Battle. Betrayal. Brotherhood. | Arcane 2x9 Reaction & Review | League Of Legends on Netflix

[@athas65]

Regarding Jinx, the reason I'm fine with Jinx surviving is that she tried to end her life the whole season, so her breaking the cycle by leaving the cities rather than dying is a good way to end her arc for me.

[@jimjimcherie]

Exactly, especially bcs su!cide would be a better bad message to give us an end to a cycle

[@Triskaan]

Yeah, at first I felt like her surviving undermined the punch of it all, but the more I think about it, the more I like it. Walking away was the right move.

[@jarvis1393]

I agree with that.

[@Kaiserr15]

It was confirmed that Ekko told her about the other world and they bonded over it. And apparently we were supposed to get something intimate between them. But there was at least a hour of content cut

[@merwanor4864]

I will never understand why studios keeps pushing for important character moments to be cut. Of all the shows, this one was not one of them. Especially when pretty much every scene has a purpose for the story, cut anything out and you lose important context. I love the show, but I can't deny that the final act felt very rushed, and I am just not satisfied with the finale. Still one of the best shows I have ever seen, but the final words said at the end of season 1 comes to mind.... What could have been.

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

@@merwanor4864 The whole season felt rushed. As if they had material for at least one more but because of Netflix's decision to not pay for more, were left for time.

[@MatthewFabb]

​@@merwanor4864I think it just comes down to costs. Arcane was an incredibly expensive show reportedly costing $250 million, making it the most expensive animated series ever made. A longer episode would have cost more money that they simply didn't have. That said, I do hope they release the script to show what exactly they had to cut out.

[@Hawkido]

Ambessa follows the new leadership of Noxxus, the Black Rose leader is unset at the regime change, Mel uses her Mother as bait to get the Black Rose Leader to expose her true self, then attacks to recover her mother. This is why her Mother is proud of her and calls her the Wolf. Mel was not afraid of using her own Mother as bait to destroy her foe. This was Ambessa's "Don't Cry, You're Perfect" scene.

[@lukaszzylik4437]

I think you're misusing the term deus ex machina. If they never established that Ekko made the Z Drive beforehand and he pulled it out to save the day that would be a deus ex machina. It's more like making up a power on the spot that never existed before to get a character out of a bad situation.

[@UselessTenor94]

It would be more like a chekov's gun? or however it's pronounced.

[@demonseed360]

This is correct. Deus ex machina literally translates to God from the machine. It's more akin to divine intervention. For example, when all hope is lost, it randomly starts raining and it turns out that Viktor is weak to rain because he's a robot, so it short circuits him for a bit and releases Jayce. What they're describing is Chekhov's gun. A seemingly innocuous detail or mechanic that was established earlier in the story becomes useful later on. A literal example is Ellie's gun in the Last of us TV show.

[@jimjimcherie]

2:49 the thing is those are Ekko’s powers in game, he does not time travel exactly. He makes a time loop in a controlled area, it does not affect the whole world, and Ekko can only go back 4 seconds before causing incredible damage and destroying the Z Drive. 4:48 bold for shooting at Ambessa head on, I imagine. 5:00 Indeed, Loris was already an officer 6:50 Maddie of course. 7:33 they were not a couple 😭 10:25 The Machine Herald has arrived. 11:47 Warwick’s design is honestly amazing. 13:17 man I love that line, it’s been one of my favorites since s01 13:47 it’s a hook for the next show as it will be about Noxus (Mel’s city/country) 16:04 this scene is AMAZING. Also the halo?? Man Fortige killed it. 19:05 same. I actually sobbed the whole episode. 19:33 yup! 19:56 first episode season 1 Powder says “one day I will ride in one of those” referring to the blimp. I’m okay with Jinx being alive because she tried to commit su!cide, that was her way to end the cycle, and I don’t think that’s right. I think her literally walking away from her life is the proper thing. Vi doesn’t know how to let go. She would’ve looked for Jinx till the end of the world. Vi reminds Jinx of all the ways she fcked up, even if she loves her. 24:59 it depends for me, in Arcane it’s something I loved. So for me it’s not the trope it’s the execution of the trope. This time around I think it worked and I loved it especially bcs JayVik. They’re just meant to be LMAO 27:38 Completely agree, sadly they didn’t have more budget. Three seasons would’ve worked better, but it is what it is. There will be more shows, it’s just that Vi and Jinx’s story, JayVik’s, their stories in this context is done.

