The Human Condition Through the Lens of Arcane
A dive into Arcane's exploration of good, evil, and the human condition.
*This Write-Up Contains Spoilers*
(I’d recommend avoiding this if you haven’t watched up to the end of Arcane Season 2, Act 2.)
The more I reflect on Arcane, the more I realize it is truly a masterpiece. I could rave all day about the animation. The sheer artistry and detail on a technical level are unmatched. However, this write-up is about the story, the characters, and the profound themes woven throughout.
The characters and their arcs in Arcane are phenomenal. There is something in this show that resonates with nearly everyone, depending on who you are and what you have been through. That diversity and range in character development are extraordinary.
Take Jinx, for example. Her transformation from pure and innocent to rage-filled and unhinged is tragic yet understandable. Arcane does a remarkable job of making you relate to characters, even if you do not agree with their actions. It doesn’t just create complex characters out of thin air, but rather gives you the context needed to empathize with them. Jinx’s descent into chaos—her journey to hell and back—is haunting, and yet, I cannot help but empathize with her pain. I imagine many of us can.
The part of me that’s angry at the world is the same part of me that’s accessed as I watch her story unfold. Watching her rediscover a piece of herself through Isha was super heartwarming. It reminded us that even in the depths of destruction, there is still room for healing and connection. That is the human condition, after all.
That is what Arcane captures so well: the human condition. The vast spectrum of emotions, rationality, and irrationality. Pain. Grief. Joy. Love. Suffering. Logic. Rage. Envy. Nostalgia. Curiosity. Every emotion you can think of is here, vividly expressed through the characters.
One character I want to focus on is Viktor. He has been my favorite since Season 1, and I have always related to his reserved, contemplative nature. His dialogue is full of insight and depth, and it stays with you long after the episode ends. His death at the hands of Jayce was shocking and quite the gut punch.
At the end of the most recent Act 2, Viktor said something that inspired this entire write-up:
“That which inspires us to our greatest good…is also the cause of our greatest evil.”
This line floored me. At this point in the show, Viktor has faced immense struggle and loss. Though it is unclear if he is completely gone, his vision of a utopia for Zaun—a society built on cooperation, unity, and love—has already unraveled into chaos. The promise was there in the beginning, but Viktor realized something profound as it all fell apart.
There is no clear-cut separation between the forces that lead to good and those that lead to evil. They are deeply intertwined. I do believe good and evil are distinct concepts, but the causes of both stem from the same place: how we process and channel our pain and suffering.
Some people internalize pain and lash out at the world, causing harm. Others bury it in silence. However, some can heal their pain, and transform it into love and goodwill. Viktor finally understood that a society cannot flourish without acknowledging this truth. To ignore it is to live in a bubble, detached from the raw reality of human nature.
This realization speaks volumes. It is not that good and evil are the same, but the forces that drive them—the forces of the human condition—are universal. How we respond to these forces shapes our world. Whether society trends toward health and harmony or toxicity and destruction depends on how individuals channel the forces within them.
Whether this is truly the end for Viktor, or another chapter waiting to unfold, remains uncertain. What’s clear is that the collapse of his utopian vision has shattered the Viktor we once knew. Even so, there’s a lingering hope that amidst the wreckage of his dream, he holds on to what truly matters, letting everything he has endured shape the path ahead.
Viktor’s words might seem cynical; as if to say it is impossible to be purely good. But I see it differently. To reference Carl Jung verbatim, I think it is about awareness: recognizing the capacity for evil within ourselves is necessary to truly choose good. Good does not exist in a vacuum; it often arises as a counterforce to evil. And if good exists, so must evil. The question is not whether we can eliminate evil, but whether the balance tips in favor of good.
That balance determines the fate of the world.
Furthermore, in today’s interconnected world, the internet has exposed us to an overwhelming amount of suffering and cruelty. Our awareness of evil is at an all-time high. We can look up atrocities at any time and are constantly bombarded with news of pain and injustice. This awareness can be paralyzing. Yet, we still have to live our lives.
I believe we should focus on what is within our sphere of influence. We may not be able to change the whole world, but we can be a force for good in our own lives. That is not easy. Every one of us has the potential for evil; the capacity for it is part of being human. But choosing to channel that potential into love and goodness creates ripples, and those ripples can grow into waves.
Viktor’s line encapsulates this so well. It is a microcosm of what Arcane is about: the complexity of good and evil, the interplay of forces that define our world.
It is no coincidence that one of the most popular animated shows right now tackles themes like politics, oppression, love, hate, and morality. These are the questions society is grappling with collectively. As the cracks in our world grow more visible, we are forced to ask ourselves important questions: How can we heal? How can we make things right? How can we be good?
These themes are at the heart of Arcane, brought to life through its intricate world-building and deeply human storytelling. It all amounts to an amazing encapsulation of the human condition. I can’t wait to see how the story concludes in the final act!
I’d like to close by saying, recognize those forces within yourself and actively choose good.
Thanks for reading!
-Sain