8 huge questions I need Arcane season 2 to answer before the highly-rated Netflix show ends

Arcane’s second and final season has plenty of loose plot threads to wrap up before its final credits roll

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Full spoilers follow forArcaneseason 1 andLeague of Legends' extensive lore.

It’s been an excruciatingly long wait forArcaneseason 2. Now, almost three years after its forebear was released, the critically acclaimed animated series' second and final chapter willmake its official Netflix debut on November 9.

As a massiveArcanefan, I’m equally delighted and relieved about its imminent return, but also melancholy that the end of one of my all-time favoriteNetflixshows is in sight. It’s going to be a bittersweet moment when that final end credits sequence rolls.

Before that happens, Netflix and Fortiche Production’s take on Riot Games' incredibly popularLeague of Legends(LoL) videogame franchise has plenty of questions to answer. To that end, I’ve handpicked eight of the biggestArcaneneeds to tackle before the final curtain falls on the world’sbest streaming service. I’ve included my own theories on how these may be answered, too, so be advised: while I have no insider knowledge aboutArcane’s next chapter,potential season 2 spoilers follow.

1. Who was killed in Jinx’s attack on Piltover’s council chamber?

One of the most agonizing things about the wait forArcaneseason 2 has been its predecessor’s cliffhanger. In the final minutes of season 1’s finale, Jinx fires a missile from a Fishbones rocket launcher, powered by a Hextech gemstone (remember, she stole one in season 1 episode 4), at Piltover’s council chamber.

At the time, the City of Progress' councilors were meeting to vote on whether to officially recognize Piltover’s undercity, aka Zaun, as an independent state. Council members Mel, Cassandra, Bolbok, Hoskel, Salo, Shoola, and Jayce – plus Jayce’s scientific partner Viktor – were present when the rocket approached. Just as the missile crashed through one of the chamber’s windows, the screen cut to black, so we don’t know who did and didn’t survive.

In my view, Jayce and Viktor definitely survived. The pair are conspicuous by their absence inArcaneseason 2’s official trailerand other teasers, but they’re too integral toArcane’s overall story to be killed off.

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I also suspect either Mel or Cassandra will live to fight another day – if I had to choose, I’d bank on Mel surviving over Cassandra. Before Jinx’s rocket makes its presence felt, Mel seems to supernaturally recognize that everyone’s in danger before the golden back of her dress lights up. To me, this implies she’s got a secret shielding ability that’ll protect her and anyone in her vicinity, which just so happens to be Jayce and Viktor. Additionally, a frame glimpsed in episode 3 ofBridging the Rift, a behind-the-scenesYouTubevideo series detailingArcane’s development, shows Cassandra’s daughter Caitlyn and her father looking crestfallen. It isn’t a still image from season 1, so it’s my suspicion –I haven’t watchedArcaneseason 2’s leaked episodes, so I don’t know for sure – that this is a scene taking place after Cassandra’s funeral.

2. What is the titular ‘Arcane’?

There were multiple, albeit vague, references to the titular magic-based occurrence inArcane’s first season, most notably during the Jayce-centric storylines in episodes 2 and 5. This season’s teasers have alluded to it, too, with the most obvious namedrop coming in the official trailer when an unrecognizable voice says “the Arcane is waking up”.

So, what is the “Arcane”? The word, as we know it, is defined as being something ‘understood by few; mysterious; secret’, which is a perfect description for… well, whatever the titular thing is. It’s gotsomethingto do with the magic that exists in Runeterra – i.e. the world thatLoLis set in – but we can’t infer much else. My guess? It’ll not only tie into the incredibly powerful World Runes (more on these later) that shaped Runeterra, but also Jayce and Viktor’s research into Hextech, Hexcore, and any other experiments where science and magic are being fused (dangerously, in the eyes of some). As a by-product of their work andLoL’s wider lore, it’ll likely concern the subliminal boundaries that exist between the material and spirit realms that exist in Riot’s fictional universe, too

3. Will Vi and Caitlyn finally get together?

Arcaneseason 1 did a terrific job of portraying LGBTQ relationships. Its sensitive and authentic handling of such dynamics was hailed, in some circles, for setting a gold standard for LGBTQ-plus presentation in visual media. Tokenistic,Arcane’s exploration of sexual identity certainly isn’t, and that’s primarily down to the tactful way it examined Vi and Caitlyn’s ever-evolving romance-laced relationship in episodes 4 through 9.

Based onArcaneseason 2’s first teaser, plus the new footage in its official trailer, it seems the pair’s constantly shifting bond will be tested more heavily this time around. By the time the show ends, fans will be desperate to know if this “oil and water” (as Vi puts it) dynamic will not only survive season 2’s events but thrive. It may not be in keeping withArcane’s largely grim tone, but I’d love to see Vi and Caitlyn earn their happy ending, regardless of what happens.

4. Who is the mage that saved Jayce and his mom?

Of all of my questions, this is arguably the least important because, well, answers to the other seven take priority for me. That said, the mystery surrounding this enigmatic magic-wielding individual is intriguing. For one, we’ve only seen them once before, i.e. during an episode 2 flashback sequence when they saved the lives of Jayce and his mom.

