After a strong first episode, Shadow and Bone 2×02 “Rusalye” sets up the new dynamics that are set to carry the season, as it gives air to characters like Wylan and Sturmhond – as well as gives Nina a chance to actually share scenes with the Crows. The episode similarly does a good job of re-establishing the stakes, with an increased presence from the Darkling and an increased focus on Alina’s role in the war.
But the episode doesn’t take any narrative leaps, not even in the Crows storyline, which is completely made up. It was always naïve, at best, to believe the end of Season 1 was setting up an easy return to Ketterdam for Kaz, Inej and Jesper, so in that regard, the storyline makes sense. Establishing Pekka Rollins as the big bad of the Crow’s season also works, even if for book purists it is way too early.
The show especially succeeds at something it more or less failed at in season 1, which is showing, not telling. Kaz’s traumas always needed to be more than implied, and when you have Ben Barnes playing Kirigan, well, you kinda need to use him more than Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising did with the Darkling. Whether they can use this to their advantage still remains to be seen, but so far, the storyline is easy to follow as a casual fan, which works to the show’s advantage.
UNBURDENED BY GENERAL KIRIGAN
Shadow and Bone 2×02 “Rusalye” examines the duality of the relationship between Kirigan and Alina, and tries to go even deeper into his motivations. One thing the books take a while to really go into is who Kirigan was originally, and what made him do what he did. The show has always been so much better at this and having an actor of Barnes’ caliber surely helps.
But there’s no justification for him, no matter what. The show isn’t trying to “redeem” Kirigan, because he doesn’t believe he needs any sort of redemption. He’s still doing what he believes is right, and though he might have regrets about how things have turned out, or about the things he has (to him, momentarily) lost because of it, that doesn’t mean he’s going to change his mind. And if we’re being fair, there is a part of his original motivation that is right, and there’s a lot to his reasonings it’s easy to understand, if not relate to.
It all falls apart in the execution – even if he doesn’t see it. Not every person wants power more than they want love, and love isn’t the kind of thing you can be bullied into feeling. He and Alina could have had everything — except he never really loved Alina, as much as he loved the possibility of her — and her power. And if things didn’t work out, it’s not necessarily because of Mal, but because of Kirigan’s own actions. If Alina could have ever gotten over Mal and fallen in love with Kirigan, that window of opportunity has passed and though Alina is right, Kirigan envies what she and Mal share, she’s wrong in thinking he despairs. He doesn’t. He has time — or at least he thinks he does.
At the same time, Alina is naïve to think being free of Kirigan is as easy as wishing for it. Alina might be planning a future with Mal, but that future has an expiration date. And long after it expires, Kirigan will still be there, waiting …unless Alina can find a way to truly win and not just end the war, but the man who escalated it.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW IS THAT I HAVE A REASON
Kaz gets to play the ruthless barrel boss the first season didn’t really give him a chance to be in Shadow and Bone 2×02 “Rusalye,” and yet the thing about this version of Kaz, this version of Inej, and even this version of Jesper, Wylan and Nina, is that they’re starting from a very different place than we ever saw them in the books, so their dynamics are bound to be different. But deep down, what we’re seeing of their relationships is exactly the same as before.
We’re seeing Kaz trying to keep Inej close, but not too close, and Inej pushing back – not because she feels any ownership of Kaz’s secrets, but because she wants to be his partner, not just his Wraith. Kaz found some words at the end of Season 1, and from that Inej is extrapolating that Kaz does care. But she cannot go off just that forever, and she shouldn’t. This Inej still carries her trauma around, but she has also been allowed a measure of freedom the character in the books didn’t find till much later, and that coupled with a belief that there’s more to Kaz than he lets on is what enables her to ask for more.
Jesper and Wylan, on the other hand, get to a place they don’t get to until somewhere near the end of Crooked Kingdom in just two episodes, and they do it easily because the show gave them a common past to pull from. Of all the relationships, theirs is the one that has the most to gain from this decision, because if I remember one particular feeling about the two of them from the Six of Crows duology, it was a desire for more – and what the show is giving us, chemistry wise, is fantastic. Is it rushed? Again, not really if we only go off show narrative, but as a book fan the overwhelming notion is that a lot is being thrown at us, and it’s a little hard to find our footing.
