With Season 2 of the popular Netflix fantasy series “Shadow and Bone” slowly approaching, fans have been speculating about certain scenes we want to see and expectations we have. 

The popular Young Adult (YA) fantasy show — based off of Leigh Bardugo’s hit book series — premiered in April of 2021, becoming an instant hit with book fans.

Grishaverse fans got a sneak peek at the second season during Netflix’s “Tudum: A Global Fan Event” over the weekend, including a glimpse at new characters — such as Jack Wolfe as demolition expert Wylan Hendriks, Anna Leong Brophy and Lewis Tan as siblings Tamar Kir-Bataar and Tolya Kir-Bataar and Patrick Gibson as everyone’s favorite privateer, Nikolai Lantsov. 

With controversies surrounding the first season’s casting of the Crows (the best characters), I was nervous about who would play the roles of some of my favorite characters in the series — but I am very excited about this casting.

With the addition of the Crows from Bardugo’s spinoff “Six of Crows” in the series, I am excited to see how the show is going to incorporate Wylan into the story. What I don’t want to see is the character being infantilized. Wylan is coded as dyslexic in the books, and the show better honor that respectfully, not infantilize him. With Netflix’s track record of disabled characters, let’s hold out hope. 

The second book in the “Shadow and Bone” series is “Siege and Storm,” so it’s safe to assume that the second season will follow that plotline. Enter (best character in the series) Nikolai Lantsov. His character, along with the Kir-Bataar siblings, is introduced in this second installment.

I want to see development in these characters. With so many figures in the story, I want these three specifically to be fleshed out as much as possible. They’re very interesting in the book, and I hope that translates to the screen. 

The Crows, without saying, are the best part of the show, in my opinion. The show is supposed to revolve around Alina and the Darkling, but the Crows pique my interest more. Seeing as they were pushed into the kidnapping plot of Season 1, I’m curious to see what their role will be this season.

So many possibilities could happen with the Crows this season. I want to see how they end up meeting Wylan, as well as getting his backstory, as it specifically is so well-written and depressing.

In the sneak peak, there was a shot of Mattias being carried off by guards, which could only mean that we’re getting the Hellgate arc this season. I cannot wait to see how this plot plays out onscreen.

Last season, there wasn’t a lot of time to develop Nina and Mattias as characters. I hope that all changes this season. The shot of the Crows together towards the end could only mean one thing: they’re breaking out Mattias. I am definitely excited to see where they’re going with this.