Despite its dedicated fan base and generally positive response, Netflix canceled Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse books, Shadow and Bone was one of Netflix's more ambitious undertakings. Sadly, it didn't get much of a chance to grow. The series chronicles Alina Starkov's journey as she realizes she has light-wielding abilities. Because of this, she's tasked with ridding her kingdom of the Shadow Fold, and eventually the villain who created it.
This is the narrative outlined in Bardugo's Shadow and Bone trilogy, but the series brings in elements of her other work as well. In an attempt to expand its world, the Netflix show introduces the characters from her Six of Crows duology earlier than the source material. This is one of several changes made to Bardugo's books, and it's actually handled well. The Crows are seamlessly integrated into Alina's narrative, allowing viewers to know them ahead of their own story. And Shadow and Bone set the stage for their heist, but its cancellation makes it unlikely to happen.
Netflix Renewing Shadow & Bone Would Have Led To An Even Better Series Being Made
The Series Was Building To A Six Of Crows Spinoff
Shadow and Bone season 2's ending offers a decent enough conclusion to General Kirigan's story (albeit one that's different from the books), it leaves questions about what becomes of Alina, Mal, and the other characters. However, it's not just Shadow and Bone season 3 that viewers are missing out on after Netflix's cancellation. There's also the Six of Crows spinoff.
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Showrunner Eric Heisserer told Entertainment Weekly that they were planning to create a spinoff series centered on the Crows. This is also something Shadow and Bone was clearly building to. It makes sense, given that Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom take place after Bardugo's original story. And with the characters already cast and the world-building finished, jumping from the main series to an adaptation of the duology would have been an easy feat.
With the framework in place, it's likely the Six of Crows series would have been even better than Shadow and Bone, too.
With the framework in place, it's likely the Six of Crows series would have been even better than Shadow and Bone, too. It wouldn't need to spend so much time finding its footing, nor would viewers need to acclimate themselves to the world. And considering the Six of Crows books are better reviewed than the Shadow and Bone novels (via Goodreads), there's a good chance the spinoff series would improve on the original as well. It could even have become one of Netflix's greatest fantasy shows, especially if it stuck to the source material.
A Six Of Crows Adaptation Was Poised To Become One Of Netflix's Greatest Fantasy Shows
The Books' Popularity & Strengths Would Have Helped It Stand Out
Netflix doesn't have the greatest track record with fantasy shows, as many are canceled after just a season or two. However, Six of Crows could've been one of the streamer's strongest additions to the genre, especially if it closely followed Bardugo's books. The complicated but lovable characters, heist narrative, and backdrop all allow Six of Crows to stand out among other fantasy novels, making it difficult to find many similar stories. And these strengths would make a TV series just as compelling and memorable, ensuring it snagged viewers' attention.
The popularity of Bardugo's books speaks volumes about the spinoff's potential, and the momentum from Shadow and Bone would have helped boost the excitement surrounding such a series. The original show being established also means that Six of Crows already had the perfect cast and a viewership it could count on, which makes it doubly disappointing that Netflix didn't capitalize on its potential.
Netflix Already Had The Perfect Cast & Audience For Six Of Crows
It Feels Like Shadow And Bone's Actors Were Made For These Roles
In addition to having great source material to draw from, a Six of Crows series already had the perfect cast and a built-in audience, setting it up for success. Across the board, Shadow and Bone's cast was one of the highlights of the series, with each of the actors embodying their character with ion and accuracy. Indeed, it's hard to envision anyone else stepping into so many of the series' roles. From Jessie Mei Li as Alina to Ben Barnes as General Kirigan, it feels like the Netflix show's stars were made for their parts.
This sentiment feels the most accurate looking at the Crows, all of whom feel like they're pulled straight from the pages of Bardugo's duology.
And this sentiment feels the most accurate looking at the Crows, all of whom feel like they're pulled straight from the pages of Bardugo's duology. Amita Suman captures Inej's quiet strength impressively, while Kit Young perfectly delivers on Jesper's signature charm and humor. Freddy Carter even succeeds at conveying the nuances of Kaz Brekker, which is no easy feat. Danielle Galligan and Calahan Skogman bounce off one another as the exuberant Nina and too-serious Matthias, and Jack Wolfe impresses as Wylan, despite getting less screen time than the rest.
8 Shadow And Bone Storylines That Will Never Be Resolved After Its Cancellation
The cancellation of Shadow and Bone means that storylines including budding romances, new leadership, and dangerous curses will never be resolved.
With such a perfect cast, it's a shame that Six of Crows will probably never get made. And the actors' excitement about the project and their chemistry with one another would have elevated the series while delivering on the best parts of the books. Netflix could have had two great fantasy series, spinning a franchise that gets better with each new addition. Instead, Shadow and Bone will now go down as one of its biggest disappointments.
The Streamer Giving Up On Shadow And Bone Is One Of Its Biggest Disappointments
There have been many disappointing Netflix cancellations over the years, but the streamer giving up on Shadow and Bone will forever be one of its saddest decisions. While the series hit a few snags in season 2, it remained one of the better modern fantasy shows to emerge on the heels of Game of Thrones. It stood out against other projects in the genre, and it captured the heart of Bardugo's books, something not all adaptations accomplish.
The fact that we could have gotten a Six of Crows series makes Shadow and Bone's fate even more disappointing, as the second show would almost certainly have sured the first. This would have led to one of Netflix's greatest fantasy series, as well as one of the best fantasy TV franchises of recent years. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like Netflix will backtrack on its decision to ax Shadow and Bone, so we'll be left to imagine what that could've looked like.
Source: Entertainment Weekly, Goodreads
Shadow and Bone
- Release Date
- 2021 - 2023-00-00
- Showrunner
- Eric Heisserer
- Directors
- Mairzee Almas, Lee Toland Krieger, Jeremy Webb, Bola Ogun, Karen Gaviola, Laura Belsey, Dan Liu
Cast
Kit Young
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Eric Heisserer, Vanya Asher, Daegan Fryklind, Shelley Meals, Christina Strain, M. Scott Veach, Donna Thorland, Erin Conley, Nick Culbertson
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