We review Netflix’s new Shadow and Bone series episode by episode. Does it live up to the hype?
Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone trilogy immersed readers in a gripping world of magic and politics when it began back in 2012. Nearly a decade later, the author’s story is likely to gain a whole new faction of fans, this time through its Netflix adaptation.
Arriving on the platform on April 23, Shadow and Bone is poised to become the streamer’s next big fantasy hit, joining the ranks of popular series like The Witcher. With Eric Heisserer on board as showrunner, the series doesn’t just revisit the story laid out in Bardugo’s original trilogy. It also brings in characters and elements from her bestselling Six of Crows duology, which is set in the same universe.
At its core, Shadow and Bone is the story of a seemingly ordinary girl who discovers her incredible potential. It’s a standard enough setup for a young adult fantasy tale, but both Bardugo and Heisserer manage to infuse unique elements into Alina Starkov’s journey that will help it stand apart from the rest of the fantasy fare currently available.
From Shadow and Bone‘s Russian-inspired backdrop to its layered magic system, the series has a solid structure to build on. And then there are talented people like Westworld alum Ben Barnes, as well as a whole group of acting newcomers, to help shake things up a bit.
The streamer has done a lot to hype up the new show, dropping character posters and promo images as well as counting down to the premiere on social media. With so much fantasy currently available, the series will need to deliver a promising first season if it hopes to shine.
We’ll be reviewing Shadow and Bone here, tackling it episode by episode, to see if it’s up to the task. Let’s get started:
Episode 1: “A Searing Burst of Light”
The Shadow and Bone premiere wastes no time throwing viewers into the politics of Ravka and introducing the magic that makes this fictional world go round. “A Searing Burst of Light” introduces us to Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li), a seemingly ordinary cartographer in the Ravkan army arriving just outside the Fold, a huge, shadowy section of darkness that has, quite literally, split the nation of Ravka in two.
When Alina arrives at her new post, she’s reunited with her childhood friend Mal Oretsev (Archie Renaux), who grew up in an orphanage in Keramzin with her. It’s clear from the beginning the two have developed some level of dependency on each other, and that romantic feelings may be lurking beneath the surface. Naturally, then, they’re excited to be assigned to the same location again…at least until Mal gets chosen to accompany the infamous General Kirigan (Ben Barnes) and his Grisha soldiers across the Fold.
Shadow and Bone does an impressive job of introducing the Grisha and their magic, giving viewers just enough information to understand what’s happening early on, then elaborating on the specifics later. Bringing them into the picture from Alina and Mal’s perspective as outsiders also sets up the tensions between the Grisha and ordinary Ravkans fairly well.
Once Alina learns that Mal is heading into the danger of the Fold, she destroys her unit’s maps of the other side, hoping it will get her sent across with him. Her plan is a success, but it dooms her entire unit to the crossing, an unintended consequence that later comes back to haunt her (though possibly not enough).
And although it’s only the first episode of the series, the intimate moments between Alina and Mal — as well as the flashbacks to their time at the orphanage — successfully manage to invest viewers in their fates. It’s difficult not to feel for Alina as she attempts to protect the only family she’s ever known, even if it means risking herself and her friends in the process.
The risk of crossing the Fold becomes that much more real when Alina’s skiff is attacked on the way through. As monsters called volcra descend on the group, the odds of survival look slimmer and slimmer. Still, the two do everything they can to protect one another, at least until something unexpected happens: As they’re both about to die, light pours out of Alina, though it’s unclear how or why.
Running parallel to Alina and Mal’s predicament is a second storyline taking place in the brutal city of Ketterdam, one of the many locations west of the Fold. Shadow and Bone introduces the Dregs, a gang led by the so-called “Bastard of the Barrel” and owner of the Crow Club, Kaz Brekker (Freddy Carter).
Kaz and his crew get wind of a job worth a million kruge and attempt to secure it before any of the other gangs in the city do. The catch? To successfully complete the job, they have to cross the Fold, something that, as Kaz puts it, will require “a miracle or two.”
