(SeaPRwire) – Following the monumental success of Game of Thrones, television networks and streaming platforms have been in a constant search for the next major fantasy phenomenon. However, very few have managed to achieve the same level of cultural impact as HBO’s iconic series, which was one of the last true watercooler shows.
Five years ago, however, Netflix debuted a series that appeared to have the potential to match that success: a fantasy show inspired by history that blended extensive worldbuilding with a compelling and highly likable ensemble of characters. The question remains: why did this not become Netflix’s latest blockbuster franchise? The answer, ultimately, lies in timing.
In April 2021, Netflix premiered Shadow and Bone, a high-quality fantasy adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s “Grishaverse” book series. The narrative centers on Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li), a young orphan who learns she is a Grisha—an individual born with a specific form of innate magic. Unlike typical Grisha, who each master a single power like manipulating fire, water, or emotions, Alina is revealed to be the Sun Summoner, a prophesied being with the ability to control light.
She unlocks this ability while journeying through the Shadow Fold, a perilous, monster-infested darkness that splits her nation in two. Upon escaping the Fold, her life is transformed instantly, leading her to a fateful encounter with General Kirigan (Ben Barnes), the Shadow Summoner, who is both her destined counterpart and romantic interest.
From the very first episode, showrunner Eric Heisserer creates a stunning vision of the nation of Ravka, blending Victorian influences with rich cultural details. A key strength of the series, however, is a secondary storyline involving a motley crew called the Six of Crows on their own daring mission. While these characters’ exploits were not part of the original Grishaverse novel, their integration into the plot made the television adaptation exceptionally well-suited for the screen.
The first season of Shadow and Bone quickly amassed a large and dedicated following, which led to a ambitious, though somewhat crowded, second season. The show seemed poised to become Netflix’s successor to Stranger Things, and fan excitement grew in March 2023 when Heisserer revealed he had been secretly developing a Six of Crows spinoff.
Subsequently, the industry-wide strikes began. The combined WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes brought Hollywood to a standstill for months. After resolutions were reached, numerous productions faced delays or cancellations. For Netflix, this included a number of shows in development, along with Shadow and Bone. “The series spent five weeks in the weekly Top 10 for English-language series without getting to No.1,” Deadline reported. “That, coupled with the potential delay of Season 3, likely factored into the decision not to move forward.“
Perhaps this was the intended outcome—Shadow and Bone now stands as a preserved glimpse into a magical world, rather than an overextended franchise crowded with spinoffs. Its story may be cut short, but the existing series is remarkable. And if Alina Starkov were given the choice to trade her show’s continuation for equitable treatment in Hollywood, she would undoubtedly make that sacrifice without hesitation.
Shadow and Bone Seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on Netflix.
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