Arcane showrunner explains why the Netflix show had to end with season 2, saying it would have been "irresponsible" to continue

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Arcane is ending with season 2

Caitlyn (Katie Leung) and Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) in Arcane season 2
(Image credit: Netflix)

Arcane is one of the best Netflix shows around, but it's coming to an end with season 2. Naturally, you might be wondering why it's ending so soon – but, as showrunner and co-creator Christian Linke explained, it's to avoid the show outstaying its welcome.

"We always had a specific story in mind," he told CinemaBlend. "Look, you could have stretched it, I'm sure. But for us, it was always just like we started with this in mind. I think there's also a personal angle to it as creatives. We've all seen the TV shows, where clearly the writers are running out of juice. How inspired can you stay about the same thing, for how long? It's been nine years for us, with these characters. I think there's a responsibility aspect to this, also, where we're like, this is what we had in mind."

"I don't want to say too much about it," Linke said recently of the chance of major character deaths. "I mean, that’s the point. We definitely always wanted our world and stories to feel like they have consequences, and death is the most severe consequence. Yeah, that's part of our storytelling."

Molly Edwards
Molly Edwards
Deputy Entertainment Editor

I'm the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English.