Shadow and Bone (TV series)

Shadow and Bone is an American fantasy television series developed by Eric Heisserer for Netflix. It is based on the written works of Leigh Bardugo, and set in the Grishaverse, which consists of the Shadow and Bone trilogy and the Six of Crows duology. All eight episodes of the first season premiered on April 23, 2021. In June 2021, the series was renewed for a second season, also consisting of eight episodes, which premiered on March 16, 2023. In November 2023, the series was canceled after two seasons.

The series adapts the story of young Alina Starkov, an orphan and cartographer of the Ravka nation's First Army, as she discovers she is a Grisha, one with special gifts, and one long awaited to address a dire need in the universe. The first season adapts Shadow and Bone (2012), and adds an original storyline featuring the Crows, a criminal gang for which the eponymous duology is named. The second season adapts Siege and Storm (2013) and Ruin and Rising (2014), along with elements of Crooked Kingdom (2016) in the Crows' storyline.

Premise and world
The series is set in the Grishaverse which consists of the nations of Ravka, Fjerda, Shu Han, Kerch, Novyi Zem, and the Wandering Isle. Each nation adapts elements of language, culture and tradition from countries of the real world, drawn from different time periods. In the Grishaverse there exists a group of people who have been described as "magic-users". In-universe, these people are considered practitioners of "The Small Science" - an individual gift each Grisha holds to manipulate matter at its smallest level, the "molecular level".

Ravka is home to most of the Grisha as they are "usually discovered as children by traveling Grisha testers and brought to... [train in that nation's] Second Army". It is one of the few places where Grisha can live safely without fear of persecution. When training for Ravka's Second Army, they are divided into three orders according to their gift in The Small Science:


 * Etherealki summon natural elements such as wind, water and fire;
 * Materialki control materials such as metal and glass; and,
 * Corporalki manipulate people's bodies.

The nation of Ravka is divided in two, from East to West, by the Shadow Fold ("The Fold"), a dark region filled with beasts created centuries ago by the Grisha known as The Black Heretic. Ravka is at war with Fjerda, and the western part seeks independence. General Kirigan, also known as The Darkling, leads Ravka's Second Army and seeks the Sun Summoner, the only one who can destroy the Fold. In the series' first episode, Alina Starkov, a cartographer in the First Army, is revealed as the Sun Summoner, triggering various events. Kaz Brekker, leader of the Crows gang in Ketterdam, is hired to kidnap her, while Fjerdan witch hunters aim to kill her. Alina grapples with her identity and alliances as she seeks the power to save Ravka.

Main

 * Jessie Mei Li as Alina Starkov, an orphan and former assistant cartographer of the Royal Corps of Surveyors in the First Army. She discovers that she is the Sun Summoner, a Grisha with the rare ability to summon light. Alina was reimagined as half-Shu (having had one parent from Shu-Han) in the series.
 * Kaylan Teague as Young Alina (recurring season 1)
 * Archie Renaux as Malyen "Mal" Oretsev, an orphan tracker in the First Army and Alina's childhood best friend and love interest.
 * Cody Molko as Young Mal (recurring season 1)
 * Freddy Carter as Kaz Brekker, leader of the Crows, known as Dirtyhands and the Bastard of the Barrel.
 * Fflyn Edwards as Young Kaz (recurring season 2)
 * Amita Suman as Inej Ghafa, a Suli former indentured prostitute. She is a member of the Crows and is known as the Wraith.
 * Kit Young as Jesper Fahey, member of the Crows who is a skilled Zemeni sharpshooter.
 * Ben Barnes as General Aleksander Kirigan, the Shadow Summoner and The Black Heretic.
 * Zoë Wanamaker as Baghra, Alina's Grisha teacher and Aleksander's mother.
 * Patrick Gibson as Sturmhond / Nikolai Lantsov (season 2), a privateer who is later revealed to be the second Prince of Ravka.
 * Daisy Head as Genya Safin (season 2; recurring season 1), A Grisha Healer and Tailor, who befriends Alina. She falls in love with David Kostyk.
 * Danielle Galligan as Nina Zenik (season 2; recurring season 1), a Heartrender and Grisha Tailor, who is taken captive by Fjerdans. She later falls in love with her captor Matthias Helvar and becomes a member of the Crows.
 * Calahan Skogman as Matthias Helvar (season 2; recurring season 1), a Fjerdan Drüskelle (witch-hunter), who takes part in Nina's capture but later falls in love with her.
 * Lewis Tan as Tolya Yul-Bataar (season 2) a Shu Heartrender loyal to Nikolai and Alina. Tamar's brother.
 * Jack Wolfe as Wylan Hendricks (season 2), an alchemist who reluctantly becomes the Crows' demolitions expert. Jesper's love interest.
 * Anna Leong Brophy as Tamar Kir-Bataar, (season 2) a Shu Heartrender loyal to Nikolai and Alina. Tolya's sister.

