Many fans found that the way Arcane season 2 concluded felt rushed, especially in its final act, and showrunner Christian Linke has shared his perspective on these critiques.
Visually, Arcane stands out as a beautifully crafted show, but I’d argue you’d be stretching it by saying the narrative wasn’t somewhat disjointed in this second (and last) season. There were simply too many threads needing more time—possibly an entire extra season—to properly develop. Speaking to GamesRadar, Linke addressed fans’ concerns about the show’s pacing: “In season 1, there’s a certain rhythm to the storyline… whereas season 2 takes a different approach on that front,” he explained.
“I appreciate people expressing their opinions. Most viewers seem satisfied, but there are those saying it feels rushed and asking, ‘What happened?'” As highlighted by GamesRadar, a big draw for season one fans was the intricate relationships between characters and how these evolved over time. Season two, however, seemed to fast-forward through these developments, racing towards the finish line. Linke acknowledged that they “structured the episodes in season 2 a bit differently,” taking creative risks and “making bold choices.”
“For the majority, this approach resonated well, but there are fans disappointed by the deviation from season one’s style,” Linke added, noting his respect for those reactions despite being unhappy they felt that way. Another issue was the introduction of more characters from the League of Legends universe, many of whom audiences still longed to see. So, despite the critique of having too much happening, Linke recognized some viewers felt there were also gaps.
“There’s feedback saying it’s too rushed, with too much going on. Yet others ask, ‘Where’s Camille, Blitzcrank, or Twitch? Why aren’t they included?’ Some argue there’s too much, while others feel there wasn’t enough. We really tried to balance the storytelling,” Linke stated.
Honestly, I think an additional season could have truly benefited Arcane, but given the hefty production costs of both seasons, you can understand why that didn’t happen. Plus, it seems Riot is planning more in its multimedia endeavors, which likely hurried their need to conclude this storyline.
