Well, Netflix sure did spend a lot of money on this show. I read the books a while ago and they are pretty good so I was excited for this show, and I feel it did not disappoint. Well, it mostly did not disappoint.
First let's talk about that money, because this show looks amazing. First of all the special effects are just perfect. Alina's powers look perfect, the fold and the monsters in it look like such perfect CGI that it doesn't look like CGI. The costume design is just amazing, from the fur coats to the Grisha's outfits with their embodying, everything anyone wears looks stunning. The locations also seem great. From the palace to small country houses to crowded old cities, everything looks perfect and like they built actual giant sets. They put in a lot of money into this show.
Also, the cast in this show is amazing. The books are based on Russia during the Tsarist rule, but Russia is the size of a continent so it makes sense to have a diverse cast. Even though Russian speakers will enjoy the books in an extra way, so far it doesn't apply for the show. Back to the cast they are just so brilliant. Despite the fact that, uncharacteristically, some of the actors are not that good looking. Jessie Mei Li does an ok job as Alina Starkov, but her character is not the kind of character that wears her emotions on her sleeve. Even in the books. Archie Renaux does a brilliant job as Malyen Oretsev, Alina's childhood friend. Freddy Carter kills it as Kaz Brekker, the leader of the Crows. Kit Young is a brilliant Jesper Fahey, he looks like he constantly having a blast. Amita Suman is brilliant as Inej Ghafa. Sujaya Dasgupta does an ok job as Zoya, I just imagined Zoya as a more confident, bitchy and cruel and yet less overt character. Danielle Galligan and Calahan Skogman are perfect as Nina Zenik and Matthias. These are actors are all just brilliant discoveries.
The most glaring bad acting comes from the most known actor on the show, Ben Barnes as General Kirigan. He is just bad in the role, he brings that cringe worthy acting that makes YA content sometimes terrible or ridicules. At first I thought that it was part of the part and then you realize that no, it's just the acting, he is not right for the role. He is an exceptional bad standout.
The plot is not too simple or too complicated. Once, many many years ago the Heretic created the Fold, a shadow land filled with monster that divides Ravka in half. The Heretic was a Grisha, a person who has the ability to control some aspect of nature with his power. Most of the world hates them because of their powers and some even view them as witches. Ravka uses them as soldiers of the First Amy, while regular people are the Second Army. On top of the Fold, Ravka is almost constantly at war with its neighboring countries. The only hope Ravka has is for a Sun Summered to destroy the fold. Alina accidently finds out that she is that Sun Summered. It sounds like a regular chosen one plot, but it is not. Controlling your powers and destroying the fold are not easy done and there are a lot of forces behind the scene that Alina is not aware of, and neither are we. If you've read the book you know that this season doesn't even cover half of the complications that are around Alina and Kirigan. It's not a super complicated plot, but it manages to avoid a few clichés, while falling into some.
The Crows, who are a group of thieves are by far the best part of the show in my opinion. I won't write anything about them in order not to spoiler anything, but they are super fun, super clever, have nothing to do with their plot in the books and manage to be awesome all the same because of the characters and their actors.
I really liked the show. I binged it in just two days. It takes it a few episodes to really get into it, but once your there you will be hocked. It is fun, entertaining, well executed, has original moments and a criminally fun moments and it is just good. I had a blast binging it with a friend.
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