WiC Watches: Shadow and Bone season 1
Episode 7: “The Unsea”
Changes made in book-to-television adaptations aren’t always welcome, but “The Unsea” gives viewers something I would’ve liked to see in Leigh Bardugo’s books: the Darkling’s backstory. The episode opens with a much younger General Kirigan who’s on the run from the king and his armies. And even knowing what he’ll become, it’s difficult not to feel for him, especially as the soldiers reveal just how much they despise the Grisha, killing Kirigan’s healer — a woman he clearly has strong feelings for — after taking them captive.
This addition to the show gives the Darkling a more sympathetic reason for turning on the people of Ravka, and it adds credence to his mission to protect the Grisha who follow him, even if his methods aren’t quite so noble by the time Alina meets him.
As much as Kirigan strives to save the Grisha, however, the following scene with Baghra suggests he’s brought them as much grief as he’s given them purpose and power. Their conversation offers some insight into the “small science,” as Grisha abilities are referred to, as well as the creation of the Second Army and the Darkling’s future identity. Viewers also get a front-row seat to the creation of the Fold, the result of soldiers attacking Kirigan and his mother. As twisted as his lack of remorse for creating it is, this moment makes sense of his actions, turning him into a more intriguing villain.
And when the episode transitions back to the present, Kirigan proves how deeply he believes in his cause, even if, beneath it all, he’s as selfish as any other corrupt leader.
As Alina and Mal finally locate Morozova’s Stag, the Darkling and his Grisha descend on them and present Alina with an impossible choice: With Mal bleeding and injured, the Darkling offers to have his healers save him. In exchange, Alina must step aside and let him take the stag, destroying any chance she has of claiming the amplifier for herself.
And Kirigan’s plans for the stag are every bit as disturbing as Baghra suggested; he has his Fabrikators merge the creature’s antlers into Alina’s collarbones so he can access and exploit her power. Following a conversation where he insists he’s working with her, the second betrayal somehow hits harder than the first. Alina’s desire to trust him one last time is as heartbreaking as her subsequent conversation with Genya.
In one of the best scenes in the episode, Genya admits that she’s been spying on the king and queen of Ravka for General Kirigan, and that they’ve officially set plans in motion to usurp the nation’s ruler. As the two talk, viewers learn more about Genya’s tragic past and how she’s been abused by the king. It doesn’t justify her actions, but it does explain why she was so willing to turn on Alina in exchange for freedom. Freedom and the things people will do to achieve it is a running theme of this episode, right alongside the exploration of power.
When Alina confronts the Darkling again, she’s more prepared to resist his charm and pokes more than a few holes in his argument about acting for the greater good. From how he’s treated Genya and Baghra to removing her own agency, he’s proven he’ll step on anyone to achieve his ends. As she tells Genya, they’re all “pawns” in his game. It’s satisfying to see her truly accept it.
The Dregs take a backseat in “The Unsea,” spending the majority of their time trying to find a way back across the Fold, especially now that the Darkling has killed the Conductor and his train has been destroyed. They decide to sneak onto the Skiff, but only after Inej grapples with whether she should return to Ketterdam at all. Going back empty-handed would put her at Tante Heleen’s mercy, while staying on the other side of the Fold would effectively mean her freedom. It forces her to choose between remaining with the only family she has left — a family she’s questioning for most of the episode — and the ability to start anew.
Inej’s struggle leads to some heartfelt conversations between her and Jesper and her and Kaz, which give us a heartwarming portrayal of love and friendship in the midst of all the loss and betrayal happening on Alina’s end. By the end, Kaz and Jesper are both willing to get behind whatever Inej wants to do, which is enough to convince her to stick with them despite an uncertain future on the other side of the Fold.
With all of its emotional conversations, “The Unsea” is one of the strongest Shadow and Bone episodes of the first season. This lead-up to the finale may not have a ton of flashy action moments, but it focuses on the heart of the show: the characters and their relationships with one another. And after an entire season of growing attached to those characters, these heartfelt moments throughout are every bit as compelling as the fights and political maneuvering seen in the other episodes, perhaps even more so.
