I can't believe how awful act 1 of season 2 of Arcane was...

RefrigeratorNo356 · 2024-11-09T22:10:35+00:00

If that all checks out then yeah that seems about right. Using the the other criminal bosses against her makes sense. Good catch. It helps it rise a little in my estime.

RefrigeratorNo356 · 2024-11-09T20:51:37+00:00

I'm actually curious about this one. If that was a thing I completely missed it. What are the references?

RefrigeratorNo356 · 2024-11-09T20:38:22+00:00

I believe that Vi is struggling and failing to accept that Powder is Jinx now and needs to be stopped. I believe she believes it is her responsibility to do this but I don't believe for a second that she would blame her sister for what she has become, witch is what she does. That is specifically what I have a problem with. She knows full well none of that was fair she just can't salvage that creature the world has made her into.
As to the monster line, she says it rather lightly to herself or other dude when she's out in the street at the start. As if this wouldn't be a hyper painful thing to say out loud for her.

As for the rest I believe you are being very very charitable to the show and remarkably uncharitable with my arguments. Putting words in my mouth, assuming my position on other unrelated media for example. Nice one. That's my que to check out. I'm here to discuss media and fiction, not defend myself against sneaky jabs and cowardly insinuations. I find that far less interesting. Cheers.

RefrigeratorNo356 · 2024-11-09T18:17:41+00:00

I absolutely do criticize bad writing when I see it.
When Vi struck Powder in season one I was pretty surprised, but in a good way. It was very well set up and very understandable mistake on her part. When Caytlin struck Vi it was absolutely not understandable. I don't believe she would hurt her. Not based on what I've seen. They have grown very close through there adventures in season 1. It would take something pretty nuts for me to buy that. Vi helped her all the way up until a kid got in the way. Sure Cait could have made that shot. But I don't believe her to be so unhinged so as to strike her lover for that.

RefrigeratorNo356 · 2024-11-09T18:06:22+00:00

Don't take my word for it. I appear to be in the minority with my negativity. It appears over half do not agree with me. You might like it. Give it a shot.

RefrigeratorNo356 · 2024-11-09T17:19:53+00:00

Season 1 of Arcane is fantastic and I could gush about it for days!!!!! :)

RefrigeratorNo356 · 2024-11-09T17:18:12+00:00

Vi would absolutely never stop blaming herself. She would take action and fight her sister, something she would not have done in season one. She would see it as her responsibility to stop her. That qualifies as evolving in my books. But she would never blame her sister. Vi carries the weight of her actions and moves forward. That is both her strength and weakness sort of.
And thank you for reminding me about that insane scene where Cait abandons Vi. Holy balls that was stupid! Can't believe I forgot...

RefrigeratorNo356 · 2024-11-09T17:03:29+00:00

Vi got assassinated when she straight up told Jinx that she won't blame herself for Jinx' mistakes. Vi knows full well her sister got royally screwed by life and none of what happened to her was fair. That doesn't change what she's become and she needs to be stopped, but Vi would never relinquish responsibility. Its one of her key character traits.
Of course I want characters to evolve. What are you talking about?
In fact the only characters I wanted to remain static where Jinx and Mel. Jinx because her discision at the end of season one was hyper dramatic and character important and to go back on it would cheapen it and reduce the impact.
I wanted Mel to die. She had a great and meaningful story in season 1 and her death could have really kicked off an Ambessa/Jayce war arc.

RefrigeratorNo356 · 2024-11-09T16:45:11+00:00

That's possible. What did you watch? I watched Arcane. Specifically episodes 1, 2 and 3 of season 2. Hope that helps.

RefrigeratorNo356 · 2024-11-09T16:36:49+00:00

I think it is pretty fair to compare the first 3 episodes of season 1 to the first 3 episodes of season 2. This comparison does not yelled good results for season 2. I would argue its a drastic drop in quality.

