Shadow and Bone
On April 23rd, 2021, Netflix premiered its live-action adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s debut novel, Shadow and Bone, the first book in a suite of Grishaverse trilogies and duologies. When casting revealed that five of Bardugo’s titular Six of Crows—itself taking up 2nd place over on this year’s Books List—would be making an appearance, the forthcoming series began to feel delightfully like fanfic of the Grishaverse and its characters, rather than a straight-up adaptation. And if there’s one thing we all love here on Tumblr, it’s a good fic.
The Hype
As if you weren’t already primed to be hyped about the show—demonstrated perhaps most powerfully by the proliferate fan casting of Ben Barnes as the Darkling—the news that he initiated contact with his considerably younger colleagues using the classic “How do you do, fellow kids” meme set the scene for what was to come.
In February, almost three months before the show premiered, Shadow and Bone hit the weekly TV Shows list on Fandom at a very respectable #10. In March, the show reemerged at #2 and oscillated up and down the list until its premiere when it crowned the TV Shows list and entered Week In Review at #2. To celebrate, you asked Jessie Mei Li and Archie Renaux about working with live goats and horses, method acting, the vibes of Darklina, and Alina and Mal’s theme songs.
As soon as the show hit our screens, the fandom produced an astounding array of characters-as-text-post-assemblages, GIF-sets, incorrect quotes GIF-sets (reader, many GIFs were made) to complement its eight episodes. And so, we savored the Shadow and Bone experience long after we’d all watched General K dismount mid-gallop and come to Alina’s rescue or the blossoming of looks between Fedyor and Ivan, again and again. And again.
This Year in Review, the show ranks 8th on our TV Shows list, while on the Celebs list, Ben Barnes appears at #14. Freddy Carter (Kaz) debuts at a solid #48, Jessie Mei Li (Alina) at #65, and Amita Suman (Inej) at #70. Given that we’ve grouped, loosely termed “all famous people,” of all genders no less, in one list, this means you’ve all been screaming about your faves. A lot.
The Heart is an Arrow (yes, this is where we talk about the ships)
Well, now, let’s see. We’ve got enemies with benefits Darklina, the somewhat contested shipping of the Darkling (General Kirigan in the show), and sun-summoner Alina. We’ve got the excruciating slow burn that is Kanej, yet to come to its full fruition in the series (but we all know what those stolen looks mean, goddammit). Then there’s the playful melting of one Fjerdan heart that is Helnik (Nina and Matthias). So, whether you’re a fan of Fjerdan reserve or like to imagine Inej making Kaz squirm with her wide-eyed sincerity, the ships game is strong with this one. From incorrect quotes to (you guessed it) more GIF-sets, there’s something here for everyone. And, despite Jesper’s spicy tumble with the stableboy and the introduction of his emotional support Milo, the question on the book fandom’s fingertips since April 23rd, 2021, has been WHERE’S THE MERCHLING, PLEASE, @netflix??