Since airing in 2021, Arcane has become one of many successful adaptations. Based on the video game League of Legends, this TV series followed the storyline of sisters Jinx and Vi along with other characters living in the Runeterra universe. Many fans were distraught over the decision to end the show after only two seasons. However the writers have more than one story to tell and many are excited to find out what’s in store for this upcoming sequel.
The Black Rose
With this sequel fans can expect a whole new adaptation with different characters and locations. Along with these changes, League of Legends has also hinted at a continuation of certain topics that will connect the two series. One being the Black Rose Organization.
A majority of those who watched this show were a bit overwhelmed with this storyline being introduced during season 2. And if you have a short attention span like me, you may have skipped over the lore of the Black Rose and just accepted the fact that Mel gained powers.
But with the upcoming sequel the Black Rose Organization will be coming back as a main focus. And from what League of Legends has shown on social media so will Mel Medarda.
So for those of you who are unsure exactly what this organization is you might want to start learning. What is most important to know about this group is that they value nothing more than power and magic. They are also said to originate from Noxus.
Expanding locations
After releasing a teaser on their social media platforms, League of Legends granted us clips of the new additions and locations to come. They also included images of Mel in what many assume to be Noxus.
This will be one of the three locations “that the animation studio Fortiche will explore”. The other two being Demacia and Ionia.
The decision to explore other locations and empires that are different from the original show opens up room for more characters to come into play. Viewers have already noticed the inclusion of characters such as Katarina and Elise in the teaser.
With the speculation from fans and the teasers that have been given through trailers, the anticipation for what’s to come is more than exciting. Not only for those who loved the Arcane series but the fans who play the video game as well.
The importance of representation
The animation style drew attention to the series. But it was the inclusion of real world issues and topics that created a relatable aspect that fans appreciated.
Throughout social media the fandom has shown concerns for the decision to exclude the continuation of certain characters storylines. Some fans explain that it is because of whether or not the topics these characters brought into play will bleed into the sequel.
LGBTQ+ inclusion
More and more representation has been added to media throughout recent years, especially in terms of same sex relationships. While there has been an increase there is still a very small percentage of inclusion as a whole. Which is a large reason many are protective of the relationship of Vi and Caitlyn as seen in Arcane.
Throughout social media there are discussions had from the LGBTQ community that express the importance of having this kind of representation. On Reddit a specific user makes a great point about the topic and the writers.
User KayKay256 mentions how “The writers expertly have showed that both Caitlyn and Vi like women without even mentioning ‘Gay’ once. It is never a discussion or a big deal,” which many others agreed with in the comments.
With the writers ability to show such inclusion in the Runeterra universe it would be a waste to discontinue the idea of non conforming relationships in the upcoming sequel.
Police brutality
Since episode one, Police Brutality has been at the forefront of the TV Series as shown in the opening scene. The first thing the viewer sees is the fight between Piltover and Zaun.
A core aspect of the Video Game has to do with violence and that has unsurprisingly translated into the adaptation. Throughout the two seasons of Arcane there are scenes that show the use of force and the abuse of power of Piltover.
The city uses its military as a way to control and intimidate the zaunites. A very telling scene includes the use of polluted air against the people of Zaun as a way to subdue them. With these scenes the respect for the writers grew. The ability to include the issue of Police brutality caused an increase in conversations and awareness surrounding the issue. Especially within the fandom.
Knowing that the Empire of Noxus will now be a main location we can assume that brutality will continue to be a main theme.
Ambessa Medarda, a very seasoned warrior, was introduced in season one of Arcane. In the many scenes between Ambessa and Mel, viewers gained more insight into the core beliefs that Noxians hold. All having to do with the ability to strengthen and protect the empire.
In Arcane, Ambessa and her fellow warriors where ruthless. It would not be odd to assume that severe Military brutality will be present in the new series with no mercy for those the Noxians deem useless.
Class discrimination
The entire plot of Arcane centered around the idea that Piltover was better in terms of civility, finances and birthright. The war between the opposing cities grew due to unfair speculation on both sides. But many of us can agree that between the two, one had an unfair advantage.
In many interactions there are words thrown around to indicate the danger of Zaun. Using discriminatory language against the “Monsters” the city holds. Many of those opinions formed as a result of prejudice and manipulation from the council and citizens of Piltover.
While Piltover did cause harm to the Under City, they are not the only ones. Most of the ideas of suppression in Season 2 of Arcane where inspired by a Noxian. Ambessa Medarda herself manipulated not only Caitlyn but a whole legion of warriors in order to harm Zaun and gain weapons.
With what we know so far after watching the teaser it is clear that politics will be a key focus in what is to come. The Noxians are known for their might and their willingness to use any tactic available to gain power.
What’s new?
While there have been clips of new faces and new empires not yet seen there is still a lot that is unknown.
Fans are both sad at the ending of one story and excited at the possibility of another. And there is no denying that there is hope for the continuation of important themes to be mentioned. But with the number of seasons not yet confirmed and an expected release day not yet announced there are currently more questions than answers.
