10 things we’d like to see in Shadow and Bone season 2

From improved worldbuilding to more political and romantic subplots, this is our wish list for Shadow and Bone season 2 (if Netflix makes it).

Netflix’s Shadow and Bone has generated plenty of hype since its release back in April. The fantasy series dominated the streamer’s list of top shows in the weeks after its debut, and it drew attention to its talented, largely unknown cast members (with the exception of Westworld alum Ben Barnes, which was known beforehand and rightfully so).

Based on Leigh Bardugo’s bestselling Grishaverse novels, Shadow and Bone follows military cartographer Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) as she discovers her ability to wield light, which makes her the ideal candidate to tear down the Fold, a stretch of darkness that’s plagued the nation of Ravka for hundreds of years.

Thrown into the world of magic users called Grisha, Alina struggles to gain control of her newfound power while juggling an onslaught of other problems, from Ravka’s enemies hunting her to betrayals from within the Ravkan military. Her story is a compelling addition to the fantasy genre, especially for those hoping to see young adult stories take up more space on the small screen.

Will Netflix make Shadow and Bone season 2?

With Shadow and Bone receiving so much attention, renewing it for a second season seems like a no-brainer. However, Netflix works in mysterious ways. As of the time of this writing, the media giant has yet announce a second season, even as the series crosses the one-month mark since its premiere.

With Netflix’s Geeked Week virtual event on the horizon, it’s possible the company is saving the renewal announcement for then. However, the fantasy series doesn’t appear anywhere in the initial marketing, leaving fans to wonder whether we’ll see a second season at all.

The source material is certainly there, and showrunner Eric Heisserer has repeatedly confirmed that he’s game to produce more seasons — he even has a plan ready to go. Until he gets the official green light, however, Shadow and Bone fans are left wondering over the fate of this new epic.

The bright side? It also gives us plenty of time to speculate on what’s to come. Should Netflix opt to continue the show, there are quite a few things it could do to improve on the first outing and bring the remainder of Bardugo’s book series to life.

Here’s what we want to see in Shadow and Bone season 2:

1. Alina’s transformation: Power comes at a price

Alina makes great strides toward mastering her newly discovered Grisha abilities during the first season of Shadow and Bone, and the final episodes see her power heightened with one of Morozova’s amplifiers. Unfortunately, there’s no time for her to fully embrace this shift; she’s under General Kirigan’s control for the majority of the finale, and the big moment where she reclaims her autonomy comes and goes pretty quickly.

With Alina and Mal vowing to return to the Fold and destroy it, however, it’s safe to assume a second season would see the Sun Summoner reckoning with the effects of her now-magnified power. That means more stunning light shows and empowering moments for the show’s protagonist, but it could bring some downsides with it as well.

Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse books introduce the concept of “Merzost,” or a corruption of the magic Grisha refer to as “the small science.” Those who venture down this path suffer unintended consequences, something Alina experiences firsthand in the later novels. That will be just as interesting to see play out onscreen as her embracing her powers, and it’ll raise some interesting questions about the cost of unlimited power.

Of course, it’s not just Alina’s physical transformation fans want to see in season 2 (though who doesn’t love a little more magic?). If the series sticks to the source material, she’ll come into her own in future seasons, especially now that she’s accepted who she is and set herself free from General Kirigan’s manipulations.

Shadow and Bone has already delivered on a tough female protagonist, but witnessing Alina become a leader in her own right will take things to another level. Fingers crossed we get to see it.