Shadow and Bone

The Netflix Shadow and Bone series is based on the Grishaverse books by Leigh Bardugo, but how closely does Season 2 stick to the books?

He’s transformed by the Darkling aka Kirigan in the third book of the series, Ruin and Rising, and is used by the Darkling as a weapon against Alina and her allies. This is true for the Crows as well with Inej (Amita Suman) taking off with a pirate crew to hunt slavers similar to what she ends up doing after the Six of Crows duology finishes, only the rest of the Crows are shaping up to take on the job that kicks off their story in the books in the first place. In the books, in the aftermath of the fall of the Darkling and Alina losing her powers, Alina refuses Nikolai’s proposal and she and Mal return to her hometown. With so many departures from the book but the show clearly setting up a Season 3 we can only wait to see Mathias is still in prison and the rest of the Crows are in Ketterdam, but the pieces are just slightly off from where they ought to be if we’re jumping right into the parem heist in Fjerda next season. In the books, Mal doesn’t get Baghra to lead him through the discovery of his Morozova blood. It’s a plot made up entirely for the show, seemingly just to give some characters more to do and to show us more of the world. She’s able to use her shadow powers to distract and destroy the shadows that are following their group, allowing the rest of them to escape. Not only do they change the circumstances under which Mal finds out he’s an amplifier, they change the meaning of his death as well. Everything involving Pekka Rollins and Kaz (Freddy Carter) seeking revenge comes in Crooked Kingdom as the result of him helping to double-cross them at the end of the first book. Still, in either version of the story she believes her son is beyond redemption. While Season 1 certainly made some changes, with Season 2 we pull in even more from the books written by Leigh Bardugo, spanning content from four different titles, and with it comes some major changes to the story.

Season 2 of Shadow and Bone, Netflix's adaptation of the "Grishaverse" novels by fantasy author Leigh Bardugo, continues the quest of Alina and Mal to ...

Given that Netflix has yet to confirm a third season is happening, we're in for a long wait. Season 3 will also continue to lift plot elements from Bardugo's follow-up Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom duology, which features the gang of loveable rogues from Ketterdam. Unlike other drama series, we can actually take a pretty good guess as to what the over-arching plot of Season 3 would be, as it will be based on events in the third and final novel in Bardugo's original Grishaverse trilogy, Ruin and Rising.

In the season 1 finale, Alina wielded her newfound powers as a Sun Summoner to defeat General Kirigan, a.k.a. the Darkling, in battle in the depths of the Fold.

The second season of Shadow and Bone will see the Darkling emerge from his near-death experience in the Fold with a terrifying new power, the ability to create and control shadow monsters known as nichevo’ya using merzost, the power of creation. Meanwhile, the Crows were headed back to Ketterdam to deal with the fallout of failing to kidnap Alina and hand her over to Dreesen (Sean Gilder), the wealthy merchant who hired them to do the job. However, the final scene of the season revealed the Darkling was still alive and had managed to make his way out of the Fold accompanied by some menacing new shadow figures. The Darkling had captured Alina after killing Morozova’s stag, an ancient mythical creature whose antlers have the power to amplify Grisha abilities, and cementing a connection between himself and Alina by welding an antler collar around her neck and embedding another piece of antler in his own hand. [according to showrunners Eric Heisserer and Daegan Fryklind](https://ew.com/tv/shadow-and-bone-season-2-adapt-siege-and-storm-ruin-and-rising/). Season 2 will also once again incorporate characters and plot points from [Six of Crows](https://time.com/collection/100-best-fantasy-books/5898504/six-of-crows/), the debut entry in a subsequent duology from Bardugo set in the same world.

The Netflix show makes a sharp departure when it comes to Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) and Mal (Archie Renaux) and how the season ends.

In a season that is quite literally bookended by this all-encompassing romantic love, it feels like a lost opportunity for the show to say something about the friction between power and the intimacy of a simple life. Petrana: I guess the one thing that can be said of this ending is that it at least keeps Alina and Mal in play for a hypothetical third season. But a quick stab to the chest and he realized that Alina never meant anything to him to begin with. That would have felt substantial, were that section of the story extended so that his loss was felt, or if the season emphasized the tenuousness of the insurgency and how it put Alina at a major disadvantage, but it didn’t! Everything just happened so fast, which I guess is what happens when you’re stuffing in two books’ worth of plot and trying to set up the fan-favorite book in the next season. I understand that impulse to keep the main characters in play, and I do think they made some interesting changes, at least in the abstract. In the books, I was more into the idea of the love triangle, and the notion that maybe one of Alina’s other suitors could be a better fit for her. But by the time we met them in season 1 there was so much flirting that I was genuinely confused about them for a while. But it’s a funny contrast against the plot points that the season does choose to replicate on screen, and how it metabolizes them into the Malina relationship. It’s always been a very romance-forward plot, but I think there’s something beautiful to the idea that you’d chase your best friend — your chosen family — to the ends of the Earth too. But the first season of the show completely eliminates that jealousy and weird petty tension. [Alina](https://www.polygon.com/tv/22371843/shadow-and-bone-casting-diversity-alina-leigh-bardugo) that we got in season 1 — and how much better it was than the books.

