Arcane: Analysing a Masterpiece - Part 1

Arcane is a show that came out of nowhere and delivered some of the most complex and consistently detailed characters that I have seen in a long time. Add to that some excellent worldbuilding and dialogue, not to mention the incredible animation and music, and you are left with the rare modern masterpiece.
But is it perfect? Tune in to find out.
An in-depth exploration as to what exactly makes Arcane so good. This video covers the first three episodes of season 1.
00:00 - Prologue
03:12 - Intro
05:09 - Plot Recap
07:44 - The Jump
09:51 - Vi
24:42 - Powder
35:55 - Clagger
38:30 - Mylo
41:51 - Vander
54:27 - Marcus
1:02:53 - Grayson
1:06:50 - Silco
1:15:43 - Jayce
1:21:40 - Viktor
1:27:44 - Heimerdinger
1:31:26 - Mel
1:34:27 - Ekko
1:36:27 - Sevika
1:38:02 - Benzo
1:38:39 - Deckard
1:39:46 - Worldbuilding
1:50:23 - Plot Preamble
1:51:03 - The Gemstones
1:53:09 - Eavesdropping
1:57:43 - Benzo's
1:59:51 - The Arcade
2:03:00 - Vander's Arrest
2:07:59 - Shimmer
2:11:49 - Silco's Evil Plan
2:20:59 - General Storytelling
2:27:55 - League of Legends
2:30:37 - Consequences
2:34:19 - Conclusion
2:36:37 - Outro
2:37:21 - Bonus
Thank you to HP Lefty for creating the pixel art character.
Second Channel - / @randomft2
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[@Amarenamann]

It'll never cease to surprise me how an animated show based on one of the most taxic and hated games of all time managed to turn out so good.

[@dauphinkivol5555]

Because the lore of this game is S tier

[@Kosomaddo]

Yeah the base game is trash, but the character and world building they’ve done for it is amazing. Obviously Arcane is a good start, but if only they’d do more with it like make crpgs….

[@vadandrumist1670]

"taxic" just makes me imagine that the game is loaded with bad taxation.

[@davidward3091]

There's a show about Raid Shadow Legends?

[@F1rstWorldNomaD]

Its not tho. Is THE most popular game of all time at 160+ million active users. The haters are just really vocal about it. Unless ofc you talk about the people hating the *player base.* That might actually be true. Thats not the game tho.

[@centurosproductions8827]

Describing Victor as “entirely self-made” takes on a new meaning when you think of what he eventually becomes.

[@DoremiFasolatido1979]

He's not, though. There are people in the Undercity that are smarter and more capable than Viktor. He got lucky enough to be "discovered" and given an opportunity. For every one supposedly "successful" person, there are at least a million people in this world that are more intelligent, more skilled, more talented, and more driven...who ultimately accomplish nothing...all from blind stinking luck. For example. Musk is an idiot and a thief capable of really nothing at all. But he doesn't care about anyone but himself, and he's lucky.

[@AdditiveOutlier]

G L O R I O U S E V O L U T I O N

[@Hecarim420]

He gonna get corrupted but becouse of him not entirely. He is not forcing evolution on others 👀ツ

[@jonbaxter2254]

I love Viktor in the show, and I'm scared what messages like this might mean

[@rdchristley]

I don’t know how you can state any character “grows into one of the best characters” when literally every character in this show deserves the gold medal.

[@lefteron6804]

The fish chef is my favourite character. Followed by Jace.

[@lordofthepizzapie9319]

@@lefteron6804 The fish chef is named Jericho and he's indeed best boi

[@italianspiderman5012]

@@lefteron6804 Jace is so underrated honestly.

[@epicfail3167]

Jace was best in the first few episodes, but he did sort of complete his arc prematurely. In the later episodes he's one of the weaker characters, which is like saying Captain America is weaker than the Hulk but you know, everything's a matter of perspective Still better characters by far than any other show I have seen in the past few years.

[@italianspiderman5012]

@@epicfail3167 he is being manipulated, he’s getting his hands dirty by middling with other senators, he becomes a politician, a brilliant man, scientists, finding himself in a position of power that he’s not ready to wield, and he gets a taste of how important any decision he makes is and the cost of war, he’s character arc is far from over and I think he’s a brilliant character with a lot of potential.

[@timhaldane7588]

I believe you missed Silco's actual motivation for "putting away" (or more likely, temporarily hiding) his knife. When he purrs, "where is your sister?" he is being predatory, attempting to gather information. He's seen Vander's body and suspects Vi is still out there somewhere. Look at his minions' body language. Silco and his entourage are still willing to kill Powder should that be necessary. Silco isn't cruel for the sake of cruelty, of course, but he IS practical. As you rightly point out, Silco's motivation for killing the children is to tie up loose ends, and at this point he wants to make sure Vi is done away with. It isn't until Powder tackles him with a sobbing embrace, that his feelings suddenly shift. He is both literally and figuratively taken aback. Remember, this is a man who uses everyone, who keeps everyone at arm's length. He clearly doesn't think of himself as a "family man," and he probably hasn't experienced real human touch in years. This is why Powder embracing him is shocking because he didn't expect that behavior from her, but also because he feels a bewildering stirring of pity and tenderness. When she describes her abandonment, watch his face - it changes from dissonance to understanding. The feelings make sense to him. I think it's only at that point, when he's being embraced, that he gets those paternal feelings about caring for and raising a child, and those feelings initially surprise him. Other than that, spot on analysis.

[@peteryang5056]

Agreed! I don't think Silco had any interest in Powder other than as a source of information until she tackled him. It's really striking on rewatches how completely his facial expression changes in that moment. Before, he's still very much the Silco of Act 1, fully in control, arm holding the knife at the ready and his body ready to pounce. Very catlike, as you mentioned. But as soon as Powder grabs him, and *especially* once she says "She is NOT my sister anymore," there appears a softness in his eyes and face that we've never seen before, accentuated by genuine shock. Silco FEELS something incredibly powerful for this poor little girl in that moment, and the fact that he is still capable of doing so is as much a surprise to himself as it is to the viewer. His sudden moment of intense, absolute empathy leads to him doing the first impulsive thing we see him do the entire season, as he (scarcely seeming to believe what he himself is doing) wraps his arms around Powder and comforts her. And so the first domino drops for Silco's arc for the rest of the series.

