The Dirt Under Your Nails | Arcane Season 2 Finale Reaction

[@SkyMcSparkle]

Arcane is for TV shows, what BG3 is for gaming. Master Class.

[@L0stwitn0nam3]

Spoiler: Demacia is home of Jinx's Best friend Lux in game.

[@xXJTTutorialesXx]

26:13 that Bird is a demon, an ancient demon from this universe named Raum, and he have a deal with the Noxian great General Swain, he is basically the leader of Noxus. This shows that Swain was watching everything since the very beginning

[@xXJTTutorialesXx]

I forgot to add that, Raum is the demon of secrets, so he knows everything, he even have an interaction with Jinx that says "Faces fading in the flame, it was all her fault"

[@amandapalha]

That's kinda tricky, in fact... It surely is a reference to Swain, but it was also, probably, a misdirection (and they do this kind of thing a lot), because the timeline don't exactly match. I mean, I think it's pretty safe to assume that the raven was referencing Raum (or at least Raum's powers), but Swain only makes a pact with it AFTER the invasion of Ionia, and everything suggests that Arcane' happens before it. Singed was a very important factor on this invasion, being the one who developed a lot of powerfull weapon to Noxus, and up to this point, he didn't have any noxian connections yet. Necrit's channel has an interview with one of Arcane's co-creators, and when asked about this, he suggests that this whole Swain-Noxux-Ionia-Raum thing will still be explored in future productions.

[@SkyMcSparkle]

wild. WHY HER tho

[@xXJTTutorialesXx]

@@amandapalha As we had in Arcane they might do some new things with the canon, since in this timeline we won't have even Blitzcrank since Piltover is defenseless against Noxus now without Hextech but what you said makes a lot of sense, I forgot that everything happens thanks to Singed

[@tonydanatop4912]

@@SkyMcSparkle Swain is a shameless opportunist like most Noxians and makes a habit of keeping an eye on interesting people and situations. Maybe he just saw jinx’s potential maybe he was just waiting for her to make something truly exceptional or give him an opportunity to steal the crystal like in the very end. Regardless set your expectations in a few years cuz him and the black rose are all likely going to clash with Mel…and most of them make Ambessa look kinda 😅

[@rillzy9637]

I noticed that Mel didn’t protect Cait from the bullet but made a field around Maddie so the bullet would definitely hit her 😂. I love Mel

[@SkyMcSparkle]

Right? ricochet all day

[@zenmastermtl]

@@SkyMcSparkle She was a rebound, and was then ended by a rebound :P

[@LorKeeper]

This has been a lot of fun to edit and I can't wait to do more on the channel!

[@SkyMcSparkle]

You CRUSHED it, I'm excited to do more too! Thank you for keeping the humor alive and doing longer edits than I would have done on my own. I feel like I ramble too much and would have axed a lot of content. This series was better because of your work.

[@ragnarian]

fun fact: the jinxer that died in vi's arms, was the same girl that mylo was crushing on in the alternate reality

[@kibert135]

After watching this whole arc and this last episode a few times, I do think this was a great ending for all its characters. Especially after understanding Victor's motivation and knowing Jinx survived. And for me all the emotional moments (Maddie's betrayal, Jinx' sacrafice) worked.

[@amandapalha]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around Victor's arc, motivations and different iterations (maybe?). Could you help me?

[@kibert135]

@amandapalha Vitcor was always someone who wanted to end the suffering of himself and others. Hextech helped him with that until Sky died. But then Jayce saved him and he left. When he realised he could save others with his powers, he embraced them to build the commune. Singed talking to him and Jayce attacking him both showed him that humanity will never stop suffering due to their conflicting emotions and showed him that he could create a hive mind. His plan now was to trap humanity i such hive mind to stop their suffering. But Jayce and his future self showed him that that was no way to live.

[@amandapalha]

@@kibert135 Ok. Thanks! :) But I'm still kinda lost on the details of this "future self" Victor. Is he a future Victor from this timeline or from another? I'm guessing another, since his body was not fully consumed, right? And what was that about giving Jayce different runes? He was creating different timelines with different rune variations as trying to create at least one that produces a Jayce who is able to force sense into him? Which was the original timeline, tho? Cuz that's pretty much the grandpa's paradox, right? Is even our timeline the original one, or only the on in wich he succeeds? Dunno... Still trying to understand it.

[@kibert135]

@@amandapalha Its always tricky with time travel. I would guess it was from an alternate timeline where Victor wasn't forced to evolve due to Jayce's attack. He only changed because Jayce almost killed him and Jayce almost killed him because he saw the future.

