17
May
The debut trailer for Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins wants you to know that the upcoming film is on a new level, as its accompanying rap by A$AP Ferg directly declares. While the final verdict on that bold claim will be decided once the pandemic-delayed film finally drops in July, the franchise aspirations are quite apparent. Indeed, Henry Golding’s black-clad ninja commando is complemented by signature characters such as Scarlett and Baroness, and a teased focus on the Hasbro toy property’s other popular ninja character, Storm Shadow. G.I. Joe’s silent, ass-kicking mascot himself, Snake Eyes, as played by Crazy Rich…
07
May
This Shadow and Bone article contains major spoilers for Episodes 5 & 6. As the director behind Episode 5, “Show Me Who You Are,” and 6, “The Heart is An Arrow,” of Shadow and Bone, Mairzee Almas was behind the camera for some of the major turning points of Season 1. These episodes see Alina and General Kirigan’s romantic interlude, Baghra’s reveal that Aleksander is actually the Black Heretic, and the coming together of the Crows and Alina for the first time. It’s when the season really kicks into a higher gear. Den of Geek talked to Almas—whose work you…
30
Apr
If you’ve watched Shadow and Bone, then you’re probably curious about the literal sunshine at its center. Her name is Jessie Mei Li (she/they) and, though she’s a relative newcomer to the world of mainstream entertainment, that seems poised to quickly change. Between Shadow and Bone‘s current status as one of the biggest TV shows on the planet, and Li’s upcoming appearance in Edgar Wright’s psychological horror Last Night in Soho later this year, the 25-year-old British actor is surely at the start of an exciting storytelling career. We had the chance to sit down with Li prior to the…
28
Apr
This Shadow and Bone article contains some spoilers. Young adult fantasy fiction is one of the most popular literary genres on shelves today, full of a seemingly endless variety of stories about faeries, demons, and the sort of complex magical systems that occasionally need a flow chart to explain. It’s also full of young women, both as central characters and primary readers, all struggling and striving to figure out who they are and how they might find their own magic in the world around them. Yet there’s a certain kind of genre fan that loves to disparage these kinds of…
27
Apr
This Shadow and Bone article contains spoilers. Books are powerful things—not only good for entertainment, but also defense. There’s a moment in Episode 6 of Netflix’s Shadow and Bone, “The Heart is an Arrow,” that sees the Crows steal the Darkling’s carriage for their getaway after Inej is wounded. In the process, they interrupt David, who is sitting cozily in the carriage, reading a good book. When Jesper startles him, David throws the book at Jesper before he is thrown from the carriage and knocked out. Jesper then holds up the book and says, exasperated (to Kaz), “He threw a…
27
Apr
Contains Spoilers for Shadow and Bone A young orphan woman with the power to summon the sun; her childhood best friend, a brave and tireless soldier willing to die for her; the all powerful ‘Darkling’ general who wants her to rule by his side – this is the love triangle at the centre of Netflix’s Shadow and Bone and it’s a suitably fizzy one. But while the central plot, the political machinations, magic and the introduction of ‘The Fold’ are all key parts of what makes this show – an adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s books – a compelling watch, by…
26
Apr
This Shadow and Bone article contains spoilers. Netflix’s Shadow and Bone is a sweeping fantasy epic that includes everything from an elite magical subclass (Grisha) that can manipulate the matter in surrounding elements and physical material, to a war-torn kingdom struggling to destroy a growing swath of literal darkness, and a girl whose heretofore undiscovered abilities just might be the key to changing the world. It’s also a story that’s unabashedly romantic in every sense of the word, firmly grounding its central narrative in complex human connections rather than Grisha magical castes or other more distinctly fantasy-oriented themes and tropes.…
26
Apr
This Shadow and Bone articles contains major spoilers. The Grishaverse books series on which Netflix’s Shadow and Bone is based are wildly popular, which means many viewers heading into a binge-watch of the epic fantasy series already know some of the biggest plot twists coming their way. But not all viewers. It might not be hard to guess that a character who can manipulate shadow is a bad guy, but Ben Barnes is so god damn charming that some may be surprised by the mid-season reveal that General Kirigan, aka the Darkling, is actually the Black Heretic. In Episode 5…
25
Apr
To call any one of the Shadow and Bone cast members a “breakout” is difficult, given that this young cast of relative newcomers is so freaking talented across the ensemble. That being said, Amita Suman, the Nepali-born British actress who plays Inej Ghafa, absolutely kills it in her performance as the knives-wielding assassin who believes in the Sun Summoner, her friends, and the sanctity of life. I’m not surprised, given that Suman has appeared on one of Den of Geek’s other favorite genre shows, Doctor Who, back in 2018, playing an integral role in one of NuWho’s best episodes ever:…
25
Apr
This Shadow and Bone article contains spoilers for Season 1. While Shadow and Bone has yet to get an official Season 2 order from Netflix, a continuation of the epic fantasy series based on the Grishaverse book series by Leigh Bardugo seems inevitable. The first season of the fantasy drama dropped on Netflix on Friday and, as much as it tells a satisfying story, it is very obviously setting up a seasons-long saga that will take us through the three books of the Shadow and Bone book series and the the two books of the Six of Crows series. While…
