Photo courtesy of NPR
Netflix’s “Shadow and Bone” has rightfully earned its spot among the top trending television shows within the past week. This story is filled with thrilling twists and miraculous displays of magic and finds its home in an inventive high-fantasy universe.
The show is set in the Grishaverse, a fictional world imagined by author Leigh Bardugo, where characters are divided by both land and ability. A complex world with its own systems, governments and statuses, citizens find themselves separated into two categories: Grisha and non-Grisha. Grisha are humans with the ability to control matter in three different states. Corperalki can control the human body, Etherealki can control the elements of air, fire and water, and finally, Materialki can control elements such as glass and metal. Non-Grisha are humans without these abilities and while Grisha are revered by some, they are hunted and despised by others.
Primarily, Grisha are blamed for the deadly black mass that tears across terrain and separates the country of Ravka, known as The Fold. This is where the story opens on Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li), a cartographer serving in the army alongside her lifelong friend Mal Oretsev (Archie Renaux). When Mal is chosen as a member of the crew tasked with crossing The Fold, Alina finds her way onto the team. Inside, inhuman monsters known as volcra attack the fleet, causing an unfurling of chaos, during which Alina uncovers an ability previously unknown to her. As her life is turned upside down by this discovery, she finds herself beside the mysterious General Kirigan (Ben Barnes), who takes her under his wing to train and educate her on her new ability.
The story successfully weaves those pulled from the Grisha novel trilogy, which is Alina’s story, into that of the “Six of Crows” duology. The events involving the Crows, a misfit band of criminals hailing from the fictional city of Ketterdam, come before those featured in the book. This gives dedicated fans a glimpse into the previous untouched past of heartless schemer Kaz Brekker (Freddy Carter), knife-wielding spy Inej Ghafa (Amita Suman) and sarcastic sharpshooter Jesper Fahey (Kit Young). The backstory of heartrender Nina Zenik (Danielle Galligan) and Drüskelle Grisha-hunter Matthias Helvar are also featured.
Perhaps the successful captivation of the Grishaverse lies in the close hand Bardugo played in development and production, or perhaps in the intimate attention detail that was given to the world and the characters throughout the process. Either way, the show marvelously captures the essence of the Grishaverse and the intricacies and nuances that fans are so heavily attached to. Specifically, the casting of Kaz, Inej and Jesper felt like a seamless transfer from book to screen. The witty banter and sarcasm will leave fans of the books satisfied while engaging an entirely new group of admirers of the characters and the story.
Other film to screen adaptations should look to this series as a prime example of how to create a successful, fulfilling adaption of an established and admired piece.
