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Shadow and Bone

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews

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69

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 90 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	Your Score
7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 90 Ratings

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Shadow And Bone: Behind The Action

Now Playing: Shadow And Bone: Behind The Action

Shadow and Bone

Series Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date: April 23, 2021

Summary: Young soldier Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) discovers she has a power that could free her country but first she must learn how to use it while avoiding those who seek to stop her in this series based on Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse novels.

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy

Recent Episodes

No episode information is currently available for this season

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

69

Positive:

19

Mixed:

11

Negative:

0

Critic Reviews

91

Collider Liz Shannon Miller

Apr 21, 2021

Season 1 Review: That's the real magic trick a show like this has to pull off — creating a universe that feels fresh to newcomers, without alienating them or feeling too confusing. Like so many things in life, the key ingredient turns out to be the people involved. And in the case of both the fictional characters and the cast and crew, the people of Shadow and Bone deliver. Read full review

90

TV Guide

Andrea Reiher

Apr 21, 2021

Season 1 Review: It is the rich cast of characters and excellent world-building that make Shadow and Bone worth sticking with after a bit of a slow start that's admittedly due to the ambition of the project. Read full review

80

The Daily Beast Laura Bradley

Mar 16, 2023

Season 2 Review: Shadow and Bone Season 2 rewards those who take the time to find their footing with a high fantasy adventure for the ages. There’s a slew of new characters on deck here—most delightfully, a merry band of privateers—but even more enticing are the increasingly fraught bonds between our central characters. Read full review

70

Decider

Joel Keller

Mar 16, 2023

Season 2 Review: We complain about how impenetrable the world of Shadow And Bone is, but we also know that the story is an enjoyable adventure. We just wish things were a hair easier to follow. Read full review

63

USA Today

Kelly Lawler

Apr 23, 2021

Season 1 Review: As "Shadow" unfolds, it's frustrating to see the rushed and haphazard way in which the world is built and the characters are introduced. Every bit of exposition feels incomplete. I can see the holes in the plots and characterization, and my knowledge of the books easily fills them in. But summer reading can't be required for a TV show. It's not until midway through the season that things start to fall into place for novice viewers. Read full review

60

Empire Ben Travis

Sep 20, 2021

Season 1 Review: Some elements are overly familiar and others overly confusing, but Shadow And Bone will draw you into the Fold with its absorbing world-building and engaging lead duo. Read full review

40

Vox.com

Aja Romano and Constance Grady

Apr 26, 2021

Season 1 Review: Shadow and Bone fails to deliver any of the charm and emotional engagement of a Game of Thrones (when that show was at its best), or even a Winx Saga (which is objectively terrible, but in an enjoyably ridiculous way). Again and again, Shadow and Bone forces unearned story beats and melodrama. Its character-building is lackluster; its worldbuilding is mostly incoherent, and its script careens from one-liner to one-liner without much substance in between — all while the weak writing torpedos the efforts of its talented cast. Read full review

SEE ALL 30 REVIEWS

Write a Review

7.3

User Reviews

10

Alofi

Apr 26, 2021

This was an absolutely brilliant adaptation! The actors were casted perfectly and you can clearly see they all had a ton of fun embodying their characters. This show was definitely created with a lot of love and passion and because of that I'm more than okay with overlooking a couple ofThis was an absolutely brilliant adaptation! The actors were casted perfectly and you can clearly see they all had a ton of fun embodying their characters. This show was definitely created with a lot of love and passion and because of that I'm more than okay with overlooking a couple of small nitpicks.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

10

chanelle__x

Apr 24, 2021

The definition of perfect casting. Freddy Carter played an amazing Kaz, Kit Young as Jesper? SPOT. ON. Ben Barnes as the darkling? SPEECHLESS. Mal deserves the world and Archie Renaux gave it to him. Jessie Mei Li did an incredible job playing Alina. Leigh adding the six of crows charactersThe definition of perfect casting. Freddy Carter played an amazing Kaz, Kit Young as Jesper? SPOT. ON. Ben Barnes as the darkling? SPEECHLESS. Mal deserves the world and Archie Renaux gave it to him. Jessie Mei Li did an incredible job playing Alina. Leigh adding the six of crows characters into the shadow and bone timeline was genius and she did such a great job. She included iconic lines from the books, and gave us scenes she knew the fans would want. The world building / magic system was spectacular. The chemistry between all of the different love interests *chefs kiss*!!! I can't wait for Nikolai to get casted. I NEED SEASON 2 ASAP!!… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