Kaz (Freddy Carter), Inej (Amita Suman), and Jesper (Kit Young) return home to their club, which has now been taken over by local gang leader, Pekka Rollins ( ...

But it is The Crows who steal the show with their adventurous heist, which is filled with twists and turns. As for the romance, which is a staple of the books, Alina and Mal’s relationship remains the strongest and most infectious in Shadow and Bone, all due to Li and Renaux’s palpable chemistry. The new characters introduced are welcome, particularly Nikolai as a new ally for Alina’s quest to destroy the Fold. In fact, many of the characters aren’t really given any time for development, which is a shame since so many seem quite interesting at first glance. Though the series is centered on Alina’s story, the Crows are the most engrossing to watch. Several of the stories and characters have been scattered, tweaked, and expanded within the season but, somehow, remain fluid and entertaining in the storytelling.

It turns out, Heisserer is already hard at work on a Six of Crows spinoff for the series' misfit band of thieves. Heisserer confirmed the potential spinoff in ...

During Shadow and Bone season 2, Heisserer worked with Deagan Fryklind as a co-showrunner, in part because Heisserer was also working to develop the Six of Crows spinoff, and the two hoped they could share the responsibilities of the two series going forward. For the [Netflix version of Shadow and Bone](https://www.polygon.com/23638754/shadow-bone-season-1-ending-explained), Heisserer decided to bring the Crows in as a major part of the story earlier, essentially combining elements of the Six of Crows books and the first book of the Shadow and Bone main series. [main Shadow and Bone series](https://www.polygon.com/23641219/shadow-bone-amplifiers-firebird-explained).

Netflix's Shadow and Bone is a hit, but showrunner Eric Heisserer has his eyes set on a different story.

[Entertainment Weekly](https://ew.com/tv/shadow-and-bone-spin-off-six-of-crows/), the show is in “early stages” and does not currently have the go-ahead from Netflix. Heisserer said that he stepped back into a co-showrunner role in season two because “I was busy with the writers’ room for Six of Crows. Although if we were being honest with ourselves, the Crows have always been a high point of the series. According to [Variety](https://variety.com/2021/tv/features/shadow-and-bone-how-they-made-it-1234969633/), he stated that having access to [those characters](https://gizmodo.com/netflix-shadow-and-bone-patrick-gibson-nikolai-sturmhon-1850223814) was absolutely essential for him to sign onto the show. [Shadow and Bone](https://gizmodo.com/shadow-and-bone-season-two-review-netflix-six-of-crows-1850229320) series, he had one condition. Netflix had to get the rights to [Six of Crows](https://gizmodo.com/shadow-and-bone-netflix-season-2-interview-six-of-crows-1850228343) for him too.

The news comes just as the second season of the fantasy adaptation became available to stream on Netflix. Kit Young as Jesper Fahey and Jack Wolfe as Wylan ...

[Freddy Carter](https://collider.com/shadow-and-bone-kit-young-freddy-carter-interview-netflix/)), Inej Ghafa ( [Amita Suman](https://collider.com/shadow-and-bone-season-2-character-poster-inej/)) and Jesper Fahey ( [Kit Young](https://collider.com/shadow-and-bone-jesper-kit-young-stunt-training-video/)). [Leigh Bardugo](https://collider.com/leigh-bardugo-ninth-house-grishaverse-hell-bent-interview/) are a wonderful source of romance, action and mystery, and the new installment of the television series won't be an exception. [Six of Crows](https://collider.com/shadow-and-bone-season-2-what-to-expect/). In this new adventure, Alina and Mal ( [Archie Renaux](https://collider.com/shadow-and-bone-archie-renaux-interview/)) will continue their quest to upgrade their powers in order to defeat the evil Darkling ( [Ben Barnes](https://collider.com/tag/ben-barnes/)). [Netflix](https://collider.com/netflix/) has released the second season of [Shadow and Bone](https://collider.com/tag/shadow-and-bone/) has gotten even more exciting for the Grishaverse fans, as apparently the showrunners behind the fantasy adaptation have been secretly working on a Six of Crows spin-off. In the television adaptation, the Crows are represented by Kaz Brekker (

Leigh Bardugo's Shadow & Bone is one of the biggest and most beloved fantasy book series out there, and when a screen adaptation was finally announced to be ...

