Shadow And Bone (TV Series)
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''Shadow and Bone'' is a 2021 American
fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...
television series developed by
Eric Heisserer Eric Andrew Heisserer (born 1970) is an American filmmaker, comic book writer, television writer, and television producer. His screenplay for the film '' Arrival'' earned him a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the 89th Academy Awards in 20 ...
for
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
, starring
Jessie Mei Li Jessica Mei Li (born 27 August 1995) is an English actress. She is best known for her starring role as the main character and protagonist Alina Starkov in the Netflix fantasy series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021–2023). She also played as Ellie ...
, Ben Barnes and
Archie Renaux Archie James Beale (born 22 November 1997), known professionally as Archie Renaux, is an English actor. On television, he is known for his roles in the BBC One miniseries '' Gold Digger'' (2019) and the Netflix series '' Shadow and Bone'' (20 ...
, with
Freddy Carter Frederick James Carter is an English actor and director. He starred as Kaz Brekker in the Netflix fantasy series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021–2023). He previously played Peter "Pin" Hawthorne in '' Free Rein'' (2017–2019), also on Netflix. E ...
,
Amita Suman Amita Suman (, born 19 July 1997) is a British actress. She stars as Inej Ghafa in the Netflix fantasy series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021–2023). She had a recurring role in the CW series '' The Outpost'' (2019–2021). Early life Suman was b ...
, and
Kit Young Christopher William Young (born 1994) is a British actor. He began his career in theatre, earning an Ian Charleson Award nomination. On television, he starred as Jesper Fahey in the Netflix fantasy series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021–2023). He ...
in supporting roles. Based on the works of
Leigh Bardugo Leigh Bardugo (; born April 6, 1975) is an American fantasy author. She is best known for her young adult Grishaverse novels, which include the '' Shadow and Bone'' trilogy and the ''Six of Crows'' and '' King of Scars'' duologies. She also rec ...
, the series takes place in the Grishaverse fantasy setting and follows Alina Starkov (Li), an orphan and cartographer who discovers she is a Grisha, someone with magical abilities, and the key to saving her war-torn world. The first season, which adapts Bardugo's novel ''
Shadow and Bone ''Shadow and Bone'' is a young adult fantasy adventure and the debut novel written by the Israeli–American author Leigh Bardugo. It was published by Macmillan Publishers on June 5, 2012. The novel follows Alina Starkov, a teenage orphan who ...
'' (2012), premiered on April 23, 2021, and also features an original storyline involving the Crows, a criminal gang from Bardugo's ''
Six of Crows ''Six of Crows'' is a fantasy novel written by the Israeli–American author Leigh Bardugo and published by Henry Holt and Co. in 2015. The story follows a thieving crew and is primarily set in the city of Ketterdam, which is loosely inspire ...
'' duology. ''Shadow and Bone'' received generally positive reviews, with praise for its world-building and cast, but some criticism aimed at its pacing. Following its success, Netflix renewed the show for a second season, which premiered on March 16, 2023, and adapted ''Siege and Storm'' (2013), ''Ruin and Rising'' (2014), and parts of '' Crooked Kingdom'' (2016). Despite growing fan support, ''Shadow and Bone'' was canceled after two seasons in November 2023.


Premise and world

The series is set in the Grishaverse, which comprises the nations of Ravka, Fjerda, Shu Han, Kerch, Novyi Zem, and the Wandering Isle. Each nation draws inspiration from real-world countries, reflecting elements of language, culture, and tradition from different historical periods. In the Grishaverse, there exists a group of individuals referred to as " magic-users". These people, known as Grisha, are practitioners of what is called "The Small Science", a unique ability that allows each Grisha to manipulate matter at the molecular level. Ravka is home to most of the Grisha, where they are typically discovered as children by traveling Grisha testers and brought to train in the nation's Second Army. Ravka is one of the few places where Grisha can live without fear of persecution. During their training for the Second Army, Grisha are divided into three orders based on their gift in The Small Science: * Etherealki: Summoners who control natural elements such as wind, water, and fire; * Materialki: Fabricators who manipulate materials like metal and glass; * Corporalki: Healers and Heartrenders who can manipulate the human body. The nation of Ravka is geographically divided into two regions, from east to west, by the Shadow Fold (commonly referred to as "The Fold"), a vast area of impenetrable darkness inhabited by terrifying creatures, created centuries earlier by a Grisha known as the Black Heretic. Ravka is embroiled in a war with the northern nation of Fjerda, while its western half seeks independence. General Kirigan, also known as The Darkling, leads Ravka's Second Army and is determined to find the Sun Summoner, the only person capable of destroying the Fold and potentially reuniting Ravka. In the series' first episode, Alina Starkov, a cartographer in Ravka's First Army, is revealed to be the long-prophesied Sun Summoner, which sets off a chain of events that affect the entire Grishaverse. As Alina begins to come to terms with her newfound identity, she becomes the target of multiple factions. Kaz Brekker, the leader of the criminal gang known as the Crows in Ketterdam, is hired to capture her, while Fjerdan witch hunters—dedicated to eliminating Grisha—seek to kill her. Alina must navigate a world of shifting allegiances and hidden threats as she struggles to harness her powers and save Ravka.


