Episode 4 of Shadow and Bone masterfully unravels its narrative into diverse threads, intertwining the longing of Alina and Mal for each other's letters. The tale resumes several weeks after the tumultuous events of previous episodes. Mal, dispatched to Chernest, faces relentless Fjerdan raids by night. His efforts to pen letters to the Little Palace are futile, and similarly, Mal hears no echo from Alina.
General Kirigan has dispatched various units in pursuit of the fabled Morozova's Stag. Recognizing this as a potential path back to Alina, Mal readily volunteers for the hunting party. He is not alone, as Mikhael and Dubrov join him in this quest.
Meanwhile, Alina and Aleksander Kirigan forge a deeper bond, as the latter comprehends her struggle with her powers. Together, they delve into the history of the Fold and its origins. Centuries ago, King Anastas employed a Grisha as his military strategist. Tragically, this heretic abused forbidden science to create an army, inadvertently birthing the Fold and meeting his demise alongside countless lives.
The answer to this legacy lies in Alina, destined by prophecy to harness her might to vanquish the Fold once and for all. Should she falter, she might suffer the same fate as the heretic. This realization propels Alina back to Baghra for rigorous training. The unconventional sessions are marked by harsh slaps and menacing threats, yet they barely scrape the surface of Alina's latent power. As a next step, Baghra spikes Alina's tea, plunging her into visions of her orphanage days, particularly the fateful testing.
Amidst the misty hues of Kribirsk, nestled in the eastern reaches of Ravka, Jesper and his companions paused to reflect on their perilous journey through the Shadow Fold and pondered what awaited them next. Their target: a daring heist at the Royal Archives, which entailed a heartfelt farewell to their faithful companion, the goat Milo.
With Kaz assuming the guise of a sculptor, he artfully procured the measurements of the main entrance, setting the stage for Inej's daring dive from the rooftop. She swiftly replicated the intricate schematics, while Jesper skillfully blended in among the unsuspecting guards.
The gang reunited at the bustling bar, where the Conductor introduced Marko, a member of a performing troupe who had suffered a tragic loss of their star performer—a loss orchestrated by the Conductor himself. This presented an opportune entry point into the Little Palace, if only Inej could lend her unique abilities to their cause. Jesper, too, utilized his marksmanship, while Kaz devised his own cunning plan for infiltration.
Meanwhile, Matthias confronted his prisoner, Nina, a Heartrender, and attempted to coerce her into divulging information on the enigmatic Darkling. However, Nina refused to betray her secrets, even as the ship encountered tumultuous waves that night, leaving her chained to the swaying rafters.
Elsewhere, Mal, Dubhrov, and Mikhael faced a brutal attack in the frigid wasteland. A machine-gunner lurked in the woods, unleashing a barrage of bullets that rained down upon the forest, forcing Mal to the ground. When he awoke, he discovered that his companions had fallen victim to the merciless attack. Crawling across the frozen terrain, Mal eliminated the guards, only to mourn the loss of his fallen friends.
In the distance, a mythical stag emerged from the shadows, its antlers glinting in the light. Mal stared in disbelief, just as the camera shifted to Alina, who entrusted Genya to erase the scar of her childhood from her palm.
