With big broad fantasy universes like that of the Grishaverse, an author can get carried away in the fine details. The historical epics of kings, the minutiae of the magic system, and the thousand finicky relationships between one nation and another can bog down the story. Shadow and Bone cuts through all that by keeping its focus squarely on the principal characters and their personal struggles.
Episode 3 "Like Calls to Like" was penned by one of the show's producers, Donna Thorland. Thorland has worked on previous Netflix series with production and writing credits on shows like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. She is credited as producer on the entire season, but this episode is the only one with her name on the script.
Episode 3 finds Alina Starkov flush with power and triumph after successfully slaying the Sea Whip. Despite being unable to capture the beast, she's earned the increase in power that its death grants. Alina, Mal, and the privateer Sturmhond take to the sky with the power of a flying ship of his own invention. Though Alina feels much more capable, her first attempt to destroy the Fold ends in disaster. Memories flood into her mind, she's unable to use the full breadth of her gifts as she intended. Once the ship makes landfall, Alina quickly discovers that her supposed savior Sturmhond isn't the man she thought he was. It's a strange twist that somewhat pays off aspects of the growing tension. After all, with The Darkling sequestered in the C-Plot, someone's got to make up the third point of the love triangle.
When it isn't primarily about boys battling each other for the hand of chosen one, the Crows continue their assault on Pekka Rollins's empire. Kaz Brekker's single-minded pursuit of vengeance finally comes with a name, as most of his crew begins to doubt his leadership. Kaz has always been a dangerous business partner, but after each member of the crew suffers an ambush, their once-steady trust begins to wane. While he's still promised to bring Nina to see her beloved Matthias, he finally informs his crew that his quest for revenge is motivated by an old wound. Kaz seeks new help in the strangest of places, forced to fight his way out as the Barrel turns against him. Inej hunts down the man that failed to capture her. Jesper and Wylan find a new heist to occupy themselves. As always, the Crows' B-Plot remains the most action-packed and the most viscerally satisfying.
Speaking of losing faith in dangerous leaders, the Grisha gathered by Kirigan have begun to notice that their leader is becoming unhinged. While The Darkling has always been a force for evil to most, he can be considered a savior to those who have been oppressed. Unfortunately, he's also a mad godlike autocrat whose desire to free his people seems to come second to his desire to rule with an iron fist. After the first two episodes spent a bit of time making Kirigan feel like a human being, his continued decline into outright madness is depicted from the perspective of the people who serve him. It's an effective bit of horror mixed in with the action. Most of the Grisha are portrayed as refugees struggling to find a place that won't immediately try to cage or kill them, and it's sad to see them betrayed again. Kirigan's lies never seem to last long, but they certainly rope in their targets every time. As The Darkling's army withers and his rage grows, it'll be interesting to see how he remains the central threat of the series.
Among the many disparate plot threads, Shadow and Bone finds interesting ways to pull and tie up loose ends within only a few episodes. Individual characters carry arcs that feel like they could hold up entire seasons of decent TV, but this series manages to wrap them up satisfyingly in quick succession. The show is happy to provide elements for every kind of viewer, but it never shies away from its key selling points. The strongest part of Shadow and Bone is still its strong characterization. It's hard not to care about what's going on in each new adventure when the series makes viewers love its heroes and hate its villains. Even if one plot is better-handled than others, it all works best in concert.
Shadow and Bone takes a lot of elements from other fantasy worlds, but its unique blend is something that one couldn't get anywhere else. Strategic marriages as love triangle angst, a betrayal-laden crime drama with magical thieves, and a would-be savior turning toward evil are all familiar storytelling structures. But, how many shows can claim to deliver a good version of each of them with enough room left over for plenty of action and comedy? Shadow and Bone isn't unique in its ingredients, but its finished product is special.