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Arcane Season 1 Episode 2 Recap – Some Mysteries Are Better Left Unsolved
BY Harris
Published 2 years ago
The Power of Magic
We see events from the perspective of Jayce, a young student who owns the lab Vi and the gang stole from. He was banging at the door when the accident happened with the blue crystal, causing an explosion.
Jayce has a fascination for magic. It started when a wizard with arcane powers helped him and his mother in the middle of a snowstorm. The wizard used a blue crystal and an elaborate spell to transport them to a safe location.
Grayson inspects his lab. She knows a break-in happened, but there are items in the lab without sufficient permits, so the Assistant to the Dean from the Academy questions Jayce’s authority in conducting these studies. They arrest Jayce for questioning.
Later in his cell, Heimerdinger visits Jayce. He praises Jayce’s boldness and ingenuity but condones his dangerous pursuits. Jayce explains if they can figure out how to harness magic with science, the world would be a better place. Heimerdinger disapproves. He considers magic to be something better left untouched and unsolved, advising Jayce to own up to his faults telling him not to speak of magic to the council. If he does, he might get away with just a slap on the wrist.
Trouble Down Under
Back in Zaun, Vi trains her boxing skills in a gaming arcade as their gang tries to lay low. Mylo plays a shooting gallery that Powder fixed. Mylo jokingly suggests they shouldn’t bring Powder the next time there’s a job. Powder shows him up by never missing all of her shots in the gallery.
Outside, they find a group of enforcers roughing up the citizens to find the culprits — none of them snitch. Marcus finds the four of them, and they are searched. Mylo is confident the enforcers have nothing on them, but Powder has the magic crystals in her pocket. They force a distraction and run for it. They get caught between two enforcer groups when Ekko hands them a ladder from above to escape.
In Piltover, Councilor Medarda is in search of innovations for Piltover. She is intrigued by Jayce’s trial. Jayce’s patron family agrees to help him, as suggested by their daughter Caitlyn.
Back in Vander’s bar, the citizens are enraged by the enforcers pressing into their boundaries. Vander cautions them, reminding them of what happened before. Vander urges them all to stand together and let it pass, but the others disagree.
Vi and Powder want to fight back. They learned from Ekko that Vander has a deal with the enforcers.
The Trial
Jayce appears before the Council for his trial. Accused of illegal experimentation and endangering Piltover’s residents, he admits the materials he used were dangerous and asks forgiveness from the council. His patron vouches for his brilliance, but another argues he destroyed a building. Jayce has no findings to present, so the purpose of his studies is questioned. Pressured, he admits he was trying to create magic.
The council is speechless. Arcane talents are known to be inherent and cannot be harnessed. A council member attests to the destruction the arcane arts bring. Jayce argues that as pioneers of science, they can use magic for good.
Heimerdinger stops him. He recalls a time when magic laid waste to civilizations before. He insists it cannot happen to Piltover. The city was established to escape the power of mages, not join it.
Jayce’s mother steps forth. She says his son isn’t in the right mind, but he has a good heart. She pleads for them to let him come home. The sentence for his crime is banishment, but due to his brilliance, his punishment is reduced. He is expelled and is not allowed to set foot in the Academy again.
Complications
Silco invites Marcus for a meeting in the Lanes. He gives the enforcer a tip in finding the four children.
Back in his room, Jayce mourns over his punishment. His mother comforts her, urging him to let go of his magic studies. He leaves her to look for someone who will support him.
Meanwhile, Heimerdinger’s assistant is intrigued by Jayce’s studies. He saves one of his books instead of destroying it.
Back in Silco’s base, he convinces Deckard to take Shimmer by telling him who achieves power. Deckard’s body transforms as his screams reverberate through the halls.
Jayce returns to his patron family’s house, but he cannot get in. Caitlyn is at the gates, telling him they cannot be friends anymore. Jayce says he’s sorry, but it’s not enough.
Search
After learning that the lab contained magic, the council pressures its enforcers to find the culprits immediately. Marcus’ resolve is renewed. He goes to Vander’s bar and instructs his enforcers to search the place.
Vi and the gang are alarmed by one of Powder’s creations. They hide within the nooks and crannies of their rooms, narrowly slipping away.
Marcus teases Vander of Silco and his past, so tensions grow inside the bar. The enforcer finds nothing. Marcus is forced to leave as he threatens everyone. Vander’s authority is waning from the citizens. Back in their rooms, Vi is agitated. She wants to fight back.
Vander takes Vi to the bridge, where the battle against the enforcers happened. A memorial is in place for those who perished in that battle, including Vi’s parents. Vander explains to Vi the same could happen to them. Nobody wins in war. She asks him what they’ll do; Vander is unsure.
Jayce goes back to his ruined lab in the middle of the night. He stands by the precipice where the wall had shattered, eager to end it all. The Assistant Dean interrupts him, carrying Jayce’s journal. Unlike the council, the assistant thinks Jayce is on to something. He offers to help Jayce. If they’re going to change the world, they don’t need permission. The man reveals his name as Viktor.
Arrest
Vi comes back home and hears the Lanes are about to fight. She goes over to Powder, who has made a few smoke and shrapnel bombs. Her sister is excited and is full of hope for her work. Vi tells Powder what makes her different makes her strong.
Grayson confronts Marcus for destabilizing their relationship with the people of Zaun. Suddenly a canister is sent to her from Vander.
The enforcers go down in full force to the Undercity, breaking every door in their way. Back in Benzo’s, Vi is waiting to surrender herself.
Our Thoughts
Just when I thought we already had a solid cast of characters, they add on Jayce and the council to the mix. The dynamic between Piltover and Zaun is fascinating, and their hatred for magic. These little details really make the universe feel alive. Back in the Undercity, our main character’s problems are escalating, and the evil big bad hasn’t even played their cards yet. There are clues and details to what will happen next. Already, I’m formulating theories in my head and can’t wait to find out what’s next. Will Vi surrender, or will she fight? What is with Viktor, and why is he willing to forego the council’s decision?
The episode’s visuals are stunning and the character acting is superb. It’s so good that sometimes I forget I’m watching an animated series. Netflix and the team behind this did a fantastic job. I rate this episode a 4.8/5.
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