[@ryan27229]

The Silco that Jinx saw in the jail cell told her that the killing cycle doesn't end until you gain the strength to walk away. In Jinx's case, she could only walk away as long as she knew Vi couldn't follow after her. Which meant she had to think she was dead. Also, yes she survived, and yes it's a cop out. The event that caused her death was contrived though anyway, so I don't really care. I can see how others will be annoyed by it though. Also also, the "Deciever" line was about the Black Rose, because everytime it appears it does so using someone else's face while speaking in riddles.

[@JustGamingSweden]

13:50 most likely meant that she's trying to trick Mel when Mel knows the truth. Black rose did kill her brother and she would never agree to work with them because of that.

[@glassworktrophic8465]

Jinx did indeed survive, as indicated by 4-5 clues towards the end. They left the fates of most character "deaths" who are also champions in the game ambiguous, specifically because Riot has determined that Arcane is canon. So they can't really kill off fan favorites. It's an unfortunate limitation of being a game adaptation. Ambessa is an exception because she wasn't a champion before the show, and was only made a champion BECAUSE of the show. So they must have felt enough ownership over the character to kill her on screen. Most of your criticisms are pretty widely held. Other reviewers I've watched have come to a similar conclusion, and even I did when I watched it myself, that they tried to do way too much. The show should have been 3 seasons, and feels like the final 2 got condensed in to one. If that's not the case then they made a big mistake on pacing. They couldn't seem to decide what to cut, so they tried to structure it such that they trusted the viewer to do a lot of the mental work filling in the gaps. And for most people it didn't quite work. Still a great season, just not as good as the first narratively. As an overall animated project it's probably the best I've seen in the last 2 decades at least.

[@michaelnordbergjeppesen9095]

It is great that she (imo) most likely survived. Silco "ghost" told her that killing and death was not the solution, but to actively walk away. She did the brave thing by not dying and instead choosing to leave her newfound sister walk away. The "old" Jinx would have died - "old" as the one trying to commit suicide, so Ekkos talk is also part of it.

[@Ziaotic]

there's more than one way to break a cycle; death is continuing the cycle. walking away breaks it

[@computerking]

Re: potential cop-out, Right before the explosion in the Hexgate chamber, there's a streak of purple (reminiscent of Jinx's Shimmer speed lines) trailing from the center of the pit towards some tubes down there.

[@thorton1811]

Im pretty sure netflix didn´t spend a dime on this, its Riot games project. And i dont know if its worth it for them, but it serves as a marketing for their games and there is already a bunch of new arcane themed skins for a lot of popular champions, so im sure they will make some money back.

[@17thknight]

Maddie was always a Noxian spy. Ambessa was slyly warning Caitlin how easy it was to infiltrate her.

[@gulag_sender2123]

Jinx is essential to later parts of the story, as she is best friends with a best friend from another nation, which is what I believe her surviving and leaving piltover is trying to build up to

[@Hawkido]

Season 1 Episode 1 "One of these day, I am gonna fly in one of those!" -Powder Caitlyn knows how to recreate a crime scene. Rewatch that last explosion in slow motion.

[@Hawkido]

Ekko only burns ONE name at the end. That was Heimerdinger's name on the paper.

[@sVieira151]

I, too, started chanting "Grond" at that moment. 😂

[@meewec2091]

to be fair regarding the pre-ordained nature of the show, you can tell that this is the only time it happened because the rune he handed jayce was different every time. every other attempt victor made with this plan failed, he didn't know how things would happen with his meddling because he hadn't lived it. he just kept trying until it finally worked.

[@bridgethaines7127]

Maddie was Noxian and a plant from the beginning by Ambessa.

