The following contains spoilers for Arcane season 2 Act 2, now streaming on NetflixArcane‘s Black Rose and Mel storyline in season 2 hints at a potential expansion of the entire League of Legends universe. One of the lingering plot threads left to be resolved in Arcane season 2 Act 1 was the fate of Councilwoman Mel. Mel’s investigation into her mother’s Ambessa’s plans for Piltover were upended by a sudden mystical attack seemingly carried out by the Black Rose. This organization has been teased to have a dark ongoing feud with the Noxun General, and Mel seems to have been unwittingly dragged right into the middle of it.
The mysterious cabal continues to tease their intentions in Act 2, with Mel’s subplot unearthing a potentially huge mystery that could reshape the power structure of some of League of Legends‘s most quietly influential figures. This also has the potential to turn Mel into a huge wildcard going forward in the series, especially in relation to other League of Legends characters. It could also be a clue towards Mel’s true origins and how she factors into the future of the franchise even beyond Arcane.
Why The Black Rose Kidnapped Mel In Arcane Season 2
The Black Rose Wants More Than Just To Punish Ambessa
The Black Rose are looking for a secret child of Ambessa that they suspect is Mel, leading to her capture in Arcane. At the end of Act 1, Mel and her friend Elora were ambushed by the mysterious Black Rose. This mystical order is a secretive cabal from Noxus and have been engaged in a deadly feud with Mel’s mother Ambessa. This leads to Elora’s death and Mel’s capture, seemingly reuniting Mel with her brother Kino. However, it quickly becomes apparent that the young man isn’t Kino but rather an Illusionary Sorceress of the Black Rose looking to manipulate Mel.
In the credits for “Blisters and Bedrock,” Minnie Driver is credited as “Illusionary Sorceress.” This suggests the Sorceress constraining Mel is an important but still unnamed figure from their organization, and the pedigree of the casting suggests a character of importance such as LeBlanc.
The true identity of the false Kino remains a mystery, but the female voiced agent of the Black Rose teases that Mel is their “sister.” This suggests Mel has great magical potential the Black Rose wants to claim. This would explain Mel’s ability to read seemingly unseeable connections in the rune markings of her cell, as well as the mysterious golden magic she’s utilized to protect herself. The subplot ends before the full machinations of the Black Rose are revealed, but it’s clear the group believes they’ve found what they’re looking for in Mel.
Mel’s Origins In Arcane Could Make Her Very Important To The Black Rose
Mel’s True Importance Could Extend Beyond Arcane
Mel is one of the more important characters in Arcane who doesn’t actually appear in League of Legends. Arcane effectively serves as a prequel to that game, exploring the characters who would eventually become the Champions fighting in the Summoner’s Rift. As established in season 1 of Arcane, Mel is a daughter of Noxus, where her mother Ambessa is regarded as a powerful General. However, it seems that while Ambessa had a formal bloodline that Kino belonged to, Mel was the product of an unexpected romance that the warrior experienced in her younger years.
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According to “Kino,” a young Ambessa fell in love and gave birth to a child who “inherited” something the Black Rose seeks. The fact that false Kino is seemingly a member of the Black Rose lends some ambiguity to this revelation. However, if Mel’s unknown second parent was a member of the Black Rose or mystical in some other way, it could make her a powerful asset to the mystical group. Composed of ancient manipulators like LeBlanc and Vladimir, the Black Rose’s declaration of Mel as their “sister” implies she is far more important than even she realizes.
What Mel Being A Sister Of The Black Rose Could Mean For Arcane’s Future
Mel Being Connected To The Black Rose Could Change Arcane‘s Future
In League of Legends and Arcane lore, the Black Rose are a cabal of extraordinarily powerful figures who’ve been manipulating Noxus for centuries. They are extremely powerful, so these “Stewards of the Old World” seeking out Mel suggests that her and Ambessa are more important than just being high-ranking citizens of Noxus. This sets up a particularly exciting element of Mel’s storyline — because Mel doesn’t have a League of Legends counterpart, it’s not clear what will happen to her in Act 3. This means Mel’s role and fate is very flexible going into Act 3 of Arcane season 2.
If Mel’s story is unresolved, it could easily become a focus of one of the teased
Arcane
spin-offs.
She could align with the Black Rose, or face off against them. If she escapes the Black Rose, Mel could bring an unexpected mystical edge back to Piltover, or even face off with her mother. If Mel’s story is unresolved, it could easily become a focus of one of the teased Arcane spin-offs. Her powers levels and connection to the Black Rose could also make Mel a very important figure in the further expansion of Arcane‘s universe, and quietly set her up to become a more paramount figure in the franchise going forward.
Set in the League of Legends universe, Arcane focuses on sisters Violet and Powder (later Jinx) as they end up on opposite sides of a growing conflict between the wealthy utopia of Piltover and its dark undercity whose citizens wish to break away from their oppressors. Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, and Kevin Alejandro star in this animated adventure.
- Release Date
- November 6, 2021