After a very brief encounter with the Crows, Alina very easily falls back into her own plot – reunited with Mal and on a quest to hunt down the mythical stag. It’s a bit disappointing, honestly. I’ve always been a proponent of Malina, and it’s a good story, but I was just promised a different story. Meeting the Crows didn’t do anything to Alina or her trajectory and I really wish it had. That isn’t to say something isn’t coming in the future, but as the follow up episode it’s a bit of a let down.
We do get a showdown between the Crows and some select Grisha. Inej kills again, in self defense. Jesper gets the better of Ivan – unnecessary but fun to see. The Darkling has a one-on-one with Kaz. Their interaction is certainly a new tack of the show to take. Is Kaz as hopeless as the Darkling, or does he still have a bit of humanity left? His flashbang dispelled the Darkling’s Cut with a brilliant light. None of it is explored too deeply though. The only hint is Kaz and Inej’s converation about Inej’s religious devoutism, which introduces frissure into their partnership. It’s something that’s definitely going to have impact down the line. As long as the Crows are in Ravka, though, it seems as though their story isn’t being allowed to move forward.
There’s a legitimate fear of changing the characters so much in the prequel that they’re unrecognizable by the time they get to “Six of Crows.” Except, now they’re stuck. Is Kaz going to go after The Darkling? Doubtful. Stealing the Darkling’s carriage is irreverent fun, but what is it doing for themes of the show? The Crows are going to need something in their path that’s as big as Alina tracking down the stag and dispelling the Fold. Otherwise, what are they even here for?
On the other side of the world, Nina and Matthias are falling in love in a frozen wasteland. (Couples needing the other’s Grisha powers/body heat to survive is a running theme this ep.) Nina is crass, forward, and lewd. By the end of the episode, witch hunter/Nazi Matthias is saving her life. Nina is playing a much more dangerous game than she was in the books, though. Trained as the Darkling’s spy, Nina is used to winning people over to her side. It’s not her obsession with her opressors that motivates to her learn Fjerdan but her job. Without Nina’s point of view chapters from the book, she’s a much more dangerous and shifty character. Does she love Matthias or is she manipulating him? Now there’s just as much chance that Matthias can teach Nina about loyalty and trust as she can teach him about prejuidice and autonomy.
NOTES w/BOOK SPOILERS
- Zoya has the hots for the Darkling. That’s gonna go well.
- Underlit by her own powers, Mal says, “I finally see you.”
- Ivan’s sweet nameless boyfriend has a grudge against Mal
- “I’ll always find you.” vs “Druskelle do not get lost.”
- I haven’t mentioned it enough but the music is all around outstanding.
- THE DARKLING DOES COMEDY?!?