Shadow and Bone: the latest in a long line of Netflix's quarantine releases. The 10-episode TV series was released late April this year, ranking #2 on the US charts during its debut weekend. The book community was jumping for joy at the long-awaited TV adaptation of Leigh Bardugo's popular book series- myself included. But for non-book fans or Netflix enthusiasts searching for the next show to binge, why should Shadow and Bone be of any interest? Here's a brief rundown to help show why Shadow and Bone should be next on your watchlist.
Shadow and Bone is set in the Grishaverse; Leigh Bardugo's fantasy, Tsarist-Russia-inspired world. The story starts with in the war-torn country of Ravka, where Alina Starkov, a young mapmaker, and her best friend Mal are recruits of the First Army. The little country of Ravka has been caught in brutal battles from both sides of the country- Fjerda from the north, and the Shu-han from the south.
But the reason Ravka has survived this brutal war for so long is not because of their First Army. In Ravka, there are people born with magical powers- also known as the Grisha. They make up what's known as Ravka's Second Army: trained warriors who utilize their deadly abilities in combat. After a freak disaster that nearly takes Mal's life, Alina accidentally discovers her own unusual Grisha powers; setting her in a whole new life that comes to show its dark side as the show progresses.
Meanwhile, on an island away from the mainlands, lies Ketterdam- a bustling seaside city where crime and corruption roam free. Here, we find cunning gang leader Kaz Brekker, along with charming sharpshooter Jesper and former-acrobat-turned-assassin Inej. After a forced deal, they find themselves on the short end of a seemingly impossible heist- to capture the mysterious new Grisha known as the Sun Summoner.
But while most of the basic plot is derived straight from the books, what really makes Shadow and Bone stand out from the its fellow novel-adaptation peers is that it took liberties and risks to make the original books better for the screen.
Six of Crows and Shadow and Bone, although set in the same universe, originally took place in separate timelines. However, for the show, the two were put on the same one. This results in otherwise-nonexistent character interactions/stories to keep book fans on their toes, and for new viewers to be immersed into the universe quicker overall.
"We’ve taken the stories of Shadow and Bone and the characters of Six of Crows and we’ve brought them together in what I think will be a really unexpected way. Eric and our writers’ room and our directors have built something entirely new that still somehow stays true to the characters and to the heart of the stories." (Leigh Bardugo)
Another way the show improves on the books is with its diverse cast- helping more stories/people be represented on screen. Jessie Mei Li as Alina Starkov is a prominent example- by choosing a biracial Asian woman as the lead protagonist (compared to her white counterpart in the books), the show producers/writers get to expand on all the cultures in the Grishaverse, as well as help continue to show that Asian women have the capability to hold lead roles in Western shows.
“It wasn’t just a diversity box ticker... It was something to help build the world and to help build her character.” (Jessie Mei Li)
Overall, it's rare to find a book-film adaptation that satisfies the readers. And although Shadow and Bone has its flaws, like every other TV show, it's still one worth looking out for. Give it a watch on Netflix today!