The new season of Arcane starts with major changes. Especially Caitlyn is transforming – and quite skillfully, as MeinMMO demon Cortyn finds.
After what felt like endless months of waiting, season 2 of Arcane has finally started for fans. As with season 1, the story will be released in 3 blocks with 3 episodes each. At the time of this article, the first 3 episodes of season 2 are available and are receiving plenty of positive reviews.
Those who thought that Arcane 2 would take some time to get the story moving – similar to season 1 – were proven wrong. Within just a few episodes, the power dynamics in Piltover have dramatically shifted.
Spoiler warning: This article discusses the first 3 episodes of Arcane 2. If you haven’t seen them yet, you shouldn’t continue reading.
Caitlyn – The Descent into Corruption
What I particularly enjoyed is the development of Caitlyn Kiramman. In season 1, she was still a moral authority. A loyal citizen from the upper class of Piltover, searching for her path as a law enforcer. Curious, intelligent, a bit naive, and despite the quite strict environment, with her heart in the right place.
She always argues close to the law but also has an eye for the suffering and injustice in the city. Especially her relationship with Vi – who finally receives the long-awaited kiss – ensures that she gains more insight into the life of the undercity.
But with season 2, Caitlyn begins to change. The attack on the council of Piltover has caused losses, including Caitlyn’s mother.
Caitlyn blames herself because she could have stopped Jinx – and indirectly, she also blames Vi, whom she has heard from several times.
Slowly, piece by piece, Caitlyn starts to slip. Her sense of justice is increasingly overshadowed by desires for revenge. This is only intensified when, even at her deceased mother’s memorial, the next attack is already on the horizon. For the first time, she refers to the attackers as “animals” and her thinking darkens. She doesn’t even shy away from using poison gas to achieve her goals.
In the end, Caitlyn is even willing to risk the life of a child to attain her revenge.
Episode 3 of season 2 ends with quite a bang. It is revealed that the recent conflicts in Piltover were all orchestrated by Ambessa Medarda to escalate the war.
Ambessa uses one of the remaining council members to call a large assembly and announce that Piltover needs (partially) new leadership. Someone who can lead the military and has the will to eradicate the threats to the city at their root – and she names Caitlyn Kiramman for that.
Under archaic “chest-thumping” that resembles war drums, Caitlyn accepts her appointment as the military commander and is suddenly in the position to resolve the conflict in her own way.
It is clear that Ambessa did not choose Caitlyn because she actually believes she is capable – but because Caitlyn is emotionally vulnerable, enjoys high approval in the city’s populace, and is (presumably) particularly malleable. For Ambessa, Caitlyn is a useful idiot to advance her own goals. That Caitlyn’s previously so pure personality is further twisted in the process is simply collateral damage.
I am extremely curious to see how the story of Arcane will find an end – especially regarding Caitlyn’s development. For me, Jinx and Vi have now receded into the background, even though they appear on screen almost as much. But the way a law-abiding, absolutely “good” character is slowly but surely pushed into morally grey waters by the incidents here is simply magnificent.
This kind of “corruption of a character” told at a pace that feels believable is relatively rare in series. Sure, there are other examples – but especially many examples where it has not worked; just think of Daenerys from Game of Thrones.
Arcane is simply an incredibly good, well-thought-out, and emotionally captivating story so far. And that for a game that could not matter less to me. Just managing to achieve that clearly shows me that Arcane will still be a topic of conversation long after the end of the series – and a series that people will reflect on for many years to come.