[@captainuseless2120]

@@peteryang5056 Very well put. Arcane really is absolutely brilliant.

[@urmomdotcomhomefromnam1083]

G. V g. G g by 😢u 😢 v😢 my b bun v thy u j j I😮mmhI’m😮 bmih ughh hun nmmb

[@cpt.cookie2271]

I‘ve always heard praise for the show but never actually came around to watch it. After hearing that you want to cover it, I decided to watch it. Thank god I did, I watched the whole season in one sitting and don’t regret a single second of doing so.

[@bertimusprime7900]

I had heard praise and decided to give it a watch. Ended up not leaving my bed, watched it all in one sitting, and was emotionally wrecked for three days. I love that show.

[@F1rstWorldNomaD]

Ita quite something, isnt it 🤗

[@misanthropicservitorofmars2116]

You gotta watch it, it’s genuinely good. Though none of the characters are Skarner so it can only be so good.

[@nickl9461]

Correct

[@petergregory7177]

@@misanthropicservitorofmars2116 When will hollywood realise all we want to see is a butt twist realised in glorious cg!

[@Spink_Prime]

One defense for Jayce and Viktor getting hextech to work so quickly is the seemingly lengthy bit of time Jayce had to work with it. I think it's stated that "all his research" is gonna be destroyed, and you can see Jayce's apartment is cluttered with notes, papers, and contraptions. If he's on the right track or even relatively close, then two scientific minds could plug in some missing pieces and finish a project that's already been started relatively quickly. Clearly Jayce has been working on it for a long time, and he perhaps had no access to the required scientific tools because he's been keeping it on the down low.

[@lolbuster01]

So far, and I think I agree, it's been highlighted as the weakest part of the story. That being said if this is the biggest flaw in the writing, that still puts arcane miles ahead of tons of the shows that are out there.

[@mrminecraftcubeable]

i kinda wish arcane didn't retcon jayce and viktor into being the creators of hextech and instead just kept them 2 very skilled hextech engineers pushing the limits

[@Nr4747]

True. Jayce was also close to a breakthrough and definitely had done actual experiements on the crystals before visiting Benzo's shop to buy equipment. We see the contraption that one of the crystals was mounted onto with wires going into different directions during the break-in by Vi's group. And let's not forget: That break-in was happening while Jayce and Caitlyn were returning from Benzo's ! Jayce had also thought that he needed to dampen the ozillations of the crystals to harness their magic, while Victor came up with the idea to do the opposite. All of this combined makes me forgive the short time frame of Victor's and Jayce's scientific break-through when also taking into account the volatilty of magic.

[@lolbuster01]

@@Nr4747 the fact that this is what we are agonizing over as one of the more noticeable problems with the show in the first arc is a good thing. If this was a Disney show or something it would be low on the long list of horrific writing contrivances that we would be discussing

[@Nr4747]

@@lolbuster01Absolutely agree.

[@LadyDoomsinger]

1:53:10 I have point out, as a person with low self-esteem, that when you stumble upon people talking negatively about you - especially someone you respect - Your first instinct would probably be to get away as fast as you can, even if that means not hearing the entirety of the conversation. Because you don't want to hear that conversation. Powder leaving before hearing Vi defend her is absolutely a common movie trope of "hearing only part of the conversation"... but it also makes a lot of sense for Powder's insecure character: She heard enough to confirm her insecurities, that Vi thought she was useless - was convinced that was what Vi was saying, and left because she didn't want to feel the hurt of hearing any more.

[@nopi3.14]

Regarding the disbelief that they woud be able to solve the problem of Hex-tech in one day: After rewatching, there is one point in episode 3, at 17:45 where a few things become quite clear. Victor in his pursuits of scientific advancement resembles in a lot of ways Silco in his quest for power. He will take whatever risks are necessary, and his failure to take anything seriously translates into risking their lives to prove a theory. At this point, you can see in Jayce's reaction that he NEVER would have completed that experiment, he would have shut it down on the spot and never achieved his goal if not for Victor. It wasn't that they solved the problem in a single day, but that Victor, upon reading Jayce's notes realized that the work was complete, but Jase refused to step out of his comfort zone. This also exemplifies the difference between trenchers and topsiders. this scene has many parallels to the scene where Vi and Caitlyn enter the trench, and Vi parkours her way in with ease, and Caitlyn responds by telling Vi that she nearly got her killed. Trenchers are raised taking risks to survive, but topsiders are rarely willing to step outside of their comfort zone. It wasn't that they solved it in a day, its that Jayce already solved it on his own, he just needed to push from Victor to do what needed to be done to stabilize the crystal. At that point at 17:45 in episode 3, Jayce would have shit it down if not for victor, and though the tech was ready, its Jayce's fear that held him back. The look on his face says it all.

[@nopi3.14]

Gracen was taken so aback by Marcus going into the last drop that it tells us that's a HUGE deal. If people don't know Gracen and Vander have an arangement, this tells us that Gracen does NOT go into the last drop as well. An amicable meeting with an enforcer commander in the last drop would undermine the carefully cultivated image that Vander NEEDS to maintain to keep order. This all being evident, the very clear meeting point would be the location of Vander's second in command. Additionally this is backed up by the most level headed kid being chosen to guard the door and told "No one" enters, because the only person he wouldn't try to stop would be Enforcers. This makes the whole meeting appear unscripted, when Vander could have easily realized that there needed to be a meeting with his enforcer ally in the wake of what had happened. All of this further maintains the secrecy of the meeting, Vander's character, Claggar's character, and the lengths that Vander goes to to avoid making it public knowledge that he is collaborating. Vi and Vander going to that same spot is because its where Vander and his second in command meet the enforcers. This was how I viewed the seeming coincidence at least, given the writing in the rest of the series, I'm more inclined to believe something to this nature than something coincidental, but regardless, if this were the case, it should have been more firmly implied to appear less like an oversight. But then, that is the glory of looking too hard at anything in this, you always find a valid answer.

[@michaelwoodby5261]

That answers that whole question. Good stuff.

[@lolnoob5015]

Holy shit you're fucking smart. I understood the last drop part, but I never put together that that casual meeting wasn't casual coincidence of a meeting wasn't casual at all.

