Arcane Season 2 Releases a Music Video
On Saturday, October 26th, another clip was released in anticipation of Arcane season 2. This time, it’s a music video focusing on Ambessa Medarda, Councilwoman Mel’s mother. Ambessa is a warmonger from Noxxus in Arcane and is coming to League of Legends as a playable champion. She appears in the late middle of season 1 to manipulate Mel, seeking favor with the daughter she exiled. Ambessa wants Mel to betray Piltover, leaving it open to a Noxxian attack. That didn’t happen, but as of the end of season 1, it’s unclear if it even mattered. If Jinx’s missile killed the whole council like Ambessa says in the season 2 trailer, she can lie about Mel’s intentions or disregard them entirely. This music video explores Ambessa’s past and motivations through cryptic imagery and the powerful vocals of Sheryl Lee Ralph. Check out “Blood, Sweat and Tears” below:
I have watched this over and over since it dropped. I hate Ambessa so much in Arcane season 1, and I don’t think her apparent promotion to a main character in season 2 will change my mind. However, the visuals and music are just hypnotic, and I’m intrigued by the symbolism on display. I’m always open to learning more about characters, even if I don’t like them. The wolf-like character that continually appears throughout the video seems to be some sort of deity Ambessa pledges to in order to save her life and her unborn baby. I want this to be Mel, especially because the baby’s glowing eyes might mean she has abilities that would have saved her from Jinx’s blast. That might be wishful thinking, but why would it be her brother? Ambessa implies in season 1 that he’s already dead and he’s not important to the story (as far as we know). Since Ambessa is more of a major character in season 2, I assume we will get a more detailed backstory in the show. I would love to know more about the wolf figure and Ambessa’s arrangement with him/it. Could it be connected to Warwick, who I suspect will be Vander in the show?
The other thing that really caught my eye is the lamb young Ambessa is carrying, trying to protect it from the giants and warriors around her. This is the most obvious part, but I think it’s her own innocence that she gave up to become the leader she is. Her giving up the lamb coincides with her service to the wolf, which also ties into season 1. When Mel confronts her mother about being disowned, Ambessa confesses that she did it because Mel’s honesty and idealism weakened her. She was afraid to make the hard decisions because of the look in her daughter’s eyes. Maybe Ambessa is thinking about that lamb, about her own decision to be merciless and give up her innocence and compassion. I’m not sure what the giants and other creatures surrounding Ambessa are supposed to represent. They are stronger, and she has nowhere to turn, creating a suffocated, panic-induced feeling in the viewer. It’s very satisfying how the drummers are perfectly in time with the music, something the source material, League of Legends, does a lot with their music videos.
I absolutely love this video. It’s very satisfying and stylized, and Sheryl Lee Ralph sounds so much like Ambessa’s voice actor, Ellen Thomas, here. I actually had to look up whether or not it was the same vocalist; that’s how close of a match it is. I’m beyond excited for this second and final season and wherever Netflix, Riot Games, and Fortiche decide to take this franchise next.
What do you think of “Blood, Sweat and Tears”? Are you going to watrch Arcane season 2? Sound off in the comments below!
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