Shadow & Bone is an epic fantasy show produced by Netflix and based on Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse novels. The show mixes the high fantasy plotline of the Shadow & Bone trilogy, set in Ravka, a war-ravaged fantasy version of pre-revolutionary Russia, and of the Six of Crows urban fantasy duology, a tale of criminally good antiheroes planning the ultimate heist.
By the end of the Shadow & Bone series, fans of the Grishaverse might be looking for their next fantasy fix. This list includes some fantasy series that might fill the long gap between the first season and the next.
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Cursed
Cursed is a retelling of the Arthurian legend from the point of view of Nimue, the future Lady of the Lake. Nimue has a triple problem: the Red Monks‘ Inquisition, the fact that her own people perceive her powers as evil and her temporary guardianship of Excalibur, a bloodthirsty sword that marks the next monarch of Camelot.
Like Shadow & Bone, Cursed explores the fear and discrimination against anyone with magical powers, many of which will eventually become Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table in the future. Its first season is currently streaming on Netflix.
The Irregulars
The Irregulars is the closest series there is on TV to a Six of Crows adaptation. Loosely based on Sherlock Holmes‘ squad of child spies, the Baker Street Irregulars, the show follows a group of plucky teen orphans trying to solve a terrifying supernatural mystery in the streets of Victorian London.
While some purist Sherlock fans were unhappy about the show’s supernatural elements, the dark urban magic paired with the charismatic and diverse cast should be a feature for fans the Crows. The series is now streaming on Netflix.
Carnival Row
Carnival Row is an urban fantasy drama set in the Burgue, an imaginary, Victorian version of London where human society feels threatened by an influx of refugee fairies. The show focuses on Rycroft Philostrate (Orlando Bloom), a detective trying to solve a series of grisly murders, and Vignette (Cara Delevigne), his estranged fairy wife and a recent arrival to the Burgue.
Carnival Row is stylistically closer to Six of Crows than to the Ravka plotline, and the target audience is mature, not young adult — but the aesthetics, gripping storyline and fantastic cast will delight fans of Shadow & Bone. The first season is streaming on Amazon Prime.
The Witcher
The Witcher is a very dark and very campy fantasy Netflix adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski’s book series and the games that it inspired. The show follows Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher — a human mutant Monster Hunter — trying to do his best in a grimdark land that treats everyone, monsters and humans alike, absolutely horribly.
Much like Shadow & Bone, The Witcher‘s plot turns around the spectacular magical powers of two women, Yennefer and Ciri, who act as Geralt’s co-protagonists, and it gracefully balances heavy themes and light-hearted humor. It is a must-watch for fantasy-lovers and is streaming on Netflix.
The characters of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell are very far away from those of Shadow & Bone, but this BBC mini-series is a fantastic exploration of the ways in which magic might affect real world politics, warfare and history — just like it happens in the Grishaverse — and like any BBC production, the setting and wardrobe are absolutely wonderful.
The series pitches two British magicians against each other: the charismatic and naturally talented Jonathan Strange, and the prim, proper and academically-inclined Mr. Norrell, both of which have discovered a way to channel the magic of the British Isles into the war against France.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Sabrina Spellman doesn’t have many things in common with Alina Starkov, other than their aptitude for powerful magic, their mysterious origins, their white hair makeover and their status as the potential savior of the world.
While The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is definitely not an epic fantasy, Sabrina’s trickster nature, royal status, and ingenious solutions will delight fans of not just the Crows, but of Nikolai Lantsov, a fan-favorite character that will probably appear in Shadow & Bone Season 2.
A Netflix production from Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps Entertainment, Eric Heisserer, Leigh Bardugo, Pouya Shahbazian and Lee Toland Krieger, Shadow and Bone stars Jessie Mei Li (Alina Starkov), Archie Renaux (Malyen Oretsev), Freddy Carter (Kaz Brekker), Amita Suman (Inej), Kit Young (Jesper Fahey), Ben Barnes (General Kirigan), Sujaya Dasgupta (Zoya Nazyalensky), Danielle Galligan (Nina Zenik), Daisy Head (Genya Safin), Simon Sears (Ivan), Calahan Skogman (Matthias Helvar), Zoë Wanamaker (Baghra), Kevin Eldon (The Apparat), Julian Kostov (Fedyor), Luke Pasqualino (David), Jasmine Blackborow (Marie) and Gabrielle Brooks (Nadia). The series premieres April 23 on Netflix.
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