Recurring

 * Andy Burse as Dubrov (season 1), a tracker in the First Army and Mal's friend.
 * Tom Weston-Jones as General Zlatan (season 1), a general of the First Army.
 * Sujaya Dasgupta as Zoya, a Squaller (wind Summoner), who serves under Gen. Kirigan as his favourite and who is jealous of Alina but later becomes a valued ally.
 * Elizabeth Rider as Ana Kuya (season 1).
 * Hugo Speer as Lieutenant Bohdan (season 1; guest season 2).
 * Angus Castle-Doughty as Mikhael (season 1), a tracker in the First Army and Mal's friend.
 * Simon Sears as Ivan (season 1), a Heartrender, who serves under Gen. Kirigan. Feydor's lover.
 * Howard Charles as Arken (season 1), the Conductor, who smuggles people across the Fold.
 * Julian Kostov as Fedyor (season 1), a Heartrender, who serves under Gen. Kirigan. Ivan's lover.
 * Jasmine Blackborow as Marie (season 1), an Inferni (fire Summoner), who befriends Alina.
 * Gabrielle Brooks (season 1) and Joanna McGibbon (season 2) as Nadia, a Squaller, who also befriends Alina. Tamar's love interest.
 * Luke Pasqualino as David Kostyk. As a Durast, he crafts weapons and other gadgets for the Grisha. Genya's love interest.
 * Gareth Turkington as Feliks (season 1).
 * Dean Lennox Kelly as Pekka Rollins (season 2; guest season 1), the ruthless leader of the Dime Lions gang in Ketterdam and Kaz's foe.
 * Tommy Rodger as Jordie (season 2), Kaz' older brother.
 * Iliasz Shweirif as Doughty (season 2).
 * Shobhit Piasa as Vladim (season 2).
 * Thue Ersted Rasmussen as Ahlgren (season 2).
 * Rachel Redford as Fruszi (season 2).
 * Keir Charles as Colonel Raevsky (season 2).
 * Alistair Nwachukwu as Adrik (season 2), Nadia's brother.

Guest

 * David Wurawa as Edyck.
 * Kevin Eldon as The Apparat, the spiritual advisor to the King of Ravka.
 * David Verrey as King Pyotr.
 * Georgia Reece as Queen Tatiana.
 * James Jaysen Bryhan as The Archivist, a magical character, part of the archives.

Development
In January 2019, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a series order for an eight-episode first season with Eric Heisserer as showrunner, creator, head-writer, and executive producer. The project falls under Netflix's deal with 21 Laps Entertainment with Shawn Levy executive producing. Leigh Bardugo, Pouya Shahbazian, Dan Levine, Dan Cohen, and Josh Barry acted as the executive producers as well. On October 2, 2019, Lee Toland Krieger was announced as the director of the pilot.

In June 2021, the series was renewed for an 8-episode second season. It was confirmed in January 2022 that production on the second season had begun. In December 2022, it was reported that the second season will not only cover Siege and Storm, but also Ruin and Rising of Leigh Bardugo's main Grishaverse trilogy.

