Shadow and Bone

For the second season, the show dispenses with filler and clichés in favor of more characters, settings, plot, danger, fighting, and horniness.

If the power dynamics explored in season one were along ethnic divides—shown through the racism Alina was frequently the target of—then season two is more focused on the power of bad men and the struggle of women to triumph in a patriarchal society. (Showrunner Eric Heisserer famously refused to come on board unless Netflix acquired the rights to Bardugo’s duology Six Of Crows in addition to the Shadow And Bone series.) For all the powers and heists and fights, at heart Shadow And Bone is about people trying to figure out what matters enough to fight for. The latter is meaningful and compelling, but in comparison to Alina’s quest, it feels a little light, and the first few episodes of season two occasionally come off as two separate shows. He’s much more in the background this time around, initially focused on trying to (again) get Alina to partner up with him so they can rule together and then, when she rejects him, turning to the incel playbook and deciding to destroy everything. It’s a vast cast, and the show sometimes struggles to juggle everyone. Our introductions to new characters are also quick, although the acting is generally so good that it’s easy to get a handle on everyone. This season is supersized: more characters, more settings, more plot, more danger, and more fighting—which is partly because it combines the second two books of Bardugo’s trilogy (Ruin And Rising and Siege And Storm). (Those scenes of young Mal and Alina in a field wore out their welcome fast.) Matthias, in particular, suffers and he’s so absent for such large swaths that it’s easy to forget he exists. Oh, and General Kirigan/The Darkling (Ben Barnes) was presumed dead—but in fact walked out of the Fold scarred and followed by some gigantic shadow monsters. Is the fight with others or with ourselves?

It's not just our hero Alina Starkov's love triangle, or mercenaries Kaz Brekker and Inej Ghafa's “will they, won't they”; this season, it seems that no one's ...

The rapport Alina and Nikolai develop becomes somewhat transformative for both of them; Nikolai, like Alina, is driven by a desire to change the world for the better, but he’s also got a sense of humor that grants Alina the levity she’ll need at times if she’s really going to save the world. That’s not to say that Alina is all doom and gloom this season; while there might not be any baby goats this season (bring back Milo!!!), we do meet a few new players who help to lighten the mood. It turns out, he used a dark kind of magic to create those shadow monsters that stepped out of the Fold with him last season, after Mal and Alina thought they’d left him for dead. Called the Sun Summoner, she must find and harness the power of three magical amplifiers (she found one last season) and use her powers to summon an incandescent burst of light that can cut through the shadows. For those of us who watched the series when it first premiered, jumping back into Season 2 feels a lot like the first; there might be questions like “Where is Ravka, again?” and “What the hell is merzost?” ( [An explainer](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/shadow-and-bone-season-2-all-the-backstory-you-need-to-know) never hurts.) When we first reunite with our central heroes, Alina (Jessie Mei Li) and her best friend (slash longtime crush) Malyen “Mal” Oretsev (Archie Renaux), they are on the run and working to keep Alina’s identity a secret.

Our Sun Summoner Alina had a lot on her plate this season, forced to protect Ravka from further chaos by attempting to bring down the Fold and Kirigan's reign ...

"Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova’s amplifiers. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives. "The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne. Now that would be epic. Shadow and Bone season 3 plot: What will the third season be about? (With some new allies in tow, of course.)

After not hearing from Mal, Alina falls for General Aleksander Kirigan (Ben Barnes), the leader of the Grisha army and a shadow summoner himself. In episode ...

The sun and shadow summoners are also in this group. However, the entire time Nina has been keeping the secret that she is a spy for the Ravkan army. On the ship, she meets Matthias and the two butt heads. It is worth noting that many people see Alina as a saint since she was prophesied, meaning it may be hard to travel the world without being recognized. In the books, they are created using merzost magic and can reform after attacks from swords and guns. Kirigan then manages to find a way to control Alina using the Stag's antlers. Alina is then taken in by the Grisha and separated from Mal. The Morozovas were the only family able to shadow summon and, in fact, Kirigan's grandfather created creatures, such as the Stag, as amplifiers for all Grisha out of his own bones. But he then reveals his true plan: expanding the Fold to attack West Ravka, whose people have been fighting for its independence from the rest of Ravka. [It is prophesied that only the sun summoner](https://www.insider.com/tv-series-that-are-similar-to-shadow-and-bone), who can summon light, can destroy the darkness called the Shadow Fold. [In season two of the Netflix series](https://www.insider.com/shadow-and-bone-author-leigh-bardugo-interview-2021-4), Alina is still on her mission to destroy the Fold. It was created hundreds of years ago by a Grisha, the name for wizards in this world,

The series delivers the best of both worlds in an intricately crafted sophomore season that will leave audiences wanting season 3 immediately after.

