Two years after its premiere, Shadow and Bone season 2 is now available on Netflix.
Finally, the time has come to return to the realm of Ravka and unravel the unresolved mysteries. Before we begin our review of the show’s second season, this would be a good time to rewind a bit.
The television series Shadow and Bone was developed by showrunner Eric Heisserer and is based on the trilogy of the same name by author Leigh Bardugo. This ambitious fantasy brings to life the land of Ravka, devastated by the permanent threat of the Shadow Fold.
When the program premiered on Netflix in April 2021, it became a smash hit for the streaming giant; so far, the show has included plots from two different “Grishaverse” book series – Shadow and Bone and Six Ravens – as well as adding entirely new storylines developed exclusively for the screen.
The general plot
The story takes place in the country of Ravka, divided into two parts by “the Fold”, a huge barrier of darkness inhabited by Volcras, the flying and carnivorous monsters that protect this area.
Shadow and Bone is set in motion when Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li), a cartographer of the First Army must cross the Fold and, in doing so, discovers that she is a Grisha, that is, a person with special powers. However, she is no ordinary Grisha, but a “Sun Summoner” who, according to millenary tradition, is the only person capable of destroying the Fold and restoring peace.
This unexpected revelation immediately attracts the attention of General Aleksander Kirigan (Ben Barnes), aka the Darkling. He is a Shadow Summoner and the original creator of the Fold. He was born centuries ago and has nefarious plans for the kingdom. The Darkling and Alina will come to share a peculiar connection.
Meanwhile, in Ketterdam, we are introduced to Kaz Brekker (Freddy Carter), Inej Jaffa (Amita Suman) and Jesper Fahey (Kit Young), also known as the Crows. A group of rogue thieves capable of great feats. In the first installment, the Crows are hired to capture the Sun Summoner, but at the end of the road, they allow the girl to flee to follow her destiny.
This season of Shadow and Bone focuses largely on Alina’s journey to reclaim her own power. The young woman must come to terms with who she is and do everything she can to take down the Shadow Fold and save Ravka from ruin.
At the end of the installment, Alina, her best friend Maleyn Oretsev (Archie Renaux), and the Crows team up to defeat Kirigan’s forces. The Darkling, meanwhile, is attacked by the Volcra and left for dead.
Season 2
“Are you willing to sacrifice that which is most precious to you?” That is the key question of this season.
The second installment follows up on the heists and twists of the first season, offering an in-depth look at the “Grishaverse”. Shadow and Bone expands and enriches the world of the series by exploring the following plots:
Alina and Mal meet in Novyi Zem and set out to get their hands on Morozova’s legendary amplifiers: the “Sea Whip” and the “Firebird” to make the Sun Summoner strong enough to bring down the Shadow Fold once and for all.
For this mission, Alina and her childhood friend will have to negotiate and join forces with Sturmhond (Patrick Gibson), a charismatic corsair who is secretly Nikolai Lantsov, the prince of Ravkan.
At the same time, the fascinating Crows, Kaz Brekker, Inej Ghafa, and Jesper Fahey return to Ketterdam. There, they discover a delicate and unexpected truth: the leader of the rival gang, Pekka Rollins (Dean Lennox Kelly), has taken over their establishments, and framed them for terrible crimes.
The Crows will have to face their own criminal struggles and will have to risk everything to regain what belongs to them.
As for Nina Zenik (Danielle Galligan), she finds herself desperate after the imprisonment of her lover, Matthias (Calahan Skogman). Willing to do anything, Nina joins the Crows and does not hesitate to use her abilities as a Heartrender (the power to damage or heal internal organs) to rescue Matthias from Hellgate Prison.
Meanwhile, the Darkling has returned from the dead. The ruthless General Kirigan emerges determined to reclaim Alina’s magic.
The general executes political moves in the court and raises a new army of Grisha. In addition, he possesses a deadly new power: giant shadow monsters that are virtually invincible.
Twins Tamar (Anna Leong Brophy) and Tolya (Lewis Tan) join Alina’s team, while the Darkling is joined by Fruszi (Rachel Redford) and scientist Vladim (Shobhit Piasa).
If this sounds like a lot of content, it certainly is. Between Ravka and Fjerda, the Grisha and the Shu, there is a lot to keep track of, and the task can be challenging for newcomers. Truth be told, too much happens and it gives the distinct feeling that the show’s producers could spend more time developing each plot.
About the adaptation
From the beginning, the screenwriters of Shadow and Bone have made daring decisions regarding the adaptation of the original book plot.
Season two is no different. Director Eric Heisserer and his team continue to be bold with creative decisions. In this regard, they continue to rearrange timelines and implement significant changes to the story.
Basically, the second season condenses, reorganizes and adapts the second and third books of the trilogy: Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising. It also includes details from the Six of Crows books, which means that characters who never interacted in the books now work together on the program.
It should be noted that, the changes in the chronology and personalities mean that not even the most astute readers of the youth saga know what is going to happen in Netflix’s fiction, which plays in favor of the audience’s expectation.
However, due to the sheer amount of material to be dealt with in just eight chapters, the season moves at an urgent pace that affects character development in favor of rushing toward closure.
Is it worth it?
The second season of Shadow and Bone is up and down. While the series’ aesthetics and production design are striking, it can be difficult to keep track of everything that happens. Even viewers familiar with the source material may feel a bit overwhelmed.
It is undeniable that the creators have tried to balance all the plot lines and have made a meaningful effort. However, the show needs more time to breathe and to develop some scenes with more depth. In this regard, small moments – emotionally resonant ones – are sacrificed to keep the story moving as fast as possible.
As a result, the second season has become a controversial discussion among fans of the show.
Overall, the biggest problem with Shadow and Bone is not that there aren’t enough compelling aspects to the story. The issue is that there are plenty of compelling aspects but little time to explore them.
Once again, the Crows remain the best plotline in Shadow and Bone. This gang of misfits, criminals, and troublemakers is so compelling and daring that it’s hard to take your eyes off them. Thanks to seductive romances, high-stakes decisions, and personal dilemmas this gang remains a fundamental anchor of the fiction.
The cast
Shadow and Bone features an amazing cast willing to take risks. Freddy Carter’s work stands out, as he more than manages to capture the deep nuances of the Crows’ leader. For her part, Daisy Head succeeds in moving anyone with her interpretation of Genya Safin.
Ben Barnes remains a safe bet. He can be evil and fragile at the same time. Irredeemable and relentless he pulls off a memorable Darkling.
The new additions give a breath of fresh air to the series and also enhance the development of the known characters. Special mention should be made of Patrick Gibson, who characterizes the corsair and bastard prince, Nikolai Lantsov, with verve and charisma.
Lewis Tan and Anna Leong Brophy excel in the roles of twins Tolya and Tamar. They certainly bring an amusing sibling rivalry.
Verdict
Although Shadow and Bone’s pacing is exceptionally fleeting and the plot lines feel tight, the series delivers a story exciting enough to binge a good marathon.
To be fair, the show has some major hits: there’s plenty of action, great emotional moments, unsuspected twists and morally complex characters.
Does it have great delivery? Honestly, it’s been rushed. Nevertheless, this fantasy of elemental summoners and awesome thieves is still tremendous fun.