Available
On:
Netflix
Language:
English
Duration:
8
Episodes
/
50
Minutes
Story:
Shadow
and
Bone
explores
the
events
of
the
first
novel
in
Leigh
Bardugo's
main
Grishaverse
trilogy.
The
show
follows
an
exceptional
child
Alina
Starkov,
who
grew
up
with
Malyen
Oretsev
at
an
orphanage
in
Keramzin
in
the
Kingdom
of
Ravka,
divided
by
The
Fold.
Review:
Created
by
Eric
Heisserer,
Shadow
and
Bone
is
not
the
next
Game
Of
Thrones
but
it
does
not
disappoint
by
any
means.
The
fantasy
show
based
on
Leigh
Bardugo's
main
Grishaverse
trilogy
has
also
highly
incorporated
characters
from
the
spin-off
duology
Six
Of
Crows,
as
well.
While
it
may
seem
overwhelming
to
a
non-reader,
the
show
has
kicked
off
the
Grishaverse
franchise
successfully.
With
every
book
adaptation,
Netflix
is
getting
better
and
better.
While
they
have
struggled
with
the
pacing
in
several
other
shows,
Shadow
and
Bone
gives
a
promising
start.
The
biggest
complaint
regarding
The
Witcher
was
that
the
first
season
only
severed
as
a
starting
point,
as
a
set
up
for
the
entire
story.
Meanwhile,
Shadow
and
Bone
has
packed
in
a
lot
more
than
necessary
in
mere
an
hour-long
eight
episodes.
We
are
first
introduced
to
Alina
Starkov
(Jessie
Mei
Li)
and
her
childhood
best
friend
Mal
(Archie
Renaux).
Both
grew
up
as
orphans
and
lived
in
fear
of
being
separated
from
each
other.
While
Alina
becomes
a
mapmaker,
Mal
joins
the
First
Army
as
a
tracker.
Both
head
over
to
The
Fold,
darkness
that
separates
their
country
Ravka
in
two,
in
an
attempt
to
find
a
better
life
on
the
other
side.
But
when
they
are
attacked
by
creatures
of
the
dark
called
Volcra,
Alina
uses
her
suppressed
powers
to
rescue
them.
While
the
story
mainly
follows
the
two
and
their
love
for
each
other,
there
is
a
bigger
evil
at
play.
After
her
powers
are
exposed,
Alina
is
whisked
away
to
the
Little
Palace
to
be
trained
as
a
Grisha
and
be
a
part
of
the
Second
army,
away
from
Mal.
She
becomes
the
beacon
of
hope
for
all
of
Ravka
and
Grisha.
The
makers
have
incorporated
the
world-building
with
an
assumption
that
the
audience
will
come
prepared.
The
show
quickly
introduces
a
lot
of
new-world
vocabulary
without
explanations
which
may
be
hard
to
follow
for
the
non-readers.
However,
those
who
will
be
able
to
keep
up
are
in
for
a
fun
ride.
The
show
also
introduces
several
plots,
only
a
few
of
which
drive
till
the
end,
however,
some
do
pave
the
way
forward
for
season
two.
Since
the
makers
have
had
a
storyline
that
released
about
a
decade
ago,
the
characters
have
been
developed
well
enough
to
shine
on
their
own,
in
every
episode.
The
diverse
cast
including
Jessie
Mei
Li,
Ben
Barnes,
Archie
Renaux,
Freddy
Carter,
Amita
Suman,
and
Kit
Young,
all
get
their
rightful
moments
under
the
spotlight.
However,
since
the
makers
have
attempted
to
divide
focus
between
all
characters
and
subsequent
plotlines,
it
proves
harder
to
keep
track
of
them
all.
Especially
with
a
world
as
wide
as
the
Grishaverse,
it
is
hard
to
follow
the
events
that
take
place
all
over
the
map.
And
yet,
the
cast
and
their
well-rooted
characters
drive
the
plot
home.
They
will
also
have
the
audience
excited
for
what
comes
next.
Overall,
Shadow
and
Bone
is
one
of
the
best
Netflix
adaptations
so
far
and
definitely
a
must-watch
for
fans
of
the
fantasy
genre.