If you haven't seen it on Netflix lately, there's a popular new fantasy television series (with eight episodes) called Shadow and Bone. It's based on the Grisha novel trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. The three novels in the trilogy are Shadow and Bone (from which the television show's name derives), Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising. The costumes and sets on the show are spectacular and the designs are based on 18th and 19th-century Russian garments with a few Victorian-era garments and other inspirations along the way. Let's take a look at some of the characters and their costumes on the show.
Official Trailer
For those who haven't had a chance to see the show yet, make sure to watch it before reading these blogs as they may contain spoilers. Here's the trailer to pique your interest.
Episodes 1-3 Recap
The episode opens in East Ravka where Alina, a cartographer, is reunited with her childhood friend, Mal. Mal is chosen to go across the Fold, which is a dangerous dark place, swarming with monsters called the Volcra. To join the crew, Alina sabotages the maps so that they'd need a cartographer to join the crew. When in the fold and under attack by the Volcra, Alina discovers her Sun Summoner powers, using them unintentionally to fight off the Volcra to protect Mal.
In the second episode, Alina is taken to General Kirigan to prove her power and is taken to the Little Palace, but is ambushed by Grisha-hunters and rescued by Kirigan.
In the third episode, Alina meets with Genya Safin, a tailor, preparing her to meet King Pytor at court. She meets The Apparat in the library who tells her about the stag she's dreamt of. Alina begins her training with Baghra.
In the subplot, the Crows compete for a mission that pays one million kruge. Inej is asked by her former boss, Tante, to kill The Conductor but Kaz stops her from completing the mission. The Crows need to break into the Little Palace and can do so with the help of a Heartrender called Nina Zenik, but she's captured by the drüskelle before they meet with her. The three travel through the fold even though they're short on the coal needed to make the journey.
Alina Starkov
Alina is one of our main protagonists. She's an orphan and former assistant cartographer in the Royal Corps of Surveyors in the First Army. We later find out she's a Grisha and the Sun Summoner, which is a rare power.
When we first meet Alina, she wears the uniform of a soldier in green with a blue scarf (that she later loses on the ship). The tailoring is crisp and the garment looks like it'll stand up to all types of weather!
Once Alina goes to the Little Palace she wears a Grish garment called a kefta. Each kefta colour is determined by the Grish order and the colours of embroidery on the cuffs and hems signify the wearer's powers and abilities.
Malyen 'Mal' Oretsev
Alina's childhood best friend is also an orphan. He's a tracker in the First Army. In these first few episodes, we see him only in military dress.
Kaz Brekker
Kaz is the leader of the Crows, one of several prominent gangs in the city of Ketterdam, and is known as 'Dirtyhands' since he is known for doing any job, no matter the danger or violence involved as long as he makes money from it. Kaz dresses in dark colours and dark tailored garments.
Inej Ghafa
Inej is a member of the Crows and works as a spy. We first see her in a large wool overcoat with multiple fastenings that conceals a vest where she keeps her many knives.
Jesper Fahey
Another member of the Crows, Jesper is a skilled sharpshooter. Jesper enjoys fashion and dresses to impress and is seen in various tailored pieces. He wears a tailored wool coat, always with the collar turned up, and a hat reminiscent of Victoria-era criminals. He usually wears a thick wool waistcoat in stylish fabrics.
The Darkling
Also known as General Aleksander Kirigan, The Darkling is a Shadow Summoner and General of the Second Army.
Kirigan wears military-style clothing underneath his dark jacket with military fastenings in gold. He wears only black.
Other characters
Soldiers
The First and Second army wear different garments. The First army wears more traditional green where the Grish soldiers wear blues and reds and have garments more inspired by the Tsarist Russian army in World War I (except with fur hats instead).
Baghra, Alina's Grisha trainer
Baghra wears loose-fitting garments almost like a fortune-teller.
Nina Zenik, a heartrender captured by the drüskelle
Genya Safin, known as 'the Tailor'
Genya acts sort of like a lady in waiting for Alina and wears stunning embroidered garments, showing off her red hair.
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