Arcane Season 1 recap: Everything you need to know before season 2

Arcane on Netflix (Image via Netflix)
Arcane on Netflix (Image via Netflix)

Arcane is one of the most popular animated series on Netflix. Set in the League of Legends universe, the steampunk series follows two sisters, Vi and Jinx, who get involved in a conflict amid clashes between the rich utopian city of Piltover and the oppressed city of Zaun.

The show premiered in November 2021 and earned wide acclaim for its action-packed sequences, nuanced characters, and thrilling storyline. It has been three years since the audience last saw the adventures of Vi and Jinx.

Arcane is finally returning to the screens with season 2 on November 9, 2024. As you get ready to enter the world of Piltover once again, here is a recap of the first season that will take you on a trip down memory lane.


Power turns into Jinx in Arcane Season 1

Arcane Season 1 recap (Image via Netflix)
Arcane Season 1 recap (Image via Netflix)

The story of Arcane begins with two young sisters, Powder and Vi, who lose their parents in a battle between the rich city of Piltover and the poor underbelly of Zaun. Vander, a former rebel, adopts the two and becomes a father figure to them. He raises them along with their two adopted brothers, Mylo and Claggor.

As teenagers, the siblings steal valuable items from Piltover. Powder, eager to help, steals a few magical crystals without realizing their power. Her mistake sets off a huge explosion, which damages a building and draws unwanted attention to the group.

Back in Zaun, Vander tries to protect the children from the authorities. But his efforts fall apart when a powerful crime lord named Silco kidnaps him. In an attempt to rescue Vander, Powder sets off another explosion that ends up killing Mylo, Claggor, and Vander himself.

Devastated by the loss, Vi lashes out at Powder, calling her a ‘jinx' and abandons her. Powder then finds comfort in Silco and begins to see her father in him. This marks the beginning of Powder’s transformation into Jinx, a troubled fighter.


Jayce’s invention of Hextech intensifies the conflict

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While the conflict between Piltover and Zaun escalates, Jayce, a talented young inventor, creates Hextech, a new kind of magic-infused technology. He takes help from Viktor, a smart but weak assistant at Piltover’s academy. Hextech quickly makes Jayce a powerful man, earning him a spot on the city’s council.

Although Hextech brings progress to Piltover, it also raises concerns about its potential dangers. Meanwhile, in the undercity, Jinx becomes one of Silco’s trusted allies, helping him with his illegal operations.

Silco’s gang uses a dangerous drug called Shimmer to make their followers stronger and more aggressive. Jinx steals one of Jayce’s Hextech gemstones, which triggers violent battles between the two cities.

Her behavior causes problems for her allies, as her traumatic past and need for approval make her get into risky situations. On the other hand, Vi, who spent years in prison, escapes with the help of Caitlyn, an enforcer who wants to bring peace between Piltover and Zaun. Vi and Caitlyn search for Silco but have to face several challenges along the way.


The stage is set for the battle between the two cities in Arcane

A still from Arcane (Image via Netflix)
A still from Arcane (Image via Netflix)

As tensions between the cities reach a breaking point, every character is forced to make a difficult choice. Jinx, torn between her past with Vi and her loyalty to Silco, struggles to find who she really is. To reunite with her sister, she makes the desperate move of capturing Vi, Caitlyn, and Silco.

She pushes Vi to choose between her and Caitlyn. When Silco intervenes, Jinx accidentally kills him, only to later realize that he did genuinely care for her. At the same time, Jayce tries to prevent all-out war by negotiating peace with Silco. He even offers Zaun its independence from Piltover.

But Jinx, still not agreeing to back down, uses a Hextech-powered rocket launcher to attack Piltover’s council, putting everyone’s lives in danger. Her actions set the stage for a fierce battle between the two cities, which will form the storyline of Arcane Season 2.

Arcane Season 2 Act 1 will debut on Netflix on November 9, 2024, followed by Act 2 on November 16, 2024, and the third and final Act on November 23, 2024.

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Edited by Sezal Srivastava