Shadow And Bone – Season 2 Episode 4 Recap & Review

Every Monstrous Thing

Episode 4 of Shadow and Bone season 2 starts with Alina and Nikolai sitting with the Royal family, where Nikolai announces their engagement. This causes tensions all over the place, including with Nikolai’s mother, who expresses her concerns. There’s also the cunning Vasily, Nikolai’s brother, who looks to do some meddling. This is especially evident when he spies Mal taking Alina aside in secret.

Believing they’re alone, the pair exchange a tender moment and vow that this isn’t going to change anything and they’ll continue their love in secret. Mal though, believes Alina should be focusing on finding the Firebird. Alina though is dead-set on following through with the cause believing that Ravka is more than just a swamp and that it needs saving the diplomatic way.

David eventually manages to find his way to the palace, right off the back of Alina’s failed attempts to channel her power. There, he reveals to Nikolai and Alina exactly what Kirigan is up to. He points out Genya’s sacrifice to get him out and asks for help, especially as these shadow monsters can’t be killed. As leader of the Second Army now, it falls on Alina to make the hard decision. She doesn’t trust David and instead, has him sent to the holding cells instead.

Genya’s attempts to escape were futile as she’s locked up alongside Baghra in the cage. However, she sports horrible scars all over her face. When Kirigan shows up, he looks at her in disgust and eventually has her taken away, unwilling to even looking at her scarred face. He intends to use her as an example to teach the others about insolence.

Kaz’s big plan of vengeance and retribution is about to go down but before it does, he warns Inej that if things go south, then she’s to take her brother and leave the city as quickly as possible. The plan involves Wylan and Jesper handing out Komedie Brute costumes and vials of the compound to all the Dregs.

Haskell’s gang (who’s now following their rule) will provide them with cover as they hit all of Pekka’s clubs and disrupt their reputation through this compound, all the while Nina and Kaz will head for the Emerald Palace. After dispersing, Nina suddenly turns and smacks Kaz in the face.

Over with Alina and Mal, the latter speaks to Nikolai and reveals there could be something out there that kills the shadow creatures. Specifically, an ancient sword called the Neshyenyer which can pierce right through shadow.

The real sword was stolen but if they could find it – using the expertise of a crew like the Crows for example – it could swing the balance of power in their favour. As a result, Tolya and Tamar make plans to head out to Ketterdam with Zoya and Mal to make this proposition. Unfortunately, before they leave Mal is knocked out and taken away, forced to be imprisoned for being a deserter of the army. All of this is Vasily’s doing, Nikolai’s brother, who watches on with glee.

Nina brings Kaz to Pekka, who beats him down, unaware that his crew are currently out causing mischief, spreading the compound and making it seem like the Firepox Plague is back with a vengeance.

When Pekka finally finds out, it becomes clear that Nina was playing Pekka this whole time and didn’t turn on him after all. This whole charade was a plan to taint Pekka’s business and when he points a gun at Kaz’s head, Kaz reveals his trump card. Alby.

Kaz smiles evilly and reveals that Alby is six feet deep, brandishing the boy’s toy train to prove as much. Kaz wants Pekka to atone for his sins but the crime boss can’t even remember Kaz’s brother’s name (Jordie). It’s enough for Kaz to force Pekka down to his knees at gunpoint. And when he does, Kaz drops a pen and forces him to sign a deed confirming that their crew is not guilty of murder, and Inej is free to go.

When Pekka shows up at the cemetery with all his men, scrambling to get rid of the dirt, Alby shows up safe and sound in a horse-drawn carriage. He watches in shock as his father is arrested for Tante’s murder. Kaz speaks to Inej and hands over the deed. He also forces her out after disobeying his commands, coming off the back of freeing prisoners without consulting him. In reality, this feels like a weak excuse just to help Inej be free to live her life and protect the one he cares about the most.

During Nikolai and Alina’s wedding, there’s a big problem. Vasily looks set to cause chaos and stands up to give a big speech, presumably to oust Alina’s “secret affair” with Mal. Before he can though, the Fold suddenly closes in on their location, producing a shadow creature which suddenly descends on the wedding and starts destroying everything, including ripping Vasily in half.

As Alina and the others (minus Mal of course) scramble out the hall, Alina runs into Kirigan, who’s inside her head and forces her to freeze on the spot. Only… he’s not inside her head. Instead, he’s actually right in front of her and he stands alongside the shadow creature, offering for the pair to work together. When Alina refuses, Kirigan unleashes the monster to attack all her friends, who happen to be by her side.

Alina’s forcefield isn’t much good but as her power bursts forth, hurtling the pair backwards across the ground, the ceiling starts to cave in.

The Episode Review

It’s clear now that the mission for the final four episodes is going to turn toward finding this Firebird so Alina is powerful enough to strike down Kirigan and save the realm. The whole situation involving Vasily is over as quickly as it began though, which is a real shame as that had potential to bubble up some family angst.

At the same time, the halfway point seems to confirm that this Pekka Rollins deal is now finished, with the Crows likely to start hunting for this fabled sword, if the earlier parts of this chapter are anything to go by.

It’ll be interesting to see Kaz’s crew team back up with Alina for the final fight against Kirigan, and how that plays out, with the promise of the second half of this season picking up the pace and drama.