[@apblolol]

a bit you may have missed about the metal gauntlets that Vander used is that they were initially made as digging tools, specifically made to break rock. The under city of Zaun is mostly mines, mines that Piltover exploited for most of its wealth. They show the bridges that split the city in two often but its less the bridges that separate them and more the dam. A giant wall holding back the flood, looming over the underground casting them all in shadow.

[@juma12114]

How do you know? When did they say that? I have watched this series thousands of times and the only scene i can remember where they talk about the miners is while jayce introdruces the Hextech Gauntlets.

[@apblolol]

@@juma12114 between Silco's monologue when he's talking to the chem barons and Jayce's innovations on mining technology, you can infer that the "cast iron's" are mining gauntlets. You're right they aren't directly referred to as mining equipment, but with the history of the underground it makes sense.

[@darkj3di666]

Around 36:42, so cool that you too pointed out Clagger's fightinig ability. Especially at that point he's arguably always been the fat/timid one trope of the group... but even on first time my reaction during the fight scene was "holy shit, he's the only one who's actually winning!"

[@Anxious_bastard]

I love that Markus finally gets the recognition he deserves

[@brandonm1708]

“There is nothing complex, interesting, redeemable, etc. about this character” -a very misguided man

[@9zetsu]

I love daddy Marcus

[@lolbuster01]

I'm so glad someone is giving him the focus he has lacked in people's analysis

[@Strix2031]

Yep,to me he was aways one of the more interesting characters as a reluctant antagonist

[@DLxxx]

He really is one of the most believably flawed characters in the show. I hope he shows up in at least one flashback in Season 2 🙏🏾

[@rdchristley]

Don’t worry about the algorithm, Random. This series is your Arcane. Negativity and champion skins sells, but you’ve got a story to tell and it’s for sure worth telling.

[@sweetpotatodato6068]

While I do delight in bad media getting torn apart, I find more satisfaction in seeing great media being dissected so as to learn just WHY it was so effective. I learned a lot about pacing, character development, and world building watching Arcane than if I had just read a “how to write stories” book or something. As someone who wants to publish my own stories someday I really appreciate you taking the time for these kinds of analyses. Looking forward to future installments!

[@hurricaneofcats]

I feel like you're partially right about Victor. I don't think he initially helped Jace because of wanting to fix his disability but genuinely because he wanted to do something on his own instead of simply assisting Heimerdinger. Victor is young and brilliant but is never able to innovate anything because he has no patrons or connection and is stuck following Heimerdinger, who is a stodgy old professor thoroughly uninterested in pursuing bleeding edge research. He's never felt like a true resident of Piltover or been granted the same privileges most people get there. In Jace he sees another young researcher he has a lot in common with and he is genuinely intriguing by the potential of Jace's theories. He wants something to truly apply himself towards. He's a more experienced researcher and knows how he can contribute. I feel like his obsession with the science was pure at the start, knowledge for the love of knowledge, but only later does his illness and desperation push him to try to fix his leg and body.

[@alitabattlebot013]

I had no prior experience with League. My first impressions of Arcane from the trailer was "oh boy, another modern show with strong kickass women with dyed hair". But my sister and I were sitting around doing nothing one day while we were waiting for my father to get out of the hospital following a second heart attack. She was flipping through various streaming services in an effort to keep herself occupied while i sat on a nearby seat playing a game. I happened to glance up when she was moving through Netflix and saw the banner card for Arcane, "hey, they keep harassing me online with ads for that show, want to check it out"? I asked, thinking we would have a laugh over how mediocre/bad it was and would move on. That first scene seriously blew me away. Every preconceived notion of what this show might be was completely obliterated one by one. We ended up cleaving through four episodes in that single night and finishing it the next day. It seriously is one of the best shows I've ever seen. Im glad one of the long-form film critics i enjoy watching is finally doing a proper breakdown on why this show is so damn good, keep up the good work. I'll eagerly be looking forward to part two of your series.

[@TheWickedWizardOfOz1]

I had no experience with league. I was seeing videos and references from people like Mauler and Shadiversity show up with words like "masterpiece," and I was a tad confused. Wasn't this based on a video game that I hadn't heard any good things about? I saw the trailer and was unimpressed, but I gave it a go one day at a hotel during a business trip. I saw the opening scene on my laptop and called my sister over (we were staying in the same room as we were working together) and asked if she wanted to watch it. She wasn't interested, but I got her to watch the opening. She was very, VERY interested after that. It was obvious that this was something special.

[@matijasostojic4288]

Back when Arcane first released I didn't play or know anything about the League verse or even that Arcane was based on League. So the first ever thing I had seen of it was powder holding up the crystal and my first thought was "Oh is this a DnD animated series?" Because the crystal Looked like a 20 sided die to me I guess.

[@kalinora3901]

That's what happens when people who have a passion for the material (in this case the people who made the game and the film studio they have a history of hiring for their music videos) actually do the work instead of those looking to make a quick profit off of something.

[@ingloriousbaxter]

As much as I love a good breakdown of terrible shows, it’s awesome to see you gush about something you love. I’m stoked for parts 2 and 3

[@PugDungeon]

The algorithm be damned, this is probably the best video I've seen covering Arcane, which is my favorite series of all time. Your work on part 1 is truly outstanding, and I genuinely hope these videos receive the recognition they rightly deserve. Can't wait for part 2!

[@michaelwoodby5261]

Silco's first appearance as mustache-twirling villain really fits the first two episodes. The first two episodes tell you what kind of show it is, with the scrappy kids thwarting the cackling bad guy, as other characters do adult stuff, probably eventually realizing the kids really are heroes, and everyone claps. Soon as episode 3 starts, it's a hard mood shift, but still just comes across as a darker segment of a standard story. Then Grayson dies, and everything is fucked forever. It sets you up to expect something, based on everyone's collective understanding of what western animation is generally like, just so when it veers off course it's that much more shocking.

[@justsomeredspy]

2:23:34 - I always took Heimerdinger to be saying that he is the only one on the counsel who personally witnessed the terrifying power of magic. Obviously, the other counselors will be aware that magic is a very bad thing, e.g. we're told that Piltover was "founded to escape from the warmongering of mages." Similarly, I interpret Bolbok's line to be him referencing a history he was taught, not events he personally witnessed. Heimerdinger is the oldest member of the counsel, and as a result, he is the only one to have seen the devastating effects of magic firsthand. I think that is the burden he's referring to.

