Arcane season 2 rewrites the ‘truth’ of a key League of Legends lore, but the Netflix show’s creators deny breaking the game series’ canon
- ArcaneThe creators of the series have admitted that the animated series is in the process of being rewritten League of Legends (LoL) history
- However, they “don’t worry” about what is considered canon
- Their response comes after some major character reveals Arcane season 2, act 2
Full spoilers ahead ahead Arcane the first six episodes of season 2.
Since then Arcane made its Netflix debut in November 2021, League of Legends (Lol) Fans have hotly debated whether what happens in the animated series is considered canon in Riot Games’ hugely popular video game franchise.
Three years after the rise of these online discussions, we have a definitive answer: yes, but only a little. That is the verdict of the creators of the hit series, Christian Linke and Alex Yee, who spoke in an exclusive TechRadar interview that took place earlier Arcane At the initial launch of Season 2 on November 9, they admitted as much Arcane officially rewrites elements of Competition‘s history.
However, the pair also stated that they are not concerned with the definition of what is canon or not. Instead, Linke and Yee chose to describe the changes Lol‘s mythology as what “must be considered the truth” at this time.
The duo’s comments come as act 2, consisting of episodes 4 through 6 of Arcane‘s second and final season makes some huge changes to the canonicity of Lolsuch as the revelation that it is monstrous, wolf-like Lol champion known as Warwick was created by Singed using Vander’s corpse.
Another notable confession is the revelation of Vi and Powder’s mother Felicia, her ties to Vander and Silco, and how she was a major driving force in the latter couple’s determination to create the Zaun undercity state to ensure its independence from aristocratic neighbor Piltover is governed. Then there’s everything surrounding the ‘won’t they, won’t they’ combination, affectionately called ‘CaitVi’ by Arcane‘s fanbase and that huge Season 2 moment with Caitlyn and Vi that we’ve been waiting years for.
By far the biggest variation in the lore, however, concerns the aforementioned alchemist known only as Singed. Episode 5 of Season 2, titled “Blisters and Bedrock,” confirms a long-standing fan theory that Singed is not only the scientist/inventor formerly known as Doctor Corin Reveck, but also the father of another. Lol champion named Orianna, also known as The Lady of Clockwork. For those who want to know more about these changes, my Arcane season 2 act 2 ending explained piece gives more information.
This isn’t the first time Arcaneone of the best Netflix shows, has been reshaped somewhat Lol fans thought they knew about the myths surrounding Riot’s most popular game. Arcane‘s first season made subtle changes to the way Jayce and Viktor’s friendship is depicted Lolrevised Vi and Jinx’s backstories to make them blood relatives, and introduced new champions like Ambessa and Mel who were not part of Lol history prior to their appearances on the show. Netflix’s animated adaptation of Riot’s biggest game hasn’t been shy about tweaking established lore.
Despite these changes, Linke and Yee are unmoved by the prospect of possible fan backlash to what was previously accepted Competition canon. Yes, they still hope that these adjustments “feel true” to fulfill the expectations of these characters and Runeterra – the world Arcane And Lol are ready for it – but they don’t worry about the complexities that come with what’s canon and what’s not.
We want to tell stories that match fans’ expectations
Alex Yee, Arcane co-creator
“We want to tell stories that match fans’ expectations,” Yee replied when I asked if Arcane‘s events are now considered canon Lol. “This question about canon – for me it’s like ‘what is canon’ [as a definition] but what we are saying is that it is for now’? So I guess I don’t necessarily concern myself with it too much.”
“We wanted to tell the stories of these characters,” Linke added. “I mean, it has to be taken as the truth. That’s the most important thing.’
There you have it, folks. Arcane officially reworks what we knew Lolbut it’s not defined in the traditional canonical sense if that makes sense. Anyway, as we prepare for the arrival of Arcane the final batch of episodes of season 2, read more below from my chat with Linke and Yee, plus my wider coverage of season 2.
