Shadow & Bone Has Its Own Version Of A Classic Game Of Thrones Line

 aShadow and Bone has its own take on a classic line from Game of Thrones. On the surface, Netflix’s Shadow and Bone and HBO’s Game of Thrones are very different shows. One is more YA steampunk, while the other is an adult fantasy full of dragons and White Walkers. However, one line in Netflix’s new show seems to intentionally give a nod to HBO’s fantasy juggernaut.

Based on the Grishaverse novels by author Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone tells the story of Alina Sharkov, a special orphan living in the Russia-inspired nation of Ravka. Some occupants of this world are magical people called Grisha, who can manipulate the elements. But after an attack, Alina discovers she may be the most powerful Grisha of all. With the ability to manipulate light, Alina is thought to be a legendary Sun Summoner. Many now believe Alina can destroy something called the Shadow Fold, a large swathe of land covered in darkness and full of monsters.

Netflix’s Shadow and Bone starts out with interesting dialogue from Alina: “When I was young, I was afraid of the dark. When I got older, I learned that darkness is a place, and it’s full of monsters.” The line is powerful, it’s evocative, and it immediately gives shades of Game of Thrones. HBO’s show was known for its quotable phrases showing up throughout pop culture, and one of its most popular was: “The night is dark and full of terrors.” The line, first spoken by Melisandre in season 2 of Game of Thrones, sounded almost exactly like what Alina narrates.

The fact that Shadow and Bone begins with this line seems to intentionally evoke Game of Thrones is a clever way for Netflix to attract viewers with a new fantasy binge. Alina’s line may have an even deeper connection to Game of Thrones. In HBO’s hit show, Melisandre was a Red Priestess and a follower of the Lord of Light. Like Alina, her enemy is darkness. With Alina being a Sun Summoner and a light manipulator, it’s fitting that she would be the one to paraphrase Melisandre. There are other, more tangible, Game of Thrones connections in the series as well. In addition to both stories being epic, sweeping fantasies, David J. Peterson, who came up with the various languages for Game of Thrones, including Dothraki and High Valyrian, also worked on languages in Shadow and Bone. 

Still, despite appearing to have some Game of Thrones influence, Shadow and Bone is not the same show. Unlike George R.R. Martin’s medieval aesthetic in Game of Thrones, the Shadow and Bone author describes her series as more Tsarpunk. Alina Starkov herself, actor Jessie Mei Li, even rejects the comparisons, saying in an interview (via Digital Spy) in April that the shows “couldn’t be more different.” But Game of Thrones,being the cultural influencer it is and inspiring studios to take a chance on expensive, with world-building fantasy shows likeShadow and Bone, what’s the harm in giving a trailblazer a little homage? After all, the world of television is dark and full of development hell. 

About The Author

Bill Bradley
(524 Articles Published)

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Bill is an experienced reporter who’s covered entertainment and fandom since 2014. He’s done everything from unearthing the discarded Game of Thrones pilot script in a library in Texas to finding out why Steve left Blue’s Clues. He also enjoys eating Taco Bell and drinking chocolate milk.

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