Proceed with caution because there might be some spoilers ahead!
A few years ago, Grishaverse fans could only dream about getting a TV or movie adaptation of our favourite literary world. As the Grishaverse expanded from the Shadow and Bone trilogy to the Six of Crows and the King of Scars duologies, Leigh Bardugo’s creations made us crave for our favourite characters to come alive. Now, in 2020, we finally have it, so if you happened to miss the news, go watch the Shadow and Bone series on Netflix NOW!
Directed by Eric Heisserer and produced by Leigh Bardugo herself, Shadow and Bone is everything we could have ever asked for and a little more. It is not common for an adaptation that diverts from the original story to please the fans, but the Netflix production is equally faithful and innovative, creating something entirely new yet familiar for the fans. Combining the plot of the first novel in the Shadow and Bone trilogy and some of our favourite crows from the Six of Crows duology, the TV series is a true gift both for fans and newcomers.
Of course, when we learned that Shadow and Bone would merge the trilogy and duology together, we expected some major—quite scary—changes. However, we, in fact, had nothing to worry about. The adaptation does include a few changes here and there, but the two sagas are combined seamlessly without barely affecting their individual storylines. Namely, while Alina’s storyline unravels, our beloved Dregs—yet to be joined by Nina, Matthias, and Wylan—are on a mission across the Fold to kidnap the Sun Summoner.
In any case, there is no doubt that immense love and admiration for the original works was the driving force of the show, because even the smallest details—even the new ones—are nods to the books. For instance, one example that completely blew our minds away was that, in the TV series, the Crows infiltrate the Little Palace as part of a theatrical troupe. And how does Alina escape the palace in the book? See for yourselves.
While new fans will not need to have read the books to fully understand the story, the series has plenty of little nods to the books and the smallest details will make readers smile. Did you catch the copy of the Istorii Sankt’ya? Or the image of Sankta Lizabeta? Or the copy of Shadow and Bone in Ravkan? Let us know if we missed something because the series is bursting with fantastic references and we are sure there are many more to uncover!
Along with the faithfulness to the plot, the cast is always the most difficult part for the production to nail. But, once again, the attention to detail and nuance was outstanding. Every single actress and actor completely took their role by storm. From the secondary characters, such as Nadia, Fedyor, or Zoya, to the protagonists, all of them absolutely nailed their roles. Ben Barnes as General Kirigan beautifully and flawlessly captured the ins and outs of the Darkling’s mind, while Archie Renaux gave Mal a much more complex and eye-catching personality than the one in the books. This could only be expected, as the characters in the series are free of the constrains of the book’s first-person narration.
Of course, we could not miss to mention the stellar interpretation of Jessie Mei Li who is the very embodiment of Alina’s resilience, wit, and kindness. We could not have hoped for a better group of actors.
On their part, The Crows completely stole the show. Kit Young, Amita Suman, and Freddy Carter were everything we could have dreamed of and we cannot wait to see more of them. All three portrayed our beloved characters so perfectly that it almost felt like being reunited with long lost friends. Jesper’s charm, Inej’s strength, and Kaz’s ruthlessness and care for his friends, it was all there and they are a joy to watch. A special mention to Freddy Carter is needed, who was able to transmit a million emotions without dropping Kaz’s characteristic angry façade. And Amita Suman’s portrayal of Inej’s faith is also beautifully fascinating to watch.
When it comes to Danielle Galligan’s and Calahan Skogman’s Nina and Matthias, it might be too early to judge, as they barely make an appearance on the show. In any case, their scenes are taken almost frame by frame from Six of Crows so their relationship will be an absolute delight for fans.
The series still could improve, however. For one, the plot feels a bit rushed at times. It is quite the feat to portray an entire book in one single season, and that is something that slightly hinders the overall narration of the story. Relationships might feel a bit rushed, especially for those who have not read the books, and character development is not as rewarding for those who have. There are also a few unfortunate remarks towards the Shu—people from the nation of Shu-Han, a region with Chinese and Mongolian influences—that felt a bit too harsh, especially taking into account that, in the books, we had the joy of a fantasy universe where—thankfully for people who have to suffer it every day—racial discrimination was non-existent.
To conclude we could not finish this review without mentioning the absolutely outstanding work around the creation of the settings. Ravka and Kerch come alive in the streets, buildings, and open fields of Budapest. The small background details are definitely a wonderful way to immerse the viewer into the world of the Grishaverse. Hand in hand with the setting and props, the costume design is to die for. The embroidery of the keftas, their rich colours, the worn of the soldier’s uniforms or the details on the Dregs’ clothes are just a sight for sore eyes.
Overall, Shadow and Bone is a wonderful adaptation, that gives newcomers a chance to discover the world of the Grishaverse and offers fans of the novel new material to enjoy. Let us pray to all the saints that Netflix decides to renew the show for season 2, because we still have so many things to unravel in the Grishaverse. We need Wylan and Nikolai and Tolya and Tamar and so many other characters that we just need to see come alive in the show. Here’s to more episodes to enjoy in the future, more stories to discover, and more Grisha magic to witness. In any case, let us say that until then: No mourners, no funerals.