Cast and characters


Main

*
Jessie Mei Li Jessica Mei Li (born 27 August 1995) is an English actress. She is best known for her starring role as the main character and protagonist Alina Starkov in the Netflix fantasy series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021–2023). She also played as Ellie ...
as Alina Starkov, an orphan and former assistant
cartographer Cartography (; from , 'papyrus, sheet of paper, map'; and , 'write') is the study and practice of making and using maps. Combining science, aesthetics and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality (or an imagined reality) can ...
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 Archie James Beale (born 22 November 1997), known professionally as Archie Renaux, is an English actor. On television, he is known for his roles in the BBC One miniseries '' Gold Digger'' (2019) and the Netflix series '' Shadow and Bone'' (20 ...
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 Frederick James Carter is an English actor and director. He starred as Kaz Brekker in the Netflix fantasy series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021–2023). He previously played Peter "Pin" Hawthorne in '' Free Rein'' (2017–2019), also on Netflix. E ...
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 Amita Suman (, born 19 July 1997) is a British actress. She stars as Inej Ghafa in the Netflix fantasy series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021–2023). She had a recurring role in the CW series '' The Outpost'' (2019–2021). Early life Suman was b ...
as Inej Ghafa, a Suli former indentured prostitute. She is a member of the Crows and is known as the Wraith. *
Kit Young Christopher William Young (born 1994) is a British actor. He began his career in theatre, earning an Ian Charleson Award nomination. On television, he starred as Jesper Fahey in the Netflix fantasy series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021–2023). He ...
as Jesper Fahey, member of the Crows who is a skilled Zemeni
sharpshooter A sharpshooter is one who is highly proficient at firing firearms or other projectile weapons accurately. Military units composed of sharpshooters were important factors in 19th-century combat. Along with " marksman" and "expert", "sharpshooter" ...
. * Ben Barnes as General Aleksander Kirigan, the Shadow Summoner and The Black Heretic. *
Zoë Wanamaker Zoë Wanamaker (born 13 May 1949) is an American-born British actress who has worked extensively with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. Wanamaker was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2001 by Qu ...
as
Baghra Baghra is a town situated in the Charthawal Assembly constituency of Muzaffarnagar District in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located 11.83 kilometres from the district headquarters at Muzaffarnagar, and is 440 kilometres from the state capital Luc ...
, 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 Daisy Head (born 17 March 1991) is an English actress. She played Grace in the American drama series '' Guilt'', Amy Stevenson in BBC One's drama '' The Syndicate'', Kate Bottomley in the third season of Hulu series '' Harlots'', Genya Safin i ...
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 Danielle Galligan (born 1 December 1992) is an Irish actress, theatre maker, and poet. On television, she is known for her roles in the Netflix series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021–2023) and the RTÉ series ''Obituary'' (2023). Her films include ...
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 Lewis Singwah Tan (born February 4, 1987) is an American actor, martial artist and model. He is known for his roles as Kung Jin in '' Mortal Kombat X: Generations'', Cole Young in '' Mortal Kombat'', Rusty Shatterstar in '' Deadpool 2'' and ' ...
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 Anna Leong Brophy is a British comedian and actor. Early life Leong Brophy grew up in Brent, North West London. She is of Irish and Sino-Kadazan descent. Career Leong Brophy presents the ''Still Legit'' podcast A podcast is a Radio progr ...
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 Tom Weston-Jones (born 29 June 1987) is an English actor, known for his role in ''Copper'' and for playing Richard Lee in ''Warrior'' (2019). Early life and education Weston-Jones was born in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, and was brought ...
as General Zlatan (season 1), a general of the First Army. *
Sujaya Dasgupta Sujaya Dasgupta (born 2 February 1988) is a British actress. She is known for her roles in the Netflix series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021–2023) and the Apple TV+ series '' Shantaram'' (2022). Early life Dasgupta was born 2 February 1988 in Ind ...
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 Elizabeth Rider is an English actress. Her career is marked by diverse roles in numerous television dramas. Education She trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she was awarded its Gold Medal. From there, Elizabeth joined th ...
as Ana Kuya (season 1). *
Hugo Speer Hugo Alexander Speer (born 17 March 1968) is an English actor and director. He is best known for playing Guy in ''The Full Monty'' (1997), Inspector Valentine in ''Father Brown (2013 TV series), Father Brown'' (2013–2014), Captain Treville in ...
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 Simon Sears (born 25 January 1984) is a Danish actor. Early life and education Sears was born in Roskilde to an Italian father and Danish mother. He was raised in the town of Solrød Strand, and has two older siblings. When he was younger, Sear ...
as
Ivan Ivan () is a Slavic male given name, connected with the variant of the Greek name (English: John) from Hebrew meaning 'God is gracious'. It is associated worldwide with Slavic countries. The earliest person known to bear the name was the B ...
(season 1), a Heartrender, who serves under Gen. Kirigan. Feydor's lover. *
Howard Charles Howard Charles is an English actor who is best known for his portrayal of Porthos in the BBC series ''The Musketeers'' (2014–2016). He was born in Brixton, London. Education He studied at Kingston College in England between 2000 and 2005, e ...
as Arken (season 1), the Conductor, who smuggles people across the Fold. *
Julian Kostov Julian Kostov (born 25 August 1989) is a Bulgarian actor, filmmaker and talent manager. He is best known for his recurring role in the Netflix series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021), as well as for portraying Vladimir Makarov in '' Call of Duty: Mod ...
as Fedyor (season 1), a Heartrender, who serves under Gen. Kirigan. Ivan's lover. *
Jasmine Blackborow Jasmine Sky Blackborow (born 28 August 1991) is an English actress who began her career in theatre. On television, she is known for her roles in the first season of the Netflix series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021), the Canal+ and BBC drama '' M ...
as
Marie Marie may refer to the following. People Given name * Marie (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name ** List of people named Marie * Marie (Japanese given name) Surname * Jean Gabriel-Marie, French compo ...
(season 1), an Inferni (fire Summoner), who befriends Alina. *
Gabrielle Brooks Gabrielle Brooks (born 28 January 1990) is an English actress. She was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for her performance in '' Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical''. She began her career as a child actress in Andrew Lloyd Webber' ...
(season 1) and Joanna McGibbon (season 2) as
Nadia Nadia is a female name. Variations include Nadja, Nadya, Nadine, Nadiya, and Nadiia. Most variations of the name are derived from Arabic, Slavic languages, or both. In many Slavic languages, names similar to ''Nadia'' mean "hope": Ukrainia ...
, a Squaller, who also befriends Alina. Tamar's love interest. *
Luke Pasqualino Luca Giuseppe Pasqualino (born 19 February 1990) is a British actor. He is best known for portraying Freddie McClair in the television series '' Skins'' (2009–2010), d'Artagnan in the television series '' The Musketeers'' (2014–2016) and ...
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 Dean Lennox Kelly (born 30 November 1975) is an English actor and voice over artist. He is known for his television roles as Kev Ball in '' Shameless'' and Meredith Rutter in '' Jamestown''. Early life Kelly is from Lytham St Annes, Lancashir ...
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 Thue Ersted Rasmussen (born 15 November 1985) is a Danish actor. Filmography Film Television References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rasmussen, Thue Ersted 1985 births Living people Danish male film actors Danish male televisio ...
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 Kevin Eldon (born 2 October 1959) is an English actor and comedian. He featured in British comedy television shows of the 1990s including ''Fist of Fun'', ''This Morning with Richard Not Judy'', ''Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge (TV ...
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.


