Shadow and Boneis one of those fictional universes that has a bit of everything packed in. Its supernatural elements don’t clash with its more dystopian dramatic ones, and that’s part of its success. The series continues to divide its time cleverly between two primary plot lines, but now that the villain is back in the mix, he gets to hold down the coveted C-Plot.
The first and second episodes ofShadow and Bone’s second seasonare directed by Bola Ogun. She has directed episodes of other Netflix series likeThe WitcherandLucifer, but she also has her name on the well-received short film “Are We Good Parents?.” This series' second season divides its eight episodes between four directors, each bringing an interesting background to the piece.
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Series protagonist and love triangle survivor Alina Starkov remains one of the most sought-after people in the worldofShadow and Bone. On the run from just about everyone, Alina and Mal board a privateer’s ship and set out on the hunt for a mythical beast. Alina is convinced she’ll need a second boost in power if she wants to unfold the Fold before it consumes all mankind. To get the necessary upgrade, she’ll have to kill or capture the Sea Whip. Mal’s talents as a tracker make him invaluable among the crew, while Alina makes new connections with people who are less likely to burn her at the stake. In theseearly moments of season 2, the series is exploring a great deal of the open world. There’s a greater emphasis on playing with new cultures as the show continues to expand its reach.
Meanwhile, the Crow’s plan to get back the position of power they lost is underway. With the help ofthe powerful heartrender andsocial butterfly Nina, Kaz, Jesper, and Inej plan a new heist. To gain leverage on the Barrel’s new de facto king Pekka Rollins, they’ll need to tail him everywhere he goes. Beyond that, the Crows seek to break into the office of Rollins' accountant to steal his books. Kaz is brought face-to-face with an old enemy, and Jesper begins to connect with the team’s new demolition expert. Fans familiar with theSix of Crowsnovel will likely be giddy to see the series take more of its source material to the screen. It’s a solid piece offantasy crime fiction witha lot of interesting twists and turns. So far, The Crows' battle with Rollins has been the strongest aspect of the episodes.
The Darkling is back, and he’s pursuing his old goal in a more aggressive form. General Kirigan was presumed dead after the events of the first season finale, but he returns with some nasty scars and a thirst for vengeance. Though it doesn’t get quite enough focus, Kirigan isn’t a cartoon supervillain. His motives are debatably altruistic.He’s closer to Magnetothan he is to Doctor Doom. As such, he’s quickly able to gather a party of helpful Grisha with varied abilities to aid him in his continued quest. He also begins appearing to Alina in dreams, demonstrating a shared connection between the two of them that keeps their interactions alive even while they’re miles apart. Kirigan comes equipped with a pair of powerful shadow monsters, placing his current narrative development sometime aroundSiege and Storm. There’s a lot to look forward to in The Darkling’s various evil plans.
Episode 2 “Rusalye” is packed with some of the best action in the series so far. The show’s action set pieces are at their best when they involve more physical combat and less magical back-and-forth. The crew of privateers that guide Alina and Mal is likable and engaging. Thetwo new members ofthe Crows already have great chemistry with the existing trio. Kirigan’s angst works largely thanks to Ben Barnes’s bizarrely specific gift for portraying villains climbing up from their lowest point. The drama is still very effective, but this show’s gift for weaving a variety of interesting combat styles together remains one of its strongest assets. Sometimes watching Jesper put down a small army is all the show needs to really soar.
People who fell in love withShadow and Bonefor its world-building will still be happy with season 2. People who enjoyed the unique take on fantasy action will find even more to love. People who like the romantic tension will find themselves slightly confused, but probably still engaged. In every notable case, season 2 continues to develop the aspects that made season one good. It even manages to improve upon itself in some areas. Asthe three main plot linesthreaten to converge,Shadow and Bone’s second season holds a lot of promise. Fans will just have to wait and see how the show pays off all the fuses it’s been lighting.
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