Arcane Season 2 Act 2 Review: Reunited and it feels so painful in brutal, brilliant batch of episodes

Netflix released its latest emotional 3-episode barrage with a story that dives into the rise of Jinx, a beautiful reunion, and heartbreaking tragedy with Arcane Season 2 Act 2. All the visuals are wrapped up in gorgeous visuals, impeccable music choices and the best editing on TV.

Arcane Season 2 Act 2 Overview and Star Rating

Similar to last season, this midsection features a slight time jump, and a lot has changed in Piltobver and the Undercity. This new batch of episodes mostly revolves around Jinx (Ella Purnell) and her new status in The Undercity.

Reeling from her breakup with Caitlyn, Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) withdraws to a life of meaningless fights in an underground pit. Like episode 4 from last season, episode four kicks off Arcane Season 2 Act without VI. Caitlyn has become the leader of the council under Ambessa’s guidance. Caitlyn is still on a path of vengeance and hides behind her raids as “peacekeeping operations.” This is a spin on The Undercity being under martial law.

Jinx goes through an incredible arc in this string of episodes. Isha, the little girl Jinx rescued in Act 1, is attached to Jinx’s hip. She believes in what Jinx stands for and others begin to rally around Jinx as the rebellious hero of the Undercity. Jinx is trying to lay low with Caitlyn on the warpath.

Jinx doesn’t embrace the leadership role but takes watching this girl seriously. For starters, she changes Isha’s hair and truly tries to be a big sister to Isha. However, everything changes once Singed, the man responsible for the Shimmer drug, unleashes a beast, part man, part wolf, that massacres a bunch of people. The creature starts to attack Jinx but stops, seemingly recognizing her. Arcane is incredible at ratcheting up the gore when necessary.

Meanwhile, Heimerdinger, Ekko, and Jayce are largely missing in this batch of episodes, which is a smart decision. Sidelining those characters allows the series to hone in on the Jinx, Caitlyn, and Mel storylines. Speaking of Mel, she’s being held in prison by someone who knows about a secret child born out of an affair Ambessa had.

These three episodes of Arcane Season 2 Act 2 are an emotional rollercoaster. Act 1 was a great opening for the second season. However, the beauty and tragedy of the reunion between Vi and Jinx as sisters confirms Arcane is one of the best shows on TV. The only issue is Caitlyn’s sudden character turn in the final episode, which needed more build-up.

Arcane is streaming on Netflix.

Here’s a recap and review of each episode in Arcane Season 2 Act 2.

Paint the Town Blue Recap and Review

After the time jump, Caitlyn has declared martial law over the Undercity in her search for Jinx. She’s working with Ambessa to secure Piltover. While Caitlyn fails to find Jinx, she does find Singed. Upon arrest, Singed unleashes a human-wolf hybrid-looking creature triggered by blood.

The raids in the Undercity aren’t quelling the residents’ fury. They’re becoming more agitated and looking for someone to lead them. Jinx isn’t interested. She hides and tries to be a big sister to Isha. She even gives Isha a makeover. However, Jinx’s kindness inspires Isha, who takes to the streets and begins to attack the Enforcers.

While Isha is out, Sevika finds Jinx and convinces Jinx to help. They rescue Isha, but Singed’s hybrid creature arrives and sets his sights on Jinx. Suddenly, the beast stops after recognizing Jinx as Powder and vanishes.

Overall, Paint the Town Blue is an excellent start to Act 2. The relationship between Jinx and Isha is adorable. I love how it slowly starts peeling back Jinx to the point where you see Powder again.

Blisters and Bedrock Recap and Review

The fifth episode of Arcane Season 2, Blisters and Bedrock, is the series’s second-best episode and the best TV episode in 2024.

Vi returns from a one-episode absence with a force. Since her relationship with Caitlyn ended brutally, Vi lives out a bleak existence. She spends her time-fighting in an underground fight club of sorts. Her life exists in a bruised and bloody haze.