It makes for a thrilling, emotional, and intense sophomore season that will leave one waiting impatiently for what comes next, and how the characters will fare and find each other again. This decision makes season 2 all the better; it considerably raises the tension and the stakes for all involved. And while the first few episodes of the season seem wildly disparate in their storytelling aims — the Crows have their own thing going on for a bit before their plot bridges with Alina’s — they’re still individually interesting, coalescing quite nicely and seamlessly. To say there is a lot going on in Shadow and Bone season 2 is an understatement; yet, the series actually flourishes despite the weight of plot expectations and character development. In eight episodes (which were provided for review), Shadow and Bone season 2 manages to do the same. Alina must contend with the connection she has with Kirigan, forged through the stag amplifier at the end of season 1, and work to find two more amplifiers — the sea whip and the firebird.

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.

Season 2 puts one particular aspect of Grisha culture at the heart of things, as Alina (Jessie Mei Li) and Mal (Archie Renaux) take on the mission of tracking ...

The creature is considered the symbol of Ravka and tied tightly to its history. According to legends, the firebird’s flight path is what drew Ravka’s original borders and the Lantsov family is even said to be descended from the creature. Though Mal gets his life back, he loses his abilities as an amplifier, and with it his tracking abilities and innate sense of his “true north.” Alina also must pay the cost of using merzost. This total slay is what earned Vasilka the title of Saint of Unwed Women. The stag played a prominent role in the first season of Shadow and Bone. But the firebird isn’t the third amplifier; Mal is. Alina gives the order to capture it alive, confident that the sea whip will choose to bestow its power on her the same way the stag did. In the books, we’re given a bit more backstory on the sea whip. However, some residue of the stag remains in Kirigan’s hand, creating a psychic link between him and Alina that persists until Baghra cuts off his hand in her dying moments in season 2. When Mal and Alina find the stag, Alina discovers she doesn’t need to kill it, since the stag chooses to share its power with her. Season 2 puts one particular aspect of Grisha culture at the heart of things, as Alina (Jessie Mei Li) and Mal (Archie Renaux) take on the mission of tracking down amplifiers in order to destroy [the Fold](https://www.polygon.com/22397995/shadow-and-bone-map-ravka-grishaverse). Hundreds of years ago, Morozova set out to create a way of increasing Grisha power to help them better protect themselves from persecution — which is the same line of faux altruism Kirigan hides his own hunt for power behind.

Season 2 of this solid adaptation is cleverly blending multiple Grishaverse stories into an engaging and expansive series.

Episode 2 "Rusalye" is packed with some of the best action in the series so far. Fans will just have to wait and see how the show pays off all the fuses it's been lighting. General Kirigan was presumed dead after the events of the first season finale, but he returns with some nasty scars and a thirst for vengeance. People who enjoyed the unique take on fantasy action will find even more to love. [two new members of](https://gamerant.com/shadow-and-bone-new-characters-season-2/) the Crows already have great chemistry with the existing trio. Fans familiar with the Six of Crows novel will likely be giddy to see the series take more of its source material to the screen. With the help of There's a greater emphasis on playing with new cultures as the show continues to expand its reach. [Shadow and Bone's second season](https://gamerant.com/shadow-and-bone-season-2-trailer-prince-ravka-wylan-hendriks/) are directed by Bola Ogun. Mal's talents as a tracker make him invaluable among the crew, while Alina makes new connections with people who are less likely to burn her at the stake. Alina is convinced she'll need a second boost in power if she wants to unfold the Fold before it consumes all mankind. Its supernatural elements don't clash with its more dystopian dramatic ones, and that's part of its success.

