Just a reminder:
Star system for book to film adaptions:
1st star - The Story - Does it stay true to the books?
2nd star - Acting - Casting and Chemistry between actors
3rd star - Cinematography - Was it shot well? Do any shots add more to the story?
4th star - CGI/Costuming/Props - Did they bring the book to life? Is it how you imagined?
5th star - Binge-Worthy?
EPISODE SEVEN
The Unsea
Darkling flashback makes darkling more understandable. After living that way, why wouldn't he want to save his people? Obviously there is that craving for power though that ultimately overrides it.
Inej and Jespers friendship 😍
The poor stag :(
Omg kazzzzzz
Those antlers look so uncomfortable. Like, I kinda want to gag.
"You could have made me your equal, but you made me this.". "Fine. Make me your villian.". Excellent fucking acting. Both of them. Top notch.
No mourners. No funerals. ♥️
This was a great episode. We get a little bit of Darkling history, we get to see lots of the baby crows, and some amazing acting in emotional scenes. That "Make me your villian" scene was amazing, and I got all the feels when we get to hear "No mourners. No funerals." My only issue, is the CGI could have been a touch better. It's Netflix. The stag could have looked WAY better.
EPISODE EIGHT
No Mourners
Ughhhhh Matthias and Nina
Oh Aleksandr. Like most villians, they start off with good intentions, and then get sucked into an obsession with power. I have always hoped for a redemption for him, in the books, but Ben Barnes does such an excellent portrayal of the Darkling, that I don't feel that lingering hope for redemption.
Zoya saving Inej, and Inej saving her.
Kaz fucking Brekker saving Inej from volcra. With his cane. My fucking heart.
"The stag chose me."
That fight between Mal and the Darkling was great. Just physical fighting. Delicious.
"I need you.". Oh Kaz. INEJ DON'T BREAK HIS HEART!
"The deal is the deal."
Jesper listing what they learned made me laugh
5 baby crows are on a ship! 5 baby crows!
The show ends with us getting a sneak peek at the darklings new shadow beasts. Very cool.
This was a great finale to the season, and left a lot open for the next. Lots of emotional moments (I got a little weepy over Nina and Matthias's storyline), some Kaz/Inej moments that were bliss, and a touch of humor with Jesper. There is even a little bit of set up with Zoya's future storyline. I still believe the CGI could have been better (when the Darkling pulled Inej's knife out of his chest, the CGI blood was odd), and again, the CGI with the stag was awful, but it was brilliantly done with the volcra.
OVERALL RATING FOR THE SEASON
I have looked at each episode rating to get this score.
The Story - Does is stay true to the books? - Overall I am going to give this one full star. The only change that I disliked was Alina having her scar removed. It's such a small change, that overall I am not letting it affect the rating. Obviously the Crows characters is a change, since they have been blended into Shadow and Bone, but it was done flawlessly, and kept true to the characters, so that also doesn't affect my scoring.
Acting and Chemistry - This is a full star for me as well. Not once did I feel like they made a casting mistake, or the chemistry between the actors being off. The casting for this show is fucking brilliant, and everyone worked together flawlessly.
Cinematography - Was it shot well? Did it add more to the scene? - This is also a full star for me. The camera work was great, and did a wonderful job immersing me into the Grishaverse, and these characters.
CGI/Costuming/Props - This is a half star for me. The Costuming was better than I imagined, and the props brought the time period to life. Special items, like Kaz's crow cane, Jesper's guns, Inej's knives, Genya's tailoring kit, and the Darkling's carriage were top notch. Why is loses some points is the CGI with the stag. What was that? The Volcra were done well, why wasn't the stag?
Is it bingeworthy? - This is also getting a half star from me. I am not sure if reading the books jaded me, but I didn't feel the need to immediately go on to the next episode. Perhaps its because I wasn't a huge fan of the Shadow and Bone books. My big interests in the show were the Darkling (come on. Ben freaking Barnes.), and our Crow's characters. I'm hoping with the next season (still not confirmed) with the addition of Sturmhond, Shadow and Bone will be interesting enough to hold me. Now that I think about it, reading the books DID jade me. But I think there should have been more, small adjustments to make it more interesting. Make Alina and Mal more ... interesting? The Darkling and the Crows have depth, and it kept me hooked ... but in Shadow and Bone, shouldn't Alina be the interesting one? And that is no shade toward Jessie Mei Li. She was a brilliant Alina, and the girl can act. I'm shading the character though. I hope they make some tweaks to make Alina ... more. They did for Mal, after all! The show shouldn't be carried by characters that technically are not even in the Shadow and Bone trilogy.
