Freddy Carter on leading the Crows in Shadow and Bone season 2 (Interview)

Kaz Brekker, played by the charismatic Freddy Carter, led his group of Crows to victory in Shadow and Bone season 1. He’s certainly proved himself to be a great leader, and each member of the group brings something useful, different, and they’ve truly become a sort of family.

According to the season 2 synopsis, we’re going to see them make their way back to Ketterdam, but trouble will be awaiting, as also shown in the sneak video below, right when they get home. Officers are waiting for them, oh no! What could they be in trouble for now? Whatever it is, we know if there’s anyone capable of getting out of it, it’s this group of talented thieves.

Netflix Life had the opportunity to take part in a roundtable interview with the Kaz actor, as well as Danielle Galligan who plays Nina, Calahan Skogman who takes on the role of Matthias, and newcomer Jack Wolfe who plays demolitions expert Wylan. Read on below!

Freddy Carter on leading the Crows in Shadow and Bone season 2

As the sneak preview below shares, Kaz will be leading the group once again in a quest against old foes and old grudges, per the synopsis. He’s definitely “a great leader in lots of ways” as the actor says, but in season 2 that might be a bit questionable.

"[The Crows] may look like a ragtag bunch, but they are sort of perfect for what he needs them for. But I think he gets slightly, over the course of season 2, he gets blindsided by his own personal vendettas and he puts everyone at risk. Which is obviously not a great thing to do as a leader."

Nina joining the Crows was “magic”

That’s all we can say for now, but you’ll find out soon enough what all this means! And while on these adventures, the Crows need some new allies. That comes in the form of the beautiful heartrender, Nina. The fan-favorite joins the team this season to help them, and perhaps they can help her in return as she attempts to help Matthias after she accused him of being a slave trader to save his life. So you know, a typical day in a romantic relationship.

Galligan described her first day with her co-stars as “magic,” but was nervous to join an already tight-knit group of actors and their characters.

"You kind of just hope that you can find your place within that and enhance it and not disrupt what they had built too much. But it was wonderful. It was wonderful seeing the different sides of Nina as well. Each Crow is so individual and it brings out a different side to her which is really fun to play."

Matthias’ “absolutely hellish prison”

And speaking of her handsome Fjerdan drüskelle, the last we saw Matthias, his captors were leading him to Hellgate, a high-security prison outside of Ketterdam. And as Skogman shares, it’s not really the funnest place to be. Both the actor and character are pretty separated physically from everyone this season. But the star describes how he thinks the story does well in staying connected overall, and just where Matthias’ mindset is.

"He’s trying to figure out his life in an absolutely hellish prison where he is suffering emotionally from the decisions he’s made, and obviously the place is quite dangerous as well. So he’s really locked in survival mode while trying to conquer what are now a growing number of demons. And trying to navigate that whilst being heartbroken and having betrayed his country, not knowing if he’s ever going to see the light of day. It’s very isolating in its nature, but I think what’s great about the show is that when we do touch base with him in Hellgate, it does feel connected and it does feel a part of the greater story at large and certainly where the group of Crows are going.So I think when I was doing those scenes, I was really trying to focus on that. I was very aware of what these guys were doing and where they were going. And I know at some point that collision course is going to happen. So how can I serve that larger story whilst not actually being in consistent dialogue with them was the challenge of the season. But I’m proud of what I did and what they did as well."

The stories may be on a “collision course,” but that doesn’t necessarily mean the character and his beloved will reunite. Will they? We don’t know, we’ll have to wait and see!

Jack Wolfe teases romance in season 2

As a last tease for you Shadow and Bone fans, Wylan actor Jack Wolfe shares some interesting developments in the romance department for certain characters. We already know Kaz and Inej have sparks flying from the first season Will that continue in season 2?

"There are so many types of romantic love – quick burns, slow burns, chaos, real star-crossed romance. And in this season, it’s exciting I think because we get to explore each of those and what those can bring [to the story]."

Shadow and Bone season 2 premieres Thursday, March 16, 2023 on Netflix.