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It's been a few months since I finished watching the TV Adaptation of Shadow and Bone, and now I have finally mustered the motivation to write a review about it. I started watching this series right after I finished reading the first book with the same title, Shadow and Bone; and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the TV adaptation included characters from another series by the same author. I think that's what made watching this adaptation feels different compared to my reading experience. Even though I already know the plot points from the Grisha trilogy, there are other characters with their personal agendas that keeps the story intriguing for me. There are 8 episodes in this first season; and in this review I will share the overall plot and discuss my thoughts on this TV series adaptation 😊.
"When I was young, I was afraid of the dark. When I got older, I learned that darkness is a place, and it's full of monsters."
☆ Plot Summary ☆
Alina Starkov, a cartographer in the First Army of Ravka, accidentally finds out that she is a Grisha—someone who is able to perform Small Science, with the ability to summon light. The discovery of her ability was unheard of because no one else posses the same skill. Under the mentorship of General Kirigan, a Grisha with the ability to control darkness, Alina becomes Ravka's only hope to destroy the Shadow Fold—a region of impenetrable darkness that has split East and West Ravka. At the same time, in the trade city of Ketterdam, Kaz Brekker received a job to kidnap Alina. So he gathered a group of people to cross the Fold and find Alina and capture her. In the midst of all that, Alina must come to terms with who she's become and decide who she can truly trust.
☆ Characters ☆
There are quite a lot of characters in this series and I think they did a pretty good job choosing the actors and actresses to portray each role. But I have to admit that the Six of Crows team is a scene stealer; Kaz (played by Freddy Carter), Jesper (played by Kit Young), and Inej (played by Amita Suman) are such memorable characters. Each of them have different personality and they have their own skills that complement one another. I always find myself looking forward to their scenes more than Alina's 🤣. I also find the scenes involving Nina (played by Danielle Galligan) and Matthias (played by Calahan Smoghan) very adorable—their chemistry is just amazing! I'd have to say that Alina (played by Jessie Mei Li), Mal (played by Archie Renaux), and General Kirigan (played by Ben Barnes) are kind of overshadowed by the secondary characters.
To sum it up, there are three different storyline that will end up intertwining with one another. The first one is set in Ravka, where Alina discovered her power and escorted by General Kirigan to the Little Palace; while Mal is looking for ways to be reunited with Alina by hunting for the Stag. The second one is set in Ketterdam, a completely different setting from Ravka, where Kaz—together with Inej and Jesper, received a job to kidnap Alina for a hefty amount of money. The last one is about Nina who was captured by the Fjerdans. When the ship carrying her was hit by a bad storm, she managed to survive together with Matthias—one of the drüskelle who hunts Grisha. Even though they started off as enemies, surviving together created some sort of bond between the two of them. I'm really satisfied with how all of these storyline blends together at the end and I'm looking forward to see how the story is going to unfold in the next season.
"Never make decisions out of fear, Jesper. Only out of spite."
☆ Overall Thoughts ☆
Another thing that I really appreciate from this TV series is the amazing setting and costumes that really makes Grishaverse come to life. The change in setting alone makes me aware that we're following a different set of characters. I also love the hand gestures that all of the Grisha made when they are about to use their power. I think the whole Grisha concept is explained very well in this TV series and those who didn't read the book would have no problem understanding it (which I think is very important in any book adaptations). As I've said earlier, the actors & actresses did a great job portraying the characters that are depicted in the book: Alina who's easily swooned and uncertain about everything, the Darkling who's menacing and mysterious, Kaz who's always frowning, and Nina who's extremely witty.
Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with this TV series even though there are some differences with the original book. I actually applaud their decision to add the Six of Crows character into the story because it makes the plot so much more interesting and it gave readers a new experience compared to reading the Shadow and Bone book. Despite knowing how the story is going to end already, I find myself enjoying each episodes and am looking forward to the next season as well. I am especially excited for the second season because we should me meeting Nikolai—because he's my favorite character from the Grisha trilogy! 😆 I read some articles saying that the second season might be released in late 2022 or early 2023, so I guess I have to be patient until then 😌. Have any of you watched the first season of Shadow and Bone? What do you think about it? 😉
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