With its sprawling second season, Netflix series may be growing up, but it's leaning heavily on its YA roots.

Shadow and Bone may be growing up, but it’s not in a go-to-college-do-your-taxes way. In a post-YA franchise world, this sophomore season may be the closest thing we have to a successor, and it couldn’t be better equipped for 2023 audiences. It’s also clear there’s still room to turn things up to 11 — the series ends with a terrifying cliffhanger that changes everything. That’s not even mentioning the strange psychic bond between Alina and the Darkling that screams Rey and Kylo. It established the world of Ravka, torn in two by a mystical dark cloud full of terrifying creatures. Season 1 of the series did all the hard work.

Binge-friendly show spins traditional tropes into intriguing new directions that could be called “Romanov-chic”

These have made her a person of interest to the Darkling, a Ravka general and magic user. Her talents are highly sought after – especially by Six of Crows gang leader Kaz (Freddy Carter) However, she will help only if they agree to spring a loved one free from a maximum-security prison. But knowledge of books is not necessary. Their home is Ketterdam – a riff on mercantile Amsterdam, full of cutthroats, thieves and corrupt officials. Its denizens also include Nina Zelik, a magical “heartrender”, whose sorcery can flense an enemy’s internal organs and who is played by Dublin actor Danielle Galligan. The look is what might be called “Romanov-chic”, with the kingdom of Ravka explicitly modelled on Imperial Russia.

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).

After two long years, season 2 of Shadow and Bone debuted on Netflix and we finally learned where Alina Starkov, Mal Oretsev, the Crows, and the others ran ...

Shadow and Bone season 1 premiered on April 21, 2021, and was renewed in June 2021. Season 2 premiered on March 16, 2023, and although its future is unknown, it’s possible that a renewal announcement could come within the next month or two. No word on this just yet, as Netflix still needs to confirm that season 3 is happening. The show is based on not one, but *two* series by author Leigh Bardugo: the Shadow and Bone trilogy and the Six of Crows duology. All eight episodes of Shadow and Bone season 2 are now available to stream, but ofc, fans are already wondering when season 3 might drop — or if it’s even happening. I want to spend more time in their world.” Fingers crossed.

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 showrunner of Netflix's Shadow and Bone reveals that season 2 is a potential gateway into a Six of Crows spinoff following the Crows of Ketterdam.

Season 2 has also introduced additional Six of Crows characters Matthias (Calahan Skogman) and Wylan (Jack Wolfe). [Entertainment Weekly](https://ew.com/tv/shadow-and-bone-spin-off-six-of-crows/) sat down with the show's creator and co-showrunner Eric Heisserer in the wake of [Shadow and Bone season 2's release](https://screenrant.com/shadow-bone-season-2-release-date-story-details/) on March 16. [Shadow and Bone](https://screenrant.com/tag/shadow-and-bone/) will be getting a Six of Crows spinoff sooner than later if all goes right.

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.

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.

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.

With the beautiful Ben Barnes taken off the playing field for good, Alina turns her focus back to Mal. Nina fails to bring him back, but then the Sun Summoner ...

And the worst thing of all is that's smiling as she uses it, much like the Darkling used to... We really, really need to know what happens next, and because of deviations in how this season was adapted, Leigh Bardugo's books aren't going to be particularly useful on that front unfortunately. The chemist who created it fled once he realised what he had on his hands, but the Fjerdans quickly captured him with the intent to weaponise the drug for themselves. Nikolai gives Mal his special compass before he leaves, and even dubs him the new Sturmhond, which is rather nice of him, if we do say so ourselves. So with that, he and Alina decide it's best if they separate so Mal can go off on a new path as a privateer. Alina tries to connect to the Firebird's power anyway but pesky Kirigan interrupts and brutally injures Mal with the Cut. When Nikolai looks into the mirror, a shadow monster stares back, which suggests the King of Ravka might just be turning into one himself. Nina can't heal Mal in time so he asks Alina to kill him and save everyone as he's dying anyway. He then asks Alina to join him one last time, which is kind of dumb given how brutal he's just been over Mal, so of course she refuses. Well, no, actually, because that means Mal has to die if Alina's going to fulfil her destiny and save Ravka. [Shadow and Bone](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a36130405/shadow-and-bone-netflix-review/) really took its name to heart in that final episode of season two. [Shadow and Bone](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a36145305/shadow-and-bone-season-2-release-date-netflix/) spoilers follow.