That doesn’t stop him and his closest friends — Inej Ghafa (Amita Suman) and Jesper Fahey (Kit Young) — from searching for a way through, even if it means crossing Pekka Rollins, a mob boss notorious for his cruelty. The three set out to find a Heartrender to bring to Dreesen, the man offering the prize. And as they sit through an interrogation with a boy who recently crossed the Fold, it becomes clear whatever they’re wrapped up in has everything to do with Alina’s crossing. In fact, the million kruge is revealed to be a bounty on her head.
Although the stakes for the Dregs aren’t quite as high as they are for Alina and Mal, there’s no denying that their chemistry makes this B plot nearly as enjoyable. Toying with the timeline in this episode is a clever way to interweave the two storylines and build suspense in a way that will have viewers pressing play on episode 2 as soon as “A Searing Burst of Light” comes to a close.
Netflix’s newest fantasy series opens with a solid premiere that leaves you wanting more. With an interesting cast of characters, some stunning CGI, a sprawling magical setting and plenty of action straight out of the gate, it’s a promising way to kick things off.
Episode Grade: A
Episode 2: “We’re All Someone’s Monster”
“We’re All Someone’s Monster” doesn’t immediately pick up where the premiere left off, instead taking us back to Alina and Mal’s time at the orphanage. The opening scene shows the kids discussing the test every child undergoes to determine if they’re Grisha, reminding newcomers of the different types of Grisha powers in the process. Alina and Mal run off to avoid taking the test, afraid that they’ll be separated if one is proven to possess extraordinary abilities.
This is, perhaps, the perfect lead-in to Alina waking up on the skiff after miraculously having survived the volcra attack. Despite her pleas to see Mal, the Grisha take her to General Kirigan’s tent, where we finally meet the Darkling and get a recap of what happened in the Fold.
Ben Barnes delivers a performance that’s every bit intimidating as it should be, and his first scene is likely to sell book fans and Netflix-only viewers alike on the character.
After questioning Alina about her abilities to summon light — which it’s clear she had no prior knowledge of — Kirigan helps draw out her power. The result is a stunning display of light that can be seen from miles away, even if viewers are left questioning why the Sun Summoner can only tap into her abilities under certain circumstances (a question answered later, but it may create some confusion nonetheless).
Once it’s clear the Grisha do indeed have a Sun Summoner on their hands, Alina is carted off to the Little Palace, where she’ll be protected from spies and assassins from enemy nations. Of course, after the Darkling’s light show, those enemies track down Alina and her Grisha protectors long before they reach the palace.
The Darkling arrives, predictably, just as one of them is about to kill Alina, cutting the man in half with his magic. It’s bloody and brutal, but it demonstrates why he has such a powerful reputation. It’s also well balanced by his conversation with Alina afterward, during which he tells her that she’s not alone and reveals a seemingly softer side to himself.
Meanwhile, in Ketterdam, Kaz and his gang search for a safe way through the Fold despite a threatening visit from Pekka Rollins. Pekka warns Kaz off the job, advising against crossing him. After he and his cronies take the Dregs’ leader by surprise, one has to wonder how a gang leader of Kaz’s reputation could have been taken so off guard. (You’ve also gotta question Kirigan showing off Alina’s powers in full view of Ravka’s enemies; there are some questionable decisions in this episode.)
The interaction with Pekka establishes that there’s more to his relationship with Kaz than meets the eye, though the Five Pointers boss doesn’t seem to know it. Kaz’s desire for revenge, however, is brought up several times after their meeting, promising more conflict between these two in the future.
“We’re All Someone’s Monster” also explores Inej’s past. Taken from her family and sold to The Menagerie when she was barely into her teens, the Wraith has understandably strong feelings about the practice of human trafficking, especially since, despite being under Kaz’s protection, she’s still in Tante Heleen’s debt, something the brothel owner takes full advantage of during this episode.
