The following contains spoilers from Shadow and Bone Season 2, now streaming on Netflix.

Even in the age of binge-watching TV, Shadow and Bone Season 2's final two episodes work as a seamless two-parter. Their run time underscores the action-packed episodes' cinematic tone. This season's two-part finale doesn't just rival the best Marvel movies and blockbusters like them; it exceeds them. Blockbuster action movies can fall into the trap of reserving too much of their final act for the big, CGI action sequences, leaving little to no time to see how it all affects the characters -- let alone the world in which the story exists.

Shadow and Bone subverts those expectations by embracing one of its medium's greatest strengths -- longevity. The final two episodes of the season bring the plot to a boiling point while carving out necessary space for the characters. Season 2, Episode 7, "Meet You in The Meadow," raises the stakes for Season 2, Episode 8, "No Funerals," to examine the fallout. It's a successful tactic with all the theatrical highs of a final battle -- action, emotion, memorable lines, iconic entrances -- while utilizing its time to prioritize character development.

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Shadow and Bone's 'Meet You in the Meadow' Brings the Blockbuster Action

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Like any blockbuster about the fight between good and evil, Shadow and Bone Season 2 builds up to the confrontation between Alina Starkov and The Darkling, otherwise known as General Aleksander Kirigan. "Meet You in the Meadow" shows all the expected scenes of both sides preparing for the fight. Even then, the character work never comes secondary to the action sequences. Instead, the latter's purpose becomes more finely tuned because of the effort Shadow and Bone puts into the former -- before and during the battle.

For instance, after the revelation about him being the Firebird, "Meet You in the Meadow" course corrects to give Mal the internal work that brings more gravity to the episode's cliffhanger. It also provides closure to one portion of Mal's arc and teases the beginning of another as Sturmhond. The episode creates new knots in existing threads with Genya and David's discussion of gems, reinforcing Genya's self-worth and deepening their relationship. The calmer beats also foreshadow David and Nikolai's friend Dominik's sacrifices during the battle. All of which express an awareness of what raising the stakes means for the characters.

Still, Shadow and Bone delivers big-screen action through flying shipwrecks, various Grisha power battles and epic hand-to-hand combat. The most notable of the latter in "Meet You in the Meadow" is the one-shot sequence from a Season 2-newcomer Tolya Yul-Bataar. It uses slow motion to distinguish every decisive move and highlight Lewis Tan's talent in the role. Of course, the action brings cheer-worthy entrances from the Crows, too, whether it be Inej arriving in time to wield Sankta Neyar's sword Neshyenyer to save Alina or Kaz, Jesper and Wylan bringing an explosive edge to the battle. It's a propulsive, action-filled episode that usually leads to the final minutes of an MCU movie, but Shadow and Bone goes further.

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Shadow and Bone's 'No Funerals' Packs a Different Kind of Punch

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Because Shadow and Bone is a television show, "No Funerals" can hold space for another 45 minutes of storytelling after the fight ends in the first 15. There is no rush to tie a bow on this chapter following the Darkling meeting his demise after surviving the Fold at the end of Season 1. Instead, the episode shows the minor and major effects of the large-scale battle and the destruction of the Fold. Interesting character pairings and fun one-liners infuse the weight of the aftermath with some necessary levity. For example, despite the extreme circumstances, it's a joy to see Nikolai Lantsov, who can make or break Season 2, and the Crows team up this early in the Grishaverse's adaptation.

As for the Crows, "No Funerals" uses the battle to reframe their dynamics, granting the characters a chance to find a new perspective after (another) close call with death. So, as the dust settles, this episode delivers a Kaz and Inej scene that Six of Crows fans can likely recite from memory. It's an electric and emotional moment contributing to Kaz and Inej's slow burn. Still, not all of the compelling scenes in "No Funerals" pertain to romantic relationships. The episode strikes a chord with the dynamic between Alina, Genya and Zoya, as all three play an influential -- and fitting -- role in ridding the Grishaverse of the Darkling. That character-driven beat is one Shadow and Bone knows it shouldn't let fall to the wayside.

Ultimately, it's rewarding for Shadow and Bone to find the time to ground its story with heartfelt reunions (Jesper hugging Inej) and reflective character work (Mal questioning his role) after such a prolonged battle. "No Funerals" sets up plenty of stories for a third season, including a tongue-in-cheek nod to the Six of Crows duology, as expected in a season finale. However, the story only gets to that point by giving its characters more than five minutes to catch their breath. So Shadow and Bone Season 2 proves that bringing big-screen thrills to the small screen is possible without sacrificing characters because the medium's longevity supports it as long as the story does.

Shadow and Bone Seasons 1-2 are streaming on Netflix now.