Arcane: Season 1

⭐ 8.0/10

(Originally written by Joseph)

This is that animated Netflix show based on League of Legends, and although I consider myself a gamer, this is one game I have zero interest in and a universe I don't know anything about. But could I, in good conscience, call myself a gamer if I didn't at least try it? Plus it got really great reviews (including best video game adaptation - low bar), and lots of people were talking about it.

It's really good! We follow characters both from the beautiful steam-punk city as well as the dark and gritty underground as their worlds clash. The animation has a unique style that I thought was incredible. The action sequences pack a lot of punch. The characters are often complex and have complicated relationships. There are a few interesting moral dilemmas. This show really has it all.

One thing I appreciated is that this show really goes in unexpected directions. It often feels like it's going to be a mailed-in plot of the good guys preventing the Bad Thing from happening at the end, but then the Bad Thing happens right away and we're forced to see how they all cope. I was often shocked at how the plot was progressing with great twists and turns.

With all that said, I also feel like I didn't love the show like I should have. Maybe it's because we watched it over too long of a time (split up with Christmas break) but this show never seemed to have the "it" factor for me, lame as that sounds. As great as I thought the characters were, I guess I never really cared that much about what happened to them. It's hard to explain, because although I was constantly amazed by what was going on, I was never at the edge of my seat.

So yeah, good show, and I look forward to season 2. Not my favorite, yet still better than any animated show to ever come out of Japan :)