No Funerals

Having now completed all 8 new installments in their entirety, in my opinion, I think it's fairly safe to state that "Shadow & Bone" S2 is pretty decent for the majority of the series' run-time (acting as an enjoyable, if slightly unremarkable Netflix fantasy, satisfyingly continuing on as a sequel to the first) & then suddenly (much to my surprise), astonishingly talented director Mairzee Almas (already recieving recent critical acclaim for her handling of "The Sandman" launch) comes along for the final block of episodes & does to the show what renowned filmmakers like Miguel Sapochnik or Alan Taylor did to HBO's mega-hit "Game of Thrones". Hence, there's a noticeable elevation in quality & genuine artistry behind the camera which is simply staggering to witness on screen - resulting in a masterfully crafted, slow-burn denouement, totally reinventing & re-contextualising the narrative we (as audiences) have gradually grown accustomed to (of inherent pure V evil; light v dark), birthing a maturer, morally ambiguous tale (where the lines between good & bad are less distinct) & the clarity of purpose (of predestined magical destiny to become "the saviour") intentionally births a far scarier, relatable scenario in which peace must be preserved through the complex difficulties of diplomacy (people no longer reliant upon the threat of the shadow's expansion & the differences of ideological perspective - dictating how individuals choose to respond to the changing world - being as conflicting as night & day) not an instillation of fear amongst the traumatised & subjugated populace - to ensure the prior conformity.

Therefore, there's no denying "No Funerals" feels unlike its predecessors, yet that was deliberate & I hugely admire the added layers of depth / nuance, always appreciated.

Good/strong ending episodes...and who CARES what the characters of the books would have done? Who ARE these people who are, supPOSEDly reviewing a series and rating the series based on a BOOK? This is NOT a BOOK review site, in case those people haven't noticed... i thought the second season had a lot of ups and downs...some very strong moments and, unfortunately, really weak ones. I felt the first season was a lot more 'even keeled' which, yes, is a pun of sorts...this includes the density of the characters themselves...and not because of the actors...i think they all did a good job, given how they were written. And that is where the weaknesses occurred in places. In the writing.

If i DO watch the 3rd season, assuming there IS one...i will give it two episodes to decide whether or not i want to watch the whole season. It will HAVE to be better than this second season for me to want to watch the whole thing.

In the gripping Season 2 finale, "No Funerals," the besieged fort becomes the battleground for Nikolai, Wylan, and the ominous Nichevo'ya. The stakes escalate dramatically as Alina bravely executes their plan, sacrificing Mal in a heart-wrenching moment that unleashes a torrent of energy, obliterating the Fold.

Following the destructive aftermath, Kirigan seizes the opportunity to manipulate Alina's grief, proposing a twisted relationship. Alina, resilient and empowered, resoundingly rejects Kirigan's advances, choosing justice over darkness as she fatally stabs him. The narrative takes an unexpected turn as Alina defies warnings and taps into merzost to resurrect Mal.

The intense showdown against the Darkling's Nichevo'ya, coupled with the burning of Kirigan's body to thwart relic creation, adds layers to the emotional complexity of the finale. Mal, mourning David's death, decides on a new path, joining Inej, Tamar, Tolya, and Nadia on their flying ship.

Nina's journey to Hellgate for Matthias, who bravely resists his drüskelle beliefs, unfolds with a poignant resistance against injustice. Meanwhile, Kaz unveils a new job involving the smuggling of jurda parem, a powerful Grisha-enhancing drug.

The coronation ceremony, meant to symbolize hope, takes a dark turn as an assassin, fueled by jurda parem, attempts to thwart the celebration. Alina, now wielding shadow powers, confronts the assailant, culminating in a powerful and unexpected conclusion.

"No Funerals" masterfully navigates the intricate threads of sacrifice, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of justice, leaving viewers eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the spellbinding world of "Shadow and Bone."

I enjoyed this whole show as a whole but I feel like it's really set up to be two shows that have crossover episodes rather than all in one show. I feel like both story lines suffer for it but especially the Crows who I may be biased towards because I read that duology rather than Shadow & Bone- but I actually really like Alina and Mal too. I really hope that this can be a splitting off point for the shows- I think the Ice Court Heist would make a fantastic miniseries and we have already set up many of the characters and relationships so there would be time to expand them. Inej in particular I think deserves more time spent on her story.

My overall review of the season up to this episode was excellent, as basically you could have ended with just a season with just part of this final episode. But NO, like an artist who created a magnificent painting but can't stop thinking of ways to adjust it the wheels fell off in not just one storyline but multiple. If I was to guess these guys are not sure season 3 is guaranteed so they decided to get an early start but instead of getting us more intrigued they burned all they built in the first 2 seasons to the ground? What amazes me in how well they built up so many story lines and interweaved them over all of season 1,2 but rather than celebrate let the end breath and let us enjoy it... they quickly trigger a whole new set of dark and foreboding storylines.

Reminds me of Lost, so much potential built with the end being the defining moment!!! BAM with the snap of a finger within the last 20+ minutes they attempt to T everything up for another season and cast all the journey's into disarray and doom. How are you supposed to walk away from that and say "That was a Great season!?"

I enjoyed all the characters and the world that was created before our eyes. I enjoyed the depth of each character and the complexity of each' s journey.

A disappointing final episode will give me pause to attempt to watch another or recommend the show.