In exchange for her freedom, Heleen asks Inej to kill a man called the Conductor. And Inej is tempted to abandon her moral code, especially after Heleen tells her the Conductor also kidnaps and sells children. Amita Suman delivers a deeply emotional and heartbreaking performance as Inej interrogates the man and reveals her own story (all while questioning whether she really wants to take another person’s life, even someone as vile as she believes the Conductor to be).
The twist, of course, is that the Conductor isn’t a trafficker at all. Kaz hooks up with him as he’s trying to find safe passage through the Fold. True to his name, the Conductor has a train car he uses to smuggle people through the great, black mass. And Heleen has only sent Inej to kill him to upend the Dregs’ plans.
Fortunately for them, Kaz arrives in time to prevent Inej from doing the unthinkable and bargains with the Conductor to help them. He also offers Heleen part of the bounty should they return from the job, and the Crow Club if they don’t make it back. It’s an uncharacteristic act of kindness to pay off Inej’s indenture, but it’s fully in line with the relationship the two of them seem to have. Much like the Darkling’s words to Alina, this scene shows there’s something less hard beneath the surface when it comes to Kaz.
The second installment ends with Alina arriving at the Little Palace and breaking down, an understandable reaction from someone who has been dragged away from everything they know. And although slightly slower than the first episode, “We’re All Someone’s Monster” packs in plenty of these emotional scenes that will leave viewers feeling much more invested in these characters.
In fact, the episode’s strength lies mostly with its character development. It offers insight into what makes the main cast tick, as well as what their lives were like before the events of Shadow and Bone. There are a few questionable choices in there, but overall it’s a solid and consistent look at who we’ll be following.
Of course, Episode 2 is also heavy on exposition, but it’s a necessary follow-up to the premiere. And “We’re All Someone’s Monster” isn’t entirely devoid of action. Seeing the Darkling showcase his power and watching in suspense as Kaz rushes to stop Inej are two highlights.
For a show that’s still finding its footing, the second episode continues to keep this story going strong, even if it isn’t quite as exciting as the first.
Episode Grade: B
Episode 3: “The Making at the Heart of the World”
Following Alina’s arrival at the Little Palace, “The Making at the Heart of the World” sees our homesick Sun Summoner learning the ins and outs of the Second Army and Ravkan royalty. As if to underscore how out of place Alina feels, she narrates what’s happening to her in a letter to Mal, something that continues throughout the episode.
We open with her dreaming about the glowing stag seen in so many of the teasers for Shadow and Bone, but quickly transition to her preparing to meet the king and queen. Genya Safin (Daisy Head), a Grisha who can both heal and modify someone’s appearance, helps Alina get ready to impress Ravka’s leaders with her power, becoming a fast friend.
Unfortunately for Alina, not everyone at the Little Palace is quite so welcoming. From Genya’s assistants to the queen herself, everyone judges Alina for her Shu roots. By highlighting the racism of these moments, the show attempts to tackle yet another serious subject. However, it never digs too deeply into the remarks made toward Alina, leaving the attempt feeling halfway done.
On top of that, Zoya Nazyalensky (Sujaya Dasgupta), a Squaller who flirted with Mal back in episode 1, gives Alina a hard time, even going so far as to attack her during combat training. Although Zoya is harshly reprimanded for her actions, it’s a poor start to Alina’s time among the Grisha. And she doesn’t fare much better with the rest of the people she meets during “The Making at the Heart of the World.”
As though being uprooted and bullied isn’t enough to contend with, everyone in Alina’s new world has placed nearly impossible expectations on her. From being approached in the library by the king’s unsettling spiritual advisor the Apparat (Kevin Eldon), to the Grisha who demand to know why she hasn’t torn down the Fold during dinner, the pressure on Alina to save Ravka is extreme — especially since her lessons with Baghra (Zoë Wanamaker) prove she’s barely capable of summoning even the smallest bit of light.
Alina’s interaction with the Apparat, however, does offer a bit of interesting exposition. As the two discuss the legend of the Bonemaker, the Apparat fills Alina in on amplifiers, objects created from powerful creatures that can be used to strengthen a Grisha’s abilities. The scene is clearly foreshadowing, leaving fans to wonder what role these objects will play in Alina’s journey. When she asks Baghra about them, however, the older woman scoffs and waves her off.