The Darkling is definitely the true name and identity of the character in books — in fact, he is not known by any other in Ravka. In the show, though, it is almost as if he is disguised to come off as more likable and approachable in the earliest episodes. While book Mal (Archie Renaux) is far from a fan favorite, many people seemed to really like him in the show. [played by Ben Barnes](http://collider.com/ben-barnes-movies-tv-shows-before-shadow-and-bones-season-2-rotten-tomatoes/)) in the show, but this is not exactly what happens in the books; instead, he catches her off-guard and kisses her first. Meanwhile, in the books, the manipulative character chooses to do so out of ambition and desire for power. The reasoning behind Alina's scar on her hand may not be the biggest difference in the show, but it is nonetheless worth mentioning. It conveys the message of this, what is a very brutal and dominating act." Seemingly, these changes were made in order to give Alina more control over the narrative and send out an important message to younger folks in the audience. In the books, the character isn't described as half Shu — an ancient nation in the south of Ravka influenced by China and Mongolia, which Ravka sees as the enemy for their inhumane treatment of Grisha. Shadow & Bone is followed by Seige & Storm and Ruin & Rising, in which neither of the characters appears. Instead, these beloved personalities are only introduced to readers in the first book of the Six of Crows duology. While the fan-favorite gang of criminals is only introduced later in the book series, they step on-screen very early during the series in what feels like a prequel that tackles the Six of Crow's origins.

The Shadow and Bone plot follows Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li), a Grisha (a.k.a. person who can do magic) who can summon light, also known as a "Sun Summoner." ...

[Emily Burack](https://www.emilyburack.com/) (she/her) is the news writer for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at [Hey Alma](https://www.heyalma.com/), a Jewish culture site. Thanks to Alina's powers, the ship reaches safety outside of the Fold, and Alina, Mal, Kaz, Inej, and Jasper convene in a field, where Inej swears her loyalty to Alina and Kaz promises not to reveal her identity. Nina is taken captive by Düskelle, or witch-hunters, from Fjerda, but when their ship sinks, she is abandoned with one of the Drüskelle, Matthias (Calahan Skogman). The Crows are hired to kidnap Alina, which does not happen in the books—it's a new plot that allows the Crows characters to overlap with Alina and her story. At first, she works with General Aleksander Kirigan (Ben Barnes), the general of the Second Army, which consists entirely of Grishas.

The crows are just getting started, lbr! By Leah Marilla Thomas Published: Mar 16, 2023. Save Article.

The first season dropped in April of 2021, and now we're getting the second season in March 2023. So there are plenty of ways for the story to continue. So, the first two seasons more or less cover the events of the three Shadow & Bone books. There are the two Six of Crow books. [Shadow and Bone season 2](https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/tv/a36191336/shadow-and-bone-season-2-news-date-cast-spoilers/) and eager to know if the show is returning for another season. If you're like me, Shadow and Bone is one of those shows that you absolutely tear through the second it hits Netflix.

The Crows are trapped in their dreams. Alina investigates an old story. Kirigan suffers a loss.

The Darkling's villainous streak is far beyond the realm of understanding at this point, he's [a mad danger to himself and others](https://gamerant.com/shadow-bone-darkling-redeemed/https://gamerant.com/shadow-bone-darkling-redeemed/). Shadow and Bone isn't reinventing anything, it's just coming at the material with a solid creative eye and a great deal of commitment. It's a staggering achievement in a lot of interesting ways, and though it has to borrow from other sources to patch up the cracks, it's still a work of art. The show has a lot on its plate, but it's still delivering quality at every single moment. One of the surprising aspects of Shadow and Bone is the way it can move characters in and out of the spotlight. The show has managed to bench key figures multiple times, then bring them back when it's their time to shine and give them everything they deserve. The show has a staggeringly effective cast of fleshed-out characters who remain engaging every time they pop up. [Mal is forced to reckon](https://gamerant.com/shadow-bone-mal-better-show-book/) with new truths about his background. After a member of the crew comes to their rescue, they tangle with a foe who may be more powerful than anyone they've ever faced. [Baghra has the wisdom](https://gamerant.com/shadow-and-bone-orders-grisha-explained/) they need to begin truly seeking the third mystical beast that can amplify Alina's power. Both episodes have titles in Shu, "Yuyeh Sesh (Despise Your Heart)" and "Ni Weh Sesh (I Have No Heart.)" She cut her teeth on NYPD Blue, and she recently worked on the 2020 remake of Hawaii Five-0.

The endearing Netflix show, starring Jessie Mei Li as Alina, returns with an even more sprawling ensemble. Shadow and Bone Season 2 premieres March 16.

