The second season of Netflix's Shadow and Bone is quickly approaching, with new trailers and a release date of March 16, 2023. Season 2 will introduce a whole host of new characters, and will see the characters audiences already know and love in new situations as they continue to try and save the world from the Darkling's hold. One of the interesting things that the story explores is the Grisha, and how they are perceived and fit into the rest of the world of Ravka and beyond.
Grisha are a major part of the world in Shadow and Bone, and in the show, the storyline about Alina and the Darkling is focused on Grisha powers. However, the Six of Crows part of the show focuses on a different part of the world, more of the criminal underbelly than magical beings. That being said, the Grisha are still influential to the Crows, and a couple of them even have those powers themselves. They're not just criminals and thieves, some of them are part of the magical fabric of the world as well.
What Are The Grisha?
In Shadow and Bone, the Grisha are those who practice the "Small Science" by manipulating natural elements. In this way, their powers are framed as a science rather than strictly magic, as most cannot create elements out of nothing and have to use what's actually around them. When a young Grisha discovers that they have powers, they are sent off to the Little Palace to train and become part of the Second Army, which is the branch of the Ravkan military that is made up of Grisha. Most Grisha can only control one element and are sorted into orders to differentiate their power sets.
There are the Corporalki, who control the human body, and they are divided into the three subsections of Healers (who can manipulate the body to treat injuries and illnesses), Heartrenders (who can manipulate the body in order to cause harm - to stop someone's heart or breathing, or example), and Tailors (who can alter the features and appearance of the body). The next order is the Etherealki, or the Summoners, who control the natural elements. Their three subsections are Squallers (who control the air by raising and lowering air pressure and can manipulate the winds), Inferni (who can summon combustible gases and use a flint to start and then control fires), and the Tidemakers (who have control over water).
Lastly, there are the Materialki, or Fabrikators, who have control over physical materials like metals and textiles, and consists of Durasts (who can manipulate solids like metals, textiles, or glass to create new inventions) and Alkemi (who can manipulate chemicals and blasting powders). A lot of the main characters in Shadow and Bone are Grisha, including Zoya Nazyalensky, who is a Squaller, and David Kostyk, who is a Durast. The Darkling and Alina technically belong to the order of Summoners, despite being the only ones who have their powers, because they are able to manipulate the dark and light respectively.
Are The Crows Grisha?
Not all of the Crows are Grisha, and in fact, most of them have no magical abilities. However, there are two members who are able to practice the Small Science, and it's quite helpful to the group in various situations. The first character that is obviously Grisha is Nina Zenick, who is a Heartrender. Her character is introduced to the audience as such, and her powers are indispensable to the Crows. Her powers also shift slightly as the series goes on, and it leads to her exploring an area of the Heartrender abilities that no one else had ever managed before, but it may be a while before that shows up in the TV show.
The other Grisha in the group has not actually been revealed in Shadow and Bone, so this is a spoiler warning for anyone who has not read the book series and still wants to be surprised (though it was definitely hinted at in the show). The other Crow who is a Grisha is actually Jesper Fahey, the sharpshooter himself. Jesper is a Fabrikator, a Durast specifically, so he can manipulate materials. However, he is untrained, which means that his powers are a little weak, though he does use them on occasion throughout the book series. This fact about him isn't revealed right away, as it's not something he's upfront about. Jesper's powers may be part of the reason why he's such a good marksman, as he is able to control the direction of the bullets (probably subconsciously, most of the time). At one point in the series, he is able to shoot around a corner without even seeing his target by manipulating the bullet.
Has Shadow and Bone Shown Their Powers?
Nina's powers have been on full display, as she uses them to fight off attackers and also save Matthias's life when they are shipwrecked in Fjerda together. It's a major part of her character, so yes, it has been seen on screen at this point. Jesper's powers, however, have not yet been revealed to the audience, so only book fans know about them at this point. There were a few nods toward his identity throughout the first season, particularly the scene where he is shooting in between hanging sheets, as it seems like he is able to find his mark without even really being able to see, and can shoot at strange angles. Future seasons of the show will likely explore this more, as it's important to his character, so it will be interesting to see whether or not they expand on Jesper's abilities in Season 2.