Episodes


Season 1 (2021)


Season 2 (2023)


Production


Development

In January 2019,
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
announced a series order for an eight-episode first season of ''Shadow and Bone'', with
Eric Heisserer Eric Andrew Heisserer (born 1970) is an American filmmaker, comic book writer, television writer, and television producer. His screenplay for the film '' Arrival'' earned him a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the 89th Academy Awards in 20 ...
serving as
showrunner A showrunner is the top-level executive producer of a television series. The position outranks other creative and management personnel, including episode directors, in contrast to feature films, in which the director has creative control over th ...
, creator, head writer, and executive producer. The series is produced under Netflix's deal with
21 Laps Entertainment 21 Laps, Inc., doing business as 21 Laps Entertainment, is an American film and television production company founded and run by filmmaker Shawn Levy. The company is best known as the producers of ''Stranger Things'', and exclusively distributes ...
, with
Shawn Levy Shawn Adam Levy (; born July 23, 1968) is a Canadian and American filmmaker and actor. He is the founder of 21 Laps Entertainment. His work has spanned numerous genres, and his films as a director have grossed a collective $3.5 billion worldwid ...
executive producing. Other executive producers included
Leigh Bardugo Leigh Bardugo (; born April 6, 1975) is an American fantasy author. She is best known for her young adult Grishaverse novels, which include the '' Shadow and Bone'' trilogy and the ''Six of Crows'' and '' King of Scars'' duologies. She also rec ...
, Pouya Shahbazian, Dan Levine, Dan Cohen, and Josh Barry. On October 2, 2019, it was confirmed that Lee Toland Krieger would
direct Direct may refer to: Mathematics * Directed set, in order theory * Direct limit of (pre), sheaves * Direct sum of modules, a construction in abstract algebra which combines several vector spaces Computing * Direct access (disambiguation), ...
the pilot episode. In June 2021, the series was renewed for an eight-episode second season. Production for the second season officially began in January 2022. By December 2022, it was reported that the second season would not only adapt Siege and Storm but also cover elements from Ruin and Rising, completing Leigh Bardugo's main Grishaverse trilogy. Following the release of season two, Heisserer revealed that scripts for a potential spin-off series centered on the Crows were already written. However, he emphasized that the future of ''Shadow and Bone'' and any spin-offs would depend on the viewership of season two. On November 15, 2023, Netflix canceled ''Shadow and Bone'' after two seasons. 4Plans for the Crows spin-off were subsequently abandoned as well.