Not only does he get to showcase that charisma and wit, but he's a major player in several of the season's best fight scenes (and there are some really great fight scenes this season), and thanks to a trip down memory lane and a major character reveal, Jesper has some poignant dramatic moments throughout the second season as well. The show is also unafraid to nudge Kaz and Inej's ( [Amita Suman](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/amita-suman/3030681271/)) relationship forward, giving it a new layer of complexity. And they are especially the best in Season 2, not just because their time in Ketterdam, and then in Shu Han is where the show seems to be having the most fun with its premise, but also because we get some much-needed illumination of Kaz Brekker's ( Yet it remains a series that's so easy to root for, thanks to its bevy of compelling main characters, a charming cast, and its willingness to go on an adventure with its premise (and source material!). I wanted to spend time with Alina and Mal (who get some juicier scenes to chew on this season) as they dealt with amplifiers and Kirigan and the Fold just as much as I wanted to spend time with the Crows in their two mini story arcs, if you will. He oozes charisma and warmth, and it seems like the creative team behind the show know it, too: Jesper (and Young) is given much more to do this season. The problem with tossing in new characters without enough room to really develop them is that they are instantly compared to the treasure trove of characters Shadow and Bone already has at its disposal. [Lewis Tan](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/lewis-tan/3030233961/)) and Tamar (Anna Leong Brophy), who are a hoot. It deviates wildly from the source material, and the reason is twofold: The show is condensing and combining the plot of the two final books in the Shadow and Bone trilogy, Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising, while still biding time until it gets to the actual Six of Crows plot. The same goes for a gaggle of "evil" Grisha brought in to battle the good guys. Last we left our favorite Grisha and non-Grisha (otkazat'sya, as they're called in the series), Sun Summoner Alina ( Honestly, that should've been obvious the moment it was announced ahead of Season 1's premiere that the Netflix series would bringing the Crows characters into the Shadow and Bone story.

Will there be a season 3 of Shadow and Bone? Netflix's Grishaverse series season 2 is out, and while it hasn't been renewed yet, we do know a few things ...

The Crows themselves are already fan-favorite characters, and now it seems at least some of them will be embarking with Mal on some Here’s everything we know about Shadow and Bone season 3 so far. If we’re judging by the first and second seasons, then we’re probably looking at a two-year gap between seasons. While season 2 is already packed with action and [bursting at the seams](https://www.polygon.com/e/22170223) with plot, that doesn’t mean there [isn’t room for a third season](https://www.polygon.com/e/23405828) — as long as Netflix gives it the green light, that is. [Shadow and Bone](https://www.polygon.com/22394023/shadow-and-bone-review-netflix), but that’s not particularly surprising. They’re amazing human beings, like Jessie just brings a brightness to the set every time she shows up.”

With secrets revealed, Alina is forced to make an impossible sacrifice. Mal tangles with his new identity. The final battle begins.

[Shadow and Bone is](https://gamerant.com/netflix-shadow-and-bone-similar-fantasy-shows-recommendations/) right on track for another excellent finale. [If Shadow and Bone had](https://gamerant.com/shadow-and-bone-netflix-season-2-renewed/) dropped weekly, it'd be a great candidate for social media word-of-mouth growth. Fans of the novels are divided on this season of Shadow and Bone. [tainted by The Darkling](https://gamerant.com/shadow-bone-darkling-redeemed/). There is still a lot to take in as Shadow and Bone nears its finale. The most controversial choice in adaptation is the decision to combine two [novels of the Grishaverse](https://gamerant.com/shadow-and-bone-season-2-possibilities/) series into one season of TV. If it isn't moving the narrative, it's an action scene. Unfortunately, Kirigan knows [Mal's secret as well](https://gamerant.com/shadow-bone-mal-better-show-book/). It's always been juggling that weight and the only new challenge is figuring out the chemistry each well-established character might have. Her work began with Smallville and has since included much of the best genre entertainment on TV. The drama is at its peak and the stakes have never been higher as this conclusion proves too big for just one episode.

Shadow and Bone follows Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) as she discovers powers she didn't know existed and learns that she might be the key to reuniting the ...

Alina and Mal set off together, with Alina hoping to learn how to control her powers with the amplifier so that she can take down the Fold on her own. Alina offers the Crows some of the jewels she was forced to wear, hoping to buy their silence and loyalty, and they agree to keep her plans secret. Mal successfully finds the Stag, and offers the information to Kirigan in exchange for letting him talk to Alina. Once Kirigan and Alina reach East Ravka’s army base at the edge of the Fold, he recruits Durast David Kostyk (Luke Pasqualino) to fabricate the stag’s antlers into amplifiers for him and Alina. Baghra knows that her son doesn’t really want to help Alina destroy the Fold, and that he wants to instead use her abilities to make himself and the Fold more powerful. General Kirigan arrives just in time to save her, and personally escorts her for the remainder of the journey. In the years since, it’s been foretold that a Grisha with the ability to summon the power of the sun would appear to take down The Fold and bring peace to the land. Things go wrong, however, when Arken betrays them and tries to kill Alina for the ruler of West Ravka. While Mal recovers from his wounds, Alina is whisked to the tent of Second Army leader General Kirigan (Ben Barnes), a Grisha who is thought to be a descendant of the Darkling, to test her power. Once Inej is freed, the three meet The Conductor, Arken (Howard Charles), and prepare to cross the Fold in his unique coal-powered vehicle. As Mal is about to be carried off in the winged creature’s talons, Alina begins to glow, unleashing a force of light only told of in legends. [Shadow and Bone](https://www.denofgeek.com/shadow-and-bone/) is set in a world where a shadowy vale full of monsters known as The Fold divides the land.

