Netflix 'Arcane' Episode 1 Review: A very cool watch with more thrills to follow
Spoilers for 'Arcane' Episode 1 'Welcome to the Playground'
Netflix just dropped the first three episodes of its latest animated series ' Arcane' and it looks immensely cool! The show is based on the League of Legends game and has several famous personalities like Hailey Steinfeld voicing the characters.
The Netflix show will explore the game in-depth as stark discord between the cities of Piltover and Zaun occurs. Magic, technology, and rivalry will all happen in the exciting new series. The synopsis for the premiere episode reads - "Orphaned sisters Vi and Powder bring trouble to Zaun's underground streets in the wake of a heist in posh Piltover." Read on to know what we thought of the first episode of 'Arcane'.
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The first episode of the series introduces us to Vi (Hailee Steinfeld), Powder (Mia Sinclair Jenness), Mylo (Yuri Lowenthal), and Claggor (Roger Craig Smith) as they rob a Piltover penthouse. Powder discovers some blue glowing gems one of which she drops and inadvertently causes a huge blast that blows up the penthouse. The four of them are forced to make a run for it. We also meet Vander (JB Blanc) their leader who holds Vi accountable. They had been warned about the Northside being forbidden but Vi who is sick of being treated as a kid and fed up with their condition thinks she's not in the wrong. It seems the gang of four got the tip from someone at Benzo's and decided to do it without informing Vander. The explosion that they caused attracts trouble with enforcers from the Piltover showing up. Vander won't give them up even after being persuaded. Meanwhile, we see a man develop a frightening formula that will give anyone who consumes it formidable power as Powder shows Vi the gems, with the duo keeping it a secret.
'Arcane' showcases a really cool animation style with excellent attention to detail. The scenery reminds us of an actual video game with so much to take in, with the screen packed with the beautifully animated town. Hailey Steinfelds' voice goes perfectly with her character and the singer does a great job. One of the best parts about the new series is hands down its amazing soundscore. The tense strumming and riffs during the sequences were brilliant. The action sequences too were very well captured as the inclusion of slo-mo and speedy reels adds to the excitement. The theme song which introduces the show is helmed by the band Imagine Dragons with their song 'Enemy' serving as the perfect opener which will get you hyped up. 'Arcane' has invested in great original soundtracks as Bea Miller's 'Playground' played in the first episode perfectly matching the scene.
Fans of the game are sure to love the animation. The episode which ended with a note of suspense promises more danger to follow as the people of Piltover and Zaun may soon have a serious showdown in episodes to follow. If you love the games or just appreciate great animation, 'Arcane' is just the show for you.
The first three episodes of 'Arcane' are now streaming on Netflix. New episodes will drop weekly.