Suddenly, Jinx appears in her room. Vi grabs Jinx by the throat, but Jinx pleads with her sister to help. The hybrid human-wolf creature is Vander, who took Vi and Powder (now Jinx) in after their parents died. Vi doesn’t believe Jinx but agrees to tag along.

One reunion deserves another. Mel is locked away in a prison with a mysterious person who turns out to be her long-lost brother. He claims he was captured while trying to chase down a rumor about their mother, Ambessa. She had an affair, and a child was born as proof. Eventually, Mel sees through this trick and determines this isn’t her brother. She breaks through the mental prison unleashed by this prison using a hidden power.

In the Undercity, Vi, Jinx and Isha journey through a tunnel searching for Vander. While Jinx and Vi don’t get along, their banter becomes more sisterly as the episode progresses. Jinx claims she defeated Vi, but Vi calls her delusional. Then, a fight breaks out, but it’s really just a slapfight between sisters until Isha bites Vi. Out of pain, Vi strikes Isha. In a beautiful moment that shows Jinx’s growth, she calmly gets up to check on Isha but doesn’t lash out at Vi.

The search begins again, but not before Vi asks why Jinx is partnering with her. Jinx doesn’t need Vi anymore. Vander is their Dad. They did it separately when they tried to rescue him in the first season. Jinx reasons that if they had gone together, maybe they would have succeeded.

The trio finally confronts Vander. He launches at Isha, and Vi takes on Vander. Jinx asks VI to trust her. Vi drops her gauntlets and yells out Vander’s name.

The sound of his name triggers a memory. I love how the camera seemingly shoots through his eye, so you instantly know it’s a flashback. Vander, Silco and Felicia, Vi and Powder’s mother, are in The Last Drop. Felicia reveals she’s pregnant and makes the two men promise to protect her child. Vander tells Felcia he always liked the name “Violet.”

The story returns to the present. Everything goes black. Jinx flicks on a lighter and sees Vi embracing Vander. Vi says, “What are you waiting for? He’s your father, too.” Then, the waterworks start onscreen and off.

Meanwhile, in Piltover, Caitlyn and Ambessa question the captured Singed about his involvement. Singed reveals his inspiration for creating Shimmer is to save his daughter.

The Jinx-Vi story is incredible TV. Incredible visuals amplify great performances by Purnell and Steinfeld.

The Message Hidden Within the Pattern Recap and Review

The ending of Arcane Season 2 Act 2 is a testament to what makes Arcane special. Some shows like House of the Dragon or The Penguin shine in the darkness; others like Shrinking can find genuinely uplifting moments. Very few shows succeed at creating lovely moments and then follow them up with beautiful, poignant devastation.

Vander recognizes Jinx and Vi as his daughter but is having issues recovering from Singed’s experiments. Jinx and Vi turn to Viktor for help healing their father. Viktor’s unique ability begins to work and slowly reunites Vander with his humanity. The animation depicts Vander’s memories in a stunning fashion that looks like watercolor portraits.

Vi and Caitlyn have a tense encounter that ends with Vi’s arrest. However, it turns out Vi and Caitlyn are working together. VI betrays Ambessa and works with Vi and Jinx to save Vander.

The problem is that Jayce is on the warpath after being the victim of a corrupted rune that has warped his mind. He kills Viktor which eliminates Vander’s program. Vander becomes an uncontrollable beast. Jinx tries to intervene but Vi stops her sister from risking her life. Isha, trying to protect her newfound family, grabs a hextech gun and appears to kill Vander, sacrificing herself in the process.

The only big issue I have with these episodes is that Caitlyn’s betrayal of Ambessa is too fast. Turning back towards the right side makes sense but needs to be stretched out more.

Arcane Season 2 Act 2 Final Thoughts

Arcane Season 2 Act 2 proves Arcane is the best Netflix series. When building to epic moments, whether happy or heartbreaking, there isn’t a better show on TV than Arcane. I’m curious to see how the latest development impacts Jinx, which was trending positively.