Whilst there are multiple storylines in the show, the major one follows Alina Starkov's (Jessie Mei Li) journey to defeat the Darkling (Ben Barnes) through ...

[Season 2 follows her journey to obtain the next two amplifiers](https://collider.com/shadow-and-bone-season-2-review/), as she finds herself on Sturmhond's (Patrick Gibson) ship on the way to the sea whip. The three Morozova amplifiers were connected to each other and yearned to be whole. Perhaps, that is why Alina was able to obtain more than one amplifier, as Morozova's amplifiers seemed to be incomplete when they were separated and have now found their rightful place together. However, the Darkling manages to kill it first and uses its antlers to form a collar around Alina's neck which painfully embeds into her skin. Baghra recalls a clay swan he had gifted her and that he had loved her sister as much as she had loved that clay swan. It was rumored that he had created three powerful amplifiers - the stag, the sea whip, and the firebird - but as we find out in Season 1 of the show, the myth was proven true. Morozova's amplifiers are key contributors to eradicating the Fold and uniting Ravka. However, it is his family tree is mainly dealt with in Season 2, and it plays an integral role in the show's most iconic plot twist. That being said, "living amplifiers" also exist and are humans (usually Grisha) that can amplify other Grisha's powers through touch and identify other Grisha the same way. Amplifiers are the bones, scales, or claws of particular animals that can increase a Grisha's power, and they are incredibly hard and rare to find. [Shadow and Bone](https://collider.com/tag/shadow-and-bone/) is officially out, delving further into the intricate Grishaverse and its complicated history. Whilst there are multiple storylines in the show, the major one follows Alina Starkov's (Jessie Mei Li) journey to defeat the Darkling ( [Ben Barnes](https://collider.com/tag/ben-barnes/)) through searching for the powerful Morozova amplifiers.

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers from Season 2 of Shadow and Bone and also from the Nikolai Lanstov Duology by Leigh Bardugo.Shadow and Bone ...

We saw that when the group was fighting the shadow monsters in the chapel at the end of the season, Nikolai was attacked by one of them and his shoulder was pierced through. It seems like the show is leaving an open possibility there with The Darkling, and we will just have to wait and see if this is a hint at the future or merely an Easter egg! She is the patron saint of gardeners and was trapped in the Shadow Fold along with two other saints, Sankta Grigori and Sankta Juris. In King of Scars, Elizaveta steals the remains of The Darkling's body and preserves it in order to try and resurrect him. What was not surprising was the death of The Darkling (Ben Barnes), which occurred at the end of Ruin and Rising, the third and final book in the Shadow and Bone trilogy. The second season of Shadow and Bone ended with our heroes attending the funeral of General Kirigan aka The Darkling.

'Shadow and Bone' stars Ben Barnes and Jessie Mei Lie and showrunners Eric Heisserer and Daegan Fryklindare break down the Season 2 finale.

“It was a matter of trying to figure out what are the must have moments from that book that speak to Elena’s growth, but that also can dovetail with some of these other important characters to make sure that each of the choices they make drive the story forward and propel you into the next episode. According to Heisserer, the Netflix show’s accelerated journey through the plots of Siege and Storm (Book 2) and Ruin and Rising was an opportunity to highlight peripheral characters. Alina knows he needs to go do something else and find himself, and this is the perfect way for him to do that.” In the text, Alina didn’t learn that Mal was the fire bird until Ruin and Rising (Book 3), and lived a simple life with him after defeating the Darkling and losing all of her powers. Maybe his deathbed penance is too little too late, but that is something he’s been wrestling with the entire way through, of whether it is important for him to keep that pilot light of hope alive in himself,” Ben Barnes, who plays Kirigan, tells TVLine. In his final moments, the man formerly known as Kirigan (whose real name was Aleksander) instructed Alina to leave no trace of him behind — a heroic request that came far too late for any hope of redemption.

Though the series is centered on Alina's story, the Crows are the most engrossing to watch. Kaz (Freddy Carter), Inej (Amita Suman), and Jesper (Kit Young) ...

