They also have some of the best action sequences in the show, with heists and scams that unfold in twisty and surprising ways. Moreover, the other three crows have a fabulous dynamic: Jesper’s (Kit Young) comedic relief, Kaz’s ruthlessness and Inej’s (Amita Suman) faith and resilience define a crew who are at odds despite their camaraderie and are forced to grow because of it. For example, it allows Matthias (Calahan Skogman) and Nina’s (Danielle Galligan) backstories to be told in real-time instead of flashback, and their chemistry is electric. While disconnected at times, the change allows many characters to shine. Despite containing all the standard elements of the “teen girl discovers her powers, enters new world, and is stuck between two boys,” cliche, it uses the tropes as a launching pad to consider abusive relationships, fear, self-worth and self-actualization.ĭespite the Crows’ half of the story not being directly drawn from the books that inspired their characters, the adaptation captures everything “Six of Crows” is about, painting a picture of wily teenage crooks who intend to outwit and outlast everyone who has wronged or underestimated them. Moreover, her love triangle with Mal and General Kirigan (Ben Barnes) is well executed and engaging: Alina is torn between the childhood friend she has loved for all her life and the dangerous general who could unlock her potential, and the actors play off each other to make it tense and enjoyable to watch. It’s a difficult line to walk that may feel disjointed or forced at moments, but overall the show successfully interweaves both narratives.Īs a protagonist, Aline often comes across as whiny in the books, but “Shadow and Bone” makes her more headstrong and stubborn, and the flashbacks to her childhood paired with narration of her letters to Mal (Archie Renaux) make her headspace and motivations clear and sympathetic. This change means the protagonist and deuteragonists are at odds without either group being cast as true villains, creating a great moral quandary for audiences deciding who to root for. The half of the show centred on Alina has a plot that mainly adheres to its source material, while the half focusing on the Crows features new content, but thankfully in this case it is not to the detriment of the series. While this is an unusual way to adapt two separate, self-contained series set in the same universe, it works. It weaves together storylines from multiple book series by Leigh Bardugo, who also acts as an executive producer for the show - Alina Starkov’s side of the plot is based on the “Shadow and Bone” trilogy, while Crow Kaz Brekker’s (Freddy Carter) side acts as a prequel to the “Six of Crows” duology. While “Shadow and Bone” is a faithful adaptation, the show’s creators also made plenty of changes. As her story unfolds, “Shadow and Bone” also follows a crew of lovable rogues - the “Crows”- who are desperate for a massive reward they can only get by kidnapping Alina. “Shadow and Bone” follows young cartographer Alina (Jessie Mei Li) as she discovers that she has unique abilities that could save her country from a dangerous threat and prevent a civil war. With smart characters and a fast-pace, creative plot, it manages to be faithful to its source material while also telling a great story in its own right. Netflix’s new series “Shadow and Bone” is a masterclass in adapting a young adult fantasy book series.
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