Ultimately, a more thorough exploration of these character dynamics can only benefit the show – and the characters. As long as they don’t jump straight into OOC, everything else can and should work, even if the books remain the standard.
YOU NEED ME
Sturmhond is right, Alina does need him. And though we haven’t even gone into the reasons why, what he lays out for the future of Ravka, of Alina… is a vision she has been trying very hard to avoid, because in some ways, it coincides with Kirigan’s. And Alina understands that the choice to own the mantle of Saint, to step into a leadership position, well …that can only come with letting go of Mal. The two things cannot truly coexist, not for long. Mal might be her other half, but the game of politics is a ruthless one.
“You’re not just sunshine, sunshine. You’re hope for the future” Sturmhond tells her, but this doesn’t work unless she believes it and is willing to act on it. Once she gets to that point, though, she will need a partner on that path. Kirigan is obviously not an actual option. Mal isn’t either. But in Sturmhond Alina has found someone that not only gets it, sees the same future, and is willing to do what needs to be done to get there, but someone who can actually help her in the game she needs to play.
It isn’t romantic – unlike in the books, I get absolutely no romantic vibes from the two of them yet (and they were always a bit more about convenience than romance in the books, too), but that doesn’t mean it can’t work, or that this isn’t what Alina needs. Allies of all kinds are never a bad thing, right?
Things I think I think:
- Oh, another title card you say?
- “Honestly, I’m not even sure who you are.” OUCH.
- PRIVATEER.
- Sturmhond isn’t even giving me romantic vibes with Alina, just saying. It could still come, but they’re playing off the beginning of their connection as if they’re establishing a friendship, and that works.
- The Darkling sure is dramatic, and honestly, it fits the character well.
- Daisy Head’s acting is A+, she looks like she wants to kill the Darkling, even as she says what he wants her to say.
- Kaz’s flashbacks’ actually work really well.
- I thought we’d done away with Per Haskell completely, but apparently not. Not that there’s any way this is going to work out like in the books, but I’m kinda glad to see him.
- Everyone underestimates Kaz. It’s not that he’s got no instinct, it’s that he’s got nothing to lose. Or, so most people would think.
- “This body deserves a proper bed.” Well, Jesper, if you remembered Wylan, maybe you’d get one?
- Hilarious that Jesper’s biggest issue with the frame-up is that HE would NEVER shoot someone with his own gun. That’s shady.
- What is Kaz willing to destroy? Everything. Except Inej and Jesper, to be honest.
- I mean, but you should have just killed him, Kaz.
- Wylan taking a stand is hilarious. But hey, he tries.
- Hahahaha Nina figured out the office in 0.2 seconds because she’s the only one with any social skills.
- This Matthias storyline is horrible – and I realize it’s straight from the book, but I didn’t really have to READ about it, so it’s horrible.
- I guess the show is trying, with this convo between Alina and Tolya and Tamar. It sorta works, but I feel like we’re gonna need a lot more.
- If all we get to see of Sturmhond’s inventions is this little moment with weapons, I’ll be truly sad.
- So much for not killing it, Alina.
- My love for Nina knows no bounds.
- The level of TRUST required for Kaz to go off that ledge is out of this world, and he didn’t even blink.
- “I trust you because Kaz trusts you.”/ “And you trust Kaz”? TOUCHE.
- The DRAMATIC MUSIC as Pekka mentions Inej. Kaz, you ain’t as subtle as you think.
- Pekka also brings up Jesper, but Inej first.
- This dude fighting Inej is the definition of CREEPY.
- Your memory needs to be less selective, Jes.
- Your aim, as always, is perfect.
- Pure luck that everyone gets away, honestly.
- Well, that and Wylan is not nearly as useless as these guys thought he was.
- So, Alina is powered up, yay?
- But she really needs to learn to control it.
- Okay, so this is basically all Malina up to here. Barely any Sturmhond vibes, no real Darkling vibes. It’s just …Mal and Alina.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Shadow and Bone 2×02 “Rusalye”? Share with us in the comments below!
Shadow and Bone Season 2 is now available to stream on Netflix.
