Shame on you, Netflix! The fantasy cancellation of Shadow and Bone is a colossal mistake

Netflix has canceled Shadow and Bone and I’m really angry. I can 100 percent understand the fans’ angry reactions to the loss of the series. Because anyone who has read the Grishaverse books by Leigh Bardugo knows that there is one here Fantasy universe crushed before its climax became. The Netflix series has spent two seasons preparing for something that will now never happen – and ends on a “twist” that promises eternal frustration.

Shadow and Bone cancellation: Netflix ruined the chance of a well-rounded fantasy ending in season 2

The second season of Shadow and Bone was released in March 2023. Netflix then kept quiet about extending or ending the fantasy series for eight months. Even if the agonizing uncertainty made me wish that Netflix would finally come clean about the cancellation, the end comes as a shock. Because it’s only now that I really realize that we… live with the Season 2 conclusion as the final ending must – and that hurts.

Even before Season 2, there were signs that a Shadow and Bone Season 3 was far from certain. Because instead of just adapting the first book like in season 1, season 2 was based on the second and third novel. This felt like a safety measure to at least conclude the first trilogy of the Grishaverse * centered around Alina (Jessie Mei Li). But instead of taking this safe path of a worthy interim conclusion, The series creators changed the end of the book to a merciless cliffhanger. Suddenly Alina and Mal’s (Archie Renaux) fate was open again.

This is more than just a missed opportunity. If Season 2 had stuck to the original, I would at least know how the story ended. In the novels, readers can find out more about King Nikolai’s mysterious infection or the end of Matthias’ imprisonment. But the books provide no answer to the unexpected twist that Alina suddenly has shadow powers. With this mystery never solved Novel and series fans alike were offended. The Netflix series basically shoves us into a dark room, destroys the light source, and throws away the key.

Double murder on Netflix: We will never see the long-prepared climax of Shadow and Bone

The fact that the spin-off Six of Crows dies with the third season of Shadow and Bone makes the fantasy misery worse. The new Grishaverse series of the gang of crows was tied to the fate of the mother series as an unborn child from the beginning. But the scripts that have already been written for Six of Crows It’s of little use to me if they disappear unused in the drawer. Included the new fantasy spin-off would have undoubtedly surpassed its parent.

For avid Grishaverse readers like me, Leigh Bardugo’s first three Shadow and Bone novels were the gateway drug. But with her two Crow books* I experienced the coming of age of her world. While Alina’s trilogy tells a fairly classic chosen one story, the crows are the exciting next step in the evolution of this fantasy world. Magical Grisha powers are no longer the focus here. Most members of the gang of thieves have to make do without psychic abilities and have to navigate a continent where magic is more dangerous than useful. But gang leader Kaz (Freddy Carter) proves as the best example that the most interesting characters don’t need light magic if they instead shine as characters with their weaknesses and wounds.

Shadow and Bone showrunner Eric Heisserer didn’t hold back from the beginning about the fact that he actually a fan of the two Crow books by Leigh Bardugo * was. He read it without knowing Alina’s trilogy beforehand and tweeted enthusiastically about it. Netflix then approached him for a Shadow and Bone film adaptation. But the Arrival screenwriter wasn’t interested in that. It wasn’t until Netflix also secured the rights to the Crow novels that they came to an agreement.

We owe Heisserer the early series introduction of the gang of thieves, who don’t even appear in Alina’s book story. The series Shadow and Bone unexpectedly gave us the prehistory of crows and introduced us to Kaz, Jesper, Inej, Matthias, Nina and Wylan as adorable three-dimensional characters. Within a very short time and quite rightly, they surpassed the actual main characters as fan favorites. That the seeds of her own adventure was already prepared in season 1 and will now never bear fruitis difficult to digest after the long fever.

A Netflix rescue of Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows is unlikely

Very few series make it past the first season on Netflix. The streaming service always mercilessly rejects new formats, as countless examples prove. Of course, like most, I hope that my own favorite series will be the exception that sets the new Netflix season record. But the 160 million hours of season 2 watched (according to Fansided) were apparently not enough for an extension given the new Netflix criteria. As one of the streamer’s many fantasy series, Shadow and Bone, in retrospect, didn’t have the best chance of getting the attention it deserved for its convincingly detailed world.

The fantasy of Shadow and Bone is an exciting long-distance run with ever-changing twists and turns. Netflix makes the mistake of only looking at the 100 meter sprint. The Grishaverse is tripped up shortly before the finish line of the first stage victory. The recently released Netflix game for Shadow and Bone, which underlined the potential of the world as an additional expansion, suddenly has a very bitter aftertaste for me.

The Petition to Save Shadow and Bone has now collected 140,000 votes. Nevertheless, I have little hope that Netflix will come to their senses and bring the big fantasy Heist of the Crows to life. Of course, like author Leigh Bardugo, I could be grateful that I at least got two seasons. This will certainly help other readers find their way into the worthwhile literary Grishaverse.

This doesn’t help my anger at the premature dismissal, no matter how often the crows use their motto “No mourning, no graves” repeat. Because such an unjust fantasy funeral can be stolen from even the most talented thieves.

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