There’s no denying thatArcaneis a huge win for video game adaptations. Fans and critics agree thatArcanemasterfully retells the backstories of variousLeague of Legendschampions at the same time. That’s why it’s great news that the first nine episodes only form the first season in a series; there are already clear hints thatArcane’s second season will bring in even moreLeague of Legendscharacters associated with Piltover and Zaun, weaving an increasingly elaborate tapestry telling the stories of the twin cities. However,Arcaneis built around one small section ofLoLlore;League of Legendsstill has a lot of untapped potential.
Even thoughLeague of Legendsis a MOBA that doesn’t often have opportunities to tell stories inside the game, Riot Games takes its lore very seriously. For many years, short stories have appeared regularly on the game’s website, offering players snapshots of each champion’s life and how those characters interact with one another, forming an intricate web of stories and relationships that spans an entire planet. Riot Games shouldn’t settle forArcanealone. It should invest in adaptations ofLoL’s many other stories parts of Runeterra that are vastly different from Piltover and Zaun.Arcaneis a great achievement, but there are so many more stories to tell. Here are only a few strong candidates.
RELATED:Where the Second Season of Arcane: League of Legends Could Go
Burning Tides and the Harrowing
One of the most famous rivalries inLeague of Legendsis between Sarah Fortune,better known as Miss Fortune, and the pirate captain Gangplank. These two characters have spent a long time battling for control of the island nation of Bilgewater, notoriously home to pirates and brigands of all kinds. Miss Fortune lost her mother to the murderous Gangplank when she was a child, and she sought vengeance ever since. Another show in the style ofArcanecould explore Miss Fortune’s backstory, showing her rise as a prominent bounty hunter in Bilgewater while Gangplank amasses power and reigns terror in his own right.
Two particularLeague of Legendsevents could make good seasons in a show about these characters. During the Burning Tides event in 2015, Miss Fortune overthrew Gangplank and assumed control of Bilgewater, but Gangplank now seeks vengeance. Later on, during the annual Harrowing where dark spirits from the Shadow Isles encroach upon the world, Gangplank and Miss Fortune struck a truce to protect themselves and Bilgewater from the onslaught with the help ofmany otherLeague of Legendschampions. While these characters will probably never see eye to eye, their adversarial relationship would be the great basis for a TV show.
The Sentinels Against The Ruined King
A more recentLeague of Legendsevent also involved the Shadow Isles but to a much greater extent. Players finally metViego, the fabled Ruined King, as he began the Ruination, a massive Harrowing that would not end until he managed to find and resurrect his long-dead queen at any cost. The Sentinels Senna and Lucian teamed up with a number of otherLoLcharacters new and old in order to stop Viego before he destroyed the world in his quest. Although this storyline might not prompt a great many seasons, it could still become a TV show as compelling asArcane.
Admittedly, not everyLeague of Legendsfan was fond of the Ruination event’s storyline, but a TV show about the Sentinels and the Ruined King could redeem the event in the eyes of fans. A show would have more time to explore the lives ofeachLoLchampion that joined the Sentinelsto defeat Viego, giving more well-rounded perspectives on their decisions and behavior that ultimately reflect better onLeague of Legends' world.
RELATED:Arcane Finally Fills in Missing Pieces in League of Legends Lore
Ionia’s War With Noxus
Another great candidate foraLeague of LegendsTV showhas particularly deep roots in the game. Many years ago, the warmongering nation of Noxus tried to invade the highly magical Ionia, resulting in a devastating war that Ionia eventually won. The result of the war was decided by a professionalLeague of Legendsmatch, which is remembered to this day by an in-game item recognizing Ionia’s victory: the Ionian Boots of Lucidity. The war remains one of the most memorable and impactful conflicts betweenLeague of Legendsnations, meaning it’s ripe for a TV show adaptation.
There are tons of obvious character arcs that could flesh out a show aboutIonia and Noxus' war withinLeague of Legends. Irelia seems like an obvious protagonist since she became a leader of the resistance against Noxus and remains a de facto leader of Ionia to this day. Other Ionian characters like Yasuo, Yone, and members of Shen’s warrior order called the Kinkou would serve as strong secondary protagonists, feeling the war’s impact. At the same time, there’s plenty of story threads about Noxus that could come to light, like Swain, Leblanc, and Darius' struggles for power and control within the ever-turbulent Noxus.
Demacia and Sylas' Mage Rebellion
One more valuable recent story thread comes from Demacia, home of majorLeague of Legendsmascots like Lux and Garen. The kingdom of Demacia is notable for its strict anti-magic policies, imprisoning mages and reinforcing its cities with petricite, a mineral that dampens magic. That order was thrown into chaos when Sylas escaped prison. Sylas, who was born with the ability to sense and copy other peoples' magical gifts, immediately began liberating and freeing other oppressed mages in order to foment a rebellion against Demacia. That storyline got a comic book about the secretly magical Lux and her relationships with Sylas and her brother Garen which would serve as the perfect basis for a new showin the style ofArcane.
These are only a few of the major storylines that constantly affectLeague of Legends,inspiring new champions, spurring in-game events, and more. It’s a shame that MOBAs aren’t great at telling stories within themselves, but Riot is getting better at finding ways to tell stories within the confines ofLeague of Legends.Even so,Arcaneis compelling evidence that Riot shouldn’t settle for in-game storytelling. With the proper care and design,League of Legendslore can fit into the TV mold, in spite of what most video game adaptations would suggest. Hopefully, RiottakesArcane’s success and runs with it. Otherwise, it’s leaving some great shows on the table.
League of Legendsis available now for PC.
MORE:Arcane Adapts League of Legends Well By Doing Two Opposite Things
