Warning! SPOILERS for Shadow and Bone season 2!
While the Shadow and Bone series is full of characters sporting powerful and supernatural abilities, leading viewers to suspect this may be why Jesper Fahey’s (Kit Young) sharpshooting abilities are so strong. Jesper’s talent with firearms has come in handy for both him and his gang in several instances throughout Shadow and Bone, allowing him to protect himself and the Crows from monsters and other gangsters that wish them harm. This has led some to question whether Jesper’s talents were supernatural or not, given that he lives in a world populated with Grisha. Now, Shadow and Bone season 2 has officially confirmed how his sharpshooting is so prodigious.
Shadow and Bone is set in a world where people, known as Grisha, can be born with the ability to practice the “Small Science” of affecting the world at the molecular level. One of the main Grisha categories is the Materialki in Shadow and Bone, or Fabrikators, who can manipulate matter and materials. A subdivision of this group is the Durasts, who can manipulate solid materials, such as metal and glass. Meanwhile, Jesper’s sharpshooting abilities are demonstrated many times throughout Shadow and Bone, including instances where he’s fended off Volcra in the Shadow Fold, shot a coin out of the air, and out-gunned a rapid-fire weapon.
Jesper's Durast Powers & History In Shadow & Bone
In Shadow and Bone season 1, Jesper’s marksmanship is never hinted at being anything more than typical, albeit incredible, skill and talent. But Shadow and Bone season 2 has confirmed that Jesper is a Durast; a Fabrikator who can manipulate matter. Although his abilities are largely untrained, he has still been able to transform and fix objects without the use of tools, including Kaz Brekker’s (Freddy Carter) cane and the ring he changes into a key so he and Kaz can escape Pekka Rollins. Even more so, Jesper can subtly use his abilities to direct the flight of his bullets, granting him the impeccable aim that most gunslingers are not able to achieve.
However, despite his potential with his Durast powers in Shadow and Bone, Jesper chooses not to use them actively because of his past. The sharpshooter grew up in Novyi Zem on a farm, where his mother was a Fabrikator as he was. She taught him how to shoot, and he learned a bit about his abilities from her. However, after she died using her powers to save another, Jesper’s father advised that he hide his abilities, which Jesper did. It’s not clear whether his reasoning was to avoid persecution as a Grisha or to save Jesper from dying like his mother, but either way, Jesper hides his powers in Ketterdam.
Why Jesper Hiding His Durast Powers Was Dangerous
Although Shadow and Bone is understandable, it has had a dangerous impact on his life. In Shadow and Bone, when Grisha suppress their power, it tends to turn inward and make them sick. This is true for Jesper as well, although he does not become physically ill. Instead, his refusal to use his powers actively manifests as an intense buildup of energy within him, resulting in his impulsivity and constant search for thrills and action.
It's for this reason that Jesper’s gambling addiction is so potent, as it is a manifestation of his repressed abilities. While his love of gambling might still be present even if he consistently used his abilities, it would not be as difficult to manage it as it is. As it stands, the gunslinger is still at his calmest after a shootout, when Shadow and Bone's Jesper has had the chance to utilize his powers, or when he can find another way to expel his energy.
What Happens Next For Jesper In Shadow & Bone
With Jesper’s powers revealed, at least to Kaz, he could develop them further when he’s not busy fighting for his life. After all, the Crows quickly become embroiled in a struggle against Pekka Rollins (Dean Lennox Kelly), and Jesper is still invested in Alina’s safety as well. On the brighter side, Jesper and Wylan begin a relationship once Jesper returns, a fact that is mirrored in the original novels. Later in the books, Wylan and Jesper are staying together, and there is evidence that Jesper is honing his abilities, suggesting he could have a more stable life with the Crows after season 2 and the events of Shadow and Bone.