For a television budget, Shadow and Bone - Season 1 looks cinematic. The Shadow Fold is rendered as a living, churning darkness, with volcra emerging as skeletal, bat-like nightmares. The costume design by Wendy Partridge is exceptional: Kirigan’s kefta (the embroidered Grisha coat) is pure black with silver embroidery, while Alina’s gold-and-blue kefta signals her unique status.
By the time Alina finally screams "!" (the summoning word for fire) and the season ends on a devastating cliffhanger with Mal, you won’t just want more—you’ll be ready to charge into the Fold yourself.
One of the most praised aspects of Shadow and Bone - Season 1 is its inclusion of characters from the Six of Crows duology, which takes place years after the main trilogy. The show runners made the bold decision to create a prequel storyline for these fan-favorite criminals. shadow and bone - season 1
: While Kirigan initially appears to be a mentor and romantic interest, Alina eventually discovers he is the Black Heretic who created the Fold centuries ago. Instead of destroying it, he intends to use Alina’s light to control the Fold as a weapon. The Crows and the Heist
The season’s arc sees Alina training at the Little Palace (the Grisha headquarters), learning to control her light, and navigating the politics of Grisha society. She eventually discovers Kirigan’s betrayal, resulting in a thrilling finale where she and Mal flee across the Fold, leaving Kirigan wounded but very much alive. For a television budget, Shadow and Bone -
Perhaps the most discussed aspect of Season 1 was the inclusion of the Crows. In the books, the Six of Crows gang exists two years after the events of the Shadow and Bone trilogy. The show’s decision to merge these timelines was a gamble that paid off beautifully.
The season became Netflix’s most-watched show in over 80 countries during its debut week, leading to a swift renewal for Season 2 (released in March 2023). It also introduced mainstream audiences to the term “Grishaverse” and sparked a surge in sales of Bardugo’s books. By the time Alina finally screams "
Ben Barnes delivers a masterclass in villainy (or anti-villainy, depending on your perspective). He portrays Kirigan not as a cackling tyrant, but as a weary revolutionary who believes the ends justify the means. He claims to want to destroy the Fold to save Ravka, but as the season progresses, Alina—and the audience—begins to see the cracks in his armor.