Let’s Break Down the Heartbreaking ‘Shadow and Bone’ Season 2 Finale
Even though we had to wait over a year for the big return of Shadow and Bone on our screens, it honestly didn't take us that long to finish it all. But with all these brand new characters, different plot points, and various heartbreaking moments, it's safe to say that you might have missed an important moment or two while watching the big season 2 finale. Luckily, we have the big breakdown that you're looking for, in case rewatching is too painful—depending on what happened to your favorite character—or if you're already trying to figure out what is going to happen next in season 3!
Here is the ultimate recap of Shadow and Bone's season 2 finale.
Mal! The Darkling! Alina! I need answers!
Thankfully they didn't end it on episode 7 or else we all would be storming up Netflix's offices to find out what would happen next! The finale of season 2 jumps right into everything after the Fold expanded and everyone basically got ambushed. As all our favorite characters start to come together, the Fold continues to take over.
While walking into the Fold, Kaz gives his cane to Nikolai who was recently injured, while Toya proceeds to reveal to everyone that Mal is the Firebird. (While prompts Jesper to go, "I'm sorry. Did you say Mal is a bird?") However, as the crew gets closer, shadows start to attack them one by one. Unfortunately for them, they don't have the Sword of Neshyenyer, which would help them kill them for good as Inej has it to help Alina, Zoya, and Nina who are also with Mal and Kirigan.
Mal, who is close to death, asks Alina to use his Firebird ability to take down the Fold once and for all. Alina asks for Nina, who was knocked down in the big showdown, but she's unresponsive. Mal gives Alina his blade and she uses it to take his life and amplify her power. Kirigan is even impressed with her power as she gets rid of all his work.
So everyone is alright now?!
Not really...even with the Fold gone, there's still one shadow monster left with the other group, so they're still kind of fighting for their lives. Since the shadows are connected to Kirigan and not the Fold, they don't entirely disappear. A few more actually show up and start attacking Inej and Zoya, who take them down with the power of the sword.
Nina finally wakes up and makes her way over to Mal. She tries to bring him back, but it's been a while, and notes that something is keeping him back on the other side. Kirigan says that Alina now knows sacrifice and she replies with, "Beyond anything you've ever known."
Even though he is close to death, Kirgian proceeds to tell Alina that while she might have saved everyone from the Fold, it doesn't mean that she has necessarily saved the world in general. He tells her, "The world doesn't need a saint to protect it, Alina. It needs a monster." Kirigan points out that without him, there would be nothing to balance her light abilities and asks her to, "Let me carry the hatred of this world."
Alina points out that the hatred only exists because of the choices that he had made, but he says that in time, she too will have to make some big decisions. Suddenly, a shadow monster comes out of Kirigan and tries to go after Alina. He tries to stop it, showing that he is no longer in control of them, and is taken down in the process. Instead, Inej uses the sword to take it down for good.
Kirigan says that at one point he believed he could control it and thinks back to when him and Alina shared a kiss. Knowing he is distracted, Alina stabs him with the Sword of Neshyenyer. He tells her, "Without me, know they will come for you." She says, "Let them come," and she takes the sword out. In his last moments, Kirigan asks her to make sure there is nothing left of him. Kirigan dies and the shadow monsters also disappear now that he's gone.
Nina continues to work on bringing back Mal and notes that something is keeping him from coming back. Alina tries to talk to him to remind him to come back to her and, in desperation, decides to use merzost despite Baghra's warnings not to do so. They're successful, but Nina and Mal look at Alina confused as to how it was possible.
Is everyone okay now?!
The groups all reunite with one another and try to process everything that happened, including those they have lost. Nikolai thanks the Crows for their help and Jesper proposes that their adventures be turned into a big story (a nod to a possible Six of Crows spin-off).
Alina meets up with Mal and he admits to her that he doesn't feel his "true north" connection with her anymore now that he's back. He starts to question whether or not they truly love each other or if it's his bloodline and the power of the Firebird that originally brought them together.
Nina tells Kaz that she refuses to give up on her happily ever after and we see Matthias ask Pekka to put him back in the fights. Meanwhile, Genya goes back to the kitchen where she last saw David, but sees no signs of his survival. As she goes through his things, she finds a ruby and a sketch for a ring, showing that he had planned to propose to her and she mourns over her love.
Everyone gathers around Kirigan's body to officially burn it as he requested. Nikolai notes that this marks a new beginning for Ravka and the whole world, even if that means new enemies.
Alina and Mal talk once again and she tells him of a special position that might suit him as he looks for a new opportunity. Though he hesitates at first because it seems like it was Nikolai's idea, he realizes that this might lead them back to each other and takes the chance to be a privateer.
Kaz and Inej finally get a moment alone together and he reveals that Nina and Matthias have received pardons. He also admits that he has been looking for her family and gives her a clue that will help her find them. After they talk about his brother a bit more, Inej questions him as to whether or not he had another dream when they were poisoned. He doesn't admit it that he also dreamed about them, but does ask her to stay in Ketterdam instead. She notes that she can't right now since his haphephobia keeps them from being physically together. Inej says, "I will have you without your armor, Kaz Brekker, or I will not have you at all."
Are they all going their separate ways?
Tolya, Tamar, Nadia, and Mal all board the flying ship together, and Nikolai officially passes on his stopwatch and the name Sturmhond to Mal. He tries to fight back and says that he doesn't feel like he could be a captain. Nikolai says that he doesn't actually have to be captain, that he just has to play the part with Tolya and Tamar lead the Volkvolny. As Inej also jumps aboard, Tolya takes her hand, which hints at something possible between the two.
Back at the Hellgate, Nina tries to submit Matthias' official pardon but is too late. Matthias initially is forced to fight two hungry wolves, but when they don't go after each other, several guards come in and he takes them down one by one. Before he is put back into prison, he sees and hears Nina and tries to go after her as the guards continue to push him back behind bars. In Ketterdam, Kaz has reopened the Crow Club and is set to make everything right again with his new fortunes. He reunites with Jesper, Wyland, and Nina and tells them that he's gotten a new offer for the most lucrative job that they'll ever take.
Nikolai is set to take over the throne and talks with one of his advisors, who warns him that setting the coronation for the same day as Hringkälla would not be good for Ravka's relations with the Fjerdens. When he's left alone again, Nikolai realizes that something is physically wrong with him. He looks in a mirror and doesn't see himself, but a shadow demon, much to his confusion. Afterwards, he visits Alina who is also getting ready for the big coronation along with Zoya and Genya, who are revealed to be her escorts.
So everything is fine now, right?!
Well...not exactly. As Nikolai is officially crowned king, Kaz reveals that the Crow's new job involves trying to take down a drug called jurda parem, which can give Grisha untold amounts of power. The Fjerdens have arrested the man who created it, which causes some concern that they can use it against Ravka and anyone they see as a threat.
In that same moment, we see one of the coronation guests take something and immediately get up. She uses her heartrending abilities and the power of the jurda parem to kill the guests, but Alina cuts her in half using shadow summoning. At first, Alina looks surprised at what happened, but the episode fades to black as she seems to put on a slightly elated face.
Wait, what happens next?!
Your guess is as good as ours! Since the show hasn't been renewed for a third season just yet, we're still waiting on info on the future of the series. At least we can always read the books to find out more!
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