10

acosola

Sep 11, 2021

Shadow and Bone was a fantastic show. The plot line and characters immediately grabbed your attention and brought tears as well as laughter to the audience. This show combined human and unnatural beings and was able to keep your focus the whole time. This show brought a never seen beforeShadow and Bone was a fantastic show. The plot line and characters immediately grabbed your attention and brought tears as well as laughter to the audience. This show combined human and unnatural beings and was able to keep your focus the whole time. This show brought a never seen before combination with elements from Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. I am excited for season 2 and cannot wait to see what is in store.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

8

viroodiem

Apr 25, 2021

First and foremost this is a good show. That said it comes off as a great show. Not because it is great, but because it comes in the middle of a TV drought in the month of April 2021. If you stack this against other months where there are 2-5 good shows running, it illustrates is a good showFirst and foremost this is a good show. That said it comes off as a great show. Not because it is great, but because it comes in the middle of a TV drought in the month of April 2021. If you stack this against other months where there are 2-5 good shows running, it illustrates is a good show and might even be at the head of its respective pack. But definitely not something above a good show.

The show feels like the illegitimate love child between Anna Karenina and Final Fantasy or The Last Airbender or something of a similar vein with an emphasis on elemental style magic, A looming evil, Huge monsters and a battle between light and dark magic. All done with a well made steampunk aesthetic that is not too overwhelming that it becomes tedious.

The writing is much wht you would expect for a YA translation. It does a good job of crafting likable heroes and even anti-heroes. It is however fairly predictable and does get pretty tropey at times.Even cringy how close they follow TVTropes templates for some characters. The world building here is a major strong suit. You really want to see more of this world and its fall.

The actors, although mostly fresh faces, churn in good work that elevates that writing, for the most part. The lead actress being a definite step down in quality, but it not being so glaring it hurts the production. There are a few other weak actors but again, nothing so glaring as to cause much concern after you are an episode in and can suspend disbelief.

Arguably the biggest strong suit is the visuals. Between the set pieces and costuming you can tell a LOT of budget went into it and they definitely got their moneys worth. This is one of the best looking fantasy series since Game of Thrones.

The season ended well with a satisfying conclusion and setting up a whole new season for us to anticipate. Only complaint is it being netflix and netflix style of dumping everything for it to be binged which can be great, but at the same time the audience does not get to adequately digest episodes which makes a series more memorable. With as big of a production this has to be we are likely looking at a year if not upwards of two for a second season. Shows like Altered Carbon illustrate what happens when you go too long between seasons after a season was just binged. People forget and dont care the same way when a new season returns. So hopefully netflix knew how big this was going to be and had production set up well in advance to make a second season turn around low. We shall see.

All in all I would give a 7.75 and go ahead and round up to an 8 because of it coming in the big drought and needing something good to sink teeth into.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

6

geewah

Oct 22, 2021

In what is a crowded genre, this show does nothing to push it above most.
The bones are there for a good show, but some poor casting and ordinary writing really hold it back

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

5

shag00

Jan 23, 2022

It's a bit of a hard slog watching this. Yet another show designed for young teens with lots of glitter and short on substance. This idea of an 18th century world filled with 21st century social norms takes some getting used to and detracts somewhat from the overall feel of the show. MyIt's a bit of a hard slog watching this. Yet another show designed for young teens with lots of glitter and short on substance. This idea of an 18th century world filled with 21st century social norms takes some getting used to and detracts somewhat from the overall feel of the show. My initial take was that the story was disjointed but on reflection I think it's poor directing and writing.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

1

Gargamel1991

May 4, 2021

Unless you're a hormonal teen - take a hard pass on this one. Acting - super cringy.
Story - makes about as much sense as a schizophreniacs mad ravings.
Characters - meh, very drab. Visuals - well,the visuals are very nice. Basically another high budget netflix filler series, absolutely notUnless you're a hormonal teen - take a hard pass on this one. Acting - super cringy.
Story - makes about as much sense as a schizophreniacs mad ravings.
Characters - meh, very drab.
Visuals - well,the visuals are very nice.

Basically another high budget netflix filler series, absolutely not worth your time… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

SEE ALL 25 REVIEWS

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Seasons & Episodes

69

Series Overview
Season 2

73
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: March 16, 2023
- No episode information is currently available for this season
Season 1

68
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: April 23, 2021