[@MhailAzure1]

The $250 million is kinda a lie because it includes the marketing budget. As for making money, in-game skins are a big business.

[@TheLethalGuy]

Yeah I feel like the whole Piltover vs Zaun was lost a bit. Caitlyn becomes a dictator and we barely see any of what happens and the fallout other than 2 scenes where they have checkpoints and they round of a bunch of ppl and send them to prison. We shouldve gotten the war between them, Vi spiraling after losing Caitlyn, more of Warwick, more time with Viktor's commune, more time with Mel investigating Ambessa, more of Ekko, Heimerdinger, and the Firelights trying to navigate wartime, Jinx trying to escape Caitlyn's dictatorship, more buildup with the witches and Mel gaining her power, Jayce becoming vengeful after saving Viktor's life and him just leaving without even a thank you. Spend time coming to a natural resolution to Piltover vs Zaun instead of some weak forced alliance. Dont get me wrong I thoroughly enjoyed Arcane for what it was and its definitely my favorite animated show, but it couldve been even more if the creators werent rushed into wrapping everything set up in season 1 in a single season

[@beethewizard]

I love you guys so much. People get upset over opinions of entertainment. Keep being nerdy guys.

[@Ringoroadagain6]

21:20 yeah it's very obvious that she survived

[@merdufer]

My guess is, the writers wanted to kill off champions in the game for the story, but Riot didn't want that, so they compromised and did all the champion deaths ambiguously, with ways to write them back when needed. Even Ambessa, the only actual body we saw, is canonically a champion of the personification of death in the game universe, so Death (called Kindred in the game) can always bring her back in theory. I realized that very early on, so Jinx's "death" kinda just made me shrug, whereas Loris's death actually made me feel bad.

[@Ringoroadagain6]

50:45 it's insane that Nerdy thinks 250 million for 18 episodes with this kind of quality is a lot. A 2 hours movie like inside out had a budget of 200 million$

[@penckok1832]

Yall just need to watch this shit again without yapping all over it. You've missed the entire plot.

[@douglas2938]

I kinda hate the implications regarding Jynx's fate. Her sacrifice here would be the redeeming point for the character, but if she survives, on top of lessening the story with a generic cop-out and cheap manipulation, it makes her and Caitlyn cruel to Vi, deciding for her that she can't know the truth and needs to move on. Not to mention that Caitlyn already had one strike, so I don't know what "I think your sister is alive but I'm not telling you because I know what's better for you" would say about the future of that relationship. I have mixed feelings overall. I enjoyed this season much better than the first because this time I really felt there were stakes for each character, so I think they did a good job of building on top of the first season, they've stepped up with the style and soundtrack, etc. My issues are mostly with the inconsistent writing. Everyone had trouble with the irregular passage of time, and that was before time traveling shenanigans. But my biggest gripe is with Jayce and Viktor. What exactly was the plan? Was Jayce really just supposed to half-ass any atempt of convincing Viktor and default to cracking skulls when that failed? Did he know the whole time that he could show Viktor what would happen and that Viktor himself would regret it? Because if the plan was just to fail exactly the same all over again, Jayce and Viktor might have been insane this whole time, even without Hextech.

[@alexie5201]

I love your reactions even if your opinion differs from mine (it often does). 57:55 Claruse pretty much summarizes the point of it all haha. You explain your thoughts well and without being disrespectful, and that's the form of critique I like. Personally, I loved the show. One of the best things I've seen in my life, just pure art.

[@kamidende1596]

probly a butch of pepole alredy said it but, the ''jinx righting'' just says The End, But you ar on a good track of like the showing a way jinx could of survive, the ship that floating in the distence is also the same type of ship she sayd shed ride one day wen she was youg, last thing also is if yuo look at the explosion you can actuly she a streack of shimer going out of the explosion and out of frame, i honestly only starting looking wen like you i saw caitlin looking at jinx's monkey bomb with a smill, but i feel like its so mutch of a easter egg and up to interpretation, becus she could leteraly be smilling becus shes hearing vi huming xD

[@layniebear1237]

Nerdy!~ WC3 Dota < League of Legends you are correct and i love you for knowing this nerdy level shit. also i love that you guys had your difference of opinion about the show, its why i tune into yalls stuff. i know a lot of reactors will lie about how the show made them feel because the fan knock back would be bad. you guys just say it. also Blizzard even made it so that Legally all mini games belong to them going forward because they dont want another League of Legends to not profit them lol it was a huge thing for map makers when they announced it.