As for the romance, which is a staple of the books, Alina and Mal’s relationship remains the strongest and most infectious in Shadow and Bone, all due to Li and Renaux’s palpable chemistry. John Wick: Chapter 4 will be available in theaters and IMAX on March 24, 2023 (or March 23rd in Australia/NZ).](/videos/john-wick-chapter-4-official-final-trailer) [The Little Mermaid - Official Trailer“The Little Mermaid” is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. “The Little Mermaid” is directed by Oscar® nominee Rob Marshall (“Chicago,” “Mary Poppins Returns”)with a screenplay by two-time Oscar nominee David Magee (“Life of Pi,” “Finding Neverland”). In fact, many of the characters aren’t really given any time for development, which is a shame since so many seem quite interesting at first glance. Though the series is centered on Alina’s story, the Crows are the most engrossing to watch. Several of the stories and characters have been scattered, tweaked, and expanded within the season but, somehow, remain fluid and entertaining in the storytelling.

The second season of Netflix's Shadow and Bone packs in a ton of twists and dramatic moments. We try to break down what it all means.

Could a spin-off be in the works that might allow more space for the stories of Kaz and his crew? Nina Zenik’s sole mission in Shadow and Bone Season 2 is to figure out a way to get her lover Matthias Helvar out of the Kerch prison known as Hellgate. And while the Season 2 finale did introduce the drug jurda parem that plays such a key role in the Six of Crows books, it does so in a way that feels as though it may be a problem that Alina and Nikolai are meant to solve. As Season 2 concludes, Alina not only prepares to stand next to Nikolai at his coronation—the two are still fake engaged—but to stay in Os Alta to help him rebuild a divided Ravka. Nina makes deals with everyone from Kaz to Nikolai in the hopes of helping the man she loves, but when she finally secures a royal pardon, it turns out to be too late. He removes his shirt to reveal shadows spreading across his back from the site of the injury, and when he looks in the mirror, he sees a nichevo’ya as his reflection. As Nikolai prepares for his coronation, it’s clear that not everything is as rosy as it appears in the newly reunited Kingdom of Ravka. Alina finally manages to perform a light-based version of the Darkling’s favorite magical attack—known as the Cut—and deal a damaging blow to her former mentor/potential love interest when he tries to kill Mal and claim his Firebird power for himself. It’s Nikolai, for clearly self-interested reasons since he is also clearly crushing on Alina himself, who offers Mal a solution—take on his former fake identity of the famous privateer Sturmhond, which will allow him to serve Ravka, see the world, and maybe get some perspective on what he wants out of his second chance at life along the way. (In Bardugo’s novels, the two retire to a quiet life of anonymity and open an orphanage together.) (Morozova resurrected the girl in the same way he did the Stag and the Sea Whip, after Baghra lost control of her powers and killed her as a child.) That bloodline, she says, has passed to Mal—it’s the reason he’s always been able to track animals so well and to always find his way back to Alina. Though the Sun Summoner tracks down and slays the Sea Whip within Season 2’s first two episodes, her search for the third creature takes much longer—or, at least it does until the Darkling’s mother Baghra informs her that the Firebird isn’t an animal so much as a bloodline, passed down through the offspring of Morozova’s children.

Allowing fans to see both the world-saving mission of Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) in the Grisha trilogy as well as the scrappy adventures of the thieving ...

Having them show up for the finale is cool, and It's exciting to see everyone all together, but you can’t help but notice how out of place the Crows feel among the ranks of Alina and Nikolai’s people. At the end of the day, this has been Alina’s story and the Crows are just circling around it and being handed boons to keep them relevant, so they can continue to delight audiences. With the Crows' fight in Ketterdam finished halfway through the season, they needed a way to keep the characters relevant and get them involved with the main plot. This is fitting going up against the Darkling, but this diversion keeps them busy all the way until the finale where finally Inej can come in with the blade and save Alina’s life a few times. Matthias’ (Calahan Skogman) imprisonment takes place before Six Of Crows even begins, and the Crows are hoping to break him out not just because they made a deal with This extends to other couples as well with the choice to keep Matthias in Hellgate most of the season showcasing the lowest part of his relationship with Nina, something we only hear discussed afterward in the books. This isn’t to say the characters don’t feel like themselves or that the scenes we do get aren’t fun and interesting. What we see from them is a mix of events pulled from both books in their duology and [things created wholesale for this new version](https://collider.com/shadow-and-bone-season-2-book-changes/) of the story. We finally have all six crows (well, the sixth is in a cage) but what they’re allowed to do is still very much dictated by the plot of Shadow and Bone rather than their own narrative forces. It’s not glamorous, it’s not grand, and it leaves the Crows in Shadow and Bone feeling somewhat out of place. It’s [Alina on all the posters](https://collider.com/shadow-and-bone-season-2-images-jessie-mei-li/) at the end of the day.

The show follows a plethora of characters from Bardugo's books, including the fan-favorite Crows, but its main protagonist is Alina Starkov. Alina is introduced ...

