Episode 8 of Shadow and Bone's second season commences with the Crows, accompanied by Nikolai, reuniting and venturing into the depths of the Fold in search of Alina and Mal. Inside the ominous darkness, they discover the place desolate, with Volcra swarming in attack. Frantically, the group retreats into the Chapel, where Jesper employs his expertise to secure the locks.
Meanwhile, in the gloom, Alina cries out for Nina, desperate for assistance to save Mal, whose life is rapidly ebbing away. With every labored breath, Mal grasps a blade and urges Alina to take action. Red fissures spark between them as Alina confesses her love. "You know where to find me," he whispers, his form beginning to dissipate.
With a determined thrust, Alina pierces Mal's heart with the blade, and a devastating shockwave emerges, shattering the Fold and annihilating its dark depths. Yet, the relentless shadow creatures persist in their assault. Fortunately, Inej arrives, wielding the sacred blade to decimate the creatures, while Nadia harnesses her Grisha abilities to tip the scales in their favor.
With Mal's apparent demise, Kirigan confronts Alina, mocking her efforts. He warns that her actions have altered nothing, claiming to balance her light like a yin and yang, yet his control over the shadows is faltering. He confesses that their love was the only time he knew true peace, envisioning their lips intertwined.
Alina, having heard enough, strikes Kirigan with a decisive blow. As blood trickles from his lips, he begs her to ensure he leaves no trace, collapsing onto the ground.
Back in the Chapel, Nikolai narrowly escapes a Shadow monster's shadowy grasp, saved only by Kirigan's collapse. The creature, having breached the defenses, releases its hold on Nikolai's shoulder and dissipates.
Outside, Nina struggles to revive Mal, clutching his hand tightly. Alina ponders using Merzost to restore him but discards the idea, relying instead on her unwavering faith and conviction (alongside the might of narrative armor) to bring him back. Indeed, when Mal regains consciousness, even Alina is astonished by this miraculous turn of events.
In the wake of the battle, Alina expresses her gratitude to Inej for her crucial role. She also speaks to Mal, who acknowledges that he has changed since his return but believes that Alina is destined for greater things. He ponders what role he should play in her life, acknowledging that from his perspective, and with the Firebird incident behind them, he may be hindering her from achieving her destined greatness.
In the chaotic aftermath, Genya loses track of David. Her heart falters, unable to detect his pulse, convinced he's vanished into the abyss of oblivion. To add salt to the wound, she discovers a sketch of an engagement ring in his bag, a promise now shattered. Her heart shatters too, tears streaming down her face as she mourns the loss of her beloved.
As the characters gather, they watch Kirigan's body consumed by flames. "Goodbye, Aleksander," Alina whispers, dropping the torch onto the pyre and witnessing his final moments. Nikolai steps forward, his voice ringing with determination, speaking of a united Ravka on the cusp of a new dawn, a dawn that promises to reshape their lives with a renewed purpose and a brighter world for all.
Alone with Mal, Alina whispers of a fresh start, a life as a Privateer. It seems Nikolai's words have had an impact, and Mal accepts the challenge, ready to embark on a new journey. Yet, it's still painful for Alina to see her beloved depart, her tears barely held in check.
Mal prepares for his new adventure, Nikolai offering him his compass and a spot on the Hummingbird. Inej joins Tolya and Tamar, the true captains of this new quest, their eyes fixed on the horizon.
In a surprising turn, Kaz finds Inej in the chapel, revealing that Lantsov has settled his debts and they will all receive their due. Nina, she'll be granted pardons for her desertion and Matthias' release from prison. But Kaz knows that keeping Matthias out of trouble will be a challenge.
Kaz hands Inej a note, revealing his secret efforts to help her find her family. She offers him a grateful smile and confesses that she'll be praying for Jordie. Kaz hesitates, his true intentions on the tip of his tongue, but he falters, instead speaking of being buried with riches. But as Inej prepares to leave, Kaz finally confesses, offering her a place by his side in Ketterdam. Their hands meet, just as in her vision, but this time, it's not a mirage induced by poison. "I will have you, stripped of your armor or without you entirely," Inej says firmly. But Kaz, the leader of the Crows, is left watching helplessly as she walks away, unwilling to confront his own doubts and insecurities.
Matthias strides into the cage, his eyes burning with determination for the fight to the death. Nina rushes in with a pardon for his life, but the indifferent promoter dismisses it, claiming the inevitable cannot be halted. As the fight looms, two wolves emerge from the shadows, poised to attack... until Matthias kneels, his eyes locking with the beasts, and somehow draws them to his side. Guards descend, swords drawn, yet the wolves fight valiantly alongside Matthias. In the chaos, Nina's pardon slips from her grasp, falling unnoticed to the floor as she's yanked away from the bars and ejected from the arena. Pekka swiftly takes command, ensuring Matthias is escorted back to his cell. Kaz returns to the Crow Club, resuming his former duties, but the fight is far from over.
We had witnessed earlier Nikolai's assault by a sinister shadow creature, and it seems he has been infected. Indeed, as he dresses for his union with Alina in the hopes of safeguarding the Kingdom, a shadow monster emerges from a gnarled knot on his back. Nikolai shakes it off, resolute for his momentous day.
However, no one anticipated the emergence of a new drug, Jurda Parem, a highly addictive substance that amplifies Grisha's powers a thousandfold. The chemist who created it fled to Kerch, realizing the implications of his creation, but the Fjerdans captured him, and he now awaits judgment. Should the Fjerdans weaponize this drug, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Returning to the wedding, the festivities turn into a bloodbath reminiscent of Shadow and Bone's own red wedding. The woman stands, triggering a grim cascade as guests begin to hemorrhage and face imminent death. Alina acts swiftly, slicing the woman in half, but this battle reveals a deeper, more sinister undercurrent.
