Shadow and Bone trailer breakdown: 5 takeaways from the trailer

Netflix just released a new trailer for Shadow and Bone! If you’ve been dying to see how the streamer’s adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s YA masterpiece turned out, you might just finally have some answers.

This is, quite possibly, the most anticipated fantasy series of the year. Bardugo’s Grishaverse is wildly popular—and rightfully so. There’s a little bit of something for everyone, and the world-building is top-notch.

As we get closer to the April 23 release date, it’s getting more and more difficult to wait. Thankfully, someone at Netflix knows our pain and gave us this new Shadow and Bone trailer that manages to answer some of the fandom’s biggest questions while not giving away so much that people just tuning in, with no knowledge of the books, will feel like they’ve already seen it all.

The wait is almost over. Thanks to this teaser, we can finally talk about…not much, actually. But at least we have this handful of things that you might or might not have noticed while you were busy screaming about how great the series looks based on just this tiny bit of footage.

What did the Shadow and Bone trailer reveal?

Anyone who’s read Bardugo’s trilogy knows the general story of the first book in the series, which happens to share a name with the Netflix series. The question has always been how much of that gets covered in the show and how it will relate to all the other elements of the Grishaverse. Well, here are some hints.

The plot: In the trailer, we see Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) revealed as the Sun Summoner and a little bit of chatter around what it might mean for her power to combine with someone else’s to save her people. But there are a lot of other threats, some more “normal” than others. Basically, be prepared for Ravka to be in the midst of a war on many fronts, with Alina being right at the center of all of it.

Blink and you’ll miss it: One of the most important parts of the first book in the Shadow and Bone trilogy is the hunt for Morozova’s Stag. Some versions of its cover even include an illustration of the mythical beast in question, set against a swirly blue background.

Right between the 2:23 and 2:24 marks in Netflix’s trailer, there’s a shot of Morozova’s Stag in the forest that is such a brilliant nod to the book cover, it might just send you reeling. There’s a reason this moment is important to point out. Simply put, if you were worried that the Grishaverse was in anything other than capable, respectful hands, such careful attention to that kind of detail is proof that you can rest easily.

Chemistry: Anyone else get palpitations after hearing “the two of us together” and seeing General Kirigan (Ben Barnes) hold the side of Alina’s face, though? Just me? Ok.

Ben Barnes and Jessie Mei Li have these moments in the Shadow and Bone trailer that are just…sizzling. Which, to be fair, Barnes could probably have that same dynamic with a wet paper bag, which the show’s star definitely is not.

But, as you’ll notice, Alina has some really charged moments with someone else, too. If you didn’t swoon over hearing “I’ll find my way back to you,” do you even have a heart?

There’s also something special between Freddy Carter and Amita Suman, which is almost baffling in how little footage you need to pick up on it. Basically, get ready to have a lot of feelings and ship all the things.

Visuals: How cool is Alina Starkov’s power to bring the light? What about all that scary, swirling darkness that is the Shadow Fold? And all that fire…No wonder this series took so long to finally make its way to our screens!

There’s a hint about why the characters from Six of Crows are here…Ok, smart readers and viewers, here’s the deal. We’re sworn to secrecy on how exactly Kaz Brekker, Inej, and Jesper are a part of this story. (For those who don’t know, the entire Shadow and Bone trilogy takes place before we meet The Crows, and the two parts of the Grishaverse happen in different countries, too.)

But! If you pay really close attention to the Shadow and Bone trailer? You might figure it out. Maybe. Unless it’s just another of Pekka Rollins’s lies…

Dying for more? Watch Shadow and Bone on Netflix starting April 23.