There are people of different ethnicities, cultures, and backgrounds across Ravka and the whole Grishaverse. The Second Army: If you're a Grisha, you head over to the Second Army. The Fold: The Shadow Fold splits the Ravka in half, making it very difficult to get materials and people across the country. Ketterdam: This is the capital city of the island nation of Kerch, a trading giant, and it's pretty hopping. The Shu don't have powers either, but they have a more scientific approach to the Grisha. The Fold is very difficult to traverse and requires a dark and silent ship that slinks along the sand. The Cut: This is a lethal Grisha attack that can, literally, cut a person in two. The Darkling, is a fan. Alina Starkov and the Darkling, her crush who turns out to be the Black Heretic in disguise, are both technically Etherealki. (But more on that later.) Unfortunately, if you're not Grisha, then you are just a person (sorry!), which is kind of a bummer, but things don't seem to be too easy for a Master of the Small Science either. It was created by a villain called the Black Heretic and is full of monsters called volcra, who are attracted to light and sound and love yummy human flesh as a treat. The world of Leigh Bardugo’s [Grishaverse novels](https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a36209788/what-books-shadow-and-bone-netflix-show-based-on/) is a complicated one, full of its own rich lore, “magic,” and various groups of powerful beings at each other's throats.

These liberties will come as no surprise to fans of Season 1, which combined the plots of Bardugo's Shadow and Bone trilogy and her Six of Crows duology with ...

This is a show-only development for Mal, but there is precedent for a non-Nikolai Sturmhond in the books. In the show, Alina tells Zoya and Genya that the three of them can be their own Triumvirate, meaning she'll take over from David's spot in the books. Shadow and Bone once again reunites the Crows with Alina and friends, giving us a whole new plotline to enjoy. Key parts of the battle remain the same: Alina sacrifices Mal and destroys the Fold, then kills a bereaved Darkling. For the first half of Season 2, the Crows are fighting to regain their place in Ketterdam, since Pekka Rollins has taken over the old Crow Club and framed them for murder. There's a lot less actual touching and romance between the two in the show than the books, except for one show-only scene that sees Alina attempt to trick him with seduction — again, giving her more agency and power in the relationship. This way, Baghra is able to reveal that Mal is the third amplifier, a moment that hits harder in the show than in the books as it allows Mal to reckon with his ancestry and gives him the hard task of telling Alina the truth. In the show, he understands that it's important the two of them present a united front, and he ends up much friendlier with Nikolai. The books also see her reject his marriage proposal, while she accepts it in the show in an attempt to consolidate power and present a better path forward for Grisha in Ravka. The show pairs Mal and Alina with Baghra (Zoë Wanamaker) as they search for the Firebird instead of Zoya (Sujaya Dasgupta), Genya (Daisy Head), and David (Luke Pasqualino). She creates nichevo'ya creatures of her own and nearly kills herself and the Darkling in the process, but her allies help her escape before she can finish the job. In the show, Alina gains more agency by choosing to seek out the Sea Whip instead of getting kidnapped and being forced to do so on the Darkling's behalf.

Netflix phenomenon Shadow and Bone is back for season 2, and fans are already asking what's next for season 3 of this fantasy series.

[Entertainment Weekly ](https://ew.com/tv/shadow-and-bone-season-2-ending-expanded-grishaverse/)that while working on season two, he opened a separate writers’ room to develop a Six of Crows spinoff series. In the books, this is discovered towards the end of the final novel Ruin and Rising, alongside the death of the Darkling, Alina once again refuses Nikolai’s proposal and eventually returns to her hometown with Mal, where they rebuild the orphanage and school. However, when Shadow and Bone writer Christina Strain was asked about the Six of Crows’ spinoff, she, [tweeted](https://twitter.com/christinastrain/status/1571564669294477313?s=20&t=6SRloIHSWIeL2ZlJAKTMMw) “I seriously can not stress enough just how important it’ll be for people to watch Season 2 of Shadow and Bone.” Strain’s comments make sense after watching season two and seeing the arrival of Prince Nikolai (Patrick Gibson) also known as the sea captain Sturhmond, and Grisha fighters Tamar (Anna Leong Brophy) and Tolya (Lewis Tan). Each amplifier gets its own book in the series by Bardugo, as the first book focuses on the Stag, while books two and three center around the hunt for the Sea Whip and Firebird, respectively. However, it wasn’t plain sailing for the series from there, as showrunner Heisserer almost left the series when Netflix revealed they didn’t have the rights to Bardugo’s second series, Six of Crows. Heisserer got the gig as showrunner because his friend gave him a copy of Bardugo’s books and he loved them so much that he tweeted the author to tell her how much he enjoyed them. That tweet led to Netflix calling him: “it was a year later that I got a call out of the blue from Netflix and they said, ‘Hey, we know you tweeted the author a year ago.’ You know, so I got past like the Big Brother paranoia and Leigh just remembered that. The two series are part of a universe known as “the Grishaverse.” [Netflix](https://www.denofgeek.com/netflix/) show nowadays, they want to know whether the show will have another season or whether they’ll be stuck with another cliffhanger ending that will never be continued. Mapmaker and orphan Alina discovers she is one of the most powerful Grisha, a Sun Summoner, whose power has the potential to destroy the Fold and free her country. [have forgotten the premise since season one](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/shadow-and-bone-recap/), Shadow and Bone is Alina Starkov’s (Jessie Mei Li) story based on a book series of the same name by Leigh Bardugo.

