Does Mal Die in ‘Shadow and Bone’?

Shadow and Bone Season 2 throws Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) and her friends into more danger than ever before. The Darkling, aka Aleksander Kirigin (Ben Barnes), survived the events of Season 1. Not only that, but his experience in the Fold has filled him with the “power” of shadow monsters known as Nichevo’ya. It’s more important than ever that Alina and her friends work together to destroy the Darkling and the Fold for good.

But how can Alina do that? Massive spoilers, but our girl gets the idea that if one Morozova-created amplifier isn’t enough to help her get the job done, then maybe she should track down all three. Shadow and Bone Season 2 adapts most of the events of the last two books in the original Grishaverse trilogy, Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising. We watch as Alina and her best friend/boyfriend Mal (Archie Renaux) team up with a privateer with a secret and two supercool Heartrender siblings to track down Morozova’s Sea Whip. When that quest doesn’t push Alina’s power over the edge, the move is to find the third and final amplifier: the Firebird.

So how is Mal’s fate tied to the Firebird and does he die in Shadow and Bone Season 2? Here’s everything you need to know about Mal in Shadow and Bone Season 2….

Does Mal Die in Shadow and Bone?

Yes and no. Let’s break it down…

Just like in Leigh Bardugo’s books, Mal and Alina discover the truth of Mal’s heritage. He is actually the descendent of Baghra’s (Zoe Wanamaker) non-Grisha sister (who was killed by a jealous Baghra and then resurrected by their grieving father, Ilya Morozova). While he’s not Grisha, he is an amplifier. Specifically, he is Morozova’s “Firebird.” If he dies, Alina can use the power imbued in his bones to amplify her own powers so she can destroy the Fold and the Darkling once and for all.

As soon as Mal figures this out, he knows that he has to die in order for Alina to harness the power of all three Morozova amplifiers. She attempts to come up with a harebrained scheme to use a Heartrender to stop his heart for a few minutes and revive him, but the plan goes sideways.

Alina does eventually have to kill Mal. He is willing to die and she tells him tearfully she loves him. With the power of the Firebird, she is able to destroy the Fold and then kill Kirigin.

After the dust settles, Alina begs Nina (Danielle Galligan), a Heartrender, to bring Mal back. It’s too late. (And also Alina stabbed him in the heart, so, you know, a little trickier to revive.)

Alina uses the forbidden magical power of merzost to bring Mal back to life. However, he has lost his ability to track other amplifiers and no longer feels the “connection” he once shared with Alina. So what does this mean for their romance?

Do Mal and Alina End Up Together in Shadow and Bone Season 2?

No! They do not! In fact, it looks like she’s actually going to enter a political marriage with Nikolai (Patrick Gibson). Once Mal is revived, he expresses a desire to have some alone time. Or at least, he wants to do his own thing and come back to Alina of his own volition and not because destiny demands it.

Mal takes on the mantle of Sturmhold while Nikolai prepares for his coronation as King of Ravka. Mal takes to the sea and skies with Tamar, Tolya, and Inej. We last see them raiding the slavetraders who sold Inej’s brother.

Is Mal Grisha in Netflix’s Shadow and Bone?

He is not! But it’s totally understandable why you might be confused.

Mal is a descendent of Morozova, one of the most powerful Grisha who ever lived. He’s also related to Baghra and the Darkling, two more insanely powerful Grisha. The thing is Mal is a descendent of Baghra’s non-Grisha sister. The upshot is this makes him an amplifier and his Morozova blood can unlock the Morozova house.

Also, his death and resurrection mean that he no longer has these magical abilities. (Though his blood might still work on Morozova-charmed things because that hasn’t changed.)