Every Monstrous Thing is the fourth episode of season 2 of Netflix's Shadow and Bone and the twelfth episode of the series overall.
Synopsis[]
Alina reconsiders a proposed partnership that could help unite Ravka. With vengeance nearly his, Kaz moves the final pieces of his plan into place.
Plot summary[]
Alina and Nikolai sit with the Royal family. Nikolai announces their engagement, causing tensions to arise everywhere, including with Nikolai's mother, who expresses her concerns. Vasily, Nikolai's brother, is also looking to meddle. He spies on Mal and Alina's secret conversation.
Despite exchanging a tender moment and promising to continue their love in secret, Mal believes that Alina should focus on finding the Firebird. Alina remains committed to the cause, believing that Ravka needs saving through diplomatic means.
David manages to find his way to the palace. He tells Nikolai and Alina what Kirigan is up to, mentioning Genya's sacrifice to free him. However, Alina does not trust David and has him sent to the holding cells instead. As the leader of the Second Army, she faces the difficult decision of dealing with the shadow monsters, which cannot be killed.
Genya is locked up with Baghra in a cage. She tries to escape but can’t get out. When Kirigan arrives, he looks at her with disgust and has her taken away, unwilling even to look at her scarred face. He plans to use her as an example to teach others about insolence.
Before Kaz's big plan of vengeance and retribution is put into action, he warns Inej that if things go wrong, she should take her brother and leave the city quickly. His plan involves Wylan and Jesper distributing Komedie Brute costumes and vials of the compound to all the Dregs, with Haskell's gang providing them with cover. Meanwhile, Nina and Kaz head for the Emerald Palace. Nina suddenly turns and hits Kaz in the face.
Mal tells Nikolai that there might be something out there capable of killing the shadow creatures. Specifically, an ancient sword called the Neshyenyer that can pierce right through shadow.
The original sword was stolen, but Tolya and Zoya begin heading to Ketterdam to meet with the Crows, who can go with them to Shu Han and track it down. This could swing the balance of power in their favor. After Mal says goodbye to the group, Vasily, Nikolai's brother, knocks out and imprisons Mal for being a deserter of the army.
Nina brings Kaz to Pekka, who beats him down, not realizing that Kaz's crew is there and trying to make it look like the Firepox plague has returned. When Pekka finally discovers the truth, he realizes that Nina has been playing him the entire time and did not betray Kaz. Kaz reveals his trump card: Alby Rollins's kidnapping and possible death. Kaz forces Pekka to beg down on his knees. Kaz tells him to sign a confession for the murders of Tante Heleen and Constable Sem, and a quitclaim deed for Inej Ghafa if he wants his son to live. He does so and Kaz reveals Alby's supposed location.
As Pekka goes to Black Veil Cemetery, he sees Alby Rollins arrive unscathed in a horse-drawn carriage. He witnesses his father being taken into custody for Tante's murder. Kaz speaks to Inej and gives her the deed, but also commands her to leave the group for going against his orders and freeing prisoners without his consent.
At Nikolai and Alina's engagement party, chaos erupts when Vasily threatens to expose Alina's relationship with Mal. However, before he can do so, monstrous shadow creatures break in through the glass ceiling dome wreaking havoc and brutally tearing Vasily apart.
As Alina and the rest of the group (excluding Mal) hastily evacuate the party venue, Alina runs into Kirigan. He asks her to partner with him but Alina vehemently refuses, prompting Kirigan to tell the creature to attack her friends. Alina tries to use her powers to protect everyone. The ceiling caves in around them.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Jessie Mei Li as Alina Starkov
- Archie Renaux as Malyen Oretsev
- Freddy Carter as Kaz Brekker
- Amita Suman as Inej Ghafa
- Kit Young as Jesper Fahey
- Patrick Gibson as Nikolai Lantsov
- Daisy Head as Genya Safin
- Danielle Galligan as Nina Zenik
- Calahan Skogman as Matthias Helvar
- Lewis Tan as Tolya Yul-Bataar
- Jack Wolfe as Wylan Hendriks
- Anna Leong Brophy as Tamar Kir-Bataar
- Zoë Wanamaker as Baghra
- Ben Barnes as General Kirigan
Guest starring[]
Co-starring[]
- Keir Charles as Colonel Raevsky
- Sujaya Dasgupta as Zoya Nazyalensky
- Edward Davis as Vasily Lantsov
- Fflyn Edwards as Young Kaz
- Taylor Fay as Alby Rollins
- Máté Haumann as Florian
- Tamas Hagyo as Kerch Sailor
- Sandor Laczko as First Army Captain
- Panka Murányi as Indentured Woman
- Piroska Mészáros as Seamstress
- Drummond Money-Coutts as Magician
- Alistair Nwachukwu as Adrik Zhabin
- Peter Pal as Guard
- Robert Papdi as Errol
- Shobhit Piasa as Vladim
- Rachel Redford as Fruzsi
- Georgia Reece as Tatiana Lantsov
- Tommy Rodger as Jordie
- Kata Sarbo as Passing Woman
- Iliász Shweirif as Doughty
- Attila Széll as Croupier
- Harry Szovik as Patron
- David Verrey as King Pyotr
- David Wurawa as Edyck
Gallery[]
- See more here
Trivia[]
- A statue of Sankt Juris can be seen at the end of the episode.[1]