Shadow and Bone (season 1)

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⭐ 10.0/10

(Originally written by Magdalene)

Looks like I get to be the first one to review S+B!


As most of you know, this show was based on two series set in the same universe written by Leigh Bardugo. I read most of the books it was based on, and I really enjoyed them. Beloved books getting adapted always makes me a bit nervous, but when the teasers started coming out I started to have more confidence. And to my delight, it was really well adapted!


I thought the show captured the atmosphere and world of these books perfectly. Dark, kind of gritty, and full of turmoil. The casting was great (Ben Barnes as the Darkling is *chef kissy fingers* perfect) and the characters were compelling and interesting. It was also quite accurate to the book Shadow and Bone, and I actually preferred the changes they made - giving Mal more screen time and making him more dreamy (OMG Mal is so much better in the show, I love him), making Alina mixed-race, humanizing the Darkling a bit more, etc. The book was her debut, so Bardugo wasn't at the top of her game yet, and I know she signed off on the changes. The Six of Crows storyline was new, but fits into their world perfectly.


I'm glad this show got the budget and attention it deserved. I really hope they make a second season soon, and that they can incorporate the next two books in two different series as well as they did this one.

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