[@Hohum37]

I wonder if Heimerdinger may have been somehow partly responsible for what he's remembering - a very real burden.

[@Camkitsune]

New subscriber here! Thought I could give some insight to something. 1:46:20 This is actually pretty realistic in terms of how scientific breakthroughs can happen. The example I'll use is Enrico Fermi: In 1934, by firing neutrons at Uranium he thought he had created two new, hitherto undiscovered elements, and was awarded a Nobel Prize for it. It was only in 1938 that it was discovered that, rather than two new elements, he had split Uranium into Barium and Krypton, and had therefore inadvertently invented Nuclear Fission. It _then_ took several more years before the discovery lead to a practical application. The point being, Jayce and _especially_ Viktor have intimate knowledge of the theoretical framework describing magic. Any such framework will have implications: by testing those implications, if the theory is sound you can create a new phenomenon - sometimes you can even do this completely by accident. The actual discovery of a reproducible phenomenon simply requires a test that exploits those implications - if you're right, you'll get the expected results. Under the circumstances it's far more likely that the knowledge of how to do what they did existed already for some time, but Heimerdinger was preventing people from doing tests that would confirm it. Once the phenomenon is confirmed, _then_ it takes several years to find practical applications for it. And, unsurprisingly, the first thing it gets used for is murdering people. Honestly it struck me as unrealistic at the time myself, but it was only learning about the hunt for the heavier radioactive elements that made me realize it checks out.

[@zenmindgamer]

Love this reply, good history share.

[@williamhare4456]

Watching this while trying not to cry that’s how good Arcane is.

[@Cancoillotteman]

I mean crying not necessarily but there sure are a lot of catarthic (bad or good catharsis note) moments ! The show uses such a diversity of caracters, all of them with some depth, that i never met anyone who watched it and couldn't identify with at least one of these. I know I felt very strongly for Vander and Jayce, both highly ambitious former idealistic who get brought down to accepting a perverting level of pragmatism to protect what they love and care for. But Vander above all, who only wants to protect and raise his loved ones. I hope they don't mess up in season 2 with a Warwick angle.

[@candbeens]

Real.. this review is just reminding me how perfectly engineered Powder's tragedy was to be one of the most depressing things I've ever watched jfc

[@julsegs]

Legit! Him retelling Vi and Powder's final scene together in Act 1, and seeing it as it plays out still breaks me 😭

[@dymundprynsess]

I cried n the first min. I can look at anything arcane without crying. It's not go for me when I'm trying to listen and do other things lol

[@williamhare4456]

At the end of the first three episodes of Arcane I did something that I rarely ever do. I did nothing but contemplate what I watched and admired the beautiful clockwork of the story. Because unlike most stories where the story seemed to be guided by the flow of a river and a slight breeze could send the story down a different path. Arcane’s first act is like a clock what happened, happened and could not have happened any other way.

[@vladavram492]

This is gonna be wild. I sincerly wish these videos to blow up. Because Season 2 is comming in November, and it'd be crazy to have you cover it as it comes out.

[@William2669]

I’m so hyped for it but also scared cause I loved season 1 so much that I’m worried they’re gonna drop the ball.

[@justsomeredspy]

​@@William2669 Every available piece of evidence points to the writers having deliberately crafted season one to be as good as it is. There are clips and interviews where they discuss their approach to writing for Arcane, and everything they say appears to align with what we see in the show, i.e. character driven storytelling, a strong focus on logical coherence, respect for the source material, a desire to create meaningful payoffs, etc. That's not to say they are incapable of screwing up season two, but it's encouraging to know that season one wasn't just a fluke. The writers appear to care deeply about their story and good storytelling in general. *_God I hope they get it right..._* 🙏

[@RekashalGames]

@@justsomeredspy id hope they care about it. Riot themselves are the ones making the show. Season one was in production for like 6 years or something. I remember reading about it years ago in one of the articles they do from time to time in the league client.

[@nickl9461]

I hope even more for a good season two, with a focus on writing quality to match S1.

[@vladavram492]

@@nickl9461 writing should be at least on the same level, since they mentioned starting writing on the second season while writing the first.

[@grandarkfang_1482]

"OH! THE MISERY! EVERY SINGLE PERSON IS MY ENEMY!" -Jerma985

[@nickmanaseri7182]

Jace wasn’t just coming home from benzos to work on the crystals, little man only knew where Jace lived because he followed Jace home, Jace had to have worked with the crystals prior to the gang braking into jaces home. This makes it a little more believable that they were able to crack hextech in one night

[@shanehudson3995]

Agreed. Jace has been working on this for a long while. Victor just helped him over the finish line.

[@PotatoIsMe6660]

I feel like it's not too much of a stretch to assume he's been working on the crystals for some time before deciding he needs to go to the undercity for new tools.

[@itsgonnabeokay9341]

Yeah. He was saved by magic when he was a kid. He probably worked o it for years. The theory was almost done.

[@troo_6656]

So here's a thought which I would consider when talking about Jace and Victor's speed at which they figured out hex tech. I think it's reasonable that they could have figured out the theory. It looks like Jace already had a lot of the math and theory and was mostly just trying to prove it can be done in practice. Which would explain why he went to Benzo's shop at this time. With Victor together they could have within less than 24 hours figure out the oscillations needed to be higher. I think that's at least reasonable given both men's backgrounds. One clever idea could have been enough to put them on track to do it. What they are doing with the tech in the lab is essentially a crapshoot. They have a working theory and need any results to get people on their side. Meaning they really didn't figure out any use of magical technology, how to control it or anything of real note. Just played around with it under the right conditions and got miniature teleportation spell working sort of like staying in a lab late combining exotic chemicals together in a way that should result in something possibly useful and getting something fairly useful but only in miniature sample size. For that I think the time frame of the discovery is a lot more reasonable.

[@mrminecraftcubeable]

i kinda wish arcane didn't retcon jayce and viktor into being the creators of hextech and instead just kept them 2 very skilled hextech engineers pushing the limits

[@lachlanhudson7404]

@@mrminecraftcubeable Jayce didn’t invent hextech, he invented sextech 🥵

[@Yee-Haw_Bird]

@@mrminecraftcubeable I think it’s a reasonable way to re-invent the story that was laid out already. However I think the larger issue is with the other surrounding characters in piltover and zaun. Like Camille and House Ferros are completely missing. Which they could be how jayce found a supplier to the crystals, but just wish it was at least mentioned in passing with season 1.