[@sounesssa]

The bird is foreshadowing Noxus and Jericho Swain's story for the future show, we could even get some of the Noxian invasion of Ionia which is such a good story with many other GREAT characters, i can't wait for them to explore new regions. As a Runeterra labrat i am really happy to see something i love so much being liked by so many, it is really amazing seeing that people that are new to Runeterra lore enjoyed the show and are even interested to know more about it. It was a wonderful journey watching your reaction to Arcane, always loved your conclusions and insight on the story.

[@SkyMcSparkle]

It’s a glorious mess! I can’t wait to see what happens with Swain, Noxus, and the rest of Runeterra. I have too many questions waiting to be answered and I HOPE they release an extended edition blueray quickly cause I'll buy it in a heartbeat

[@gustavgustav2670]

Jinx had to leave for Vi to actually let herself move on and be happy.

[@williamvanderwalt1492]

Singed you crazy bastard you pulled it off... GGWP

[@comicclash1]

so good. jinx rolling in painted up like isha. After watching again and someone else i know pointing it out, when maddie was behind cait getting ready to shoot her, she was smiling and then mel put up that shield to deflect the bullet to bounce around to kill maddie, mel is an empath, she seen maddie true colors under her skin lol.

[@greywarden5513]

3:46 Hehe, enough she spent a couple days with him and they rolled up wearing matching outfits 😅

[@djgizmoe]

What is everyone on about the bird? It seems pretty clear that it’s just another clue that Jinx survived. And I’m very glad this is the way it worked out. There’s no way that she could just live happily ever after after all she’s done, but she did a lot to redeem herself in Season 2. She deserved a chance to take an airship and go live out her life somewhere else, just like she dreamed of in Episode 1.

[@aranthur]

Personally, I did feel like the pacing was a bit fast, but not so much that it detracted from my experience. Just enough to notice Apparently, the original storyboard for the finale was 20 to 40 minutes longer than what we saw, but they were told by the higher ups to cut it down to what we have now

[@SkyMcSparkle]

Precisely why they deserved another episode cause I feel like that would solve the gaps and pacing for me cause this last episode is the ONLY one I'm struggling with. Fingers crossed for an extended edition blueray

[@wheegie]

Agreed. Personally I would've loved if they made a longer finale (read somewhere it's what they initially planned to do but had to cut it short) or if they added one more act OR an extra episode each act (there is just so many options lmao). That'd be my biggest con to this season but overall I really liked it, from the animation (especially how they conveyed character's emotions through body language and facial expressions) to music and story writing... Also thank you so much for making reactions to this show, I enjoyed your commentary and analysis!:)

[@nighthiker]

This was at first supposed to be a 5 seasons series, but when Riot decided to pull the plug and do just one more they had to pack it all in, so that's why it feels a bit rushed - it's because it was. Still great tough. I would just not hold onto the hope the story will continue for now, it seems they're having a bit of a change of heart regarding producing TV content (check the Variety article), so it may be a long while before they go back to it, if at all. I'd just accept this is it for now, and be surprised in a good way if it does go on. Cheers!

[@nighthiker]

Ok, I just looked into news about new shows and it looks like it has just been announced yesterday they are going for other shows after all. So I guess the Variety article from a few weeks ago was off target? If so, good news, then. :) The part about Arcane originally being 5 seasons does track, though.

[@scirrhia_kruden]

I don't think this needed another season like some people say, but I agree with you that it feels like it needed another episode, mainly to let some of those emotional beats resonate a bit more. It was such an emotional rollercoaster of a final episode, and while I think it conveyed the info it needed, the emotions weren't given time to breathe. All this said, would you have preferred both episodes 8 and 9 to be longer (I think 7 is fine), or a forth episode to the final act? I'm trying to game out in my head how it all could have been handled with maybe two one hour long episodes, ie the equivalent runtime of four episodes. Episode 9 was 10 minutes longer than any episode in the series, after all, so they could have thrown in an extra 30 minutes I think. Do you have any thoughts on how that time would be spent, even if not the full 30, to provide that breathing room? It's definitely interesting to think about.

