Hello everyone,
After an impressive first series released in 2021 that brought Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse to life on the small screen, it was very exciting when Shadow And Bone finally returned to Netflix in March. Three months on, I have finally got around to watching all eight episodes, so it is time to share all of my thoughts!
The first series was mostly a blast and although there were issues, the way that the characters from two separate book series in the same world were woven into one overarching plot was very clever indeed. There was a lot to love, as I detailed in the review I wrote at the time.
But if that was good, then series two was better. This was so worth the wait – it is thrilling to watch, the character development is mostly outstanding, and throughout the eight episodes Bardugo’s world was captured to perfection. For an adaptation that only follows a rough outline of the books, it is seriously good.
There is a lot to pack in, too, as it adapts Siege And Storm, most of Ruin And Rising, and uses certain storylines from Six Of Crows. That means a lot of plot strands and a lot to keep track of as new characters are introduced (including Nikolai Lantsov!!), but the ensemble cast and screenwriters were more than up to the task.
So here are my overall thoughts! But do be warned, as they contain spoilers.
What I Liked
The acting: Right from the beginning of this show, the cast were absolutely inspired choices and the acting went from strength to strength in series two. Of the main characters, I have to give a special mentions to Freddy Carter, who in my opinion delivers a note-perfect portrayal of the ultra complex personality of Kaz Brekker.
Amita Suman gives a more nuanced performance as Inej, Archie Renaux impressively captures the many different emotions that Mal encounters during the series, and Ben Barnes is an effortlessly menacing presence as the Darkling – commanding every scene he is in. As for Jessie Mei Li as Alina, I still think she is perfect for the role of Alina and there is something very captivating about her.
As for the supporting cast, it was great to see Zoe Wanamaker have a lot of screen time as Bhagra and her timeless quality shines through. Patrick Gibson is an interesting choice as Nikolai and though he has the charisma, I am not sure he is the ideal fit for the character. Sujaya Dasgupta and Daisy Head grow into their roles as Zoya and Genya respectively. I also noticed that Nadia was played by a different actor, but Joanna McGibbon does a good job.
The music: The soundtrack was for me, one of the highlights of series one and here, Joseph Trapanese delivers again. This series introduces a host of new pieces, but they are equally as good and in particular, superb at ratcheting up the tension of some scenes.
The visual effects: The visual effects in series one were mostly good, but here they are undoubtedly better. The moments that stand out are the shifting smoke when Alina and the Second Army battle against the Nichevo’ya; Alina using her powers after obtaining the Amplifiers, and Nikolai’s flying ship.
Kaz Brekker: Just magnificent. One of the main complaints I had with the first series was that Kaz was rather overshadowed by the likes of Jesper and Inej, but that is completely put right here. The character is explored so powerfully, such as in the flashbacks where he and his brother were duped by Pekka Rollins, and the moments where he cannot bring himself to tell Inej of his feelings for her.
In the action scenes he is great too, and his schemes are just as entertaining on screen as they are in the books. For me, he is the Ultimate Pragmatist. And as stated before, Freddy Carter inhabits the character perfectly, from his complex emotions to his mannerisms. Also, his delivery of the line ‘Everyone’s lost their minds’ was just classic.
The animated maps: One of the new additions for this series were the animated maps of the Grishaverse, showing Ravka, Ketterdam, and Shu’han among others. It was both an innovative and a pretty way of telling the story.
The Darkling entering Alina’s mind: These scenes were very well acted and filmed. Full of menace, the psychological showdowns between Alina and the Darkling, and later Mal, had me on the edge of my seat.
The cinematography in episode 8: The photography is very strong throughout the series, but the best example comes in the final episode where the main characters are in a desert setting. The visuals here are stunning.
Alina, Genya, and Zoya: I loved how these three characters came together towards the end of the series.
The Crows’ hallucinations: The sub-plot with the tea seller was something that never happened in the books and not really essential to the story here, but it did give way to an epic battle sequence and the Crows suffering hallucinations at the beginning of episode 6. All these hallucinations were compelling to watch, and I also really liked that Wylan was the one to rescue them. His romance with Jesper happens quicker than in the books, but it builds up well.
The cliffhanger: Who saw that coming??? I was speechless when I saw the cliffhanger. It was vicious and dramatic and even though I have read all the Grishaverse books except the King Of Scars duology, I have no idea what is happening next!
What I Didn’t Really Like
Episode 5: This was overall a fantastic series that started amazingly with the first episode and remained a captivating watch. The only exception for me was episode 5, which just dragged a little.
Matthias’ storyline is neglected: Every now and then the story revisits the prison where Matthias is held, but it feels like a bit of a sidenote. It is just too fleeting and that makes it harder to connect with, even when I have read the books. We are certain to see much more in the series to come, but nothing is really happening with that plot strand yet.
Nikolai becomes king off-screen: All we see of King Piotyr in the entire series is a very brief cameo in the background of a scene where Alina and Nikolai are talking to the queen of Ravka. Then he disappears and Nikolai suddenly becomes king? It was odd.
The lack of a title sequence: Such a missed opportunity! With the show’s visual effects and Joseph Trapanese’s music, they could have created a memorable intro for this. Instead, all we get is ‘Shadow And Bone’ in fancy lettering.
Other Observations
The story advanced further than expected: I did not expect this series to include both Siege And Storm and Ruin And Rising, but it does and so much happens, added to the fact the Crows are involved too. There are still lots of things you can recognise from the books, but you can see that the producers of this show are taking it in their own direction.
The Apparat: The Apparat appears quite a lot in the Shadow And Bone trilogy of books, but has only been seen a couple of times across the two series of this show. I am hoping for more, as he is an interesting character and Kevin Eldon portrays him very well.
Jurda Parem: I was wondering when Jurda Parem might be mentioned!
Sturmhond: That was an interesting mini twist at the end. I really enjoyed Sturmhond in the books, and I like how he was played here too.
I felt this second series was excellent, and as you can see in this post, I found very few things to criticise. It was a really fun show to watch!
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Let’s Chat
Have you watched the series? If so, what did you think of it? Let me know in the comments!
Stephen Reads Books 