WiC Watches: Shadow and Bone season 1

Episode 8: “No Mourners”

The first season finale of Shadow and Bone brings Alina and Mal full circle, returning them to the Fold, exactly where their story began. This time, the Darkling has gathered the leaders of neighboring nations, supposedly as an invitation to watch Alina tear down the darkness and prove her abilities as the Sun Summoner…though that’s not General Kirigan’s actual plan.

As the group makes their way toward Novokribirsk, Kaz and the others hiding below deck realize that the Ravkan general on the other side — the same one who’s been calling for an uprising — is likely planning to kill Alina once they arrive. However, General Kirigan has a plan for that, too: he calls for one final demonstration, using his and Alina’s combined power to expand the Fold rather than destroy it. For him, it solves the issue of the insurgent soldiers on the other side, but it also plays a bigger role: it intimidates the leaders he’s invited on this journey. In Kirigan’s eyes, the rest of the world will no longer oppose Ravka or the Grisha now that they see what he’s capable of.

Watching Kirigan’s plan unfold is chilling, even for those who know that it’s coming. It’s the type of scene that will stick with you long after the episode ends, and it places his character beyond redemption, both in the audience’s eyes and Alina’s.

Of course, Mal and the Dregs (prompted by Inej) do what they can to stop the Darkling, leading to one final confrontation before the season comes to a close. With Mal and Alina weakened — and the Dregs lacking Grisha powers — it’s a close fight that will keep viewers on edge throughout. Fortunately, Zoya jumps in to help defeat the Darkling and his followers. Given that she had family in the very town the Darkling destroyed, she’s less inclined than the other Grisha to get behind his plan.

Alina manages to tap into her abilities after realizing that the stag chose her and that she’s not at the Darkling’s whims, although the timing on that particular revelation feels too little, too late given what he’s already done. The books do a better job of explaining why Alina is able to retake control (because she chose to spare the stag), but the moment in the show is flashy and powerful enough to work anyway.

Despite taking back her power, Alina barely makes it through the journey on the skiff. In the end, Mal has the final confrontation with the Darkling, holding up impressively in a one-on-one fight against him. When a volcra makes off with the Darkling, the group assumes he’s finally gone…though a glimpse of him emerging from the Fold later proves otherwise, because, well, obviously they weren’t getting rid of him that easily.

The final battle is a bit cliché at certain moments, but it’s entertaining and suspenseful. In line with the rest of the series, the visuals are stunning — everything from the Fold to Alina’s summoning abilities is beautifully done.

Following their adventure, the group decides to part ways, with Zoya setting out to find her family and the other Grisha, the Dregs returning to Ketterdam, and Alina and Mal promising to return to the Fold once Alina is stronger. The final shot shows all of them on a boat, the same boat as Nina and Matthias, whose storyline wrapped with her getting him arrested to protect him from her Grisha comrades. It’s strongly suggested that some of their paths will cross again should the show be renewed, leaving book fans with hope for an Ice Court heist alongside the fight against the Darkling.

“No Mourners” has everything you’d expect from a fantasy finale: gripping action, compelling character resolutions, and a farewell sequence that promises more to come. It’s the type of ending that will no doubt leave fans lamenting that they’ll have to wait at least another year before a second season arrives, because as much as the episode ties up loose ends, it also introduces a whole set of new problems. And as long as the Fold remains, Alina’s story needs to continue. We’ll be eagerly waiting for the day it does.

Episode Grade: A-

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