Language

In a panel discussion led by Petra Mayer,
NPR National Public Radio (NPR) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...
books editor, at
San Diego Comic-Con San Diego Comic-Con is a comic book convention and multi-genre entertainment event held annually in San Diego, California, at the San Diego Convention Center. Founded in 1970, originally showcasing primarily comic books and science fiction/fant ...
2019,
Leigh Bardugo Leigh Bardugo (; born April 6, 1975) is an American fantasy author. She is best known for her young adult Grishaverse novels, which include the '' Shadow and Bone'' trilogy and the ''Six of Crows'' and '' King of Scars'' duologies. She also rec ...
revealed that David J. Peterson, known for his work on creating fictional languages for shows like ''Game of Thrones'', would be developing the languages for the Grishaverse in ''Shadow and Bone''. Christian Thalmann was also involved in contributing to the creation of these fictional languages.


Casting

Casting for ''Shadow and Bone'' began in April 2019, with auditions for the lead role of Alina Starkov. On October 2, 2019, it was officially announced that
Jessie Mei Li Jessica Mei Li (born 27 August 1995) is an English actress. She is best known for her starring role as the main character and protagonist Alina Starkov in the Netflix fantasy series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021–2023). She also played as Ellie ...
would star as Alina, with Ben Barnes,
Freddy Carter Frederick James Carter is an English actor and director. He starred as Kaz Brekker in the Netflix fantasy series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021–2023). He previously played Peter "Pin" Hawthorne in '' Free Rein'' (2017–2019), also on Netflix. E ...
,
Archie Renaux Archie James Beale (born 22 November 1997), known professionally as Archie Renaux, is an English actor. On television, he is known for his roles in the BBC One miniseries '' Gold Digger'' (2019) and the Netflix series '' Shadow and Bone'' (20 ...
,
Amita Suman Amita Suman (, born 19 July 1997) is a British actress. She stars as Inej Ghafa in the Netflix fantasy series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021–2023). She had a recurring role in the CW series '' The Outpost'' (2019–2021). Early life Suman was b ...
and
Kit Young Christopher William Young (born 1994) is a British actor. He began his career in theatre, earning an Ian Charleson Award nomination. On television, he starred as Jesper Fahey in the Netflix fantasy series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021–2023). He ...
joining as key supporting actors. Additional cast members included
Sujaya Dasgupta Sujaya Dasgupta (born 2 February 1988) is a British actress. She is known for her roles in the Netflix series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021–2023) and the Apple TV+ series '' Shantaram'' (2022). Early life Dasgupta was born 2 February 1988 in Ind ...
,
Danielle Galligan Danielle Galligan (born 1 December 1992) is an Irish actress, theatre maker, and poet. On television, she is known for her roles in the Netflix series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021–2023) and the RTÉ series ''Obituary'' (2023). Her films include ...
,
Daisy Head Daisy Head (born 17 March 1991) is an English actress. She played Grace in the American drama series '' Guilt'', Amy Stevenson in BBC One's drama '' The Syndicate'', Kate Bottomley in the third season of Hulu series '' Harlots'', Genya Safin i ...
and
Simon Sears Simon Sears (born 25 January 1984) is a Danish actor. Early life and education Sears was born in Roskilde to an Italian father and Danish mother. He was raised in the town of Solrød Strand, and has two older siblings. When he was younger, Sear ...
. A second round of casting was announced on December 18, 2019, which brought Calahan Skogman,
Zoë Wanamaker Zoë Wanamaker (born 13 May 1949) is an American-born British actress who has worked extensively with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. Wanamaker was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2001 by Qu ...
,
Kevin Eldon Kevin Eldon (born 2 October 1959) is an English actor and comedian. He featured in British comedy television shows of the 1990s including ''Fist of Fun'', ''This Morning with Richard Not Judy'', ''Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge (TV ...
,
Julian Kostov Julian Kostov (born 25 August 1989) is a Bulgarian actor, filmmaker and talent manager. He is best known for his recurring role in the Netflix series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021), as well as for portraying Vladimir Makarov in '' Call of Duty: Mod ...
,
Luke Pasqualino Luca Giuseppe Pasqualino (born 19 February 1990) is a British actor. He is best known for portraying Freddie McClair in the television series '' Skins'' (2009–2010), d'Artagnan in the television series '' The Musketeers'' (2014–2016) and ...
,
Jasmine Blackborow Jasmine Sky Blackborow (born 28 August 1991) is an English actress who began her career in theatre. On television, she is known for her roles in the first season of the Netflix series '' Shadow and Bone'' (2021), the Canal+ and BBC drama '' M ...
and
