Does Mal die in Shadow and Bone season 2? (spoilers)

It’s time to return to the Grishaverse! Shadow and Bone season 2 has finally premiered on Netflix, and it’s an exciting season that’s well worth that nearly two-year wait.

In the second season, Shadow and Bone continues the fight between good and evil as Alina (Jessie Mei Li) looks to bring down both the Shadow Fold and The Darkling (Ben Barnes). It won’t be easy, and there surely will be some lives lost in the battle.

But is Mal (Archie Renaux) one of the characters we said goodbye to in Shadow and Bone season 2? Here’s the spoiler-filled explanation of what happens to Mal in the second season and what it means in the grand scheme of the series.

WARNING: Major spoilers ahead from Shadow and Bone season 2!

Does Mal die in Shadow and Bone season 2?

Yes, Mal does die in Shadow and Bone season 2. However, don’t worry… It’s a temporary death. While a “fake-out” death might be annoying to some viewers, many viewers will also be very happy to know that Mal makes it through. He’s one of the (if not the) best characters!

Upon the discovery that Mal’s connected to the Morozova bloodline and that he’s the Firebird, he and Alina realize he’s destined to die in order for Alina to assume the power of the third amplifier. While they look to avoid Alina having to kill him, Mal gets injured during the battle with The Darkling, forcing Alina to drive a knife in his heart to end his suffering and bring down the fold.

Who brings Mal back to life in Shadow and Bone season 2?

While Mal does die for a brief period of time, Alina calls on the help of Nina, a Crow and a heartrender, to revive Mal. Nina stuggles to use her power to bring Mal back, prompting Alina to secretly use merzost to bring him back from the dead. She hadn’t previously used this version of her power before, and she’s well aware of the potential costs.

Does Mal lose his Morozova connection after being revived?

After Alina brings Mal back from the dead, he struggles with being alive after having served his purpose. Based on the prophecy of the three amplifiers, he was destined to die in order for Alina to take on the power of all three. Now that he’s back, and without the thing that seemingly made him special, he feels lost.

Technically, when he comes back to life, Mal does lose his role as the Firebird after Alina uses the amplifier power when she kills him. He might not be the Firebird, but he’s still a descendant of Morozova and in the same bloodline as The Darkling. As he looks to chart a new course post-Firebird, Mal helms the Hummingbird as the new Sturmhond.

What did you think of Mal’s story in Shadow and Bone season 2? Share your thoughts in the comments, and make sure to watch the new episodes on Netflix!