Deron Generally
Deron GenerallyShadow and Bone
Netflix
Season 1 Episode 5
Show Me Who You Are
Alina’s bond with Kirigan grows as royal guests gather for the unveiling. Mal carries news about the stag. Kaz’s scheme hinges on a hidden door.
After his brutal run in with enemy forces, Mal emerges as the sole survivor of the expedition to locate the stag. Kaz and his group finally make their way into the Little Palace and Alina gets more acclimated to life among the Grisha. She is making fast friends with the others including Genya. Her new life at the palace is making it easier for her to put Mal out of her mind and there is a sadness in that moment when contrasted with what Mal put himself through just to find his way back to her.
Genya is an interesting character and her attitude and bearing are worth watching. Every line she delivers is dripping with a history that is worth exploring and I love the way she changes when David Kostyk arrives with a gift for Alina. There is an interesting way that they both avoid direct eye contact with each other that screams a shared history between the two.
Kaz and his crew make their plans to kidnap Alina using their map of the palace and the cover of being a soldier. As Inej and Jesper contemplate the Sun Summoner and what she means, Alina becomes enamored with the traveling carnival and Jesper gets his first look at Alina. As the crew plans for their kidnapping, Kirigan and Alina get closer. There is a charming energy between the two of them, but the darkness of Kirigan is still a little off putting and even a little creepy.
Kaz and company put their plan in motion as Alina makes her first appearance in front of the crowd with Kirigan presenting her to the royals. It’s her first time showcasing her power to the masses and she puts on an impressive light show for those in attendance and even Inej is impressed. Things get more complicated when Mal finally makes his way to the Little Palace and Alina has a run in with the king’s advisor that is both creepy and enlightening.
Mal and Kirigan have an interesting back and forth and you can cut the tension with a knife. The tension only grows when Kaz puts his plan into place and runs into his biggest hurdle in Kirigan. With Mal tucked away waiting on Alina, another plot emerges with Baghra. With all the players in one place, things escalate quickly with an assassination attempt, a romantic interlude and more intrigue to come as an even bigger secret is revealed.
This episode of Shadow and Bone brings all the diverging storylines to a head. Secrets are revealed, plots laid bare and enough humor and coincidences to make everything a charming adventure despite the danger. I was impressed with the execution of this episode and how entertaining it was.
Shadow and Bone S01XE05