Gabrielle Brooks Gabrielle Brooks (born 28 January 1990) is an English actress. She was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for her performance in '' Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical''. She began her career as a child actress in Andrew Lloyd Webber' ...
to the recurring cast.
Leigh Bardugo Leigh Bardugo (; born April 6, 1975) is an American fantasy author. She is best known for her young adult Grishaverse novels, which include the '' Shadow and Bone'' trilogy and the ''Six of Crows'' and '' King of Scars'' duologies. She also rec ...
, the author of the book series, was also scheduled for a cameo appearance as a Materialki Durast in the third episode of the season. While prominent characters Nikolai Lantsov and Wylan Van Eck were absent from the first season, they were introduced in the second season. On January 13, 2022,
Lewis Tan Lewis Singwah Tan (born February 4, 1987) is an American actor, martial artist and model. He is known for his roles as Kung Jin in '' Mortal Kombat X: Generations'', Cole Young in '' Mortal Kombat'', Rusty Shatterstar in '' Deadpool 2'' and ' ...
, Patrick Gibson,
Anna Leong Brophy Anna Leong Brophy is a British comedian and actor. Early life Leong Brophy grew up in Brent, North West London. She is of Irish and Sino-Kadazan descent. Career Leong Brophy presents the ''Still Legit'' podcast A podcast is a Radio progr ...
and Jack Wolfe were officially added to the cast for the second season, with Daisy Head, Danielle Galligan, and Calahan Skogman promoted to series regulars. Further 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 of ''Shadow and Bone'' commenced on location in and around
Budapest Budapest is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns of Hungary, most populous city of Hungary. It is the List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, tenth-largest city in the European Union by popul ...
and
Keszthely Keszthely (; also known by alternative names) is a Hungarian city of 20,895 inhabitants located on the western shore of Lake Balaton. It is the second largest city by the lake and one of the more important cultural, educational and economic hub ...
, Hungary, in October 2019 and concluded at the end of February 2020. Additional shoots took place in
Vancouver Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...
in September 2020. The set for Ketterdam was constructed at
Origo Studios Origo Studios is a Hungarian film and television production studio located in Budapest. Stages and facilities * 23×18,5×3 m water tank * 4 ha of backlot Office buildings to house production offices With 4 office buildings, approx. 4,000 ...
. Several locations around Budapest were used for key scenes, including the
Ethnographic Museum Ethnographic museums, also known as ethnological museums, conserve, display and contextualize items relevant to the field of ethnography, the systematic study of people and cultures. Such museums include: List by country or region Albania * Ethnog ...
(used as the Grand Palace throne room),
Buda Castle Buda Castle (, ), formerly also called the Royal Palace () and the Royal Castle (, ), is the historical castle and palace complex of the King of Hungary, Hungarian kings in Budapest. First completed in 1265, the Baroque architecture, Baroque pa ...
(for the Royal Archives exterior and its medieval rondella for the Grisha training grounds and Os Alta gates), the old
Stock Exchange A stock exchange, securities exchange, or bourse is an exchange where stockbrokers and traders can buy and sell securities, such as shares of stock, bonds and other financial instruments. Stock exchanges may also provide facilities for ...
(for the Royal Archives interior), and the main square (as Novokribirsk). Outside of Budapest,
Festetics Palace The Festetics Palace is a Baroque palace located in the town of Keszthely, Zala County, Zala, Hungary. The building now houses the Helikon Palace Museum. The palace's construction, started by Kristóf Festetics family, Festetics in 1745, lasted ...
was used for both the exterior and interior of the Little Palace, with the winter fete taking place in its concert hall. Other filming locations included the Amadé–Bajzáth–Pappenheim Mansion (as the Keramzin orphanage), the town of
Szentendre Szentendre, also known as Saint Andrew is a riverside town in Pest County, Hungary, between the capital city Budapest and Pilis Mountains, Pilis-Visegrád Mountains. The town is known for its museums (most notably the :hu: Szentendrei Szabadtéri ...
(depicting Ryevost), its open-air museum (as Chernast), and the
Royal Palace of Gödöllő The Royal Palace of Gödöllő (, ) or Grassalkovich Castle is an imperial and royal Hungarian palace located in the municipality of Gödöllő in Pest county, central Hungary. It is famous for being a favourite palace of the penultimate Que ...
(used for the stable and chapel). The flashback scene where the Darkling creates the Shadow Fold was filmed at the ruined Széchényi–Wenckheim mansion in
Békéscsaba Békéscsaba (; ; see also #Name, other alternative names) is a city with county rights in southeast Hungary, the capital of Békés County. Geography Békéscsaba is located in the Great Hungarian Plain, southeast from Budapest. Highway 44, 47 ...
. Filming for the second season began in early January 2022 and wrapped on June 6, 2022.


