In case you missed it, Netflix dropped a pretty big adaptation recently. Based on the novel of the same name by Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone is probably one of the most anticipated shows of the year. It’s just over a week old and fans are already hungry for more (while Netflix hasn’t made a formal announcement yet, it’s been rumoured that a second season has already been green lit). Here’s the interesting thing though; Shadow and Bone (along with the trilogy it launches) is only a single entry in a much larger narrative called the Grishaverse.
The Grishaverse is the fantasy world (inspired by Russian history and culture) that the majority of Bardugo’s books inhabit. In it a fraction of the population is born with an innate ability to control specific types of magic (think of them as a version of mutants). Called Grisha, they were once widely feared and persecuted (also like mutants) but are now the elite backbone of the Rafkan military. Rafka is a country weakened by centuries of separation by The Fold, a near impenetrable barrier of dark magic created by an enormously powerful Grisha history refers to as the Dark Heretic.
Including Shadow and Bone, nine books currently take place in the Grishaverse. One trilogy, a pair of duologies and two collections of short stories. And you have to think that based on the commercial success of the books and the immense popularity among fans, Bargdugo probably has some more adventures for her fantasy world not too far up her bestselling sleeve.
What’s also interesting is that Netflix’s adaptation isn’t really just one book. Shadow and Bone also includes characters from The Six of Crows, one of those aforementioned duologies that also take place in Bardugo’s Grishaverse. The events in Crows actually unravel several years after Shadow and Bone’s trilogy ends (SoC centres around the bandits that make their way prominently into Shadow and Bone’s story during the adaptation).
This isn’t the only significant change Netflix made. Mal, one third of the story’s primary love triangle, goes from being an emotional narcissist in the books to a reliable and decent friend in the show. Netflix also inserted a backstory that sheds light on the motivation of the story’s antagonist, something the books didn’t touch much on. But instead of being upset by the changes, many fans have eaten them up (both the Grishaverse and Bardugo herself command massive brand power among Young Adult literary circles). Which begs the question; is Netflix missing a huge opportunity here?
If the show’s creative powers (including Bardugo) had found a way to make Shadow and Bone a compelling and self contained show without elements from other books in the Grishaverse (with the potential to make the other two titles in the trilogy into their own seasons), they could have turned the Grishaverse into a shared streaming universe.
Not only would Netflix have the core Shadow and Bone show, it could also have one adapted from the Six of Crows books as well as another from The King of Scars (the other duology in the Grishaverse). They could even turn the collections of short stories-The Language of Thorns and The Lives of Saints-into anthologies that ran parallel to the core shows, answering questions fans who haven’t read the books would likely have.
Bardugo could even write new stories for Netflix’s Grishaverse, whether they appear on the small screen before book shelves or remain exclusive to the streaming service. There would have to be a lot of co-ordination and plenty of attention paid to timing to prevent spoilers, but a shared Grishaverse done right would be a lucrative gravy train for Netflix.
And that’s the other side of this equation.
Netflix may have been the first player to the game, but it’s no longer the only kid on the streaming block. While it still boasts the most global subscribers, DisneyPlus is charging hard and Amazon Prime can’t be that far behind. HBOMax’s decision to finally extpand it’s service beyond the United States could well be a game changer in the streaming wars and both Peacock and ParamountPlus will be jockeying for market position.Â
Everyone is trying to establish an identity through the content they offer. From Marvel and Star Wars to ESPN and National Geographic, Disney is building a massive selection from it’s entire range of brands. HBOMax is trying to follow suit while Peacock and Paramount are trying to position themselves as improved streaming replacements for traditional television networks (streamlining their various divisions and offering news and sports alongside other content).
Netflix has done well offering original anime, investing in original international content and taking a chance on stuff others either turned their backs on or wouldn’t touch (though they could still be a little more discerning about what they attach their name to). And we’re about to see how well they do with Mark Millar’s comic book universe when Jupiter‘s Legacy drops May 7th. Becoming a home for quality adaptations of bestselling Young Adult literature wouldn’t be a bad feather to add to an already excellent cap. It hits the demographic everyone’s chasing and if they don’t do it, someone else will (ask any book store what their top selling book categories are and they’ll usually tell you it’s stuff aimed at kids and teenagers).
And it would make their plan to offer something new every week a little easier to pull off.
The streaming wars truly are shaping up to be a no-holds barred death match for the attention and dollars of consumers. It’s no secret the best way to gain an advantage is through attractive and appealing content.
So wouldn’t a shared Grishaverse be an exciting and successful addition to Netflix’s current arsenal? And a perfect test for future ammunition in the ongoing war against their competitors? It seems like it would be a win-win for everyone involved (provided they could pull it off).
Maybe that is Netflix’s game plan and they just haven’t tipped their hand yet. Maybe they’re waiting to see how Shadow and Bone does before unveiling their master plan (while Netflix is super secretive about the performance of it’s original shows, Shadow’s reception on social media has been overwhelmingly positive so far).
But if a shared Grishaverse isn’t in the streaming cards, isn’t Netflix cheating itself out of a possible home run? And in the heating battle for streaming supremacy, can it afford to?
