My personal thoughts on Arcane s2 is that it isn't as bad as some people are saying, but it definitely isn't a masterpiece. I liked what they tried to do with all the characters this season, but the rushed writing made all of the storylines seem lazy and boring, especially in comparison to season 1. This season could have easily been two seasons, or at least it could have had a fourth act for all the storylines to have a satisfactory ending.
Vi and Caitlyn could have been a good ship if Caitlyn would have had a proper redemption arc, and if we had seen Cait apologize to Vi. The way they instantly trust each other after months of Cait's betrayal is kinda stupid. It doesn't make any sense on neither's part. We never see Cait having real doubts or fears about Ambessa, we never see them slowly building back the trust they had, etc. It's just lazy.
Vi becoming and enforcer alongside Cait could have been something interesting to see if it had more development. But I literally don't believe it for a second that Vi was willing to through toxic gas back into Zaun just because she witnessed 1 (one) terrorist attack. Like come on, Vi isn't that stupid.
Jinx's mental health problems literally disappear this season lmao. Her storyline with Isha could have been amazing if it was given more time! Jinx just killed her father and suddenly she's normal because she adopted a girl for two seconds. I know many people are sad about Isha but we literally know her for five seconds, I personally couldn't feel so bad for her because she's just reduced to cute girl that helps to move Jinx's narrative foward. If we would have learned about Isha's story, and we could have seen Jinx slowly learning how to take care of someone.
My boy Ekko was massacred. He deserved sooo much better this season. And I genuinely liked the alternative universe with Powder, I though all of that was great, but I hate how his character was reduced to that. Ekko should have gone back at the same time as Jayce, he should have reacted to what Viktor did to Zaun, he should have reconnected with Vi which is basically his only family left. Vi and Ekko should have gotten an ending together where they rebuild what's left of Zaum, because they've always been the ones to take care of their people. It just feels like both of them were sidelined into their relationships and their bond was completely lost and forgotten.
Mel discovering she is a mage could have been a good storyline if she had had the time to properly explore it. How it's interwined with her identity. She also goes from "I didn't know how to control my powers" to literally controlling them perfectly in the span of like, a day. It could have been cool for her to be able to slowly learn how it works and finding a purpose in it, because it feels like she didn't even want it in the first place which is just sad... Everything about her character is so sad. It was a missed opportunity for her to find a place outside of politics where she could have been happy but it wasn't.
The Piltover/Zaun problem was soooo stupid. The whole "let's unite because now we have a common enemy" felt so rushed and again, it could have been something interesting if at any point Piltover recognized the oppression and inequality they've caused instead of Zaunites simply saying well okay... let's go fight with them I guess we have no choice.
Sevika had so much missed potential, especially when it comes to the Piltover/Zaun conflict. In the end we see her becoming a politician, but this is something Sevika never would have wanted in the first season. And her learning to trust Piltover and going a more pacifist route after everything she's seen could have been a good arc for her but it's just no there. Of course for this to happen Piltover should have also shown remorsement about whay they've done but they also don't so I don't know, it just felt stupid.
Viktor and Jayce are, in my opinion, the only ones who had a storyline which didn't feel compeltely rushed. There are some parts that could have been better though. Viktor's descent into madness could have been a bit slower for me, as well as the cult's creation but oh well
Even the secondary characters could have been treated better. Vander/Warwick only serves as a prop to bring Jix and Vi together, there's no exploration of his suffering which is so sad. Singed and Orianna's storyline..... God I wished we could have seen more of them. Half of this mess is bebcause Singed was obsessed to bring his daughter back to life which could have been soooo cool to explore further!!!
There are some more things but I guess I've said enough. I personally believe this season had the basis for a good story and I see so much potential in it. I don't think it's a piece of garbage like some people are saying but if only all of they had taken more time to treat all of the characters with the respect they deserved, it could have been perfect.
