Shadow and Bone

[thepensivist]

Who else has read the books and watched the Netflix series?

While it wasn't terrible as a TV show, I have to be honest - I was incredibly disappointed with the adaptation. Not only did they ruin the storyline for Shadow and Bone, but they had to bring in Six of Crows and ruin that, too??

[beatrice_mom]

I plan to look, only after your review I think whether it is worth watching or is it better not to spoil the impression after the books?

[thepensivist]

That would be up to you haha. I think there were some positive aspects that came from the TV show, like I enjoyed the cast, but that was about it.

[Cátia Rato]

Oh, really?
I actually love the books and the tv show. I really think they did a great job. Yes, somethings weren't perfect, but I felt like the cast was born to play these characters.
I also liked the merge between SB and SC, don't really know how to explain it.
I'm really sorry you didn't like it! I've talked with some friends that read the books and watched the show and they also loved it.

[thepensivist]

Oh, really?
I actually love the books and the tv show. I really think they did a great job. Yes, somethings weren't perfect, but I felt like the cast was born to play these characters.
I also liked the merge between SB and SC, don't really know how to explain it.
I'm really sorry you didn't like it! I've talked with some friends that read the books and watched the show and they also loved it.

I think I'm just really traditional when it comes to book to screen haha. I really like it when they can keep the films close to the books because it feels like more of it coming to life, versus something just inspired by the books, if that makes sense. I mean the show wasn't bad, it just felt so far off from the books.

[Jedi_Pants]

I had reread Shadow and Bone before watching it and was incredibly confused because I couldn't remember who Kaz was. I think I was 3 episodes in and lots of going through Wikipedia for me to realize I should have reread Six of Crows also.

I like the Crows duology and felt that it was more interesting than the trilogy. I felt that regarding characterization at least, the show stuck with that very well. I was disappointed that they threw SO MUCH into so few episodes and I felt the merge was very tough to keep track of. A good friend loves the Grishaverse and even she was confused by it.

I will say that the music was fantastic. I read an interview the composer did and he said he talked to Bardugo and the producer (and/or director) to glean their thoughts on what music would fit best with each scene.
So as a whole, I feel like the creators took care of Bardugo's baby--and I figure if she's okay with it, I am too.

I'm glad they were approved for a 2nd season.

[Rachael S 1]

I have read both the series and watched the Netflix show. I loved the books, but I was not a huge fan of the tv series. Very cliche, but the TV adaptation was not as good as the books.

[Sara M 1]

I have read all of the Grishaverse books and I have to agree - I was left disappointed by the series. I thought the CGI and the stage production was perfectly fine. The main problem I had with the show was definitely the script and the acting. Kit Young was the only one for me that portrayed an AMAZING Jesper - but all of the other ones made it very obvious that they were amateurs (not talking about Ben Barnes and Zoe Wanamaker).
I know they felt the need to include the Six of Crows narrative since it is the most popular one of the three individual series, but it really fell short. I wish they had waited a bit more and maybe found a better cast before adapting Six of Crows. I'm sure Freddy is a nice person, but he made Kaz look very cringy, dull and flat.

[Elijah0007]

I haven't read the book, but I've tried giving the Netflix series a shot more than once. I always seem to toggle between the first two episodes; just can't seem to get past that point.

[Carly Sprout]

I have to disagree with most in this thread and admit that I loved the series. I think it was a good adaptation that did more than just retell the story - it expanded the universe. Other characters were also allowed more complexity because the show was not limited to Alina's first-person narrative the way the book was. I feel like the changes made really enhanced the story.

[Carly Sprout]

I haven't read the book, but I've tried giving the Netflix series a shot more than once. I always seem to toggle between the first two episodes; just can't seem to get past that point.

Although the first episode is frustrating due to a lot of exposition, the show gets much better with each episode, I promise.

[Meenahhhh]

I haven't read the book yet, but I loved series! It was so unpredictable, I couldn't help but binge-watch the entire show!

[kasedy Fairbairn]

I have watched some of the series, and I have the first five books. I have not had the chance to read the books yet unfortunately.

[Ambar Gill]

Oh my gosh, I agree! I loved the books so much, Six of Crows more than Shadow and Bone but I was really looking forward to seeing what they would do with it and I was not very impressed. The casting I think was great but I would have preferred a Six of Crows adaption only instead of ruining both stories.

[diana_mariaaaa]

I believe they brought the two series together so as to make it more interesting.From my point of view,the Shadow and Bone trilogy is written beautifully but it has some parts where it gets boring.I also liked the way in which the characters related to one another.Nikolai had really good lines and was portrayed perfectly,as well as Alina and Mal.The special effects also did not disapoint.