Post-production

Post-production for ''Shadow and Bone'' commenced after filming wrapped in February 2020. In June 2020, Leigh Bardugo reported via Twitter that working remotely due to the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
had slowed down the post-production process, making the release date uncertain. The full text of the tweet is a response to an unsupplied question, and states, "No, we'll have a longer wait for the show. I know it's frustrating, but covid has slowed down post-production and we want to keep people safe while they work. Please be patient and I hope we can share more soon... / This Tweet is from an account that no longer exists." Ted Rae served as the VFX supervisor for the series.


Music

Joseph Trapanese Joseph Trapanese (born 7 August 1984) is an American composer, arranger, and producer. He works in the production of music for films, television, records, theater, concerts, and interactive media. Early life and education Raised in Jersey City ...
composed the score for ''Shadow and Bone''. Eric Heisserer and Leigh Bardugo previewed some of the score during a panel at
New York Comic Con The New York Comic Con is an annual New York City fan convention dedicated to comics, Western comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, cosplay, toys, Film, movies, and television. It was first held in 2006. With an attendance of 200,00 ...
in October 2020. By December 16, 2020, executive producer Josh Barry confirmed that the final sound mix had been completed. Trapanese composed the score over the course of 11 months. In an interview with AwardsDaily.com, he detailed how he assembled the score during lockdown, conducting an orchestra remotely via
Zoom Zoom may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Film * ''Zoom'' (2006 film), starring Tim Allen * ''Zoom'' (2015 film), a Canada-Brazil film by Pedro Morelli * ''Zoom'' (2016 Kannada film), a Kannada film * ''Zoom'' (2016 Sinhala film), a Sr ...
and incorporating solo recordings. The score drew inspiration from Russian and Slavic music, with
Sergei Prokofiev Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev; alternative transliterations of his name include ''Sergey'' or ''Serge'', and ''Prokofief'', ''Prokofieff'', or ''Prokofyev''. , group=n ( – 5 March 1953) was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor who l ...
and traditional folk songs serving as specific influences. Trapanese also incorporated elements from other musical traditions, such as gamelan, to add diversity to the soundtrack.


Marketing and release

Netflix released a season one announcement teaser in December 2020, followed by promotional stills through ''
Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
'' and main character posters in January 2021. In February 2021, Leigh Bardugo, Eric Heisserer, and the six main cast members participated in a panel at the
IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
Fan Fest, where a teaser trailer was unveiled, along with additional stills. The day before, Netflix had posted a poster featuring the Shadow Fold. The official trailer for season one was released on March 30, 2021, by Netflix, after an earlier leak. In a November 2019 interview with SensaCine, Bardugo mentioned that the series was expected to air in late 2020. Ultimately, ''Shadow and Bone'' premiered on April 23, 2021, on Netflix. The following day, Netflix released an
aftershow An aftershow or after-show is a genre of television talk show whose topic is another television program. An aftershow is typically broadcast immediately after a new episode of its corresponding program, to help retain the audience, and to provide a ...
titled ''Shadow and Bone – The Afterparty''. The second season of the series was released on March 16, 2023. The official trailer for season two was released on February 17, 2023.


Reception


Audience viewership

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
announced alongside the season two renewal that 55 million households had watched the first season within its first 28 days of availability. For season two, Netflix reported that it had been viewed for 192.9 million hours between January and June 2023, making it the 26th most-watched show on Netflix during that period, out of 18,000 titles. According to a report by Eshap, the combined hours viewed for both seasons in the first half of 2023 amounted to 292.4 million hours, which ranked the series at number 15 on the list of the most-watched shows during that time. Season two remained in Netflix's Global Top 10 for five weeks and was in the top 10 of 86 countries for up to six 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 episodes from season one. It stayed among the top 10 original series for four weeks after its premiere, compared to a five-week run during season one, although the viewing time was about the same. According to
TheWrap ''TheWrap'' is an American online news organization that covers the business of entertainment and media. It was founded by journalist Sharon Waxman in 2009 and is based in Los Angeles. The site features original reporting, analysis, and editor ...
, based on data gathered by
Whip Media Whip Media Group is a private American company selling enterprise software for Digital distribution, content distribution, as well as TV- and film-related user data. It operates physical offices in the US, the UK, and the EU. Background Whip Med ...
, ''Shadow and Bone'' was number 24 on the list of the most-watched series across all streaming platforms in 2023.


