Game of Thrones meets Firefly

Synopsis: "Set in utopian Piltover and the oppressed underground of Zaun, the story follows the origins of two iconic League champions-and the power that will tear them apart." - IMDB

Super Short TV Show Review

It's been a long time since I've seen such a visually, musically, and dramatically captivating show that captures class warfare, personal and family trauma, political corruption, and practical but stylish applications of fantastical elements of magic and futuristic science-fiction technology. Netflix released this series first season in three-episode arcs, which recaptured my attention after every weekly hiatus and proved to me that the next evolution--or elevation--of quality animated storytelling isn't the abandonment of 2D-art for CGI but the careful and thoughtful blending of both.

Final Grade

A* (* I want to give the series an A+ but I have yet to see the first season's final three episodes so at this time, if the final three episodes prove awful, I feel at solid A is fitting. I will update this accordingly if the show's first season ends with equal or greater quality than the start and middle of the season. 11/19/2021)

Final Notes

I wonder if the animated medium is the only artistic arena moving forward still open to risky, new, and unique storytelling. "Arcane" is based on a video game, "League of Legends," that I am only vaguely aware of -- but this makes me wonder if the mainstream movie and TV industry can be rescued from its recent history of repetitive trash if it were directed to mine for quality storytelling within the ever-growing video-game worlds.

(Here's to praying for a super awesome animated Splinterlands show in ten years time -- fingerscrossed!)

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