24
Apr
This SHADOW AND BONE feature contains spoilers for Season 1. Though Netflix’s new fantasy series Shadow and Bone is based on the bestselling Grishaverse novels of author Leigh Bardugo, it’s not a straightforward adaptation of the book series that shares its name. In addition to the Shadow and Bone trilogy, the series also incorporates elements from Six of Crows, a duology that is set in the same world, but focused on a very different set of characters. Set two years after the events of Shadow and Bone, Six of Crows is a dramatic heist story set in a different country…
23
Apr
This Shadow and Bone article contains MAJOR spoilers for Season 1. Netflix’s Shadow and Bone is a fantasy epic that has it all: A complex heroine, great supporting characters, and a sweeping plot that is based on a magical system that both empowers and isolates those who wield it. The back half of the season builds to a thrilling climax that’s both intensely satisfying and leaves plenty of room for the story to go in new directions in Season 2. (Which we better be getting, is all I’m saying.) Let’s break down what happened in the Shadow and Bone finale…
23
Apr
This Shadow and Bone feature contains MAJOR spoilers for Season 1. Netflix’s Shadow and Bone adaptation is rife with excellent shipping options. Adapted from Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse YA book series, there is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to romantic relationships. Whether you’re into the Enemies to Lovers vibes of Nina and Matthias (aka Helnik), the Slow Burn angst of Inej and Kaz (aka Kanej), or you just like to see Jesper having fun with the hot stableboy, Shadow and Bone has you covered. In the interest of covering the wide swathe of romantic ships on this show, and…
23
Apr
Netflix’s adaptation of fantasy epic Shadow and Bone has a lot going for it, but articulating a sense of setting isn’t one of them. While readers of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse books may be able to spot the difference between a Fjerdan and a Ravkan, your average viewer coming in cold might need a little help explaining the cultures and geography of this Russian-based fantasy world. We’ve got you covered… Where is Shadow and Bone set? Shadow and Bone is set in a fictional world where some people, known as Grisha, have magical powers. Ravka Most of the main action in…
21
Apr
This Shadow and Bone review contains no spoilers. Millions of readers worldwide love young adult fantasy fiction, but even the most wildly popular titles—Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series, Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunters books, Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games trilogy, and many more—are generally written off as “guilty pleasure” escapism, shallow, meaningless stories for people who just aren’t ready to take real literature seriously. (Barf.) Part of this reaction likely stems from the widespread public backlash to the few young adult fantasy series to gain mainstream popularity, like the Twilight saga or the aforementioned Hunger Games. But, in truth, the…
01
Apr
The headline news for fantasy fans on Netflix UK this month is the arrival of eight-part adaptation Shadow and Bone, based on Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha trilogy. It’s the story of Alina, a girl who discovers she wields a mighty power that sees her targeted by a covetous foe. You can read more about the cast here. For families, at the end of the month there’s Sony’s latest animated feature The Mitchells Vs the Machines, which is made by the creators of excellent animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Comedy-wise, Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer co-star in regular-Joan-gets-superpowers movie Thunder Force.…
23
Mar
In the film and television industry, the idea of an “unknown” is extremely relative. Just because an actor isn’t one of the Hollywood Chrises doesn’t mean a media-literate viewer hasn’t seen them before. That being said, there is a difference between Chris Evans and an actor from a Doctor Who guest spot, and Netflix’s latest series—Shadow and Bone, an adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse books—is mostly banking on the latter. While Ben Barnes, who you will probably recognize as Logan from Westworld or Prince Caspian from The Chronicles of Narnia series, will be playing the mysterious and enigmatic General Kirigan…
03
Feb
February 2 is an important date on the United States calendar. That’s the day when a beleaguered, snow-stricken nation casts its eyes to a Midwestern meteorological rodent, who then communicates to us whether spring is on the horizon or winter will last for six more weeks. Funnily enough, this year’s Groundhog Day also indulged another increasingly frequent tradition. For, just like Punxsutawney Phil, beloved Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin emerged from his den to let us know if Winter was on the way…The Winds of Winter that is. Martin took to his charmingly outdated Livejournal blog, fittingly titled…
01
Feb
This article contains spoilers for American Gods season 3. It seems that throughout the history of technology, there has been no greater driver of technological change than the most simple of human desires: sex. From nickelodeon reels of women dancing in skimpy costumes to the home video format war of the ‘80s to the modern dating apps of today, sex sells, and sex has always been at the forefront of human invention. Someone makes a product, and someone else figures out how to use it to gratify humanity’s baser urges. To that end, it makes sense that the ancient Queen…
