Shadow and Bone season 2 recap guide: All 8 episodes explained

Shadow and Bone season 2 episode 4 recap: “Every Monstrous Thing”

The fourth episode of Shadow and Bone season 2 is when things really start to get interesting. It’s been a bit of a slow start this season, but that all changes in “Every Monstrous Thing.” Things get spicy, they really do.

Nikolai announces his engagement to Alina, which makes his family made. Nikolai knows the Lantsovs joining with Alina gives them a chance, albeit a small one, to eventually defeat the Darkling and unify Ravka. That’s the thing the country needs, but not everyone is happy.

Obviously, Mal doesn’t want Alina to marry Nikolai. They are in love, and he wants to be with her. The other Lantsovs, especially King Visely, Nikolai’s big brother, do not want this union, but it’s happening anyway, although they’re going to do whatever they can to stop it.

David also returns and reveals Alina and the Darkling have a connection. Genya, who was permanently scarred by the Darkling’s Shadow Monsters, is held captive with Baghra.

Alina still can’t get used to her powers after obtaining the Sea Whip amplifier, and she knows she needs more power. Mal finds a sword, the Neshyenyar, that could help Alina defeat the Darkling and destroy the Fold. Nikolai enlists the help of the Crows in stealing this sword.

It all goes down at Nikolai and Alina’s engagement party. Mal goes missing, thanks to Visely, who also let everyone in the kingdom know that Alina and Nikolai would be there. Obviously, the Darkling knows, and he sends in his Shadow Monsters to get the party started. Visely is killed, which opens the door for Nikolai to be the King of Ravka, if they can survive.

The Darkling contacts Alina through their amplifier connection before they meet and fight in real life. Alina and co. barely escape underground.

In the episode, we also see Kaz get revenge on Pekka Rollins. Kaz partners with Nina to pull a prank of sorts on Pekka by telling him in front of his whole gang that his son Alby is buried somewhere. Pekka must confess to the two murders that Kaz is charged with and release Inej from her contract at the menagerie, which he does. Kaz never actually kidnapped and buried his son, though. Pekka is arrested at the end of the episode.

Baghra and Genya also escape the Darkling while he is attacking Nikolai and Alina’s engagement party.