Following the release of Shadow and Bone's second season, Heisserer revealed that the scripts for a spin-off series focused on the Crows were already written. He also stressed that the fate of Shadow and Bone and a potential spin-off depended on the viewing figures for season two. On November 15, 2023, Netflix canceled Shadow and Bone after two seasons. Plans for a spin-off series were also abandoned.

Language
In a panel discussion led by Petra Mayer, NPR books editor, Leigh Bardugo disclosed to San Diego Comic-Con 2019 that David J. Peterson would be working on the Grishaverse's fictional languages. Christian Thalmann is also involved in this effort.

Casting
Casting began in April 2019 with calls for its lead Alina. On October 2, 2019, it was announced that Shadow and Bone would starring Jessie Mei Li with Ben Barnes, Freddy Carter, Archie Renaux, Amita Suman, and Kit Young filling out the rest of the cast as supporting actors. Sujaya Dasgupta, Danielle Galligan, Daisy Head, and Simon Sears would also feature. The second round of casting was announced on December 18, 2019, with Calahan Skogman, Zoë Wanamaker, Kevin Eldon, Julian Kostov, Luke Pasqualino, Jasmine Blackborow, and Gabrielle Brooks in the recurring cast. Bardugo, the book series' author, was scheduled to cameo as a Materalki Durast in the third episode.

Prominent book characters Nikolai Lantsov and Wylan Van Eck did not appear in the first season, but were introduced in the second. On January 13, 2022, Lewis Tan, Patrick Gibson, Anna Leong Brophy and Jack Wolfe officially joined the cast for the second season while Daisy Head, Danielle Galligan, and Calahan Skogman were promoted to series regulars. More new cast members were confirmed in November 2022, including Tommy Rodger, Rhoda Ofori-Attah, Alistair Nwachukwu, Tumi Fani-Kayode, and Seamus O'Hara.

Filming and locations
Principal photography for the first season began on location in and around Budapest and Keszthely, Hungary in October 2019 and wrapped at the end of February 2020. Additional shoots took place in Vancouver in September 2020.

Shadow and Bone's Ketterdam set was built at Origo Studios. Other Budapest filming locations included the Ethnographic Museum (Grand Palace throne room); Buda Castle (Royal Archives exterior) and its medieval rondella (Grisha training grounds and Os Alta gates); the old Stock Exchange (Royal Archives interior); and the main square (Novokribirsk).

Outside of Budapest, the exterior, grounds, and interior of Festetics Palace were used to create the Little Palace, and the winter fete took place in its concert hall. Other locations included the Amadé–Bajzáth–Pappenheim Mansion (Keramzin orphanage); the town of Szentendre (Ryevost) and its open-air museum (Chernast); and the Royal Palace of Gödöllő (stable and chapel). The flashback in which the Darkling creates the Shadow Fold was filmed at the ruined Széchényi–Wenckheim mansion in Békéscsaba.

Filming for the second season began in early January 2022 and wrapped on June 6, 2022.

Post-production
Post-production began after the February 2020 close of shooting. Bardugo reported through Twitter in June 2020 that working remotely in light of COVID-19 had slowed post-production down, rendering the release date less certain. Ted Rae served as VFX supervisor.

Music
Joseph Trapanese is the composer for the series. Heisserer and Bardugo appeared on a panel at New York Comic Con in October 2020, during which they played some of the score. Executive producer Josh Barry reported on December 16, 2020, that the final sound mix was complete.

Trapanese wrote the score over 11 months. In an interview with AwardsDaily.com, he explained how he put it together in lockdown, between conducting an orchestra over Zoom and incorporating solo recordings. Russian and Slavic music provided the basis of the score's inspiration, Bardugo naming Sergei Prokofiev and folk songs as specific examples. In addition, elements from other musical traditions were used, such as gamelan.

Marketing and release
Netflix released a season one announcement teaser in December 2020 followed by promotional stills through Entertainment Weekly as well as main character posters in January 2021. Bardugo, Heisserer, and the six main cast members appeared on a panel at the IGN Fan Fest in February 2021, during which a teaser trailer was released in addition to more stills. Netflix also posted a poster featuring the Shadow Fold the day before. The official season one trailer was released on March 30, 2021, by Netflix, after having been leaked previously.

