Shadow and Bone is the latest Netflix series everyone seems to be talking about, but it’s not the elaborate world-building or unique magic system that has fans hooked (though those are great too). The main draw seems to be the characters, particularly their relationships to one another. Viewers have taken to the internet to discuss who they ship with whom, and in a series so heavy on the romance, that’s no surprise.
The show’s leading lady, Alina Starkov, finds herself with two potential endgames throughout the series’ first season: her childhood friend Malyen Oretsev and the mysterious General Kirigan, who leads the Grisha army she’s conscripted into. Although fans remain divided on who Alina should end up with, the scales seem to be tipping more and more in Mal’s favor. After all, Kirigan did sort of reveal himself to be the story’s villain halfway through, going on to manipulate and control Alina to meet his ends.
And should Netflix renew Shadow and Bone for a second season, it seems showrunner Eric Heisserer will dig deeper into Alina and Mal’s romantic feelings for one another. “There were definitely moments where a kiss felt warranted,” he told TV Line, “and I will say this in a generalization and I’m certainly not pointing fingers at anybody, but I fought battles on the show. I won some and I lost some. But I believe there is there is a lot of kissing in their future, should we ever get the opportunity.”
Shadow and Bone star Archie Renaux thinks Mal is the obvious choice for Alina
Given that Mal and Alina didn’t get around to kissing during the first eight episodes of the show, it’ll be nice to see them explore their relationship further in season 2. And it’s not just the fans who feel this way; actor Archie Renaux, who plays Mal, also believes he’s the clear choice for the show’s lead character.
“I think it’s pretty even between Mal and the Darkling,” Renaux told Glamour. “I am flattered that people think Mal and Alina are the ‘ship’ because in reality that’s the one that makes the most sense because the other guy is a bit of a worry!”
It’s a fair point, and likely the direction Shadow and Bone will take during a potential second season. Renaux seems as eager to explore the relationship in further depth as Heisserer. He also wants to see more of the show’s universe. “I’d like to see new lands explored and new countries within the Grishaverse,” he said. “I’d also like to see the characters get split up and mixed and matched a little bit. So maybe we see Alina and Edge go out on a mission — that could be quite interesting or at least do it for a bit!”
Of course, the fantasy series will need to be renewed before Alina starts embarking on missions outside of Ravka. Luckily, Heisserer has repeatedly said he’s prepared to take on several more seasons should he receive the go ahead. Your move, Netflix.
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