What the hell has happened to me? I thought I was done with fantasy. I was over it. After how bad that the Shadowhunters books were messed up in adaptations, I was done.
But leave it to Netflix to find a way to pull me back into the things that I am done with. Shadow & Bone is what City of Bones deserved. It’s what Shadowhunters should have been. And what do I mean by that?
It should have been great.
Because that is what Shadow & Bone is. It is great. It is great on a level that sets a bar. It’s great on a level that shows you what casting and production should be like. From what I hear, it also is great on the level that it maintains the beauty and feel of the books.
It’s just great.
And we’re already on the fifth episode and I am hating the fact that it’s due to come to an end eventually, because all I want is more. I want more information. I want more knowledge. I want them to continue to show me who they are, because I can’t get enough of them.
A GUARD FALLS
It’s a big night for Alina. She’s going to show the world what she’s capable of and prove that the Sun Summoner is real. I hate that she has to prove herself, because I don’t think that it is something that people should have to do in life.
But different world.
I do love the friendship between Genya and Alina. The way that they confide in each other and the way that they are really each others biggest cheerleaders. Also, can I have a Genya – she can get me ready. Lord, I would kill for someone to do my hair.
They exchange secrets and pick up on each other’s quirks. Genya can guide Alina and give her advice. And Genya warns her of getting involved with powerful men, which is sound advice, but like powerful men have an allure. And ones that look like Ben Barnes, definitely have my attention.
David knocks on the door and Genya introduces him to Alina, but what I love is that we finally see a side of Genya that isn’t so work oriented. We’re reminded that she’s a woman with feelings and emotions. Genya never compliments anyone but she does him. She says not a word.
The General had gloves made for Alina, to help her with her performance. And they do help, but Alina doesn’t need them. She’s come into her own and knows who she is. It is a beautiful thing to watch, because Alina has found her inner strength, and some of us never find that. However, I feel like she’s only begun to discover who she truly is.
Kirigan insisted on black for her kafka for the performance, but Alina decides that is what she wants to stick with moving forward, effectively solidifying where her heart is at that moment, right? Who knows cause this show keeps me on my toes.
Alina is excited that there is so much going on. She sees a carnival outside and wants to partake. Genya and her slip the guards for a quick second, but Alina doesn’t realize just how dangerous it is. Everyone wants to know who she is. Everyone wants a piece of her.
She can truly change their world – if she can get rid of the fold.
And I think she’s riding an adrenaline high. She makes her way to Kirigan’s study and is looking at the maps, when she hears him call for Ivan. Of course, he doesn’t know that it’s her there. She has balls, cause she takes his kefta and brings it to him in his room. Like you go girl. The way that he looks at her and the way she looks at him, I think I am a goner.
Darklina all the way, right?
She asks if she can help him put on the Kefta and the two make small talk. However nothing feels small with them. Everything feels like this tension that we all want in our lives. I know, I know – he is not perfect, but the truth is, I don’t want him to be. Maybe he’s not her forever, but nothing is wrong with mister right now.
They discuss her nerves, and at first, she’s claiming not to have any. But we all have nerves and people who allow us to feel comfortable letting our guard down. It’s a cute moment when Alina says not that nervous, but she thought of throwing herself down the stairs to get out of it and he makes a joke back to her. I mean it’s valid, it wouldn’t have worked.
He does have healers.
She tells him she was nervous but Genya made her realize what it represents. She’s always felt like an outsider but she finally feels like she belongs and to something greater. That they can offer hope and even he admits that her words mean a lot to him.
He tells her she means a lot to him and covers it up with everyone, but she catches it. It’s a moment that is filled with tension and angst. The way that this scene is makes you want to root for them. She feels appreciated, which I have to think is what she needs because she hasn’t gotten word from the person that normally appreciates her – Mal. She needs validation.
And when she kisses him and the smile that overcomes them both… I ama goner. He tells her not many people surprise him, but she has.
Yup, I am Darklina at this point. Of course that shit didn’t last very long.
PICK A LOCK
If you don’t love the Crows, you aren’t paying attention. Because they are fabulous. They are so layered and complicated and fun. You want them to succeed, and yet you want them to fail (cause you want to protect Alina), but all in all they stay true to your heart.
The Crows have made their way to the palace and are set to get in. Kaz, remember, said he was going to find his own way in and boy does he. I’d like to know how he tricked someone into staging a distraction, because I don’t know about you, but ending up in a basement dungeon isn’t high on my list of things I want to do.
And I do think that the General will do everything to protect Alina. Do I think that the reasons are selfish? Kinda. But do I want to believe it’s because he cares. Ya, I do.
But that’s neither here nor there.
Kaz makes his way into the castle dressed as a guard and walks around finding the most optimal place to get Alina. He finds a dressing room, but it’s hidden behind Grisha locks and it’s a matter of finding their way in.
But in the meantime, Jesper is tasked with finding a way out. Of course he’s distracted by a hot guy and like I am not hating because I would be too. Inej calls him out on it and they exchange a few words and I am reminded of the reasons that I love these two. Their friendship is everything.
The Crows meet up in a carriage and talk about how it is going to go down. They are really quite lucky to having picked up the Conductor. Even though I still don’t trust him, dude has a lot of intel. And he has a way to break in.
I think that The Crows are banning together, but I feel like Inej is a little distracted. I try to pay attention to every detail that I can and I think that her faith is playing a big part here. She wants to be there for her team, but she also has held on her faith to get her through.
MAKING HIS WAY TRUE NORTH
Mal has made his way to the army and they help him as he is injured. I cried seeing them run to him, thinking about how I don’t want him to die and how I need him to find his way to Alina. And then how I am not sure that I want that to happen. Damn this show fucks with me.
