Episode 4: “Otkazat’sya”
There’s a lot happening during the fourth episode of Shadow and Bone. “Otkazat’sya” is arguably the most bloated installment of the season. With four different storylines running parallel to one another, it feels like certain developments don’t receive as much attention as they should, though some moments still manage to shine.
Following the previous episode’s lead, this one opens with Mal writing Alina, revealing that weeks have passed and he hasn’t heard from her. As his unit travels to stop Fjerdans from attacking Ravkan lands, Mal admits he’s been writing Alina letters since she was dragged off. The clear implication is that someone is intercepting their communications, and although this development is true to the book, it seems like Shadow and Bone could have waited a little longer before dropping this surprise on viewers, especially since it alludes to a bigger twist down the line.
As Mal and his comrades travel, they’re offered the opportunity to go after Morozova’s Stag, a legendary creature that most don’t believe exists. The Darkling has offered entry to the Little Palace to anyone who can bring him the stag. Anticipating a way to see Alina after all this time, Mal jumps at the opportunity.
Meanwhile, Alina still hasn’t fully acclimated to her new environment, though the connection between her and General Kirigan grows stronger. Early on, the two go horseback riding and discuss the Black Heretic who created the Fold. Again, the series weaves important lore and history into conversation in a way that feels natural, and potentially foreshadows what’s to come.
Paired with their later interaction where Alina tells a seemingly distressed Darkling that he’s not alone, repeating what he said to her in the previous installment, the chemistry between these characters is far better in this episode than before, completely in line with how they’re gradually coming to understand one another.
The Dregs see much less screen time, though they still manage to stand out. Kaz and his friends steal the blueprints to the Little Palace, and watching Kaz pretend to be a performer is enough to keep viewers entertained. Of course, Inej and Jesper more or less do become performers by the episode’s end, auditioning to join a traveling troupe that’s performing at the winter fete being held at the Little Palace.
“Otkazat’sya” highlights how much chemistry the Dregs have with one another, and how well their individual talents complement each other. It’s easy to see how they’ve gained such a reputation in Ketterdam; they seem capable of just about anything, and fans of Six of Crows will surely appreciate how well the cast brings them all to life.
Nina’s situation remains about the same, with Matthias Helvar (Calahan Wade Skogman) showing up to extract information from her. Unfortunately for him, she’s every bit as snarky and rebellious as she is in the books and refuses to tell him anything about the Grisha or General Kirigan.
This episode does more to characterize Matthias than Nina, revealing how close-minded he is thanks to his upbringing. “Otkazat’sya” does a solid job of highlighting the fact that Matthias truly believes Nina and the other Grisha are a danger to his people. Later, when a storm threatens to destroy the ship, he’s ordered to kill the prisoners if necessary, and his shocked reaction and concern that they haven’t stood trial yet tells viewers everything they need to know about how little he’s questioned the system he’s been brought up in.
The episode ends with two huge developments for the main characters, starting with Mal. After he and his friends cross into Fjerdan territory, they’re attacked by enemy soldiers, leaving Mal the last one standing. Wounded and alone, he discovers the very thing they’ve been looking for: Morozova’s Stag.
While Mal admits that Alina is his “True North” in yet another letter to her, she’s busy finally letting go of her childhood friend. Frustrated that he seemingly hasn’t answered any of her correspondence, she asks Genya to remove the scar on her palm that reminds her of their childhood, the scar she gave herself to avoid passing the Grisha test and get separated from Mal. Following that, she bursts into Baghra’s quarters and finally manages to summon light properly. From the looks of it, the past was holding her back after all.
Although seeing Alina embrace her power is exciting, it doesn’t quite live up to her breakthrough in the book. This might be because viewers are getting both Mal and Alina’s perspectives, and thus know that Mal isn’t simply ignoring her or taking her for granted. Still, it’s nice to see her break free from her dependency on other people and come into her own, marking an exciting turning point for her and the season.