Brandon Sanderson is a prolific fantasy author, so readers can count on his recommendations within the genre — and his praise forArcanerings especially true. Fans of the author’s detailed settings and unique magic systems might look for them inbooks similar to Sanderson’s works. However, there are plenty of fantasy TV shows that seek to capitalize on similar strengths. Some succeed better than others, andSanderson has been vocal about the issueswith bringing epic fantasy to streaming. But there’s one series he believes gets it right.
Despite hopes of aMistbornorStormlight Archiveadaptation, Sanderson’s books have yet to make their way to the screen. He has received offers and made progress on certain adaptations, but they’ve yet to come to fruition. Given the author’s criticisms of streaming’s approach to the genre, that might be for the best. There are valid concerns about the state of fantasy television, though Sanderson is right about the impressive quality ofArcane.
Brandon Sanderson Called Arcane One Of The Few “Excellent Fantasy Shows” On Streaming
The Netflix Series Is A Standout
During an interview withPolygon,Sanderson reflected on some of the problems modern fantasy shows are facing, from Amazon’sThe Wheel of Timeto Netflix’sShadow and Bone. Overall, he cited a lack of “stability” in the market, recognizing that even series with strong starts can find themselves facing cancellations before they can truly take off. Given the scope of Sanderson’s books, it’s no wonder this would be a concern. Sanderson also discussed structural challenges, like the lengths of seasons and episodes, noting that even big budgets aren’t preventing such issues.
Sanderson believes live-action fantasy has yet to reach the heights ofGame of Thrones’earliest seasons, especially in terms of public response. It’s true that mostshows billed as the nextGame of Thronesaren’t nearly as impressive in terms of quality — and most aren’t gaining the same traction with mainstream audiences. However,Sanderson did call outArcanefor doing fantasy right, even if it comes with its own set of challenges:
“There is one excellent [fantasy] show:Arcane. ButArcanecosts so much money, and it’s hard to reproduce that with an IP that doesn’t haveLeague of Legendsbehind it.Arcane, I guess, is proof that it can happen.”
While aMistbornadaptation modeled afterArcanewould be fantastic, the animated show hasn’t sold Sanderson on going the streaming route with his works. He is right thatArcaneis a standout in the genre, though, andthat makes it even more disappointing that it’s only two seasons long.
The Author Is Right About Arcane & It Proves We Needed More Than Its Two Seasons
The Netflix Show Could Have Gone Much Further
Although Sanderson pinpoints the likely reasonsArcaneis only two seasons long — the time and budget it takes to create new chapters of the story — his praise for the series proves why it deserved to continue.Arcanereally is a rarity in the fantasy genre, boasting quality and a wide reach, a combination that’s difficult to capture. Its storytelling is masterful, from the character work and plotting to the writing and animation. The pacing towards theend ofArcaneseason 2could be slightly improved, but that’s something that could’ve been fixed by another season.
In that sense, Sanderson’s right that streaming is still working out how to handle the genre. But givingArcaneeven more time to develop as a series would have done wondersfor the animated show and any similar stories to crop up after. Spending more time on the story would have allowed the series to build an even greater legacy, offering a blueprint for other fantasy projects, even live-action ones. Fortunately, Netflix can still do this to some extent usingArcane’s future spinoffs.
While Arcane Is Technically Over, Netflix Is Producing More Shows In This World
Spinoffs Could Still Feel Like A Continuation
AlthoughArcanewon’t continue with season 3, theNetflix series is getting sequel shows and spinoffs that will explore other areas of its world. Co-creator Christian Linke confirmed that Noxus, Ionia, and Demacia are all locations that will be explored in future projects (viaGamesRadar). It’s possible we’ll see familiar faces, too, soArcanewill continue in some manner after season 2 — though it’s still sad to say goodbye to the main story after such a short run.
Getting to explore more of Netflix’sLeague of Legendsuniverse almost makes up for it, and expanding the franchise could still have a positive impact on the fantasy genre. Sanderson isn’t the only one paying attention toArcane’s success; evenHenry Cavill couldn’t stop watching it. That makes it probable that other creators will learn from the animated Netflix show.