Bardugo answered in a November 2019 interview with SensaCine that the season one series was expected to air in late 2020. The series was released on April 23, 2021, on Netflix. On April 24, 2021, Netflix released an aftershow for the series on the service, titled Shadow and Bone – The Afterparty. The second season was released on March 16, 2023. The official trailer for the second season was released on February 17, 2023.

Audience viewership
Netflix revealed alongside the season 2 renewal announcement that 55million households had watched the first season in its first 28 days of availability. Netflix reported that season 2 had been watched for 192,900,000 hours between January and June 2023, it was the 26th most watched show on Netflix in that time period, out of 18,000 titles. According to a report by Eshap, the combined hours viewed of both seasons in the first half of 2023 amounted to 292,400,000 hours which actually made the series number 15 on the list of the most watched shows in that time period. Season 2 was in the Global Netflix top 10 for 5 weeks and in the top 10 of 86 countries for up to 6 weeks after its release. Shadow and Bone also ranked number two on the Nielsen charts in the week of its release, with over 1.14 billion minutes watched by subscribers (including season 1 episodes). It then finished among the top 10 original series for four weeks after its premiere, compared to a five-week run during season one (however viewing time was about the same). According to The Wrap and based on data gathered by Whip Media, Shadow and Bone was number 24 on the list of the most watched series on all streaming platforms in 2023.

Critical response
As of January 2024, the show has a rating of 7.5 out of 10 on IMDb based on 112,000 ratings. It was number 10 on the list of the most searched shows worldwide on Google in 2023. In January 2024, Shadow and Bone was voted Fan Favorite Series of 2023 on Rotten Tomatoes. The show took the lead with 54% of votes while the remaining four shows in the top five all earned just 4% of the vote.

Season 1
Shadow and Bone has received positive reviews from critics. For the first season, Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 89% based on 81 reviews, with an average rating of 7.4/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "From gorgeous costumes to impressive—if intimidating—world-building, Shadow and Bone is an exciting adventure for fans and newcomers alike." Metacritic gave the first season a weighted average score of 68 out of 100 based on 22 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Writing for Empire, Ben Travis gave the first season 3 out of 5 stars, saying, "Shadow And Bone remains compelling while tasking viewers with grasping the Grisha terminology for themselves, showing rather than telling", but noted similarities between the series and Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Game of Thrones and described some elements of the series as being "overly confusing". He concluded that "Shadow And Bone will draw you into the Fold with its absorbing world-building and engaging lead duo." Nicole Clark of IGN wrote that "the first season manages to capture much of the darker magic...while being unafraid to make smart changes to certain characters' origin stories and even the sequence of events—even if the storylines from the two series of books don't always easily mesh." Molly Freeman of Screen Rant praised it as a "thrillingly exciting fantasy drama".

Writing for RogerEbert.com, Roxana Hadadi noted the series' use of clichés found in young adult fiction, adding: "Eric Heisserer's adaptation transcends this familiarity thanks to the commitment of a pitch-perfect cast, well-stylized fight sequences, and intentional character development that makes these relationships feel nuanced and history-laden". She concluded: "Altogether, 'Shadow and Bone' maintains a sense of interior place for the characters dealing with plot developments as varied as mean girl dynamics, geopolitical posturing, and body horror, and the well-balanced nature of this first season makes for a promising introduction into this franchise's fantastical universe."

Writing for The Daily Star, Yaameen Al-Muttaqi praised the changes made from the source material, noting that "the years added to each character's age allows the series to explore darker themes, like abuse, corruption, propaganda, manipulation, and human trafficking without breaking audience immersion or pulling punches, as is the case with too many YA adaptations." He was, however, more critical of the omissions made in world building, concluding that "a fair number of things are also left unexplained or unexplored in the series, which may leave viewers who have not read the books, confused." Writing for Tell-Tale TV, Allison Nichols also noted that viewers unfamiliar with the source material may feel isolated when the series "throw[s] them in storylines that seemingly have nothing to do with the main storyline of the show — Alina's journey."

