#shadow and bone liveblogging

[bluecoloreddreams]

I have officially finished!  That was an extremely good adaptation, and it fixed the things I did not like about the original trilogy (which was mostly focused on getting exhausted with Alina’s POV, poor chemistry with Mal despite their endgame status, and strange pacing in the first book--not that the original trilogy was bad, it just ends up weak compared to SoC and KoS. It’s a first novel, and that’s okay.). 

Especially where the Crows are concerned, the Netflix-adaptation is going to blend seamlessly into the SoC books: Given that the unrest in Ravka is heightened more with the Zlatan subplot, the development of the panem in Fjerda doesn’t seem out of place if it were to continue alongside the SaS/RaR plotlines. I especially like Nina overhearing their “we’re going to need a heartrender” setup in E.8. 

Dialogue, costuming, set, sound design, and the actors were amazing. If I had one thing that I had to go “eh” over it would be the CGI on the skiffs, and Ben Barnes’ awful wig in the Darkling flashback. (It’s nearly always wigs I notice.) 

An incomprehensive list of things I really enjoyed: 

The entire cast is literally perfect, sorry, no exceptions

Mikhael and Dubrov’s character expansions. I enjoyed their whole Rosencrantz and Guildenstern shtick, and was really sad knowing they were gonna die. 

Mal and Alina’s joking banter and general chemistry in the first episode was amazing.

Talk shit, get hit flashback Y E S 

Freddy Carter’s profile. Just. The little upturn of his nose??? Just, it’s perfect, and I really liked it. I cannot for the life of me explain it, but it just brings a hint of cuteness to Kaz’s harshness that *fist clench* it’s good. ALSO KAZ’S MUSSED UP HAIR PLEASE GOD THANKS 

Jessie/Alina’s forehead scar, it’s very nice that it got kept in, and that Genya never even went for it

The scene where Fedyor feeds Ivan the macaron at the Winter Fete. And when he escorts Alina and Genya on each arm when they sneak out. Both of them have to do things that the audience does not agree with/like, so I do enjoy that they’re shown doing funny and human things. 

Speaking of, Alina dragging Genya out to see the performers, it was very cute, and I love them both dearly. They cut the scene from the books where Mal and Alina stumble across the Butter Week celebrations, so this is a nice nod to it. 

LEIGH GOT TO HUG ALINA IN THE SHOW I--

The very erotic nature of Nina taking a bite of the bread from Mattias before spitting it in his face

JESPER’S PERPETUAL BACKGROUND FACES OF CONFUSION

“HUG THE GOAT AND SHUT THE HELL UP”

the goat that carries the show and plot oh my goD

“JUST ASK. JUST ASK. COME ON, ASK.” 

Technically, Kaz did not lie about kidnapping Alina

David raising his hand to speak

Inej stabbed the Darkling, Inej stabbed the Darkling~~~~ 

INEJ MEETING ALINA~!

KANEJ CITY YO 

The way Jesper gets angry when Ivan realizes how he’s doing his sharpshooting

“Jesper fixed your cane”, no questions asked as to how 

THE BOOK  DAVID THROWS AT JESPER IS BASED ON SHADOW AND BONE’S FIRST(?) ED COVER 

#Mitkun has a life #shadow and bone netflix spoilers #shadow and bone liveblogging #long post #ish? #sort of a review #sort of me just rambling

[flying-elliska]

Ok I just finished Shadow and Bone and 😭😭😭😭 I want more

#shadow and bone liveblogging

[libertyreads]

Half way through and now I'm actually going to take a lunch break.

#shadow and bone liveblogging #break #shadow and bone

[flying-elliska]

First reaction on ep 2-5 of Shadow and Bone (vague spoilers)

God I love how much of an obvious badass they made Jesper, I feel like this is a part of him that didn't always get to shine as often as I wanted it too in the books. The train scene holy shit !!!!!!! The bit w the stable boy was actually super cute and it did not feel like a bad cliche. Also I love all the little signs of queerness displayed here and there. It's just so satisfying in its casualness.

That moment with Kaz and Inej in the church.........killed me like that's THEM right there !!!!! They would do insane things for each other and are also completely incapable of telling each other they care it's 👌👌👌 kind of great they make it that he's doing all this for her even though I don't want them to move too fast with the "Kaz actually has a heart" storyline either. Also not a big fan of Inej having a brother tbh but I guess we will see. And that moment with Kaz vs the inferni mocking his leg and him being like "unlike the spider I only need one good leg" like !!!!! Yes!!!

Really liking Alina's general plotline so far which ???? Okay. Ben Barnes is so fucking charismatic and intriguing, and he's less creepy/agressive than in the books, that it really sells the ambiguous thing and why Alina would be drawn to him and find him sympathetic while at the same time the fact that he is a lot older and so much more powerful than her does ring the iffy bells. And it's very clear why she feels so lost and alienated and makes the decisions that she does. Plus I find her and Mal actually cute. They made a good choice to expand his side of the story. So, yay. I'm almost enjoying this part of the story more at times because I don't have expectations whereas my Six of Crows fan brain is a lot more nitpicky and it still feels weird to see my faves while they're not so much at the center of the story. At the same time those two stories balance each other so well.

I'm enjoying it so much. Also that cameo of Leigh as the first Grisha welcoming Alina !!!! Adorable. Taking a break now but can't wait to finish.

#shadow and bone liveblogging #shadow and bone spoilers #shadow and bone

[flying-elliska]

Ok just watched the first S&B ep (warning : vague spoilers)

... and i loved it so much 😭😭😭 Alina and Mal are super likeable woah didn't expect to like them that much ! Jessie Mei Li is amazing and their connection feels so strong. Idk about how much I like the Crows plotline so far it feels a bit weird and I'm a lot more nervous about that part of the story but the actors are INCREDIBLE i'm especially impressed by how Freddy Carter makes Kaz seem so cold and so human at the same time. And Jasper and Inej are so charismatic in their own way already!!!

I also really liked how they introduced the situation with the Fold and how scary it is and how desperate and hungry East Ravka is, the sense of atmosphere is immaculate so far. And Ketterdam is really tied into the story well, as the characters in Ravka keep alluding to it as this place of freedom they want to visit beyond the Fold, it becomes a symbol.

My only quibble is that Ketterdam looks a lot more like fantasy London than fantasy Amsterdam so far which really clashes w the idea I have of it in my head and i find that really not very original but like 😂 that feels very much like a me problem

#shadow and bone #shadow and bone spoilers #shadow and bone liveblogging