Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for the Arcane Season 2 finale.

Now the cycle is truly broken. After two seasons filled with intense conflict and a long wait, Arcane has reached its thrilling conclusion with this past weekend’s finale, which is both epic and heartbreakingly emotional. Following last week’s explosive showdown at Viktor’s (Harry Lloyd) healing commune, Arcane‘s final act introduces alternate dimensions, a world-ending resurrection, and a climactic battle for Hextech. This fight seals the fates of the series’ most powerful characters. Surprisingly, however, the finale leaves several significant plotlines unresolved, opting not to provide fans with a complete resolution, which raises numerous questions about the future of Arcane‘s intricate world.

Unraveling the Fates of Key Characters in the ‘Arcane’ Season 2 Finale

When seeking closure at the end of a TV series, a character’s death often indicates that their story has concluded. In this respect, Arcane‘s final act delivers a significant amount of narrative bloodshed. Ambessa (Ellen Thomas), the Noxian general, meets her end during an intense duel with Caitlyn (Katie Leung) and Mel (Toks Olagundoye) amid her invasion of Piltover in Episode 9. Additionally, several supporting characters who played pivotal roles in Arcane Season 2 also meet tragic fates during this climactic battle, including Loris (Earl Baylon), Gert (Ashley Holliday), and Maddie Nolan (Katy Townsend), Caitlyn’s former lover, who is revealed as a traitor before Mel kills her with her own redirected bullet. The now fully-corrupted Warwick (JB Blanc) is also destroyed in the finale, but the fates of other champions in Arcane remain more ambiguous.

Beyond the characters whose deaths are clearly established, other main cast members experience fates that are shrouded in uncertainty. For instance, Heimerdinger (Mick Wingert) is zapped by Hextech in Episode 7 to assist Ekko (Reed Lorenzo Shannon) in returning to his home dimension, while both Jayce (Kevin Alejandro) and Viktor are sucked into Jayce’s wrist rune, seemingly vanishing from existence during their final scene together. At first glance, these deaths appear to be final, but given Arcane‘s unpredictable magic system, it’s entirely plausible that these characters were transported elsewhere rather than truly killed. Furthermore, Jinx’s emotional sacrifice in the finale (Ella Purnell) might not be as definitive as it seems, as there are hints suggesting the character may have survived and escaped on the airship featured in the finale’s closing shot. For confirmation regarding these characters’ fates, fans will need to remain patient and see what unfolds.

The Future of Zaun and Piltover: Exploring New Alliances After ‘Arcane’ Season 2

In addition to grieving their collective losses, the residents of Arcane‘s two opposing factions also work to redefine their political relationship in the show’s final act, although this subplot ultimately raises more questions than it resolves. If there’s one critique that could be directed at Arcane‘s masterful finale, it’s that the series doesn’t devote enough time to exploring how the Undercity and Piltover inhabitants unite against Viktor. This significant development is largely relegated to the background of the final installment. Nevertheless, Sevika’s (Amirah Vann) emergence as a member of Piltover’s council suggests that the Undercity’s people were rewarded for their bravery in saving their oppressors, hinting at a more collaborative future between the two major powers in Arcane.

Moreover, Ekko’s choice to abandon his utopian reality and return to Arcane‘s harsh canon is one of the finale’s most poignant aspects. His presence in the Undercity indicates that he will emerge as a leader for his former home as the narrative progresses. Sevika’s role in the council doesn’t provide much insight into Zaun’s status as an independent entity or whether she secured all of Silco’s (Jason Spisak) conditions from their earlier discussions in Season 1. However, her inclusion in Piltover’s government serves as the strongest indication that Zaun is being fully integrated into the broader political landscape. With Jinx’s possible sacrifice and Vi’s (Hailee Steinfeld) decision to pursue a fulfilling life with Caitlyn, Ekko and Sevika represent the most significant remaining authorities in the Undercity. This implies that the Firelights and the remnants of Jinx’s revolution will likely join forces to carve out a brighter future for a unified nation.

What Lies Ahead for ‘Arcane’ and the Expansion of Riot Games’ Universe?

Beyond these internal story elements, Arcane‘s open-ended finale raises questions about potential continuations. While it would be logical to assume that the series might resolve its unresolved plot threads in a possible Arcane Season 3, that scenario is unfortunately not on the table. Despite earlier reports suggesting the show could run for five seasons, Riot Games co-founder Marc Merill clarified that the creative team initially envisioned around two seasons of material. Nevertheless, this does not imply that fans have seen the last of Arcane‘s vibrant universe. In an interview with Collider, Arcane co-creator Christian Linke confirmed that the creative team is already developing follow-ups to the acclaimed series, with plans for spin-offs that will explore three previously uncharted regions within the world of Arcane, known as Runeterra.

The first of these regions, Noxus, should already resonate with fans of the series. This nation is not only home to the Black Rose witches who attacked Ambessa early in Season 2 but is also Mel’s homeland, a land of warriors who share a similar ethos with Arcane‘s power-hungry general. Given Mel’s newly discovered powers, it’s likely this spin-off will see her return to her roots and strive to consolidate power, particularly with the appearance of a three-eyed raven in Arcane‘s finale, hinting at an even more formidable villain from the region. Additionally, the other two regions slated for future spin-offs, Ionia and Demacia, are rich with narrative potential. Notably, Demacia is home to the champion Lux, who once partnered with Jinx in League of Legends’ alternate universe, the Star Guardians event, and could leverage Arcane‘s multiversal themes (along with Jinx’s possible survival) to reconnect with her.

Whether Jinx encounters someone who offers her a second chance at life or Mel realizes her ambition of becoming the leader Ambessa always envisioned, these intriguing possibilities highlight the depth of Arcane‘s storytelling. Although the finale does not answer every question fans harbor about the series’ past and future, the subtle hints left by the show’s concluding episodes promise a future filled with even more diverse adventures and the exhilarating mythology of Runeterra. Given the complex themes presented in Arcane‘s final season and the anticipated spin-offs, it’s clear that fans will need to prepare themselves for another lengthy wait before any official announcements regarding the fate of Arcane‘s unparalleled world become available.

Arcane Season 2 is now fully available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.

WATCH ON NETFLIX

Set in Utopian Piltover and the oppressed underground of Zaun, the story follows the origins of two iconic League Of Legends champions and the power that will tear them apart.

Release Date

November 6, 2021

Seasons

2

Writers

Christian Linke , Alex Yee

Franchise(s)

League of Legends

Directors

Pascal Charrue , Arnaud Delord

Showrunner

Christian Linke , Alex Yee

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