Shadow and Bone (2021)
Shadow and Bone (2021) is a fantasy television series based on The Grishaverse novels by Leigh Bardugo. The series takes place in a war-torn world where dark forces conspire to cover the earth in shadow. The story follows Alina Starkov, a young soldier who discovers a power that could unite her country, but she must navigate the dangers of both political intrigue and mystical forces.
Set in the kingdom of Ravka, the show explores themes of power, identity, betrayal, and the struggle between light and darkness. The series blends high fantasy, adventure, and romance, drawing from Bardugo’s expansive world-building and richly developed characters.
The story of Shadow and Bone begins with Alina Starkov (played by Jessie Mei Li), a humble orphan and cartographer in the First Army of Ravka. When she and her best friend, Mal Oretsev (Archie Madekwe), are sent on a dangerous expedition to cross the Shadow Fold—a dark, monster-infested wasteland that divides the nation—Alina unexpectedly unlocks an immense power within herself. She discovers that she is the Sun Summoner, a rare Grisha capable of summoning light, and her ability could be the key to saving Ravka from its long-standing conflict.
Alina is taken to the prestigious Little Palace, home to the Grisha, an elite order of magical people who wield elemental powers. There, she trains under the mysterious Darkling (Ben Barnes), a charismatic and enigmatic leader who reveals his own ambitions to use Alina’s power to destroy the Shadow Fold and reshape the world. As Alina navigates this new world, she discovers the complexities of the Grisha’s politics, alliances, and dark secrets.
Meanwhile, Mal searches for Alina, determined to protect her from the dangers of the palace and the people who would use her power for their own gain. Alina finds herself torn between her feelings for Mal and the growing, complex connection with the Darkling, whose motives are increasingly unclear.
The show also introduces a secondary plotline featuring the Crows, a group of notorious criminals from the city of Ketterdam. Led by the roguish Kaz Brekker (Freddy Carter), the Crows are hired to pull off a dangerous heist, and their story eventually intertwines with Alina’s, bringing together the two seemingly separate worlds.