LIVING THE STREAM

World of magic, monsters and war brings viewers into fantastical realm

Grace Jennings | Copy Editor

Alina Starkov holds onto her best friend for dear life, summoning light in every direction through the thick fog of The Fold, sparking her journey as the Sun Summoner. With the discovery of this magical power, she will now have to decide between her new life of power, or her old life as a simple mapmaker. Netflix’s adaptation of the novel “Shadow and Bone” introduces a fantastical world called the Grishaverse. The show takes place in a fictional realm where the nation Ravka has been split into east and west territories by “The Fold,” a dark barrier full of monsters that make it extremely dangerous to cross. West Ravka is full of wealth while East Ravka suffers from lack of supplies coming through the fold.

In this world, some humans, called Grisha, are gifted with special abilities such as summoning fire or manipulating air.

Lead actress Jessie Mei Li stars as Starkov, an orphan mapmaker whose world is turned upside down when she is discovered to be the Sun Summoner, a one-of-akind powerful Grisha who can summon pure light. Starkov is faced with stepping up to expectations and working with General Kirigan, also known as the Darkling, who is played by Ben Barnes, to

Photo courtesy of Netflix

destroy the Fold or fleeing his possible dangers to search for a magical stag with her childhood companion Oretsev, played by Archie Renaux. You may recognize Ben Barnes from another popular fantasy adaptation “The Chronicles of Narnia” where he played Prince Caspian.

During her troubles of facing her power, Starkov is being hunted by three Dregs, a band of gang members who seek to kidnap her for a bountiful reward. The leader Kaz Brekker, played by Freddy Carter, is an expert thief and owner of The Crow Club who works to make money through underhanded jobs.

Amita Suman plays Inej Ghafa, a member of the Dregs who is a skilled spy and assassin who can slip past anyone without notice. Jesper Fahey, played by Kit Young, is the Dreg’s charismatic and quick-witted sharpshooter.

The series is based on a popular fantasy novel by Leigh Bardugo. Fans claim that, though the show is quite close to the book, it is noticeable that the producers took creative liberties. For instance, in the series Starkov is half Shu, a fictional Asian nation warring with Ravka, which was not mentioned in the book. A major difference is the inclusion of the Dregs’ storyline, which was not featured in the “Shadow and Bone” trilogy, but only later in a separate novel called “Six of Crows.”

The addition of the Dregs adds to the complication of the plot and allows the viewer to see the story from different perspectives. Their storyline gives excitement and adventure to compliment the seriousness of Starkov’s.

This show combines style from various time periods and cultures, giving the setting a familiar yet fantastical aesthetic that is timeless. Each aspect of the intricate costumes and sets keep it visually appealing. The production crew does an excellent job at world building and makes the magical realm feel real.

I would recommend it to viewers of all genres, as this show encompasses many enticing aspects: love troubles, a hero’s journey and self-discovery. If you enjoyed “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” or “The Witcher” you will enjoy this series.