I am definitely not abiding by my three episodes and picking the ship rule.
Mal tells his commander that he has seen the stag and so of course they are sending a letter off to the palace. Mal says that he should be the one to go, that he found the stag. And to be honest for a split second I wasn’t sure that he would agree and let him go. But when he tells him that he and the other dude will ride together, I breathed a sigh of relief.
I need Alina to know that her past hasn’t deserted her, even though she’s making her way to a new life, he’s such an important part of her past that I think that she deserves that comfort of knowing he’s not forgotten her.
When they make it to the palace, they are told that the gates are closed for the night. But that’s not going to stop Mal. He knows that he needs in. He presents the letter to the guard, who laughs. The Stag is a myth, but Mal brings up a great point – there is a saint inside, that was supposed to be a myth and she’s not.
Seeing the General come face to face with Mal, I was like great. This is going to be a pissing contest, but the thing is that I am all for that. The General asks all sorts of questions and Mal stands up to him at every turn. I think that the joy of watching the both of them is that you want both of them to succeed and get what they want, but you aren’t sure exactly what that is.
The General asks Mal to mark exactly where the stag is, but Mal puts his foot down. He’ll only do that after he sees Alina. He tells Kirigan that they are friends and after a pissing contest, they agree that Mal will go to a room and if Alina verifies he is who he says he is, the General will bring her to him later.
When Mal and the person with him arrived, someone overheard them talking about the stag. Telling Baghra – she insists that the General can never get that much power. And up until now I have really loved Baghra, so I am a little concerned about what she’s thinking and what this will mean. Ugh, I want to trust the General.
But I am not sure I can.
ON DISPLAY
Who doesn’t love a good party? I do. Sure, the King and Queen are a bore, but it opens up to another moment of vulnerability. One where Alina is walking by and sees that Kirigan may need saving.
He wants her to follow protocols, but like am I the only one who sees him looking at her and thinks – it’s the way that a villain sees the girl he should be with walk into the room that does it for me.
It’s almost instinctive for the Grisha to know when to do their thing. Some of them start a fire show as a distraction, but I think if I was there, still the only thing I would be looking at is Darklina.
The way that Darklina shines, the magnet pulls between the two of them – I can’t stop watching. Her performance and the way that she is so in control and has found her confidence – it looks like a major turn on to him.
And I am screaming YASSSSSS!
But hey, what I also see is cracks. In hope, there are people that can be dangerous. And what do I mean? Look, the King’s spiritual advisor has a point – faith is a powerful thing. Alina is definitely more powerful than she realizes. Faith is a powerful and sometimes dangerous thing, which makes Alina a target and she doesn’t realize it.
But shit is about to change for me.
Ugh, I hate when things change, but I mean, shouldn’t we all expect it. That’s fandom.
Alina’s decoy, Marie, goes into the dressing room and the Conductor attacks her. Genya comes in and whoops his ass, but ends up shot. Marie asks Genya to make her bare, she doesn’t want to die with Alina’s face on. See the Conductor slashed her throat.
There is no doubt in my mind that this attack and everything going on will change everything.
And boy, my mind is right.
DON’T PISS OFF YOUR MAMA
I love a moment where everything changes and what I thought I knew, I don’t.
First, I am taken through a rollercoaster of emotions when The General and Alina go back to his office and full on make out. The sexual tension right there was enough to make my ovaries burst. We call that fandom porn.
Shadow & Bone gets it right that the most sensual of things don’t have to be full on sex. They have to be filled with tension and thought and angst and this scene with Darklina is just that. But I do also know that Kirigan has ulterior motives.
When he asks her if she’s sure, there is a knock at the door. He’s told about the attack and tells Alina that he’ll be back. He walks away and then walks back to her for another kiss. And hey, up until this point, I am all about this.
Until we find out everything.
Baghra tells Alina to come with her, that she’s trying to save her from being a slave her entire life. See, Alexander is the black heratich and he’s using Alina for one purpose – not to get rid of the fold, but to strengthen it. He knows that he needs her. He’s been alive for centuries and has done everything he can to get through and wait for her.
Baghra is his Mom.
Yes, my mind was blown too. I didn’t see that coming. Also – how cold are you as a human being that you have your Mom in a cave, while you’re in a castle. That’s just shitty.
Baghra tells Alina where to go and that she needs to wait there. She ahs Grisha that are loyal to her and will protect her until they can get her to safety. But Alina, she knows that she’s let her guard down too much and that she needs to protect herself. So she takes the other way and finds her own way out.
When the General comes back for her, she’s gone. He goes looking for her and runs into his Mom, which is like the only person that can challenge him. He obviously doesn’t like his Mama based on his tone. But I don’t like him right now. He tells his Mom that she can’t kill hope, but she can dude. Because she tells him Alina is gone and he reminds her of who he is and what he’s capable of. However, I pretty much believe that your Mama knew that dude.
And the best part of this whole thing is that Baghra believes that Mal is dead, but he overheard the entire thing.
It’s time for Malina to rise.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Get yours Jesper. I love him, so I am all for him having all the fun.
- Inej’s performance – anyone else wish that they were that flexible?
- Anyone else notice how Ben Barnes always makes sure that the General’s standing straight and his neck is elongated?
- Ppl talking about the west ravkan general not being there. He has support to succeed. The ppl are saying if the sun summoner is a success they may need to rethink allegiances. Ummm yes.
- The Kings spiritual counsel really scares me, but he’s right… faith man.
- Alina walking right out and getting in the trunk on the crows carriage… that shit right there is just poetic. But I don’t think they’ll keep her long.