As Alina struggles to find her place at the Little Palace, the Dregs and the Conductor devise a plan to cross the Fold and break into the Second Army’s home. The Conductor initially suggests working with a Heartrender named Nina Zenik (Danielle Galligan) to find a way in. However, that plan quickly falls apart when Nina is kidnapped by Drüskelle, a group of pious soldiers from Fjerda whose mission is to hunt down Grisha.
Despite the setback, Kaz insists that the group go forward with the plan anyway, arguing they’ll figure out the rest once they’re through the Fold. But with Pekka’s men attacking them, the foursome are fortunate to even reach the Fold. Add to that the fact that Jesper gambled away their money and didn’t bring the Conductor enough alabaster coal to get his train across the Fold, and it almost seems like the Dregs won’t ever get the chance to break into the Little Palace.
And although the group does miraculously make it across, their ride is every bit as bumpy as you’d expect. It does give viewers the opportunity to see their skills in action, though, especially Jesper’s sharp-shooting. Once again, the Dregs have the most interesting and suspenseful storyline of the episode, and their chemistry seems to increase with every scene they share. (The goat makes a fun addition to the team, too, even if we’ll never know what the Conductor wanted it for.)
Shadow and Bone doesn’t forget about Nina either, giving her the episode’s third — albeit much smaller — storyline. We see her chained on a ship, where one of the Drüskelle informs her that she’ll be taken to Fjerda to go on trial. When she questions how many Grisha are deemed innocent at these trials, her situation begins to look much bleaker.
Nina’s storyline feels a bit out of place with everything else happening in Episode 3, but her run-in with the Drüskelle does serve one significant purpose: It highlights how right the Darkling and the other Grisha were about the amount of danger they’re all in. Although Alina’s plot showcases the hierarchy and infighting within the ranks of the Second Army, Nina’s experience underscores what they’re up against outside of Ravka, and it’s not pretty.
Unlike the previous episodes, which had a lot of setup to contend with, “The Making at the Heart of the World” gives viewers far more time to empathize with Alina, all while using her situation to work in new details about the Grisha and the world they inhabit. It strikes an impressive balance while pushing the story in an increasingly fascinating direction.
Episode Grade: B+
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.
Episode Grade: B-
Episode 5: “Show Me Who You Are”
Fans of romance and court intrigue are sure to devour “Show Me Who You Are,” which features the winter fete the previous episode alluded to. Despite the more serious tone of the earlier episodes, this one has a lighter, more upbeat feeling, at least until everything hits the fan at the very end. It’s also the only episode of the season that mostly takes place in one setting.
At the very beginning of Episode 5, the traveling troupe the Dregs have joined arrives at the Little Palace and immediately receive a stern warning about stirring up any trouble. (The “no guns, no knives” comment is particularly funny with Jesper and Inej standing right there.)
Other than that, they have little trouble entering the palace and immediately begin scoping the place out. In the end, they come up with a plan that involves all three of them and the Conductor: While the Conductor does the kidnapping, Kaz and Inej will clear a path for escape and Jesper will secure them a getaway carriage. The whole thing seems simple enough, so obviously it all goes wrong.
As they scheme, Alina and Genya enjoy the festivities around the winter fete, acting like two ordinary friends. Genya even owns up to having a crush on a Fabrikator named David; it all feels very normal. Their interactions feel true to Shadow and Bone‘s young adult roots, and set the stage for all the romance in the episode.
Not only does Jesper get caught up with one of the palace’s stable hands, but this episode delivers on the tensions building between Alina and the Darkling. From a sweet first kiss to a much steamier scene later, the two fully embrace whatever feelings are between them. Unfortunately, it’s too good to last.
For one, the Conductor turns on Kaz and his friends, revealing that he has his own agenda as regards the Sun Summoner; he also kills Marie, a Grisha who was given Alina’s faced and used as a double to protect her. News of the murder quickly makes its way through the palace, interrupting Alina’s moment with the Darkling. Though that may be for the good, considering what follows.