[@layniebear1237]

ill always be here for your guys reactions, regardless if you love or hate the shows that i love/hate. :D just love yalls take, i end up learning some stuff about the acting/theater industry some times or just get a great laugh or hear a great discussion ^.^ PLUS YOU GUYS ARE SO CUTE WHEN YOU HAVE THE SAME BRAIN CELL!~ ^.^ big love

[@wolfval6825]

-Ekko rewinds time beyond 4 seconds -Heimerdinger dies somewhere else

[@WhisperingWhatever]

Ekko's new Ultimate: - Heimerdinger explodes, regardless of which team he's on or if anyone picked him at all.

[@Matlesylc]

Season 2 was rushed I agree. They did a great job with what time they had and it will stay with me for a long time. Unfortunately they didn't have another 250$ mil for another 2 seasons and we probably didn't get what the writers really wanted to show. But in case anyone has a humble 250$ mil sitting around you can contact riot to expand on it. In the meanwhile ill be content with a show's animation and writing quality that comes once every 20 years for now. Ta!

[@sVieira151]

Are they insinuating that Jinx did a Luke Skywalker? Either way if Jinx is alive then I do not like it one bit. Cheapens her entire arc, even if from an isolated pov it works quite positively this season. It doesn't ruin the ending but definitely takes it down a few notches. I agree I didn't really like how they handled the Viktor stuff, especially these last few episodes. Maybe I've been spoiled with time travel stories because of Dark (on Netflix, I'd recommend it but it might be a bit much for the ol' ADHD unless Claroos wants a whiteboard), but when you bring in that aspect there should be a purpose and you should explore the ramifications of that, but we didn't get any exploration about it and whether that meant there was any free will etc. it disappointed me.

[@IvanTheUnholy]

While I understand the show is called "Arcane" and not "Jinx & Vi", I feel like the showrunners got a bit lost in the sauce in season 2. We left season 1 with a (mostly) grounded and beautifully crafted story about mental health, found family and the disparity between classes. Then season 2 kind of devolved into a bunch of magic lights and gibberish and like 3 different villains they had to wrap up in like- one and a half episodes because they wrote themselves into a corner with this 3 Acts gimmick. I feel like all storylines got little to no closure and some storybeats led literally nowhere. For example what even happened with Ambessa, Mel and Black Rose at the end? Why waste time building up Jinx, Sevika and Isha as a post-Silco "found family" trio if that gets COMPLETELY abandoned in the last act? Isha is genuinely NEVER mentioned again and Sevika and Jinx don't even interact after episode 6. I also wish Vander & Silco's ideologies had a part to play this season, since all their fantastic dialogue doesn't amount to much in these 9 episodes. I enjoyed the season for what it was and I don't regret waiting 2-3 years for it. They delivered on spactacle and scope, but fell short on bringing back the essence of what made the first season stand out. The animation, voice acting and score were exceptional. I simply wish they didn't overextend narratively as much as they did and stuck to what made season 1 such a timeless piece of media. Feel free to express your own opinions and/or disagree with me! I hope everyone enjoyed this journey!