With the Crows and Alina (Jessie Mei Li), Nikolai (Paddy Gibson), Mal (Archie Renaux), and all their allies fighting against General Kirigan aka The ...

The Apparat and Nikolai look shocked, and the camera closes in on Alina whose face turns from shocked to a small smile. Because a Fjerdan woman, a Heartrender, is clearly under the influence of Jurda Parem and uses her abilities to attack the king and his guests. Plagued by steamy dreams of Nina and struggling with the emotions he feels for the woman who sent him to prison, he goes to Pekka Rollins (Dean Lennox Kelly) in Hellgate and asks him to put him into a fight even though Kaz has paid to keep him out of them. Zoya (Sujaya Dasgupta) and Genya come to visit her and the three of them form a Triumvirate together. And when the Apparat leaves, we see Nikolai undress and see that when he was attacked by the nichevo'ya, and the attack left him scarred with merzost. Nikolai gives him the title of Sturmhond, knowing that Mal wants to be a privateer, and Alina encourages him to take it. In the final episode, we cut to the Fjerdans who see that the Fold is gone in Ravka. Knowing that he is about to die, Mal pleads with Alina to kill him and claim him as the third amplifier, and after a tearful and emotional goodbye, she does so. And when Alina shoves him to the ground, his shadow monster attacks Alina even when he orders it not to. When the whole group is reunited, Alina goes to speak to Mal who reveals that the feeling he had, the connection he felt toward Alina, is gone. She tells him that the world will remember that she and Mal tore down the Fold, but he warns her that what she's done has solved nothing. In the penultimate episode, we see Alina and The Darkling face off, with the two of them using the cut against each other (with Alina's made of light).

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.

The Netflix series based on the Grishaverse series by Leigh Bardugo is back for season 2 with a vengeance and a brutal villain arc.

“But he discovers that he’s not going to be able to get her back”—although Barnes does say that Kirigan “believes in his agenda, and is willing to suffer the consequences of chasing it.” “When it comes to Alina, he feels the magnetism and connection and sees something of himself in her,” Barnes adds. In addition to losing control of his power and a lot of the masks that previously protected him, Kirigan also loses a lot of his allies. But it also this power card affords him the opportunity to just tell the truth, how he sees it and sort of really let rip and kind of go full dark on everything because he’s got nothing left to lose.” After stating that his job in season one was to “utilize his charm and manipulation” to establish the social hierarchies of the world, he said “this season, I was excited because those masks have all dropped. However, I think regardless of people’s personal feelings [toward the character](https://gizmodo.com/shadow-and-bone-netflix-season-2-interview-six-of-crows-1850228343), we can all agree: Barnes has an absolute blast chewing on the scenery—and he’s back in season two, ready to look fine as hell doing it all over again.

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 (

Characters and plots from Bardugo's Shadow and Bone trilogy and Six of Crows duology blend together in the Netflix adaptation. While it's been exciting to see ...

The Six of Crows spinoff is still in early stages. A Six of Crows spinoff would put the spotlight on the Crows of Ketterdam. As the Shadow and Bone series is mostly focused on Alina Starkov’s story, a Six of Crows spinoff would pull directly from that duology.

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.

Jessie Mei Li on Shadow and Bone Season 2, shooting the finale, crazy moments on set, possibilities for Season 3, and what she'd like to do next.

