Arcane – Season 2 Episode 8 Recap & Review

Killing is a Cycle

Episode 8 of Arcane season 2 begins with us over with Mel after breaking free from her chains. She finds herself glowing gold and here we learn that she’s an empath mage. It’s a rare form of magic that makes her both a conduit and a mirror. The Sorceress here explains that Ambessa killed Mel’s brother, but mostly thanks to Ambessa’s own hubris. The Sorceress wants to recruit her, and with the Arcane waking up, and a calamity approaching, they need her to try and divert this course before it’s too late.

Mel is basically the salvation of the city and in order to utilize her power, she needs to stop her own mother. The Sorceress explains that Mel’s birth and course of life is no accident. Ambessa hid Mel for a reason; she’s a weapon that can be wielded in the right hands.

This gives Mel a lot to chew over, while Ambessa – successful in her destruction and take-over of Zaun – prepares the avenge the death of their loved ones and push to taking over everything. Unfortunately, she also has Viktor in her side, who inhabits his followers using the Arcane from beyond. He senses the end and knows there’s an anomaly festering in the Hexgates. He explains that it could well have the capacity to complete the doctor’s transformation. In theory, he would be able to evolve others but Ambessa has a bargaining chip. She wants those he controls under her command. And as they glimmer and float in the air, it turns out they’re the same humanoids that we saw in Jayce’s vision.

Meanwhile, Vi wakes up to find Loris watching over her. She’s in a rough way, but that’s not the worst of it. Jinx has been arrested, while Caitlyn is scrambling to come up with a plan. Apparently Jinx allowed herself to be arrested as the only thing on her mind was hauling Vi to safety. She’s currently being held in a bunker but Cait isn’t sure what to do with her.

Caitlyn shows up to see Jinx, explaining that there will be a trial to atone her misdeeds. Caitlyn hates herself and Jinx too, but right now, she doesn’t have the energy to continue this frame of thinking. Jinx apologizes for killing Caitlyn’s mum, in a roundabout way, going on to futilely explain she had no idea she was there.

Mel returns to the council as the mage, while Jayce is also in attendance. Mel doesn’t fully understand what she is, but stands by her words that Jayce and Viktor were a “wise investment”. As she explains, Jayce looks set to blast her… until Viktor interjects. Or at least the conduit of Viktor anyway, as he rocks up in a humanoid.

Jayce warns him off messing with the Hexgates, while he can sense the Arcane stirring within Mel. After taking her out the equation, the pair end up fighting but this version of Viktor is unstoppable and easily overpowers him. However, Mel returns and uses her powers, alongside Jayce, to thwart his threat.

Vi, having swiped the keys to Jinx’s jailcell from a guard, manages to open the door and free her. However, Jinx overpowers her sister, locking her in, and deciding to use her powers to break the cycle. Given she’s fallen into a depressive cycle, she doesn’t believe there’s a part of her that’s good.

Jayce brings together the council and points out that with Ambessa rallying Viktor’s monstrous troops, they need to come together and protect their realm. He wans them all to help – Topside and Bottom – to stop these forces before it’s too late. Jayce wants everyone he can to join, but those who want to flee are allowed to go.

As the Topsiders and Undercity join together, Caitlyn arrives and frees Vi from her cell. Together, the pair end up kissing and make love in the jailcell.

Mel shows up to see Ambessa in the midst of this and confronts her about Kino’s death. Ambessa stands by her actions and claims this is a wound that will never heal. Mel offers a different outcome; to leave and parlay for Piltover’s future. Unfortunately, Ambessa is blinded by power and she refuses, instead allowing herself to be wrapped up in Viktor’s plan, and with the battle lines drawn, all-out war is upon us.

The Episode Review

I love Arcane but this season has felt incredibly rushed. This episode really exemplifies that and there are so many moments for great conflict and friction to be ironed out that just feel like a missed opportunity. We get one montage for the Topsiders and those from the Undercity to come together, when in reality it would have been nice to see a bit more here. We get one single scene of Jinx seeing Silco in a vision to encapsulate her guilt over Isha’s death, but not enough time to really get into her mindset. And that’s before mentioning the romance between Caitlyn and Vi which flip-flops between these states because of the lack of time.

I am aware that this is an unpopular opinion, as a lot of people (myself included to be fair!) adore this show but it’s very much a season that’s trying to cram too much plot into too small a run-time and the characterisation is suffering as a result.

However, there’s undoubtedly a lot to like with this show and the drama here is at a fever pitch. Mel embracing her role as a mage, and working alongside Jayce, who is basically just trying to undo what he did all those episodes ago, is a nice way of rounding out both characters.

Ultimately though, everything is left on a tenuous cliffhanger, and thankfully we don’t have to wait too long to find out what happens next!