[@michaelcarlson1208]

I wrote this as one of my simple reviews. Looking back at this now, I think season 1 is goated. But season 2 is almost a masterpiece with a messy ending... There's lots of issues but to keep it simple for comments, the main two issues are pacing & sacrificing their complex, nuanced, and intricate characters for trying to expand the world too quickly. I've seen some people mention that when we get away from Jinx, Vi, Caitlyn, Piltover vs. Zaun and into the world building, some people got lost in the sauce which I think is valid.(That's coming from someone who already knew the characters, lore, universe, etc. I could understand if casual audience got lost at some point) In the making of the show (Bridging The Rift), the creators talk about how their original draft was very plot driven, not character driven. People are invested into Vi, Jinx, Caitlyn, Ekko Jayce, etc. Piltover and Zaun. Their hardships, downfalls, relationships, etc. In the span of the last 3 episodes or just act, we go from character driven into all powerful mage trying to annihilate the world, Jayce getting powers basically through the hammer, Mel becomes a powerful mage, generic super army, Mel betrays the Black Rose so people at least at this point wouldn't learn more about them, their goals, etc. I could go on but in simplicity I thought a lot of stakes were lost. Ambessa and Noxus should've been the ultimate and main antagonist of this series ending. I am personally underwhelmed by her character, knowing Noxus and Noxians. While she did take on Mel who's now a powerful mage and Cait who has fighting training now, I found her weak. Noxus and Ambessa as a whole should've been the main antagonist of this whole season, culminating in a final battle involving Vi, Jinx, and whomever else. I guess I would say just more action scenes, even though ironically I think just more screen time. But if it's just action, we got her using her blades ONCE? Again maybe it's just me, but very disappointed in her as a character from the writers. That also includes, she wanted to use Viktor to defeat the black rose but is she really that dumb to not realize what Viktor’s plan is…? If anything, that just makes her naive and believe Ambessa is far from naive, even with her runes, I don't think she defeats Viktors minions. Luckily everything is subjective, but their end choice for the sisters did make me sad and I felt like it was an unsatisfying ending for them. Jinx and Vi have been through so much trauma, they deserved a happier ending together as sisters. (I know Jinx lives and escaped through the tunnels, and flew off in the blimp) I don't find it as egregious as D&D /Game of Thrones. General consensus is that D&D just wanted to be done with GOT, so they just rushed the last season to teleport everybody, everywhere. And characters made choices that didn't make sense or give them time to get to their final journey. With Arcane, I think Riot Games needed to give the writers either another season to flesh out the story and ending they wanted to tell, or AT least should've increased the run-time for the last act to give them more runway. I mean the Ekko episode is amazing and he is the mvp, but the last two episodes almost ruined the whole series for me. In the end, i am glad they went out on their own terms and I think Arcane as a whole is a Masterpiece with a messy ending. I'd like to imagine Catilyn told Vi her theory and Vi already knew her sister lived, and as she said "even if we're worlds apart, I'm always with ya sis." She needs time to heal herself and make a new life. When she's ready, they'll reconnect and she'll she meet her niece and nephew that her sister has with Caitlyn, named Isha and Vander and years of healing of Piltover & Zaun and making a better city. I could go on but I'll leave those as my main notes. lol

[@michaelcarlson1208]

Honestly debated starting my own youtube channel just to create a "what if" final battle video. Maybe it's just me but while I applaud the show for using "show, don't tell" many times. There's no mention of Isha, maybe that's what you can infer from Ekko and how Jinx is committing suicide, but I found it slightly distasteful that nobody mentioned her sacrifice. Kind of slaps her as a character and her meaning for the story and the creators just created a plot device for Act 2 that has no positive presence in Act 3(maybe that's just me) I'm sad that Caitlyn, Ekko, Jinx, Vi have no direct dialogue or interaction as a group(maybe not all together, but Ekko and Caitlyn, Cailtyn and Jinx, etc.) I personally would've let Jayce, Viktor, and Mel out of Piltover and save them for another sub plot or bigger world building. And should've been stakes of Ekko, Vi, Jinx, Caitlyn vs Ambessa and her noxian regiment. Maybe I'm being picky, I really do love Arcane and its meant a lot to me on personal level, but just the final battle for me dropped a lot of stakes. I understand there are highlights, but overall stakes were dropped for me.

[@maddog15a]

Season 2 is all about "Show don't Tell" instead of Telling you about how much Isha's death impacted Jinx they Show you through her depressed state. Instead of Telling you how much Sevika and Jinx care about each other they Show you Sevika help Jinx in the final battle after previously choosing not to help in any way. Season 2 problem wasn't that it was rushed but that they trusted the audience didn't need things spelled out for them.