Mal’s arrival at the Little Palace also stirs up trouble, especially once he tells General Kirigan that he’s found the stag. Almost immediately after he shows up, a messenger tells Baghra of the development, and the woman’s assertion that “we cannot let him obtain that kind of power” is the first sign that something is horribly awry.
When she approaches Alina and tells her mentee that it’s time to escape the palace, it becomes clear that Kirigan has been manipulating Alina all along, and that he’s actually the very same Black Heretic the two of them discussed back in “Otkazat’sya,” the one who created the fold generations ago.
The reveal about Kirigan feels a bit rushed and underwhelming. Perhaps it’s because we already know something is up once Mal reveals he isn’t getting Alina’s letters, but with the series trying ts hard to portray the Darkling’s kinder side, this could have been a much more surprising development than it was. Alina’s response doesn’t feel nearly as emotional as it should, which brings down an otherwise seamless episode.
Still, the episode keeps viewers on edge, especially after Baghra’s students attempt to assassinate Mal, and Kaz and Inej have trouble finding their way out of the Little Palace. There’s plenty of action to top off “Show Me Who You Are,” and the episode brings all of the main characters together in a believable way (even if you have to question Alina choosing the climb into a random trunk as her method of escape).
Episode Grade: A-
Episode 6: “The Heart Is an Arrow”
The sixth episode of Shadow and Bone is possibly the series’ weakest, though that’s not saying much given how well done most of the show is. “The Heart Is an Arrow” feels like a place to catch your breath after all the developments in the previous episode. All of the main characters flee from the Little Palace as General Kirigan and his Grisha begin scouring nearby villages looking for Alina.
Alina’s first interaction with the Dregs is pretty short-lived, despite them having her cornered as she emerges from the back of the wagon they stole. As she uses her power to avoid becoming their prisoner, Kaz’s insistence that she’s not the real thing backfires. She gets the best of him and Jesper, and Inej, true to her faith, lets the Sun Summoner go.
Of course, with no experience being on the run, it doesn’t take long for Alina to find herself in trouble. Fortunately for her, Mal finds her hiding in the woods and agrees to help her get away from the Darkling and find the stag, which she can use to enhance her power.
The reunion between Mal and Alina is sweet, and addresses all the frustration and resentment building between the two since what happened on the Fold. It strengthens their relationship and is satisfying to see after such a long period of silence.
While Alina and Mal catch up, Kaz and his friends have trouble finding their way out of town, especially once the Darkling and his followers arrive. This results in the highlight of the episode: a showdown between the Dregs and the Grisha, which proves that magic doesn’t necessarily equate to an automatic win, especially when it’s up against years’ worth of skill.
Watching Jesper and Inej take on members of the Second Army is very entertaining. It’s emotional for Inej, who finds herself up against the sister of the Grisha she killed escaping the Little Palace. Knowing Inej’s resistance to taking lives, it’s hard to watch her face the consequences of doing so, especially since she’s forced to push back against her morals once again.
Perhaps the best part of the Dregs facing off with the Grisha is the brief interaction between Kaz and General Kirigan. If you’ve ever wondered who would best who in that confrontation, this will give you an answer, and it’s not as clear cut as you’d think given the Darkling’s powerful abilities.
“The Heart Is an Arrow” also returns to Nina and Matthias, who seem to be the only survivors of the storm that wrecked the ship a couple episodes back. As they float on a board in the middle of the freezing ocean, viewers will surely get a laugh out of Nina trying to convince Matthias it’s in their best interest to help one another. Their quippy interactions continue to lighten the mood for the remainder of the episode, even if their begrudging friendship with one another feels a little fast-moving and unearned.
“The Heart Is an Arrow” is full of character moments that set the stage for the latter half of the season. Although it’s mostly comprised of planning for what’s next, it promises big things to come. It’s a necessary — if a little quiet — addition to the show.
Episode Grade: C+
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.
Episode Grade: A
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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