Only three years have passed sinceArcanebegan, with the series now coming to an end after a widely-acclaimed two-season run.League of Legendsdevelopers initially claimed that the adaptation would not be canon, but have completely flipped on this subject more recently. WithArcanenow becoming the foundation forLeague of Legendslore, all eyes have turned to the upcoming slate of spin-offs.
BeforeArcaneSeason 2 even began to air, rumors began to circle around additionalLeague of Legendsshows that may or may not be in production.Arcaneshowrunner Christian Linkeappears to have confirmed these rumors in a casual interview on Twitch. Although Riot still has yet to reveal its plans in an official capacity, it’s fair to assume that it may have approved these statements. Among Linke’s statements, the reveal of a futureLeague of Legendsshow exploring Noxus has drawn a great deal of attention.
League of Legends' Noxus Show Could be an Unofficial Sequel to Arcane
How Arcane Set the Stage for a Potential Noxus Show
First and foremost, one should recognize the various ways thatArcanehas already prepared Noxus to take the spotlight. In fact, the announcement of a show centered on Noxus shouldn’t come as a huge surprise to veteranLeague of Legendsfans, or any of the more eagle-eyed viewers inArcane’s audience.Arcanehas already lent more than a few nods to the region throughout both of its seasons, including two of its most important characters.
Season 1 ofArcaneintroduced Ambessa and Mel Medarda, both of whom arrive to Piltover from Noxus. Ambessa and Mel were both supporting characters, but clearly wielded deep conviction and untold ambition. Ambessa and Mel both saw an increased role in Season 2, with Ambessa leading the Medarda Clan as a warmonger, and Ambessa joining the main protagonists as a powerful mage.
Ambessa debuted inLeague of Legendsas a playable Champion earlier this year, and has been a powerhouse befitting of her reputation inArcane. Mel isn’t far behind apparently, as she will be joining her mother as a playable Champion in the near future. These two characters being at the center of the connection betweenLeague of LegendsandArcanelikely isn’t a coincidence, and could provide a hint as to where the next series is headed.
Arcanecentered around the conflict between Vi and her sister Jinx, with the two ultimately reconciling despite their many fierce fights. Although it left a few loose ends for the audience to tug on, theending ofArcaneSeason 2has made it relatively clear that Vi and Jinx’s story is over for now. With this in mind, it’s only natural to look deep intoArcane’s incredible supporting cast to find who may fill the role of protagonist next.
League of Legends' Next Show After Arcane Has Clear Heroes and Villains
Arcane Already Introduced the Perfect Protagonist for a Noxus Show
When it comes to Noxus, there’s truly no better candidate than Mel Medarda. Mel received relatively less focus compared to characters like Caitlyn and Viktor, but her impact on the series absolutely cannot be understated. Mel received a massive power boost in thelast episodes ofArcaneSeason 2, and her newfound proved invaluable in the final conflict against Viktor and Ambessa. Likewise, Mel’s playable debut inLeague of Legendscould be in preparation for an increased role in the future of the series.
Arcanenot only teed up Mel as a new main protagonist, it also fed fans with a few potential villains for her to clash against. Of course, the series placed a heavy focus on Ambessa’s conflict withThe Black Rose, an aristocratic cult that wields dark magic to crush their enemies from the shadows. Mel temporarily allies herself with The Black Rose against her mother, before ultimately revealing that she was manipulating them as well.
Arcane’s Ending May Have Teased the Next Main Villain for League of Legends
The Black Rose exit the picture shortly after this betrayal, but aLeague of Legendsshow set in Noxus could allow for them to make a grand return. The Black Rose is historically led by a powerful sorceress named LeBlanc, andArcaneSeason 2 appears to tease LeBlancwith the appearance of an illusory mage that colludes with Mel throughout the middle episodes. It’s reasonable to assume LeBlanc and other members of her order didn’t take kindly to Mel’s betrayal, and are ready to claim their revenge.
The Black Rose already had a bone to pick with the Medarda Clan, and will no doubt be happy to lump that conflict onto Mel now that Ambessa is gone. However, the Medarda Clan isn’t the only faction that has a troubled history with The Black Rose. In fact, The Black Rose may simply be a red herring for thetrue villain of Noxus.
Jericho Swain is the ruler of Noxus, and an embodiment of the might-makes-right ideals that guide the nation. LeBlanc is directly responsible for the death of Swain’s parents, which also paved the way for his eventual rise to power. Swain wields demonic powers of his own, including the ability to use ravens for long-distance surveillance. One of Swain’s ravens can be spotted inEpisode 9 ofArcaneSeason 2, gathering intelligence for Swain in a near blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo.
Considering Swain has been teased directly inArcaneat this point, it isn’t a stretch to say that he should make an appearance in thenextLeague of Legendsshow. Mel’s sudden power boost also makes her a fitting protagonist, with her no doubt having to pick up the pieces of her mother’s legacy. Thanks to a conflict already brewing between Mel, The Black Rose, and Swain himself, one can already see a potential Noxus show taking shape.
League of Legends
WHERE TO PLAY
League of Legends is one of the best MOBAs in the world, allowing players to duke it out against each other or bots in a variety of game modes. There are tons of champions to choose from in LoL, with favorites like Yasuo, Graves, Nasus, Poppy, and more, with new champions like Vex and Viego recently joining the crew.