So, that last moment was really interesting because it’s that mix of pure horror over what she’s just done, but also, “Oh, shit, I’m really powerful.” What was important to me was that Alina holds a lot of tension, a lot of fear, and a lot of anxiety, and in that last moment, I actually wanted that to fade away. I just really hope people watch it and enjoy it because I would love to go again and finish that story to see what happens to Alina. They’ve left it in a really exciting place, and I think it would be such a shame to finish the story there. So, I hope it’s a story that appeals and that people can relate to it because one of my favorite parts of it was that that love story. That was a heavy day, but it’s such a great scene and it was so exciting. Also, it was rare that we were all in a scene together, so spirits were high, everyone was in hysterics, and we were all a bit delirious. When we were shooting that scene, the dress was incredibly heavy and, in order to hold it on the day, I wore a corset. It diverts so much from the original storyline in books two and three, but I had used a lot of that from the book to color in her core personality and the things that really make her tick. I was complaining about the heat and really struggling, and I was like, “Mate, I actually don’t know how you’re holding it together. Alina and Mal are such a unit that it was quite nice to have a little angst between Alina and Nikolai. I love that there’s a bit of a swashbuckling feel to some of the episodes this season. And then, on a physical level, holding the kind of tension in my body that Alina holds in her body was so tiring.

Shadow and Bone. Jessie Mei Li as Alina Starkov Archie Renaux as Malyen Oretsev in. DÁVID LUKÁCS/NETFLIX. Culture ...

“What I really like is that Alina is a woman, but her gender isn't actually that important. “In season two, we've settled into knowing her a little bit better and then watching as she grows throughout the season.” Played by Jessie Mei Li, Alina’s journey in the sophomore season is very much a continuation of a Grisha coming into her identity and power.

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.

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.

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.

Overall, the writing remains strong, despite struggling a bit to merge so many characters and storylines into eight episodes. The main focus has always been ...

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. 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. The Crows’ and Alina’s storylines eventually do merge, leading to another exciting team-up to take down Kirigan. 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. Overall, the writing remains strong, despite struggling a bit to merge so many characters and storylines into eight episodes.

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.

Based on the popular young adult fantasy novel of the same name by Leigh Bardugo, the fantasy drama follows Alina Starkov, an orphaned mapmaker who discovers ...

As of now, plans for the [spin-off](https://www.augustman.com/my/culture/film-tv/stranger-things-may-soon-get-an-anime-spin-off/) are in the early stages and it remains to be seen if Netflix actually picks it up. Additionally, there are four spin-off novels, Six of Crows (2015) Crooked Kingdom (2016), King of Scars (2019) and Rule of Wolves (2021). He went on to confirm that a part of the spin-off would take place during the events of Shadow and Bone‘s season 2 finale. As of now, no details about the plot for the third season have been released. Published in 2014, the final novel shows Alina Starkov continuing on her quest to defeat the Darkling and bring peace to the land of Ravka. After waiting for two years, fans are finally getting to experience the second season of the series.

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.

Based on the popular young adult fantasy novel of the same name by Leigh Bardugo, the fantasy drama follows Alina Starkov, an orphaned mapmaker who discovers ...

As of now, plans for the [spin-off](https://www.augustman.com/th/culture/film-tv/stranger-things-may-soon-get-an-anime-spin-off/) are in the early stages and it remains to be seen if Netflix actually picks it up. Additionally, there are four spin-off novels, Six of Crows (2015) Crooked Kingdom (2016), King of Scars (2019) and Rule of Wolves (2021). He went on to confirm that a part of the spin-off would take place during the events of Shadow and Bone‘s season 2 finale. As of now, no details about the plot for the third season have been released. Published in 2014, the final novel shows Alina Starkov continuing on her quest to defeat the Darkling and bring peace to the land of Ravka. After waiting for two years, fans are finally getting to experience the second season of the series.

Based on the popular young adult fantasy novel of the same name by Leigh Bardugo, the fantasy drama follows Alina Starkov, an orphaned mapmaker who discovers ...

Additionally, there are four spin-off novels, Six of Crows (2015) Crooked Kingdom (2016), King of Scars (2019) and Rule of Wolves (2021). [renewed by Netflix](https://www.augustman.com/in/culture/film-tv/netflix-series-wednesday-renewed-for-season-2/) for a third season. [Entertainment Weekly](https://ew.com/tv/shadow-and-bone-spin-off-six-of-crows/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-share-article) that he’s been quietly working to develop a Six of Crows spin-off. As of now, no details about the plot for the third season have been released. Published in 2014, the final novel shows Alina Starkov continuing on her quest to defeat the Darkling and bring peace to the land of Ravka. After waiting for two years, fans are finally getting to experience the second season of the series.

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.