In April of 2021, our world changed forever. First, the old FYA site went down, causing a severe disturbance in the Force and our normal posting schedule. And second, the first season of Shadow and Bone was released on Netflix, bringing our favorite Grishaverse characters to life.
I binged the eight episodes pretty much immediately, then watched the entire thing again in short order. Overall, I was immensely pleased with the adaptation—especially the characters. The actors brought to life some of my most favorite literary characters in perfect detail, from mannerisms to dialogue. And none of them are bad to look at, either.
Tomorrow sees the premiere (and, because Netflix, the entire series) of Shadow and Bone‘s second season. Today, we’re taking a look back at the first season—at least, the last episode. (I’m a perma-exhausted newish mom with a day job and poor time management. I had the highest of hopes to give the first season a proper recap, but the three months since they announced the season 2 release date honestly feels more like three days.)
Episode 8, “No Mourners,” wraps up the first season—which introduced the world* to Alina, Mal, Kaz, Inej, Jesper, Nina, Matthias, the Darkling, and a bunch of other fabulous characters, along with the magic of the Grisha and the talents of the Crows—and sets the characters up for even more adventure.
Specifically, the last episode sees the prophesied Sun Summoner/Saint Alina overcome the super hot but equally problematic General Kirigan, a.k.a. The Darkling, while on a trip across the Fold during which he shows his true colors and the fact that he’s willing to kill loads of people “for the betterment of their people.” On the same ship are Kaz, Inej, and Jesper, who are looking to take down the Darkling and are also on the run from folks in Ketterdam who want them dead, and Zoya, a Grisha who isn’t a huge character—yet.
Elsewhere, Nina and Matthias find themselves in a sticky situation when Grisha find them in an inn and want to kill Matthias for who he is (a Druskelle, or Grisha-killer from the country of Fjerda). She saves him, or at least extends his life, by branding him a slaver and getting him arrested. They end up on a boat headed for Ketterdam.
Alina, et al, make it through the Fold, leaving the Darkling behind to fend off the Volcra (shadow creatures who like the taste of human or perhaps just like killing them). Zoya heads off on her own, while the rest of them go to the coast to find passage to Ketterdam—coincidentally on the boat Nina and Matthias are on. The Crows talk about needing a Heartrender for Kaz’s plan to keep their heads, which Nina overhears and is intrigued by. Mal and Alina, hiding who they actually are, look off into the distance toward what’s to come.
And then the Darkling comes stumbling out the Fold, looking much the worse for wear, some really scary shadow creatures following behind. Sadly—for the heroes of the show, not us who like looking at Bin Bons Ben Barnes—not dead, and obviously looking for some vengeance.
DUN, DUN, DUUUUUN.
Although the combination of the Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows series has led to mixed or completely new storylines, there are hints of some things familiar in this season 2 trailer. (Nikolai! Tolya and Tamar! WYLAN!) I, for one, am very excited to watch what our faves get up to next. If you have any predictions for what’s to come, head to the comments.
We’ll be back soon with a proper season 2 celebration!
*The obviously small part who’d never read one of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse novels.
I just rewatched the last two episodes and watched a recap and I am happy that I waited until the day before it comes back to get excited because it’s been TWO LONG DAMN YEARS. (Also there is not enough SOC crew in the preview and I hope it’s not just all Alina lol. I know it’s called “Shadow and Bone” but, really, they need to understand which book series is the infinitely more popular one and plan accordingly.)
I can’t fathom that it’s been that long, but time certainly does fly. And I, too, am hoping for more Crows … but if we don’t get them in this season, there is that rumored spin-off happening, which I am HERE FOR.