That isn’t the last we’ll see of this mysterious mage, though. They make a very brief appearance in season 2’s official trailer that mirrors a moment from season 1 episode 2. However, while that sequence showed the individual holding Runeterra in the palm of their hand, the clip in this season’s second trailer shows them holding a web-like metal-organic orb – one that’s identical to the spherical object in question 2’s main image, which can be seen in the same teaser.

Clearly, there’s more than meets the eye with this sorcerer, so it would be fascinating if season 2 tells us who they are. There are a whole host of mages amongLoL’s champion roster, so could one of these be used retroactively inArcaneas the wizard who saved Jayce and set him on his path to creating Hextech? It would be an incredibly fun way of bringing anotherLoLchampion into the fold and, potentially, setting them up as the protagonist of a futureLoLanimated project (more on this in a bit).

5. Who is Arcane’s primary villain?

To casual observers, the answer to this is a simple one: Jinx. After all, she attacked Piltover’s council in season 1 episode 8. Season 2’s trailers and thissuspense-filled, Jinx-starring clipalso confirm she’s going to be public enemy number one heading into the series' final eight episodes. But, I don’t thinkArcane’s deuteragonist – this show is mainly about Vi and Jinx, you know – is going to be one of thebest Netflix shows' Big Bad.

If not her, then, who? There are other candidates more suited to beingArcane’s chief antagonist. Viktor, who was walking a dark path by season 1’s end with his Hexcore studies, may enact his ‘glorious revolution’ plan fromLoL, which could result in Piltover and Zaun allying themselves in a bid to thwart his plans.

Alternatively, Noxus warlord Ambessa might beArcane’s villain-in-chief. The empire she hails from is a brutal and expansionist one that invades other nations. With Hextech being viewed as the biggest scientific leap in generations, why wouldn’t Noxus want it for nefarious means? Let’s not forget that Ambessa and her Noxian troops are seen fighting Piltover’s enforcers in season 2’s main trailers, too. If they weren’t looking to acquire Hextech and/or bring Piltover under its blood-red banner, why would they attack the city Ambessa claims Noxus is protecting?

If not Jinx, Viktor, or Ambessa, the show’s main villain could be someone we’ve not seen yet.Arcanefans have a magical theory about who its real villain is after season 2’s second trailer arrived, and I can’t help but think they’re right on the money. Feel free to read that linked-to article if you want to ruin the potential surprise for yourself ahead of time.

6. Is Jinx going to survive the events of Arcane?

We don’t know, but I’d be stunned if Jinx is killed off inArcaneseason 2. She’s one of theLoL’s most popular champions, so unless Netflix, Riot, and Fortiche want to completely pull the rug out from under us and shockingly bump her off, I believe she’ll make it to the end of the series relatively unscathed.

And, let’s be honest: if – and it’s a big if – Zaun gains its independence by the timeArcaneends, it’ll need someone to defend it from outside forces. Who better to do that than Jinx, especially if her season 2 arc is positioned as a redemption story?

7. Who else could die in Arcane season 2?

Based on my limitedLoLknowledge (I know some things, but I’m not a superfan), it’s safe to assume that characters inArcanewho are also champions in Riot’s video game series won’t die. If I’m right in my assumption, Vi, Jinx, Caitlyn, Jayce, Viktor, Ekko, Heimerdinger,andSinged will survive. Ambessa, who was recently installed asLoL’s newest champion, is also likely to make it out alive.

Of course, this is all guesswork.Arcanehas deviated fromLoL’s source material – a case in point being that Vi and Jinx are siblings in Netflix’s TV adaptation, but aren’t related inLoL. It’s possible, then, that any of the aforementioned characters could die inArcane, which, asJinx voice actor Ella Purnell exclusively teased to me in April, would make for an emotionally devastating finale. I’m still pretty confident that Vi, Jinx, Caitlyn, and Ekko won’t be among that contingent, however, and you can hold me to that onceArcaneis done and dusted.

8. How will Arcane season 2 set up future League of Legends movie and TV adaptations?

This is where things get really interesting. WithArcaneseason 2 set to be the hit Netflix show’s final entry, there are numerous Runeterra-based stories that Netflix, Riot, and Fortiche could tell post-Arcane.

How about covering the extensive and controversial story of Noxus? Or, if Netflix wants to focus on one specific part of the imperialistic nation’s history, why not tackle Noxus' iconic and bloody invasion of Ionia? This would putLoLchampions including Irelia and General Swain front and center.

If not Noxus, why not adaptLoL’s Rune Wars, a cataclysmic event that saw mortals use the titular magical stones and almost destroy Runeterra? Looking further into Runeterra’s past, a movie or series covering Icathia’s Void-based rebellion against Shurima, or the War of the Three Sisters, would equally make for absorbing television.

Arcane co-creator Christian Linke has already confirmed there are multipleLoL-based productions in development, so any of these could be getting made already. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait too long to see which part ofLoLlore will be adapted next – macabre as it’ll sound, I’d love to see the Rune Wars brought to life. Make it so, Netflix, Riot, and Fortiche.

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As TechRadar’s senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You’ll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.

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