[@SkyMcSparkle]

Well now learning what was cut out of the final 2 episodes my only good answer is 1 more episode, spaced out as intended cause we missed out on pivotal scenes from what I’ve read now. Execs ruin everything lol. I’m hoping since those scenes were already done we just get an extended release tbh

[@Kaylos29]

You're the first reactor I've seen catch jinx escaping. I sure didn't. I was totally traumatized. First time i didn't cry at the emotional moment. Just shock. I liked it more after sitting with it, and jinx escaping with everyone thinking she is dead feels appropriate. She could never be with Ekko as she is. She needs to get away and grow. I was kind of disappointed in Mel's arc, as it just felt off from the character she was in season 1. She was lowkey my favorite season 1 character and her arc felt too rushed. The last 2 episodes felt like it could have been 3 or even 4, to give us time with characters before and during the battle. Like Sevika with Ekko rallying Zaun, Jinx working through some of her emotions, more with minor characters we lost, and I'm sure more. A few points of the battle felt contrived and more time to get them into more logical places would have been nice.

[@drakervon]

Sky - Tjis show is a MasterClass on how to Anime and tell Great stories. I am so ready for what comes next. 😎

[@SkyMcSparkle]

Couldn't agree more! The way they build the world makes me want to explore it all!

[@entropyfun]

The three characters that tried to off them selves at one point end up disappearing at the end. Plus Heimy, but I don't count him, he's living his bard life somewhere in yordleland. And yes, episode 9 felt like a forced wrap up. Didn't need to see the war at all. Could've used that time to spend with our main characters, since it is a goodbye.

[@alexgram1276]

I loved the ending but I agree 1 more episode or 20 more minutes would be even better... But hey it is a masterpiece still, viktor and jayce arc/story was the best thing for me in the series

[@illustrated__man]

Oh, yeah.. Science Bro got his happy ending - creepy bastard 4D chess'd this shit.

[@atomicpurplegb]

Okay, I rarely comment on anything but I gotta get some things out there. First, I loved your reactions to all the episodes, it was like having a friend that also gushed about the series. I am (unfortunately) someone who has been playing League for a loooooong time (I think 11 years at this point). The lore aspect of the game did suck me in but it always felt like an after-thought, like they needed to put these characters somewhere in the world just so they had a region they were related to (that is why they had so many retcons over the years). This series did a whole lot on the lore to actually feel like the characters mattered. I also loved how expressive it was. However (opinion ahead, proceed with caution) I do feel like the ending was somewhat rushed and left me feeling a little disappointed. If they had a couple more episodes I believe it would've been way better and I do agree that they threw in a lot of things at the viewers at once. Another thing that got me kind of disappointed was the re-designs they did on some of the characters. Some people got a good upgrade that they honestly derseved (Jayce, Vi, Humperdinker, Ekko, Caitlyn) and they still hold their original visual concepts. However I feel like I (and from what I've seen a lot of people that knew the original designs) was disappointed with full-machine Viktor and with Warwick (Vander's beast form). It was said by one of the co-creators in an interview that they did not go with the actual wolf face so the audience could make the connection but I think that is just belittling (or however you spell that word). It was however, a BLAST, the writing was so good, I just wish we could get some more Zaun characters that we didn't see (Zeri, Urgot, Zac) but it is what it is, the budget probably didn't allow for it. Final thing (I promise): the three eyed raven is a reference to a character from Noxus named Swain which is (somewhat) in kahoots with the disguise mage (Le Blanc, or at least I'm assuming that is who that is) from the Black Rose. Many people combined that with the scene of Mel sailing to Noxus and interpret that we're getting a Noxus series next, we could only hope. Overall, I loved people getting introduced to these characters and meeting some brand new ones. I hope, if another series does exist, that you react to it. Much love

[@SkyMcSparkle]

ok 1st off THANK YOU for speaking up and gushing with me. (sorry for typos taking a break from my glasses) Especially with now seeing the og concepts for the characters I'm glad that the cast they kept and expanded on where made to look more relatable and more human. The ravens followed Pwder from when she was a kid or did they show up after she was with Silco? I'm chomping at the bit to know WHY, WHY her. You KNOW when the next series releases, I'll be right there with you! I'm addicted now

[@atomicpurplegb]

@@SkyMcSparkle Following actual lore, I do believe they only showed up later and assuming its the 3-eyed raven and not a crow (crow would be connected to the ancient fear Fiddlesticks) it has to do with the fact that Swain is taking control of Noxus at that time. The ravens are connected to ANOTHER demon called Raum that has struck sort of a bargain with Swain and being the demon of secrets it is probably spying on Piltover in general and probably focus on Jinx because of the political implications she has. I think that is it. Also they have already confirmed series for Demacia, Noxus and Ionia, one of them being 1 year in the making already.

