Shadow and Bone is one of those series whose first season left me quite undecided. On the one hand, I think the main plot which focused on Alina was very bland, but at the same time I really liked Kaz’s gang. That’s why I was happy to see that in this second part, the focus is more on the history of slums and criminals. Moreover, I consider that the path that Alina and Malyen took is also much more intriguing. That said, below you can read my review of the first episode of the second season of Shadow and boneswhere:
A very promising start
As I said before, when I watched the first season, I noticed a great contrast between the plots and the characters of the series. While the most “important” ones like Alina and Malyen were pretty stereotypical, Kaz, Jasper and Inej had a lot more depth and interesting and unpredictable elements. Well, this second season once again separates these two groups, while itThe summoner of the sun and his companion go on a journey in search of new forms of power, Kaz and his gang plan an ambitious heist..
First, Alina and her partner head to a town where they hope to find a way to boost her powers so she can destroy the shadow. There we discovered a new culture, which treats its grisha as blessed people and whose inhabitants seem to support the summoner of the sun despite the rumors circulating about her. Eventually, the past of the two characters catches up with him when they clash with the first armywho intends to catch them and bring them to justice.
As they are about to fall into the clutches of their former compatriots, an unexpected savior appears. Sturmdog is the name of the mysterious pirate, who seems to hide many secrets behind his charismatic smile. The interesting thing is that this privateer was looking for Alina, so we’ll see if he ends up becoming a new opponent. And, speaking of enemies, Kirigan is back, stronger than ever as he now controls the shadowbeing able to summon strange dark creatures to aid him.
Finally, Kaz’s gang is in big trouble as they are framed for murder and Pekka Rollins continues to do everything she can to destroy them. The group should Fight your way through the criminal underworld of Ketterdam until their leader comes up with a new plan. This idea is the craziest he’s had so far and includes destroying part of the city. Eventually, Nina Zenit ends up joining the group hoping they can help her free her lover.
upgradable special effects
- It’s a problem that I didn’t like in the first season either, and that’s some special effects are not very well done.
- Specifically, some scenes in which a new city or fantasy location is seen in the background are quite rare.
- Besides, Alina’s magic is always ugly to seeunlike Kirigan’s shadows, which are much more consistent and flow better.
- Finally, it’s also worth noting that some moments that use practical effects work much better.
A script that remains inconsistent
As I was able to read informing me about the saga of the books on which this series is based, they are mix characters from two different novels. This is something very apparent, since the plot of Alina and Malyen and that of Kaz’s group have nothing to do with it. That is to say, while the protagonists fight to save the world, the gang of criminals seeks to make a name for themselves in the underworld and to earn money. That provokes very abrupt changes of rhythm which do not favor the immersion of the series.
That said, in general there is an improvement of the narrative partbecause Alina and Malyen have a much more intriguing goal and They stray away from the basic YA fantasy plot. thanks to the appearance of Sturmdog. On another side, Kaz is still so intriguing and the incorporation of Nina y A seagull as new band members, it’s also refreshing for their dynamic.
Shadow and Bone season 2 has a lot of potential
In conclusion, the first episode of the second season of shadow and bone is full of hope. It looks like there will be more exploration of its interesting magic system thanks to the plot of Alina y maylenwhile at last we will see a Kaz unleashed and ready for anything. The series is well suited for voltage and his characters work much better when they’re between a rock and a hard place. Hope the rest of the season stays on track and is superior to the first episode that hit Netflix 2 years ago.