story from where it left off in season one, dealing with the aftermath of Jinx's missile attack on the council. Following death and destruction, grief rears its ugly head, kicking the season off on a sombre note. However, we're not given much of an opportunity to sit with the grief as we're swept into the action because of a Zaunite attack on Piltover.

Act I is a beautiful mess of colours and mayhem with immersive battle sequences and seamless blend of various art and animation styles including hand-drawn charcoal frames. However, despite the fast-paced, character-driven plot being a trademark for Arcane, the pacing is still a bit rushed in Act I. New arcs and faces enter the scene one after another amidst an already complex political power play and the workings of Hextech and the Arcane, making it hard to keep up. Not to mention, the breakneck speed of the plot overshadows the character development of protagonists Vi and Caitlyn, making their actions seem erratic, which could have been rectified by a slower buildup.

Act II, on the other hand, is the epitome of masterful storytelling. A much-needed respite from the exhilarating roller coaster ride of Act I, these three episodes take a deep dive into the characters' heart-wrenching pasts. Reminiscent of the storytelling in season one, the raw emotions of this Act hit exactly where it hurts. Jinx's redemption arc is already set in motion as she finds herself becoming the face of Zaunite resistance, assuming the role of a saviour and the big sister, for once, as she rescues an orphan named Isha.

The final Act of Arcane starts with what is possibly my favourite episode of the entire season. Episode seven messes with your feelings in all the right ways as it takes you down a path of what could have been, before brutally tearing you away and throwing you back into reality.

It's at this point that I began wondering, how will the show tie up all the loose ends in a cohesive way in two episodes? To tell you the truth, it didn't. Despite the amazing buildup, the ending felt rather underwhelming. The final two episodes progress way too fast to reach the conclusion well, leaving many threads untied and plot holes aplenty. Vi takes a backseat to her own story, serving little importance to the plot. The character-driven plot line is overwhelmed by the Arcane working in mysterious ways, losing some of the show's enchanting pull.

The abrupt ending is borderline unsatisfying, despite a significant shot of an air balloon travelling into the distance. The show is laced with Easter eggs and key details that you'll miss if you blink, which makes the ending all the more underwhelming. That being said, season two still delivers an enthralling watch, with exciting action sequences (with the battle between Vi and Jinx in episode 3 and Sevika and Smeech's fight being among my favourites), and a soundtrack that's nothing short of perfection.

LoL always had amazing lore associated with its world and champions, so the announcement of future shows leaves room for further explanation of Arcane's ambiguities. The journey of Arcane was an emotional tornado that pulls you into the universe. But take it from a former LoL player, do not download the game.