2024 has been the year of disappointing sequels in cinema, with lackluster entries like the shallow Gladiator 2 or the Joker film, regarded as one of the year’s biggest flops. We also got a forgettable Beetlejuice sequel and Smile 2, which turned out to be a major letdown for horror fans who had adored the original. However, there were some bright spots: Dune: Part Two arguably surpassed the first installment, the Mad Max spin-off Furiosa delivered exceptionally well, and Inside Out 2 dominated the box office with the year’s highest earnings.
Shifting our focus to television, we have the brilliant Arcane! After the first season amazed animation enthusiasts with its near-flawless quality, the second season, which premiered in November, managed to replicate its success and solidify the series’ legacy. Although it took three years for the League of Legends adaptation to return, the conclusion of Arcane’s second season did not disappoint. Its emotional finale provided a perfect farewell, establishing it as one of Netflix’s finest projects.
The first season set an almost insurmountable standard, yet the second season rose to the occasion. By expanding the world and characters of its source material, Arcane went beyond being a mere League of Legends prequel. It introduced storylines and character arcs that surprised the audience, making the narrative unique while staying true to its roots.
With the critical acclaim garnered by both Arcane and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Netflix has undeniably set a benchmark for video game adaptations, a genre that has grown increasingly popular over the years. While other platforms have also ventured into this territory, few have reached the quality of Arcane and Edgerunners. Both series boast memorable animation styles that perfectly align with their respective worlds, while telling unique, detailed stories that build their franchises. Arcane leveraged established legends and expanded on their backstories, whereas Edgerunners introduced entirely new characters to enrich the lore of Night City.
Though Arcane has concluded, this certainly doesn’t mark the end of the collaboration between Riot Games and Fortiche within the League of Legends universe. While no new series have been officially announced, it’s safe to assume that many projects are in the works. The conclusion of Arcane feels less like an ending and more like the beginning of something greater.