Critical response

As of January 2024, the show has a rating of 7.5 out of 10 on
IMDb IMDb, historically known as the Internet Movie Database, is an online database of information related to films, television series, podcasts, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and biograp ...
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 generally positive reviews from critics. For the first season,
Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...
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 Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...
gave the first season a weighted average score of 68 out of 100, based on 22 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Ben Travis of ''
Empire An empire is a political unit made up of several territories, military outpost (military), outposts, and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a hegemony, dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the ...
'' gave the first season 3 out of 5 stars, praising the world-building and the engaging lead characters but noting similarities to ''
Harry Potter ''Harry Potter'' is a series of seven Fantasy literature, fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young Magician (fantasy), wizard, Harry Potter (character), Harry Potter, and his friends ...
'', ''
The Hunger Games ''The Hunger Games'' are a series of Young adult fiction, young adult Dystopian fiction, dystopian novels written by American author Suzanne Collins. The series consists of a trilogy that follows teenage protagonist Katniss Everdeen, and two ...
'', and ''
Game of Thrones ''Game of Thrones'' is an American Fantasy television, fantasy Drama (film and television), drama television series created by David Benioff and for HBO. It is an adaptation of ''A Song of Ice and Fire'', a series of high fantasy novels by ...
''. He described some elements of the series as "overly confusing" but concluded that "''Shadow and Bone'' will draw you into the Fold with its absorbing world-building and engaging lead duo." Nicole Clark of ''
IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
'' remarked that the season "captures 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 ''Screen Rant'' is an entertainment website that offers news in the fields of television, films, video games, and comic books. It is owned by Valnet, parent of publications including Comic Book Resources, Collider, MovieWeb and XDA Developers. ...
'' called it a "thrillingly exciting fantasy drama." Writing for
RogerEbert.com ''RogerEbert.com'' is an American film review website that archives reviews written by film critic Roger Ebert for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' and also shares other critics' reviews and essays. The website, underwritten by the ''Chicago Sun-Times ...
, Roxana Hadadi acknowledged the series' use of
young adult fiction Young adult literature (YA) is typically written for readers aged 12 to 18 and includes most of the themes found in adult fiction, such as family dysfunction, substance abuse, alcoholism, and sexuality. It is characterized by simpler world build ...
cliché A cliché ( or ; ) is a saying, idea, or element of an artistic work that has become overused to the point of losing its original meaning, novelty, or literal and figurative language, figurative or artistic power, even to the point of now being b ...
s but praised the cast and the fight sequences. She wrote, "Eric Heisserer's adaptation transcends this familiarity thanks to the commitment of a pitch-perfect cast, well-stylized fight sequences, and intentional character development." She concluded, "''Shadow and Bone'' maintains a sense of interior place for the characters... and the well-balanced nature of this first season makes for a promising introduction into this franchise's fantastical universe." Yaameen Al-Muttaqi of '' The Daily Star'' praised the darker themes explored in the series due to the older ages of the characters compared to the books, highlighting themes like "abuse, corruption, propaganda, manipulation, and human trafficking." However, he was critical of the lack of 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." Allison Nichols of Tell-Tale TV similarly noted that viewers unfamiliar with the source material may feel isolated when the series "throw them in storylines that seemingly have nothing to do with the main storyline of the show — Alina's journey."


Season 2

For the second season of ''Shadow and Bone'', Rotten Tomatoes reports an approval rating of 83% 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 ''Paste'' is an American monthly music and entertainment digital magazine, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with studios in Atlanta and Manhattan, and owned by Paste Media Group. The magazine began as a website in 1998. It ran as a print publi ...
'' provided 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." Milas noted that the expanded plotlines resulted in minimal exploration of the emotional fallout experienced by the characters. However, she praised the performances of Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Danielle Galligan, Kit Young, Jack Wolfe, Ben Barnes, and Zoë Wanamaker. Abby Cavenaugh of ''Collider'' gave the second season a B− rating, calling it "more of a lackluster and uneven follow-up" but still an "entertaining ride from start to finish." Cavenaugh attributed the crammed plotlines to the adaptation of material from six of Leigh Bardugo's novels: ''Siege and Storm'', ''Ruin and Rising'', ''
Six of Crows ''Six of Crows'' is a fantasy novel written by the Israeli–American author Leigh Bardugo and published by Henry Holt and Co. in 2015. The story follows a thieving crew and is primarily set in the city of Ketterdam, which is loosely inspire ...
'', '' Crooked Kingdom'', ''
King of Scars ''King of Scars'' is a fantasy novel by the Israeli–American author Leigh Bardugo published by Imprint in 2019. It is the first in a duology, followed by ''Rule of Wolves'', and a continuation of Bardugo's Grishaverse. The story is primarily ...
'', and ''The Lives of Saints''. She praised Ben Barnes' portrayal of the Darkling, likening it to
Michael B. Jordan Michael Bakari Jordan ( ; born February 9, 1987) is an American actor, producer and director. He is best known for his film roles in '' Fruitvale Station'' (2013), ''Creed'' (2015), ''Black Panther'' (2018), '' Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'' ...
's performance of
Erik Killmonger Erik Killmonger (né N'Jadaka) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Don McGregor and Rich Buckler, he first appeared in '' Jungle Action'' #6 (September 1973). The character is commonly depic ...
in ''Black Panther'', while also commending newcomers Patrick Gibson, Lewis Tan, and Anna Leong Brophy. However, Cavenaugh criticized their "overacting" and felt that Calahan Skogman's character, Matthias, was underdeveloped. Samantha H. Chung of ''
The Harvard Crimson ''The Harvard Crimson'' is the student newspaper at Harvard University, an Ivy League university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. The newspaper was founded in 1873, and is run entirely by Harvard College undergraduate students. His ...
'' gave a mixed review, praising the performances of Freddy Carter, Amita Suman, Patrick Gibson, and Daisy Head while criticizing the second season's pacing and cramming of multiple storylines. Chung felt that the breakneck pace impacted the development of character relationships but praised the expansive worldbuilding, visually stunning settings, exploration of Alina's biracial identity, and the chemistry between Kit Young and Jack Wolfe's characters.