[@marcturmel924]

A 2h40 video essay on season one of Arcane? Yes please and thank you!

[@bertimusprime7900]

Correction: the first three episodes of Arcane. We have so much more coming.

[@ArjunSidhan]

Just part one of a 3 parts season...

[@Lothiril]

"Hello, I'm father-figure, and I am here to... father your figure..." I'm DYING 🤣🤣🤣

[@rocklemillion8041]

2:24:22

[@canacorn2793]

So were the fathers 💀

[@lukeblundell5610]

@10:12 'Fantastically' and 'Efficient'; Two words about the writing of this show, which is one of the many reasons it's SO awesome.

[@Belbecat]

I think Viktor and Jayce cracking hextech in one night is they're two individually brilliant minds coming together for the first time, and they were in a do-or-die situation where they no longer had to abide to any laws or fear of repercussions where if they didn't make the discovery now or both their lives are done so they simply pull an all nighter and do all the things they probably had to tiptoe around up til that point and just went for it so I think it's very feasible that they got it like that

[@Belbecat]

Also, can't wait for the next parts to come. This show is somehow a masterpiece and still underrated somehow! Thank goodness people are still talking about it.

[@cognitivedissonance9938]

Love it when people dedicate videos like these to stories they love. As much as I enjoy a good analysis of bad media (new Star Wars and late GOT), I find it refreshing when the same amount of effort is aimed at bringing attention to excellent stories. Hope the video does well and that season two can maintain the same quality.

[@AngryDuck79]

I always recommend Arcane to people as an example of near perfect writing, something that is woefully absent in the vast majority of media these days, and tell them that they have to watch the first three episodes. If they watch the first three episode and aren't in absolute awe at the storytelling, then they're not gonna be capable of appreciating good storytelling anyway and they can go watch the Kardashians or something.

[@DavisXero]

Thank you for not catering to the algorithm and giving us a review of something good. Even if it doesn’t take off, I hope you continue reviewing positive media. It is extremely refreshing to go into a video and it’s not constant negativity.

[@nationlessnationalist]

Silco is right about so much when it comes to will and power.

[@davebeattie9573]

Thank you for covering this show. I'm someone who had never even heard of League of Legends, let alone played the game, and I was absolutely blown away by Arcane. I binge watched the entire series in a single sitting, pausing only for the occasional toilet break. Immediately after I paused to eat, get some sleep, and once awake I immediately set about rewatching it. Arcane became the first Netflix show that I "My Listed". I often find myself rewatching it, even when I have other things I want to watch. Again, thank you for covering this show, and looking forward to parts two, three, and I'm assuming a final autopsy.

[@creativelie8368]

When Random started talking about how knowing about league’s lore made him anxious, I got so excited. I was NOT expecting him to mention Mundo, that threw me for a loop. I totally thought he was gonna talk about how Warwick and Vander’s backstories were WAY too similar for comfort, and that we could probably expect a murderous furry in the next season.

[@Bootheal]

Show is a masterpiece, and I’m really glad it’s getting your attention. It deserves this level of analysis as you’re absolutely right that only improves with scrutiny. I’m really excited for your final video and where you land with Silco. It’s very rare for a villain’s character arc to be so thoroughly impressive as his by the time he’s sitting next to Vander’s statue.

[@dragonmcmx]

2:05:27 I'm fairly certain that Benzo's is an agreed upon meeting spot for Vander and Grayson. There is nothing in the show suggesting that he was there by coincidence when he meets with Grayson in episode 1; he goes there immediately after confronting Vi about the job, Benzo notes that Vander is early, and neither of them act surprised at all when Grayson and Marcus walk in. It would also be entirely reasonable to assume that Vander and Grayson would have want to have an agreed upon meeting spot for events like this or for when they needed to talk for any other reason, and as you correctly point out, Grayson is clearly familiar with Benzo, knows about that he is trusted by Vander and that he is likely the only other person who knows about their deal. So either way it would make sense that she would go there if she needed a link to Vander. As you point out, enforcers also have reasons to go to Benzo's when looking for leads anyway due to it being a pawn shop and likely a funnel for a lot of stolen items, so since both Vander and enforcers have valid reasons to be going there it would be far less risky for the meeting to take place there than just about anywhere else; either of them being seen leaving or entering Benzo's is far less likely to arouse suspicion.

[@erikdefeijter1777]

Thanks for covering Arcane. Bit late to the party but very glad you did. Just like you, I was in awe of the opening sequence. I watched it several times immediately after watching the first episode for the first time and showed it to several people as a master class in world building, character development and emotional investment, all through visual storytelling. One of the finest examples of show, don’t tell.

[@geoff2k]

Your take on Arcane is great, and your delivery of this breakdown was also impressive -- there's a note in your voice of ... enjoyment? ... that occurs rarely in some of the other videos of yours that I've watched, and I hope you can find more series like this one!

[@OneDapperFrog]

Invincible might give him a similar excitement.

[@SkittleBombs]

aracen season 2 is this year XD

[@luster5497]

When an independent retelling of game character lore is so good, the game comes to adopt it as “canon”. It says a lot.

[@Nokaret]

After your announcement in the Rebel Moon video I put Arcane on my to-do-list. It's still there - welp, time to binge this thing tomorrow 🙂

[@danis8455]

blue eyed samurai and cyberpunk is almost just as good, if you want something more for that list.

[@bertimusprime7900]

​@danis8455 they're decent, but they're nowhere near Arcane’s quality. Cyberpunk has good story, but long periods of no animation. Neither of them comes close to Arcane’s writing either.

[@danis8455]

@@bertimusprime7900 think they are all highly stylished from a visual point of view. keept me from watching Arcane for a long time. Since i just did not really like the style of animation. (or cared for LOL) Same for cyberpunk....where i knew i had to watch Blue eyed samurai from the first moment i saw the trailer. History wise i think at times Blue eyed samurai reaches same levels. But also has some clear quality drops on same front. But overall it was a great watch and personally the style just better to me. Cyber punk is a bit more tricky. And likely is the weakest of the 3 in a lot of ways but still all 3 are worth the time.

