this season of shadow and bone not only adapted the next book in the main trilogy, but finished the main story of Alina and too drew some plots from the books of the Crows, and too from one of the accompanying storybooks. It was a lot, so you might be wondering, Man, is there anything left for an upcoming third season?
It’s a joke! You’re probably not wondering, because shadow and bone Season 2 ended with a lot of loose ends that weren’t actually in the books. And even if it didn’t, there are two separate sequel series that follow different sets of characters and dive into the aftermath of the Ravkan Civil War. However, some of these threads are announced much more in Season 2 than others, and some could be addressed in a possible six of crows by-product instead.
[Ed. note: This post contains major spoilers for the finale of Shadow and Bone season 2, as well as the Grishaverse books.]
Image: Netflix
What’s next for the characters in Six of Crows?
We are finally caught in the books of the Ravens. A little. Technically, the six of crows The books take place two years after the main trilogy, but the show played fast and loose with the timeline anyway. And technically, one of the big pivotal moments of the books (getting revenge on Pekka Rollins), which happens in the last Crows book, happened this season. However, a set it happens more in the books of the Crows, and the last episode of this season establishes the fugitive for everything.
First, the gang gets Matias out of jail, which will probably happen sooner rather than later next season (or in the possible Six of Crows spinoff). they are six of Crows, indeed. They also infiltrate a Fjerdan military stronghold known as the Ice Court to avoid a Shu scientist who has developed a drug known as Jurda Parem that increases Grisha’s powers, yes that a drug that Kaz mentions in the last episode and the one that Fjerdan’s agent uses to slaughter a bunch of people right at Nikolai’s coronation.
So what about that drug?
He Jurda Parem – and the implications that gun use has on the rest of the world – becomes a driving force in the Crows books and beyond. We’ve already seen how devastating its effects are in the final scene of season 2, so it’s sure to play a pivotal role in hypothetical future seasons or spin-offs like it did in the books. The drug not only increases Grisha’s powers to deadly effects, but is also highly addictive and weakens the user’s body. The withdrawal symptoms are devastating and only one person (spoiler alert) was able to survive, and their powers are completely altered afterwards.
Speaking of Matthias, what’s up with him in wolf fighting hell?
Photo: David Lukacs/Netflix
Now this is something that really has no book precedent! As mentioned above, Pekka Rollins gets what he deserves in the end crooked kingdom – meaning that he and Matias are never actually in prison at the same time in the timeline of the book. That could introduce some juicy roadblocks to the eventual “break Mathias out of jail” storyline, as well as pit Kaz against his arch-nemesis once again. However, hopefully Matias survives this cliffhanger of a wolf fight.
Are Alina and Nicholas still engaged?
You know… we just don’t know. They never officially break off their engagement, and during Nicholas’ coronation, she wears a large crown and stands next to Nicholas, so that seems very likely. That’s definitely in contrast to the books, where he officially breaks things off (especially considering he faked his death and marries Mal in the epilogue). But as far as we know, it looks like they’re still engaged, albeit entirely platonically. This could add some angst to Alina taking care of Mal, and add some complexities to Nikolai’s future love arc.
Do Mal and Inej get a Mariner’s Bow?
Photo: David Lukacs/Netflix
It sure looks that way! While it’s sad to see Nikolai part ways with his dual Sturmhond identity, we can’t deny that Archie Renaux is rocking that pirate mantle. In the books, Inej does Take a boat and set sail, but only after all the Crows’ missions are completed. Considering the great exploits of the Ravens are just beginning, it is likely that Inej will return to Ketterdam at least for a while. Meanwhile, Mal’s arc is a blank slate, so she’s free to sail off into the horizon and find her true north or whatever.
Is the Dark One completely gone?
At the end of the season, Alina kills General Kirigan. They burn his body and everything. It seems completely dead.
However, this is not the last we see of the Darkling in the books. After all, it’s hard for a sexy, all-powerful (and most importantly) favorite shadow summoner to stay dead! In Nikolai’s Duology, the most recently occurring books in the Grishaverse timeline, a number of characters are tricked into performing a ritual to resurrect the Darkling. His soul returns and possesses the body of Yuri, one of his most ardent followers. They have something of a Ghost Rider of two souls in one body. So, it is very likely that we will see Kirigan return… just not in the form we know him.
But I love Ben Barnes!
Photo: David Lukacs/Netflix
Us too! I wouldn’t put it above Netflix to integrate Barnes in any way, either through flashbacks or the physical manifestation of the voice in Yuri’s head. Or maybe Barnes will finally get the rom-com he so desperately deserves. We can only wait.
If David is dead, who comes third in the Grisha Triumvirate?
In the books, Alina names Zoya (Etheralki), Genya (Caporalki), and Davido (Materialki) as the Grisha Triumvirate, three leaders to control the Second Army. They each represent a different faction of the Grisha, but the idea is to give each faction a voice and eliminate unnecessary differences between them.
But there are two big differences in the show: David is dead and Alina is No pretending to be dead So, presumably, Alina takes the third seat, with Zoya and Genya next to her. They call their new alliance a triumvirate, though it definitely lacks the Materialki presence. Then again, the class differences between Grisha weren’t that big of a sticking point in the show.
What’s going on with those bees in Zoya in the Fold?
It’s a very small moment in the final episode, but something that people read king of scars could be caught. As everyone gathers in the sterile remains of the Fold to see Kirigan’s funeral pyre, Zoya encounters a bee that will not leave her alone. This could foreshadow his arc king of scarswhere she and Nikolai walk into the Fold and meet three mysterious saints, one of whom is associated with bees and has a whole swarm of them following her.
Nicholas…is he okay?
Photo: David Lukacs/Netflix
Good! He’s alive, if that’s your question. But he is definitely feeling the effects of being attacked by one of the Darklings. nichevo’ya. While the battle isn’t as intense as it is in the books, where the Darkling’s merzost ends up transforming Nikolai into a monstrous carnivorous demon bird creature, judging by the creepy shadow creature Nikolai sees in the mirror, it definitely infuses him with something.
Following the books, Nicholas will spend a lot of time struggling with his own inner demon (literally) and trying to find a way to tame it. So, we can definitely look forward to more hidden darkness and carnivorous demon transformation from Nicholas as he too figures out how to fix his kingdom and move on. And also possibly fall in love with Zoya in the process (Zoyalai rights). If the Ravens get their own spin-off series, then it would make sense for the upcoming season of shadow and bone focus on the characters that are still in Ravka, especially Nikolai and his little problem with the carnivorous demon.
shadow and bone Season 2 is now available on Netflix.