Awards and nominations


Cancellation


Season 3

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
officially canceled ''Shadow and Bone'' on November 15, 2023, despite its strong performance earlier in the year. The series was the 15th most-watched show on Netflix during the first half of 2023, the 10th most Googled show worldwide in 2023, and had remained in the top 10 in 86 countries for up to six weeks after its release. The cancellation followed the end of the
2023 SAG-AFTRA strike From July 14 to November 9, 2023, the American actors' union SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) went on strike over a labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Pro ...
and the
2023 Writers Guild of America strike From May 2 to September 27, 2023, the Writers Guild of America (WGA)—representing 11,500 screenwriters—went on Strike action, strike over a labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Lasting 148 days, ...
, which Netflix cited as the reason for ending the show.
Eric Heisserer Eric Andrew Heisserer (born 1970) is an American filmmaker, comic book writer, television writer, and television producer. His screenplay for the film '' Arrival'' earned him a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the 89th Academy Awards in 20 ...
, the showrunner of ''Shadow and Bone'', was part of the Negotiating Committee during the strike, and several key cast and crew members, including
Leigh Bardugo Leigh Bardugo (; born April 6, 1975) is an American fantasy author. She is best known for her young adult Grishaverse novels, which include the '' Shadow and Bone'' trilogy and the ''Six of Crows'' and '' King of Scars'' duologies. She also rec ...
, Ben Barnes, Daeghan Fryklind, Shelley Meals,
Christina Strain Christina Strain (born April 27, 1981) is an American comic book colorist, writer and screenwriter. Strain formerly worked for Marvel Comics as a colorist before pursuing a career as a writer. Strain's notable works include; the award-winning Mar ...
, Erin Conley, Stacy Milbourn, and Lilly Slaydon, also participated in the labor action. Following the cancellation, numerous media outlets criticized Netflix's decision, arguing that it was a misstep based on the series' strong viewership data.


''Six of Crows'' spin-off

Following the cancellation of ''Shadow and Bone'',
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
confirmed that it would not move forward with the ''Six of Crows'' spin-off. The script for the spin-off had been commissioned and completed before the release of season 2.
Eric Heisserer Eric Andrew Heisserer (born 1970) is an American filmmaker, comic book writer, television writer, and television producer. His screenplay for the film '' Arrival'' earned him a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the 89th Academy Awards in 20 ...
shared a sizzle reel for the planned spin-off in a Reddit comment, giving fans a glimpse of what could have been.


Fan campaign

In response to the cancellation, fans quickly launched a campaign titled Save the Grishaverse to advocate for the continuation of the series and the spin-off. A
Discord Discord is an instant messaging and Voice over IP, VoIP social platform which allows communication through Voice over IP, voice calls, Videotelephony, video calls, text messaging, and digital media, media. Communication can be private or take ...
server was set up to organize the movement, and a petition titled "SAVE Shadow and Bone!!!" was created on
Change.org Change.org is a website which allows users to create and sign petitions in an attempt to advance various social causes by raising awareness and influencing decision-makers. The site is a US-based for-profit company and claims to have 551 million ...
on November 16, 2023, garnering more than 120,000 signatures within four days. The petition became the most signed renewal petition on Change.org in 2023. Additionally, a
Kickstarter Kickstarter, PBC is an American Benefit corporation, public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York City, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to "help bring creative project ...
campaign was launched on November 18, 2023, to fund a billboard campaign in Los Angeles and London. The campaign closed on December 23, 2023, having raised $13,882 from 457 backers. The two billboards were unveiled on January 23, 2024.


References


Further reading

* * *


External links

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