[@Pandaman94]

Do it do it do it do it. The emotional payout Will leave you Absolutely speechless. In my opinion despite it's flaws it's one of the single best cinematic masterpieces I have ever experienced.

[@nickl9461]

Dewit!

[@spifinatorsxpwindow3379]

To an extent, yes, stabilization of the crystals does seem a little expedient, but you also have to consider jace has been attempting to stabilize them for years. Victor just brought in the perspective that finally made all those years of research click the final piece of the puzzle that made it function to the desired outcome o and he webt to get MORE equipment from benzos not all the equipment every break through or new discovery may leed you to need to try different equipment to accomplish your goal

[@theamazingfroboy]

I one of those people that randomly watches long form videos to fall asleep too, but this kept me awake with how good it was haha! Thanks for this and you got another sub.

[@GreatGreebo]

Arcane is amazing, if not awe Inspiring as to what is POSSIBLE if writers actually CARE about telling a good story. This will be a nice break from the drudgery of most current show reviews because let’s face it: it’s depressing when you think about the state of storytelling anymore. Thank you *RFT* . I’ll go back to laughing at your Final Autopsy of Rings of Power tomorrow, but tonight I will succumb to the HOPE that things will get better!

[@templum3359]

Isn’t it great to have an in depth analysis with your skills in presenting it on a good show this time around ? This was my favourite show in 2021. I’m already excited to be entertained with quality content on it.

[@A_Wild_Dyzzy]

The moment Vi said “You did this?” I choked up. That moment hit so unbelievably hard all because they set up the motivations and intentions of Vi and Powder and we know exactly every individual moment that led to that gut-punch of a line. And as someone who does not play League, I can confirm that it was a totally different experience from what my brother, who plays often, had.

[@Backfisch5927]

Love to see one of the "long movie review" youtubers actually make a positive video about something great instead of just negative video after negative video

[@Hohum37]

I wish Red Letter Media would take a look.

[@henryneubert7798]

Agree. However, I don't think negativity is a bad thing. If the things really are bad, negativity is justified, because it is the truth. Positive videos like this proof that these channels are not negative for the sake of it, because they are able to do positive videos and don't depend on negativity, as people love to claim.

[@ninjatoriumnova2483]

​@@henryneubert7798Eh, there's negative criticism, and there's being a cynical edgelord. The latter is more popular, unfortunately.

[@henryneubert7798]

@@ninjatoriumnova2483 Eh, we aren't talking about cynical edgelords.

[@ninjatoriumnova2483]

@@henryneubert7798 In that case, I agree.

[@bertimusprime7900]

I gotta wait 41 hours? Valentine's Day is ruined. What am i gonna do now, spend time with my wife?

[@MistbornTaylor]

I hope you made her watch Arcane for Valentine’s 😊

[@yamochanchan]

As long as you didnt bring her to watch Madam Web all is fine. Otherwise you might be set on fire 😂

[@bertimusprime7900]

@yamochanchan Woah, Woah, whoa, let's get one thing straight: I love my wife. I wouldn't subject her to Madam Web unless I had made an arrangement to watch a cringe movie. Even then, it's not even near the top of my list. I've heard it's boring, and boring is worse than the most exquisite cringe.

[@franciscoOrellana29]

@@yamochanchan nostalgia critic moment

[@Polluxtby]

I am so ready for this to kick off. I love Arcane and I really like what you did with the Hobbit

[@beatamasny5123]

Yeah, his Hobbit videos were so good!

[@Kerrandrius]

Something you missed: Mauser's name is also probably a cheeky reference to the type of gun. It's a pun on the fact that it's a mouse, but also an implement for killing people.

[@egomania2792]

But Mauser's arent a specific gun, its just the name of the manufacturer. Standard surname, I'm not sure it even has anything to do with the german word "Maus". Not to mention her thingy probably was named "Mouser".

[@F1rstWorldNomaD]

Grayson could also have gone to the last drop, asked for Vander and been told either that he was at Benzos or that he would likely be there. Or the coyld simply have checked Benzos when they didnt find him at the last drop. Benzo IS Vanders right hand man, thats not a secret, Im absolutely sure Grayson knew this. I dont see a problem with them finding Vander there.

[@5h0rgunn45]

I've heard of Arcane and seen clips of it, but I've never watched it until now. The first three episodes were... darker than I expected. I look forward to watching the rest of Season 1. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, Random!

[@Amarenamann]

*"Silco did nothing wrong."* -Bilbo Baggins

[@misanthropicservitorofmars2116]

Make Damacia Great Again

[@brandonm1708]

“Kissing Jinx is one of the only joys I have in life” -Silco

[@wikimon]

Sevika best daughter

[@nickl9461]

Bilbonious Baggonious

[@nickl9461]

​@@brandonm1708Lol, yes! "He kisses her, on the lips!" 😂

[@AritheBored]

I actually now watch your series instead of the actual ones, at first I thought that was specific to bad shows ( rings of power), but now I think it is a more keen enjoyment of how you dissect stories, characters, and the overarching plots. You are in my top three subscriptions that I am honestly glad I found. On another note, thank you for improving the ad situation I mentioned last vid. It is so much better now and I can enjoy and follow your thought process much more smoothly. Appreciated!

[@randomft]

I made no changes to the ads, I have never done any micromanaging of ad placement. KZbin has actually taken that control away from creators, so those that did can no longer do so. So it is good to hear that YT may have got their shit together in terms of automating it!

[@AritheBored]

Well thank you anyway and sorry for misunderstanding

[@heisenberg2712]

@@randomft What do you think of the idea that the reason why Jayce and Viktor were able to invent hextech within a day and why other could not is because, Jayce witnessed magic in person when the magician saved him and his mother and that key insight which he alone has helped him in solving it and why no one else didnt. So Jayce and Viktor are genius and they are motivated to solve (Heimerdinger might be able to dsolve but has no motivation) and Jayce has the key insight after witnessing magic up close which gave him the required insight for the "eureka" moment and he probably thought about how the magician did it for all these years. All these factors separate him from everyone else and maybe this is why they were able to solve it so quickly while others couldnt. Do you think this fixes the tiny flaw?

