Skip to main content
  • TotalFilm
  • Edge
  • Newsarama
  • Retrogamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
  1. Entertainment
  2. TV
  3. Drama Shows
  4. Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone season 2 is called an "emotional rollercoaster" in positive fan reactions

News
By Lauren Milici published 20 March 2023

Welcome back to the Grishaverse

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

The Crows in Shadow and Bone
(Image credit: Netflix)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Shadow and Bone season 2 has arrived – and everyone is crying, screaming, and throwing up.

Per Netflix, the new season sees Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) and Mal Oretsev (Archie Renaux) on General Kirigan aka The Darkling (Ben Barnes) and his seemingly indestructible new army by rallying their own powerful new allies and beginning a "continent-spanning journey to find two mythical creatures that will amplify her powers. Back in Ketterdam, a chance at a deadly heist sends the Crows once again on a collision course with the legendary Sun Summoner"  aka Alina.

Based on two bestselling YA fantasy series by Leigh Bardugo that take place in the 'Grishaverse,' the series centers on the story of young Alina Starkov, an orphan and cartographer of the Ravka nation's First Army, as she discovers she is a Grisha, a being with special gifts.

The new season was released Thursday, March 16 and is currently the number-one show on Netflix worldwide.

As is the case with most reaction round-ups, there are some (very) slight spoilers for Shadow and Bone season 2. Proceed with caution.

"Did you finish Shadow and Bone season 2 or did Shadow and Bone season 2 finish you?" one fan tweeted.

"I need a t-shirt saying 'I survived shadow and bone season 2 episode 4,'" joked another.

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

"Season 2 of Shadow and Bone is making me cry and then smile and then cry. It's an emotional rollercoaster and I don't want it to stop," a Twitter user said.

"Shadow and Bone is a comedy show first and foremost: don’t let me crying fool you into thinking otherwise," mused another.

me for eight hours straight watching shadow and bone season 2 pic.twitter.com/1oO2vB6VIVMarch 16, 2023

Me: oh nice shadow and bone season 2 I’m gonna be totally normal about this Me 15 min in: crying throwing up clawing the skin off my faceMarch 17, 2023

Many viewers praised Freddy Carter and Jessie Mei Li's performances.

"Freddy in this season was PURE GOLD. He was really born to play Kaz Brekker," said a viewer.

"The way bloody, beat up, battered Kaz Brekker is SERVING 'brick by brick, I will destroy you – oh Freddy Carter ruined LIVES with his acting and portrayal of Kaz," tweeted another.

"Everyone say thank you to Jessie Mei Li for giving us the best portrayal of Alina Starkov," one fan said. "Her journey from season 1 to the end of season 2 was so powerful."

a performance was demanded and they DELIVERED. #ShadowAndBone pic.twitter.com/DHTAjtV7NRMarch 16, 2023

#ShadowAndBone Director said "Freddy, go away", but he heard "Freddy, go slay" and we got this scene 🛐 pic.twitter.com/1OZOnvWRpnMarch 20, 2023

Some fans did appear divided on the show's deviation from the books.

"Shadow and Bone season 2 may have only scraps of the original book plot BUT I HAVE BEEN SCREAMING CRYING AND KICKING MY FEET FOR 4 HOURS STRAIGHT and chanting kiss kiss kiss every time Wesper is on the screen so you will hear no complaints from me," one viewer tweeted.

My mind after watching Eric heisser use ALL of the shadow and bone books and mixing it with new storyline for the characters which makes absolutely no sense pic.twitter.com/6FXmuBucIcMarch 17, 2023

me watching shadow and bone with my annotated copies of the books right in front of me pic.twitter.com/GcOZWNoTDzMarch 20, 2023

me watching shadow and bone with my annotated copies of the books right in front of me pic.twitter.com/GcOZWNoTDzMarch 20, 2023

Shadow and Bone season 2 is now streaming on Netflix. For more, check out our list of the best new TV shows coming in 2023 and beyond, or, check out the best Netflix shows to stream right now.

CATEGORIES
Netflix Streaming Services
Lauren Milici
Lauren Milici
Social Links Navigation
Senior Entertainment Writer

Lauren Milici is a Senior Entertainment Writer for GamesRadar+ based in New York City. She previously reported on breaking news for The Independent's Indy100 and created TV and film listicles for Ranker. Her work has been published in Fandom, Nerdist, Paste Magazine, Vulture, PopSugar, Fangoria, and more.

Latest in Drama Shows
Jamie Bell as Niall and Richard Gadd as Ruben in Half Man
Baby Reindeer creator's upcoming show gets new look featuring his drastic physical change
 
 
Rachel Weisz as M. in erotic thriller Vladimir
Rachel Weisz's new Netflix thriller is one of the streamer's biggest flops of the year so far
 
 
Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby riding a horse in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man director explains how the Netflix movie differs from the show
 
 
Peaky Blinders – one of the best Netflix shows
The Peaky Blinders spin-off show has started filming, with leaked set pictures ushering the franchise into a new era
 
 
Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan in Beef season 2
Season 2 of hit Netflix show with 98% Rotten Tomatoes score unveils its White Lotus-esque first trailer
 
 
Jamie Lee Curtis in The Bear
Jamie Lee Curtis says The Bear is ending with season 5 but admits she may have "completely blown" the announcement
 
 
Latest in News
Chained Echoes
Creator of acclaimed retro-style RPG Chained Echoes prepares a lawsuit against physical game publisher
 
 
Palworld
"Palworld is going to be the survival crafting game everyone always wanted" after 1.0, says Pocketpair publishing lead
 
 
A screenshot of the upcoming PS5 game, Ghost of Yotei.
Ghost of Yotei devs "really enjoy watching people die" to superboss Takezo the Unrivaled, but know you loathe him
 
 
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Gustave in a French-inspired outfit
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you": Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 writer is tight-lipped about the RPG series' future
 
 
Invincible season 4
Invincible creator Robert Kirkman says fans will "finally get what they're asking for" with the introduction of Thragg
 
 
Tim Roth as Beckett reading with his feet on a desk in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man villain Tim Roth starred in The Incredible Hulk to "embarrass" his kids
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Donkey Kong punching through rocks in Donkey Kong Bananza
    1
    Donkey Kong Bananza devs want to make sure Mario and DK's games feel different
  2. 2
    Creator of acclaimed retro-style RPG Chained Echoes prepares a lawsuit against physical game publisher
  3. 3
    Nacon just unveiled the RIG R5 Spear Max HD headset, and I'm ecstatic the snap-lock feature is here to stay
  4. 4
    "Palworld is going to be the survival crafting game everyone always wanted" after 1.0, says Pocketpair publishing lead
  5. 5
    Ghost of Yotei devs "really enjoy watching people die" to superboss Takezo the Unrivaled, but know you loathe him

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...