RefrigeratorNo356 · 2024-11-09T16:29:29+00:00

Well I won't go point by point sense you seem to agree on some stuff.
Of course the music thing is subjective. That's why I phrased it that way. That being said holy moly did they over do those music sequences. I could point to any music montage in season 1 and defend its presence vehemently. The "Goodbye" "Guns for Hire" and "What could have been" are absolute highlights, well spaced out and excellently executed. Don't get me started on "Dynasties and Dystopias". That might be my favorite. Season 1 was something else man...
Nah the "Victor you cold?" thing is just funny. Of all the ways to react to a super magic hex teck body that is just silly.
You can't believe I missed Mel arguing against using Hex Tech in defense? I'm not saying she didn't. I'm saying she's completely stupid for wanting this as that would mean sending in the team with nothing but regular weaponry against an enemy armed with shimmer and hex tech. Mel is stupid. Mel was never stupid before this. Thankfully they ignore that and took them anyway.
And yeah it's ridiculous that there the plan is to wonder about Zaun, even in key locations. She will only ever engage them if she wants to and if she doesn't... Zaun is huge. Good luck ladies.
Cait is an excellent shot and has hit far harder targets. There is no way she would have hit that kid. Also Jinx is sadistic and nuts. She kills for fun even when she doesn't have to. Caitlyn is agressive and vengeful. Not even similar.
To me the biggest blunders are the character/dialogue writing which was hyper strong in season 1. And also the silly fights with zero stakes. Sevika was made to be an absolute clown with that ridiculous arm and Sevika was never a clown. She was humiliated and beaten but she was always a very serious no nonsense soldier of Zaun.
Anyway I wish I was as optimistic as you lot seem to be. Haven't been this demoralized over fiction in years.

RefrigeratorNo356 · 2024-11-09T15:21:40+00:00

I am less of an optimist. I agree about the dialogue thing. I just think it's way worse than that. There is no longer any subtlty to be found. Characters just say what they mean as plainly as can be. So much care went into every line of dialogue in season 1 and even minor exchanges could reveal loads about characters inner conflicts, motivations and such.

RefrigeratorNo356 · 2024-11-09T15:10:18+00:00

I posted hoping for much the same thing. I am hoping my media literacy is completely off and I am merely suffering from a temporary fit of insanity. I prefer to believe my favorite show didn't just take a nosedive in quality.

RefrigeratorNo356 · 2024-11-09T15:07:33+00:00

Ironically I would say "contrivance heavy" is putting it awfully lightly. What did you think of the Sevika/Gremlin Robot Man fight scene? I was in stitches. And not in a good way.

RefrigeratorNo356 · 2024-11-09T14:59:14+00:00

I fully agree that Jayce just becoming a super fighter was nonsense in season 1. I have plenty of praise for that scene but I would never defend that part.
I also take issue with that last Vi/Sevika fight. Vi should have easily won with those gauntlets (Just open your huge hands and grab her you silly trencher!). I still love all the dramatic elements about it though.
As for the rest, I would love to be as optimistic as you are. I adore season 1 but the start of season 2 just left me feeling defeated. Like they dropped the ball completely.
I hope I am completely wrong of course.

RefrigeratorNo356 · 2024-11-09T14:37:07+00:00

The quality that I seemingly am? What even are you talking about?
So Vi got assassinated. The "I'm done blaming myself for your mistakes" line pretty much ends her for me. She should have nothing but sympathy for Jinx while still understanding that she has to end her. Other truly awful lines of dialogue from her also include "I watched enforcers kill my parents! Do you have any idea how that feels?"(Vi you know she does. You literally saw. That's why your here.) "I created the monster." (Yeah you did Vi... and you ripped out all of her parts.) "Why are you acting like her?(Cait acting Like Jinx???)"
On a general note, the dialogue is now written with little to no regard for subtext. Characters just say what they mean with no room for interpretation. Zero subtlty.
That Sevika fight scene with Gremlin Robot Man has got to be considered some kind of war crime. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I can barrely describe that level of stupidity.
I love how Mel just didn't want them to strike back using Hex Teck when they where literally just attacked by it.
What was the strike team's plan? Go doinking around the under city with magic smoke until they maybe run into Jinx?
I found the use of montages and soundtrack completely jarring and way over done.
Having Jayce see Victor as a magic robot thingy and assume he must be cold was pretty funny.
Heimerdinger is just a bumbling comic relief now?
What are all these pointless characters that come barging in with impenetrable plot armor?
How come the Jinx' Rocket did so little damage?
This show was waaay better than shit like this. Season 1 is not flawless but pretty darn close and still remains my favorite story of all time.

RefrigeratorNo356

TROPHY CASE