Season 2
On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season has an 83% approval rating based on 24 reviews, with an average rating of 6.0/10. The website's critics consensus states, "Shadow and Bone 's sophomore season packs in too much story sinew to properly breathe, but this adventure remains great fun for fantasy fans." On Metacritic, the second season received a score of 73 based on reviews from 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Lacy Baugher Milas of Paste Magazine gave a critical review, describing the second season as "not only poorly paced but narratively overstuffed, crammed with new characters, superfluous side quests, and rapid-fire plot revelations that are rarely given enough time to breathe, let alone develop fully." Due to the season's expanded plot-lines, Milas observed that little time was spent on exploring the emotional fallout that its characters experienced. Milas praised the performances of Li, Renaux, Galligan, Young, Wolfe, Barnes and Wanamaker.

Abby Cavenaugh of Collider awarded the second season a B− rating, describing the second season as "more of a lackluster and uneven follow-up, but still remains an entertaining ride from start to finish." She attributed the "crammed" plotlines to the season's adaptation of storylines from six of Bardugo's novels Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising, Six of Crows, Crooked Kingdom, King of Scars and The Lives of Saints. Cavenaugh praised Barnes' portrayal of the antagonistic Darkling, comparing him with Michael B. Jordan's portrayal of Erik Killmonger in Black Panther. She also praised the casting of newcomers Patrick Gibson, Lewis Tan, and Anna Leong Brophy as faithful to the source material but criticised their "overacting" for distracting from the story. Cavenaugh also criticised the neglect of Skogman's character Matthias' storyline. Cavenaugh also praised the initial appearances of both the returning and new cast members, as well as the animated maps of several plot settings including Ravka, Novyi Zem, and Ketterdam.

Samantha H. Chung of The Harvard Crimson gave the second season a mixed review. While she praised the performances of the main cast members particularly Carter, Suman, Gibson, and Head, she criticised the cramming of multiple storylines from Bardugo's novels and the breakneck pace of the second season's storylines, which she opined affected the development of relationships between the series' characters. Chung however praised the second season's expansive worldbuilding, visually beautiful plot settings, the exploration of the protagonist Alina's biracial identity, and the relationship between Young and Wolfe's characters.

Season 3
Netflix cancelled Shadow and Bone on November 15, 2023, despite having been the 15th most watched show on Netflix in the first half of 2023, the 10th most Googled show in 2023, and having stayed in the top 10 of 86 countries for up to 6 weeks after its release. The decision came a week after the end of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike and a month and a half after the end of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike. The strikes were presented by Netflix as the reason for the cancellation. Eric Heisserer was at the head of the Negotiating Committee during the strike . Leigh Bardugo, Ben Barnes, Daeghan Fryklind, Shelley Meals, Christina Strain, Erin Conley, Stacy Milbourn, and Lilly Slaydon were among the numerous Shadow and Bone cast and crew members who participated in the strike. Many media outlets stated that Netflix had made a wrong decision based on the viewership data.

Six of Crows spin-off
Following the cancellation, it was confirmed that Netflix decided to not go forward with the Six of Crows spin-off. The script for the spin-off had been commissioned by Netflix and completed before the release of season 2. Eric Heisserer shared a sizzle reel for the spin-off in a Reddit comment.

Fan campaign
Immediately upon the news of the cancellation, a campaign called Save the Grishaverse was launched by fans online. A Discord server was created to coordinate the effort. A petition titled "SAVE Shadow and Bone!!!" is currently online to save Season 3 and the spin-off. It was launched on Change.org on November 16, 2023, and gathered more than 120,000 signatures in 4 days. According to Change.org, it was the most signed petition to renew a series in 2023. A Kickstarter project was also launched on November 18, 2023 to fund a billboard campaign in Los Angeles and London. The Kickstarter closed on December 23, having gathered $13,882 thanks to 457 backers. The two billboards were unveiled on January 23, 2024.