[@randomft]

It definitely makes it more plausible, and I am not sure I would call it a "flaw", just something that could have been presented in a more believable manner.

[@heisenberg2712]

@@randomft I see yeah I understand. thanks

[@HappyFir3]

Awesome analysis. Love you're not straying away from pointing out flaws and thoroughly inspecting what others have perceived as flaws. You clearly liked the show, but manage to maintain a lack of overbias that tends to happen with praising works.

[@cicadaluk4186]

I’ve watched Arcane 4 times, and each time I discover something new that makes me fall in love with the show even more, I’ve never looked as deep into the show as you have, but watching your video makes me appreciate it even more. Looking forward to the next instalment of your analysis! Your work is greatly appreciated, thank you

[@LoyaltL]

1:13:00 The reason why Silco opts to not immediately knife Powder is because he intended to get info on where Vi was/use Powder as bait to get Vi. That's why we see him hide the knife behind his back (deceit), rather than just put it away (genuine). And the reason why he embraces her is not because of respect for Vander. It's just because he empathised with Powder. Silco is a very simple man.

[@saltefan5925]

Now this does put a smile on my face

[@poissonsumac7922]

Well this'll certainly be a change of pace! Though sadly I'm predicting there'll be a lot less "by all acounts it doesn't make sense ".

[@modjoe4107]

I came for the Rings of power shit talking, i stayed for the amazing videos. keep this up i love that your branching out. you should try some anime series like Cowboy Bebop

[@Belbecat]

Oh yes I'd love to hear his take on Bebop 😍

[@sowitapid]

This ultra low note droning in the background of THAT scene just increases the anxiety to 120%. Just the masterful melding of character, plot, visuals and audio. Also, after the initial shock and thoughts after watching the show was exactly your words: this show has no right to be this good.

[@HellGrimo]

I don't know how I ended up on the channel of a guy who mashed up Yzma's face on Kronk but I'm not gonna pass on the opportunity to hear an analysis about my favorite piece of art

[@joshuahicks7798]

How the heck does this videos not have more likes at this point?

[@taylorparis7228]

I liked your explanation of Mylo. I understand why people hate him, but he was young and died watching his own brother die too. He probably thought none of them were going to make it out. It's hard for me to hate him when I take into account his age (he's like 14) and that he was clearly jealous of Powder. Jealous of the attention she gets and that she is secretly good at a lot. While he isn't great at anything. Mylo would've (imo) changed had he not died as a child. Spoiler: Very sad that he's the taunting voice in Jinx's head years later still. Deep down they all cared about each other as children.

[@Gwaeddwynn]

as much as i enjoy you dissecting things like rings of power and the hobbit, i enjoy it even more when you are so in love with something

[@reno9821]

I'm not very interested by the negative reviews your channel covers (even though i'm really convinced you argue your points really well there based on this video) because it's just an analytical genre I've grown mostly tired of. These positive analysis breakdowns, however, are very rare and therefore feel incredibly refreshing. I can't get enough of them. I really hope this video of yours does well because I'd love to tune in for another breakdown like this both for the other two acts of Arcane or any other film or show deserving of the praise.

[@tiggle5485]

Always a good day when RFT posts

[@Amarenamann]

I can't disagree.

[@Silica_Packer]

1:35:48 Echo is in love with powder. You can see his painting of her at the end of ep 1. Milo does his finger up to the enforcers over Powders portrait to make it look like she is the guilty one, re he is setting her up. That is so cool!

[@tamagothchic]

I'm still not quite over the fact that Powder was willing to use a nail bomb on another child, and not even a stranger at that. That's a pretty painful, gruesome way to die, and she tossed that thing way too close for mere maiming. Either she genuinely thought the boys were going to kill her and was therefore willing to kill them first, or she wasn't emotionally effected by the idea of murdering someone, an act even adults hesitate at in this series. Either way, it sets up her later sadistic behavior, and reinforces the idea that she may lack empathy to anyone she doesn't have a direct emotional connection to.

[@lyantogrin]

I absolutely love the level of analysis you put into these videos. I already really liked Arcane, and treated it as a major example of what to do when writing (show over tell in exposition, letting the audience digest the story at their own rate etc.) but your analysis helps hammer home just how good it really is. I completely agree that Arcane is a much better show than it had any right to originally be and I cannot wait until you get to the analysis of my favorite scenes from Parts 3.

[@dragonmcmx]

1:52:30 The chest is locked, actually, or at least sealed in some way. Powder first attempts to force it open, fails, then tinkers with the mechanism which proceeds to cause the box to open. I always found this to be a very charming character moment for Powder; she's initially trying to be like Vi by using brute force, but that's not who she is or what she's good at so she isn't rewarded until she uses her smarts and her knack for tinkering with contraptions to get what she wants.

[@Jinxofthedesert]

Can't believe it took me a month to watch this but I wanted to rewatch the series before sitting down for your analysis. So I am finally back and enjoying this so much, as I always do with your vids. They're always so well detailed and I am already excited to go watch part 2 once done with part 1. Thanks for another great breakdown!

[@C0rn123]

arcane is absolute amazing. everything is crafted so well, the characters, the story, and there are easter eggs all over the place for anybody who has played LoL. point in case: 8:25 - the cupcakes are a reference to caitlyn (later called cupcake by vi)

[@lenard._.1744]

Amazing 3 hours of content! Imo, Arcane has the Andor issue of being something that doesn't deserve to be as good as it is, and associated with an IP no one takes seriously. I was an avid LoL hater and did not want to watch it, until a friend of mine who also hates LoL recommended it. Ironically, I conviced that same friend to watch Andor by saying that it's the Arcane of (Disney) Star Wars, lol. I think your points are well made, your video doesn't fall into the "repetitive long video" trap and your thoughts are well explained and your criticisms really valid. Earned a sub, great job, can't wait to see your new stuff

[@petergregory7177]

Hey, This is an excellent review. Id add for 1:57:00 Its seems likely considering the surrounding conversations that Vander is bringing Clagger as he knows clagger is more mature and will have gotten the message from vander, but Milo and Powder will be taking more of their queues on vanders scolding from Vi so hes also giving her an opportunity with them to reiterate the messaging.