[@michaelcarlson1208]

Trust me, I love the "The show, don't tell" phrase as I mentioned above. But sometimes in rare occasions you need moments to sit with characters and dialogue. Doesn't need to be on the nose or over the head. Act 1 & 2 are masterfull. Episode 7 is masterfully. But literally the last two if not last episode is where it fell apart for me and almost ruined the whole series. I think it could've been improved in various ways but it is what it is. Luckily media is subjective and you have your opinion which is valid also vs my opinion. I guess like Jayce said, there's "beauty in imperfections" Have a happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate it! ​@maddog15a

[@KarucielDemonio]

The big reason season 2 felt so different is cause they had to make it feel like LoL in the end, not the grounded and more simple show we got in season 1. Which I think they could've done better with more episodes or another season. I thoroughly enjoy viktor as a character and his lines but the pacing made it hard to understand what specifically happened to him. He was my favorite character until this season and then jinx kind've stole it.

[@athas65]

The way i see it, it's not that future Viktor knew Jayce would win. It's that we specifically see one attempt that succeeded (because future Viktor gave Jayce the currect rune that would cause Ekko to build the Z Drive). In general, I loved this season, but I definitely agree that an extra arc and/or season would have made it way better. Also, in case you wonder, the Viktor Commune is located it what used to be the shimmer adict area in season 1 (where Vi and Cait met Silco for the first time in episode 6 of that season), which beforehand was where Powder and Vi grew up with their parents before the bridge revolt that killed them.

[@NerdyNightly]

I hear you, but if Future Viktor told Jayce that the solution was to pass along this message why did Jayce shoot Viktor in Episode 6?

[@athas65]

@NerdyNightly mmmh, out-of-story, for the drama of course, but the way I read it in-story is that Jace was completely out of it in ep 6 after getting out of the anomaly, so he tried to end it in the crudest way he could (killing Viktor before he can use the anomaly at all), and it's only later that he both got a better hold of himself. But that one is probably more open to interpretation.

[@jimjimcherie]

@@NerdyNightly I don’t think Viktor told Jayce that he had to show him the memories, I think he just told Jayce to stop him. I think Jayce giving back the rune just made sense to him at the moment, he is after all a genius, I think Jayce can figure out why he was given the rune. I think Viktor was talking to himself through Jayce because he hid a piece of his consciousness there (what Victor was observing while trying to choke Jayce out in the last ep).

[@PatheticApathetic]

@@NerdyNightlyyeah, I think future Viktor just told Jayce to stop him. Nothing more specific than that. He tried killing Viktor. That didn’t work, so he allowed himself to be brought into the hive mind so he could show Viktor what he does to Piltover, instead. Neither of them accounted for Ekko. There’s no way they could. His invention came from another universe

[@Hawkido]

It needed one more full episode at lease, perhaps a full Act. Caitlyn needed the falshback/callbacks to Greyson saying "What are you shooting for young Kiraman?" Making Caitlyn realize she was no longer fighting for Piltover, that she had lost her aim. That would be a proper catalyst for her to begin to change. Caitlyn needed to acknowledge that the Monster they were hunting was a Zaunite victim of a Piltover Alchemist. Caitlyn needed to realize that, in order to make her outlook change without changing who she really was. Her fans would see and accept that, her critics would acknowledge that she was just on tilt due to her own personal tragedy, and could see this as a valid path to redemption.

[@Lowlandlord]

Keikaku! is a trope I have mixed feelings about. To be fair, all Russian literature is about sad Russian people. All the good ones anyways, who the fuck wants to read about happy Russian people? Now that's fantasy 😂 I'm not sure there's a single way magic works in Runeterra. He's maybe a grey, not blue. He is kinda weirdly overrepresented, he's kinda the standin for the average Zaunite that isn't a complete anarchist and just wants to live with his family. He had a kid in season 1 too, when he's at the tree. Defense of the Tower of Ancients. Custom maps, more than arcade mode, and LoL was first to market as it's own MOBA game, but yeah DOTA was the OG.

