Netflix's new show "Shadow and Bone" looks to be the streaming service's next big hit. First, it tells the fantastic story of orphan Alina Starkov (Jessie Mae Lee), who discovers she has a special power to create a powerful light. Starkov then enlists in an army of like-minded psychics to fight the awakening darkness that is tearing their world apart.
And "Shadow and Bone" has a built-in audience, as it is an adaptation of a best-selling young adult novel (author: Lee Bardugo). The trailer below will show that "Shadow and Bone" has many of the other major features of popular fantasy books and film adaptations.
"Shadow and Bone" seems to have many serpentine twists and turns. After Starkov joins Grisha's army, we soon learn that they are not as noble as they seem. It seems that even the army might misuse her power.
The trailer teases that Starkov will be a singular figure in a larger story for humanity, and her magical moments in the forest, touching animals, are reminiscent of Harry Potter and Narnia.
The now-popular magical YA series may be one of the few categories where Netflix's competitor (HBO's His Dark Materials) is a hit and Netflix is not.
Lee's co-stars include Archie Renault (Marien Oletsev), Freddie Carter (Kaz Brecker), Amita Suman (Inej), Kit Young (Jesper Fahey), and Ben Barnes (General Killigan).
Shadow and Bone fans will note that the inclusion of Kaz, Amitra, and Jesper makes it clear that the show will not only adapt the main series of Bardugo's Grisha books, but also include parts of the Six of Crows spin-off world.
Netflix may not need anything, as they produce more content than anyone can possibly see. That said, with "Stranger Things" coming to an end and HBO Max stealing much of the buzz with big-budget movies, "Shadow and Bone" could be just the fantasy YA blockbuster the service needs right now. It has all the makings of a blockbuster that will keep fans waiting season after season, and we can't wait to see how it hits the public.
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