[@scottjohnson9799]

Vander is also bringing Clagger along so he can quiz him about exactly what happened. As they leave he says "Give me the details of exactly what happened up there." Milo is more likely to be evasive and self-serving in his answers, so Vander interrogates Clagger on the way over. He doesn't take both of them because he knows Clagger will be more forthcoming without Milo there to overhear what he tells Vander. Plus Vander also had to bring that heavy sack of shit to Benzo's and Clagger is the physically stronger of the two.

[@lonely1828]

You bastard! Making us wait over a day for this!!! How dare you sir?! 😂 On a serious note though mate, can't wait for it. Love your channel and this show ❤️ By the way just discovered your other channel and saw your SOMA playthrough. Please please please make a vid talking about your thoughts. Please and thank you 😊

[@nickl9461]

Second that

[@nickl9461]

Awesome vid. So happy to see you cover Arcaine. You pointed out subtleties in the writing that I didn't even notice after nearly half dozen views. Hope this series gets all the engagement it deserves!!! Can't wait for part 2.

[@jimdejulio2709]

Amazing job! I canceled my Netflix years ago and had not even heard of this show before I seen this video. I hope you continue to review good shows as well as the bad ones.

[@Lumberjack_Linnie]

I have to thank you so much, Random. This show was on my watchlist, but I never came around to actually watch it. Now, with your video out, I moved it to the top of the list, because I wanted to see it without spoilers. Watched it in one sitting. And two days later again. It is one of my favourite shows of all time, right up there with The Bear and It's always sunny in Philadelphia. That said, I never played LoL and will never do it. It just not my kind of game. So it was really interesting so see your perspective and insights.

[@Dragoonknight88]

Dude, that was nice. I watched the show twice, and it's awesome. I'm looking forward to your next parts. Stay healthy!

[@jonwilson9131]

I disagree a little about your take on the first meeting between Powder and Silco. He didn't decide not to kill her when he hid his knife. He was simply trying to get information from her about where Vi went. He decided not to kill her and instead adopt her when she hugged him in desperation and railed against her sister for abandoning her.

[@xzemmyx]

Im really glad youre doing videos also of shows that you believe did a great job. Its fun hearing your breakdowns of the scenes and characters. Thanks for all your efforts, youve done a great job and i am looking forward to the other videos too. 😊👍👍

[@prezpurple9467]

Another banger from my fastly approaching favorite media reviewer

[@Amarenamann]

It's been some time since I last watched this show but I remember really enjoying it, I also remember Marcus being one of my favourite characters; well written antagonists are usually the thing that I look forward to the most when it comes to most media.

[@theaizere]

as a simple person (sheep) I see ‘Arcane’ and any hint of praise and click straight away

[@montybrewster7]

When i first watched those first 3 episodes my only complaint was it seemed like power turned from vi too quickly. However, as this review of yours points out & i realised myself during numerous re-watches, it doesn't just happen in that moment. It's been building up to that throughout the first 3 episodes. From vi having to catch her on the roof, to powder over hearing vi agree powder messes up at lot (and crucially not hearing the rest of the conversation), to being left out of the mission to save vander amongst others. There are numerous things that from powder’s point of view are undermining her self confidence & sense of belonging that lead up to her embracing silko. It's the moment when she finally breaks rather than it being an immediate reaction to vi turning her back in her. As you point out in this brilliant review, the deeper you delve into this masterpiece of a story the more you reveal. Thanks for a great vid RFT.

[@troo_6656]

Now this is going to be something truly special. Also a good excuse to watch Arcane again :)

[@lilithbelmont2308]

Regarding Benzo's shop being a point of plot convenience (Grayson happening to go there, Vi happening to turn herself in there, etc.), I think it's noteworthy that everyone at the first meeting (Benzo, Vander, Grayson, & Markus) acts so casual. No one is surprised to find anyone else here. My assumption is that Benzo's was a designated meeting point for Grayson and Vander should something happen. Grayson and Vander have a deal, it makes sense for them to have a way to communicate, and it makes sense to not want written communication. When Vi tries to turn herself in, it would make perfect sense to then wait at the one place she knows Grayson has already made contact with Vander.

[@MartainnMacaBhaillidh]

I have never heard of this game and would never normally watch an animated series. There's no way I'd have watched this series if you hadn't made a video on it. But I'm very glad I did!

[@wesleyking6713]

It's crazy how much better this show gets upon repeat viewings. It just gets more and more tragic the better you understand the characters. Let's use storytelling to dial your empathy up to eleven and then use that to devastate you.

[@MiMi-xc7ks]

For 1:53:08 -ish, I would argue that there is enough of Jayce’s character shown to believe her would be reckless (maybe careless) enough to leave a box of very important crystals unlocked in his bedroom. Even with a friend coming to his apartment, there may be boundaries where the friend does enter a specific room because it’s inherently “off limits.” But to have a break in would be unheard off at this point of so just only concerned would be a friend entering his bedroom uninvited.

[@lolbuster01]

He even locks his balcony, there are guards everywhere, he doesn't have much to realistically fear.

[@ILOPKEY1]

Excellent, now I need to rewatch Arcane again.

[@megamiaouh8992]

Something I've thought about Powder after watching Arcane is that she's probably some flavor of Psychotic, especially with the way the bridge intro seems to be in her perspective at the start, with the messy drawings over enforcers and explosions representing her dissociating from reality, maybe even the first time it happened and what put her on the slippery slope towards becoming Jinx, with every following trauma pushing her further and further away from reality and into her dissociation.

[@randidorrenbacher5433]

Note: Powder did not "recall" the crystals caused the explosion at the apartment. She REALIZED they were the cause of the explosion after seeing those sparkly motes in the air after she threw them during her tantrum/breakdown.

[@Cassandra112]

that thing with Jayce not haggling comes back in the end again of course with silco.

[@EarthGwee]

Went and binged the whole season before coming back to watch the video, so I missed the premier. But it was worth it. I am heavily invested in this show and will be taking writing inspiration from it for my own projects. So glad you're analyzing this one.

[@ten-finger]

28:53 If Mouser had actually worked and fulfilled its purpose, that kid would also have been destroyed

[@robinthrush9672]

I really appreciated Clagger as I basically _was_ Clagger as a kid. Just without the lawlessness. Tall, pudgy, glasses, brown hair, inoffensive, humble; it was like someone wrote me into the show.