At the end of Shadow and Bone season 1, Zoya Nazyalensky (Sujaya Dasgupta) told Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li), “You can’t stay in Ravka. The apparat […] will blame this on all of us. The people will turn on Grisha again. You need to find new allies.”
Thus begins a new journey for our main character Alina. Netflix has now released a new clilp from season 2 that shows her following this advice:
Fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone books have long been excited to see the character of Nikolai (Patrick Gibson) be brought to life onscreen. Last week, a new teaser gave us hints about his role in the Netflix adaptation. This new clip gives us a much more extensive preview of his character and the way his storyline intersects with that of Alina and Mal (Archie Renaux) storyline.
In this clip, there is a certain wariness between Alina and Nikolai, with Nikolai believing that Alina was a “co-conspirator” in the Darkling’s attempts to extend the Shadow Fold. Alina very firmly informs him that “the Darkling and I were not partners.” She intends to “tear down the Fold and reunite Ravka,” at which point “the world will see that I am not his ally.”
This immediately peaks Nikolai’s interest, and it sounds like he may help her in her plan to seek out Morozova’s amplifiers (a key plotline in the upcoming season), which will give her the power she needs to destroy the Fold.
Patrick Gibson shows off what he brings to the table as Nikolai in Shadow and Bone season 2
Mal seems hesitant about Alina’s plan. Book-readers will be aware that while Mal unconditionally supports Alina, he is also unafraid to voice his concerns about her seeking so much power. Could this moment be hinting towards that tension? Or is Mal just fulfilling his duties as “bodyguard to a saint” and warning Alina against telling Nikolai too much too soon?
In any case, Nikolai is on board with helping Alina and Mal hunt the amplifiers. “Adventure… danger… money… now you’re speaking my language!” he says. Patrick Gibson oozes charisma, charm, and adrenaline, which is perfect for Nikolai.
How exactly Nikolai will aid Alina and Mal will be revealed when Shadow and Bone season 2 drops on Netflix on March 16.
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