[@SisDaKidProduction]

Everything you talked about in this analysis is all being talked about on Twitter, there's actually a war right now on arcane twt.. People are not happy with the writing of the characters etc, so you're not the only one... My biggest disappointment is zaun helping out piltover even though they oppressed them... And zaun did not have its independance.. Still loved season 2 and arcane

[@crimson6666]

You get to max level 15 in a game in like 30 mins so I don't no

[@Vexiouscloud]

If you watch the explosion where jinx fell. You can see a distinct pink shimmer line leaving just as the grenade goes off

[@hunterking8807]

She shimmer zipped out, you can see it. Also way to stay consistent at being a cry baby. 👌🏻👌🏻

[@Jungkith]

You two are adorbs

[@decentsingersclub]

1 minute ago is crazy

[@Jungkith]

8:31 wait I didn’t realize it’s her housee!!

[@thebluesmurfdude]

"That algorithm goddess is..." "Jinx. BECAUSE SHE'S DEAD." 0/10 reaction. Jinx instead of Maddie; now I know you've lost it ;) In all seriousness though. I love listening to your guy's opinions. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Ya'll have real world experience in an industry that I don't have any. The closest I've come to any sort of writing is my daily journaling I do about my life. So, to hear your thoughts on something you have actual experience in is very informative and useful. I've never had to sit down, plan and craft a cohesive narrative, step into a role to deliver that performance, or worry about backlash about what I'm trying to say. Something I've thought about a ton since the series has concluded; which you brought up in your post reaction is that art is subjective. What might work for someone, might not work for someone else. Along those lines; which I think is very similar is that we draw different meaning and interpret media differently. You saying (Paraphrasing - hopefully I don't put words in your mouth.) "The story that they were telling in season 1 does not reflect the story that they are telling in season 2. The story got too large. I would have found it more compelling to finish telling the story the way it started: With these two different parts of this city trying to reconcile their differences." To me - that is a beautiful laconic that tells me what you're concerned about in the world today: class divide, oppression, police brutality, a person's basic liberties like availability to clean water and air. And I would have to agree that the exploration of these issues seemed to melt away as the story got larger and larger. So circling back to this idea of people interpreting art differently; I started asking that same question. Why has the story shifted? Where did this compelling exploration go? And I came to the conclusion that if we removed the Noxus element of this story, that the story would feel better; or at least more in line of what I had expected to see. Which lead me to start thinking about how this outside force really derailed what I had expected and wanted. And then I started thinking about 9/11. I started thinking about how for a while after that event that America felt united in a common goal; against a common 'enemy'. I remember that senators from both sides of the isle were working together. That people were proud and supportive of my dad who was serving in the Army; and extended that same feeling to me when I joined up. But over time; that united feeling crumbled and things went back to normal. Which lead me to ask how would Zuan look in five years; and I started to feel sad at the issues that are ahead of them. Anyways. That's a rambling way of saying that I agree with Nerdy. Art is subjective. It causes us to think about different things, and we like different things. I would agree that I would have enjoyed a more closed story, one that didn't feel so expansive. But the story that they did tell has still brought other questions to my mind that I wouldn't have been thinking about otherwise. What is it about outside threats that make us unite? Is that peace and unity always temporary? If it is temporary, was it ever real in the first place? Is it right to unite in such a way on a large scale like a nation? Is there a way that that mentality be scaled down, and is that a healthy way to think? Something that I'll be visiting for the next several months. Also; because I love your 'rants'; I'm gonna start a petition to have ya'll watch 86. But that's because I'm a chaos gremlin and want more passionate Nerdy in my life; even if the rest of the internet doesn't like it xD

[@lyicas]

Your guys opinions are not THAT minority, I feel like a lot people were let down by this finale/season. I was loving this season (up to ep 7) more than you guys, but the finale really REALLY made me dislike a lot of it. It is one of the most unsatisfying endings I have ever seen, it's weird.

[@drakethesnek6429]

This season isn't very good.

[@seismic6435]

Second act was 15/10. Overall it was solid