[@nighthiker]

It feels rushed because it was - it was supposed to be a 5 seasons series at first but RIOT pulled the plug after all the mishaps they had between the production of seasons 1 and pre production of season 2 because of their inexperience with the media. So they had to cram in 4 seasons into one, and I can't even think of how much they must have had to cut off entirely from the story. The CEO that greened the project had left, RIOT had a restructuring and the derpartment that worked on Arcane doesn't even exist anymore, people were allocated elsewhere - so I'd see this as RIOT's last venture into animation, at least for a while.

[@nighthiker]

Ok, I just looked into news about new shows and it looks like it has just been announced yesterday they are going for other shows after all. So I guess the Variety article from a few weeks ago was off target? If so, good news, then. :) The part about Arcane originally being 5 seasons does track, though.

[@naga1101]

The end of Arcane is classic League of Legends, they never close the door of possibility so maybe Jinx is dead but if they want to add something to her lore they can because we didn't see her blew up. Also 3 shows are in development (Demacia, Ionia an Noxus) and I don't think the next show will be so focus on Noxus (compare to Arcane), League don't really give us what we want and they can show us that there is not only Noxus on the map Oh and the crow with 3 eyes as nothing to do with Jinx, it belong to someone else without spoil if they make a show around him

[@SkyMcSparkle]

I'm excited for the rest. Bird boy was there the whole time, I wonder what was the trigger to be there in the first place

[@nighthiker]

Where did you get info about new shows from? Was that directly from RIOT? Because from what has happened with Arcane (forfeiting the original 5 season plan for only 2) and all the changes happening in RIOT all I have read is they are not looking to get into any new animations, at least for a while - the whole department that worked on Arcane doesn't even exist anymore, according to the Variety article from a bit back.

[@nighthiker]

Ok, I just looked into this and it looks like it has just been announced yesterday. So I guess the Variety article from a few weeks ago was off target? If so, good news, then. :)

[@TheMrBF3]

thats sad u get spoiled before watching this episode...

[@Himedanshiman]

The nail in the bomb mechanism seemed more like an unfortunate accident than an act of sabotage. Ambessa narrowly escaped Caitlyn’s shot, with Maddie acting as Caitlyn’s spotter. I personally feel that the decision to make Maddie a betrayer or spy was a diminishment of her character. It feels like an easy way to resolve Caitlyn’s relationship with Maddie in the final moments. Fortiche did a brilliant job of showing rather than telling, especially with many scenes where you can see rejection, sadness, and jealousy in Maddie’s eyes. It feels like a last-minute plot twist. Ambessa’s suggestion that Maddie might be a Noxian spy doesn’t fully add up, and the pieces don’t seem to fit together.

[@PatheticApathetic]

Based on what? If they wanted to resolve Cait’s relationship with Mandy, they could have just not included it in the first place. The entire point of her character is that she was a mole

[@Himedanshiman]

@PatheticApathetic The Maddie and Caitlyn bedroom scene wasn't just for shock value or to immediately reveal Maddie as a traitor. It was meant to show Caitlyn's deep longing for affection and connection, highlighting her vulnerability. It revealed Caitlyn’s flaws, emphasizing how she struggled to hide her need for love. Maddie’s reaction to Caitlyn’s rejection was one of sadness, as she realized that her feelings were unlikely to be returnd. The trio’s , Steb Loris and Maddie, development suffered due to the fast pacing and frequent cuts. Loris, in particular, seemed like he would have had a deeper connection with Vi, but instead, his role was a montage and just two lines of dialogue. The entire show remains strong and solid, but for me, Maddie's storyline feels off.

[@TheWyldKarde]

So which is more gay? Vi and Cait literally bangin' it out in horny jail in episode 8, or whatever Jayce and Viktor were doing at the end here?

[@LorKeeper]

@@TheWyldKarde they saved the universe through the power of gay

[@jamesgardner6707]

I usually don't comment, but it's kind of disappointing that I've watched this entire series on this channel, and as soon as two girls have sex you turn into a woke annoying reactor. Two girls had sex whoop de freaking do. I get off to lesbian porn myself , but that was an overvthe top reaction. You turn it into an over enthusiastic celebration bc the norm us shown in most tv shows? Then what really triggered this comment was calling Vi a king and not a queen. Like common...none of this was present throughout the series until the jail cell sex scene. There are other examples, but I'm not going to waste my time.

[@SkyMcSparkle]

As always you are always welcome to your opinion and free to whip out the term woke and what you feel is annoying. I was enjoying the build up, let's not forget the excitement over their kiss in the previous episodes where I was just as excited because they built tension with time. I think this will be as much time as I spend on you being upset and will happily just continue on. Enjoy your next show :)