Season 2, Episode 3, titled “Finally Got the Name Right,” of the Netflix series, Arcane, is directed by Arnaud Delord, Bart Maunoury, and Christelle Abgrall and written by Henry Jones. This episode serves as a powerful finale to Act 1 of Season 2 before the release of Act 2. Episodes 1-3 of Act 1 delve into the aftermath of Jinx’s attacks, which dramatically shift the political dynamics between Piltover and Zaun. Act 2 will follow the war between Piltover, led by Caitlyn Kiramman, and Zaun, led by Jinx. Ironically, both characters have similar yet opposing arcs—and even share the same blue hair.
The episode’s theme centers on corruption. The conflict between Piltover and Zaun has led to violence and strife, overshadowing whatever good remains on both sides with darkness and evil. This evil manifests in the form of enraged citizens, Piltover’s drift toward dictatorship under Noxian influence, and, through Vi’s perspective, a painful reflection on how Silco corrupted Powder into Jinx. Caitlyn’s transformation, too, highlights this theme. Driven by a desire to eliminate the Zaunite threat and defeat Jinx, Caitlyn’s shift toward ruthlessness horrifies Vi, reminding her of Powder’s tragic descent under Silco’s influence. Ultimately, the episode suggests that in war, there are no true victors—only victims who carry scars, both physical and emotional, forever.
The Duel Between Sisters
Led by Caitlyn (Katie Leung) and Vi (Hailee Steinfeld), the Piltover squad traverses Zaun, hunting down Jinx (Ella Purnell), dismantling shimmer production, and targeting those loyal to Silco. During one raid, Vi notices how Caitlyn’s quest for vengeance has hardened her, as Caitlyn aggressively interrogates Zaunites for information. The optimistic officer Caitlyn once was has become a hardened soldier—despite her claims to Vi that she won’t “turn dark” like Jinx.
Eventually, the squad discovers Jinx’s plan to release “the Gray” into Piltover through the ventilation system. The spread of factory pollutants would result in mass casualties, as Zaunites have developed resistance to the toxins, but Piltover’s people are not as immune. In a climactic confrontation, Vi and Caitlyn face Jinx and Sevika (Amirah Vann). When Caitlyn is about to kill Jinx, a young girl named Isha intervenes, causing Vi to stop Caitlyn from striking her target. Furious, Caitlyn severs ties with Vi, leaving Vi devastated by the loss.
Ambessa kills Amara
Ambessa Medarda (Ellen Thomas) meets with merchant guild member Amara (Salli Saffioti) in her quarters, curious about why the merchant seeks her out amid the ongoing crisis. The encounter quickly turns hostile as Amara reveals herself as an agent of the Black Rose—a secretive Noxian group wielding dark magic to influence Noxus from the shadows.
The Black Rose, led by the ancient sorceress LeBlanc, is Noxus’ version of the Illuminati, a powerful cabal that even Noxian leaders like Swain struggle to root out. Amara informs Ambessa that the Black Rose will not tolerate her pursuit of hextech. Ambessa, however, sees this as an opportunity, believing that, with hextech’s power, she might be able to overthrow the Black Rose. The encounter ends with Rictus (Stewart Scudamore) saving Ambessa, who kills Amara after vowing to avenge her son’s death, reclaim territory lost to the Black Rose, and protect her family, including Mel (Toks Olagundoye). This confrontation hints that Noxus may become the focus of Arcane’s next season or a potential new League of Legends animated series, as Season 2 appears to be wrapping up the Piltover-Zaun arc. Later, the Black Rose kidnaps Mel, likely as leverage against Ambessa and Piltover.
The Wild Rune?
Jayce consults Heimerdinger (Mick Wingert) and Ekko (Reed Shannon) on Viktor’s theory of “Wild Runes”—arcane anomalies created by the misuse of Hextech. When humans tamper with the Arcane through Hextech, the magic can react violently, causing harm such as the corruption of Ekko’s tree. Following this theory, the trio heads to the Hex vault, where they find a massive, mutating orb releasing contaminating energy into Zaun. They’ve discovered the source of the problem but now must find a way to neutralize it.
The Road to Tyranny
After Jinx’s third attack using “the Gray,” Ambessa gathers Piltover’s leaders, merchants, nobles, and police force, delivering a speech that frames Zaun as an unyielding threat. Declaring war as inevitable, she advocates for a strong, unifying leader in the conflict—and nominates Caitlyn Kiramman as Piltover’s new commander-in-chief.
Through political maneuvering, Ambessa secures Caitlyn’s ascent, appealing to Piltover’s merchants and nobles, who support Caitlyn due to her family’s influence, and the police force, who respect her leadership. With no opposition, Caitlyn is effectively installed as Piltover’s first dictator. Piltover’s police and Noxian soldiers salute her in Noxian fashion, symbolizing how Noxus’ militaristic culture is corrupting Piltover’s values.
Rating: 9/10