"Shadow and Bone" season two is now on Netflix. The season finale teases several storylines for future seasons and a potential spinoff show.

"We did that a little bit with the prequel story for the Crows in season one," he said. Meanwhile, the "King of Scars" focuses on Nikolai and his allies after the war. In season two, Nina is working to get Matthias pardoned and out of the Ketterdam prison. Matthias refuses and instead tries to fight the guards that come in and is locked up again. [The "King of Scars" book is likely to be the main story adapted in season three](https://www.insider.com/tv-series-that-are-similar-to-shadow-and-bone). In season two, they return home and have to fight for their lives against a powerful crime boss, before going to Shu Han to retrieve a mythical sword from a powerful Grisha saint. In the season two finale, Nikolai prepares for his coronation after the war. In the book series, during the final fight with Kirigan, Alina actually gives her abilities to every normal person around her, creating a new crew of sun summoners. However, this time, Kirigan is dead and Alina seems stuck with the shadow abilities. Together, they seem to be taking down slave ships at the end of season two, Alina and Mal also discover that the third and final amplifier that Alina needs is actually her childhood friend. [his undefeatable shadow monsters, and his army of Grisha](https://www.insider.com/shadow-and-bone-season-two-leigh-bardugo-monster-child-cry-2022-10) against Alina and her underprepared and mostly human allies.

While in Season 1, the then-leader of Ravka's Grisha army was a respected and charismatic Shadow Summoner, Kirigan has done away with the facade for Season 2.

I think what I like about this show and this character is that there is a little bit of mystery left and a little bit of confusion in him. I think that we try as best we can to kind of sow that in still, but she has less conflict about him in the show. He’s forced into this position of just confronting her and literally putting his hand over her mouth and shoving her up against the wall and silencing her and saying,’It will be this way.’ I think because we built up through the first season, this lovely friendship that we have, and we played these other elements of the characters, it was nice to explore the ones that we hadn’t. But yeah, we kind of fit our roles a bit better in the first season where I’m coming at this with 20 years of experience and Jessie’s fresher to this kind of experience. I think in the first season talking about it, I felt the compulsion to be like, ‘Well, there’s a world in which this works.’ Because that’s what he believes. So we don’t really get into a lot of that in this season, because it’s thick, and we’ve got stuff to get on with. But then the results of how that conflict play out and the more he sees what she’s capable of, and what she really is when she’s in the fold and how powerful she really is — that actually maybe there’s a way that she could do this. I think there’s one thing he has going for him, which is consistency, because in the first season he talks to her about how he’s lived all these lifetimes and he’s tried it other ways. So we have a little taste of it when the monsters attack his mother, and it sort of takes him by surprise. But in this season, it’s unleashed a little bit and he doesn’t have an army to rely on. But at the same time, he has to take ownership of this sort of villainy and his toxicity at this point. How was it to be able to tap into the much darker side of Kirigan for this season?

Shadow and Bone season 2 is full of new and returning characters. Here are the actors you can expect to see as well as where else you can find them.

His alchemy skills come in handy on numerous occasions, and his youthful energy is a welcome addition to the team. Tamar Kir-Bataar is the twin sister of Tolya and also a member of Sturmhond’s crew. Tamar is played by Anna Leong Brophy, who has also appeared in The Girl Before, Ragdoll, and Traces. Genya is played by Daisy Head, who you may recognize from The Sandman or her upcoming role in Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Zoya and Alina may not be the best of friends, but Zoya at least realizes that Kirigan isn’t the saint everyone thinks he is and that Alina is probably their best chance at stopping him. A member of the Crows, Jesper Fahey is a skilled marksman and sharpshooter, though he’s also a bit impulsive and has a small gambling problem. She regrets the man that Kirigan has become, and will do anything to stop him. Zoya is a Grisha Squallor loyal to Kirigan and fiercely jealous of Alina’s closeness to him when they first meet. Jesper is played by Kit Young, who has also appeared in The Origin and The School for Good and Evil. Kaz is played by Freddy Carter, who has also appeared in Wonder Woman and Pennyworth. Kaz is the one who discovers Dreesen’s job in season 1 and convinces Inej and Jesper to come along with him. Even though they spend a lot of season 1 apart, he and Alina clearly mean a lot to each other, and he’s proven to be a loyal ally and friend even as their lives have drastically changed.