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Some TV shows eventually kill off the main protagonist. Did Shadow and Bone season 2 do that to Alina Starkov?

Caution: This post contains major spoilers for Shadow and Bone Season 2.

All we have to do is read the books to know how the story would end. The second season followed both Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising*, combining the most important elements of the stories into one season. That led to an epic ending for one character.

Was that character Alina? Would she be forced to sacrifice her own life for the sake of everyone else? That’s the way some stories have gone.

What happened to Alina in Shadow and Bone Season 2?

In the end, Alina and The Darkling had the face-off they were always supposed to. Of course, they both have people supporting them. And yes, Mal temporarily died so Alina could absorb his amplifier power. He was brought back to life, though.

What about Alina? She didn’t die. She managed to take down The Fold and kill The Darkling.

After that, as Nina failed to bring Mal back from the dead, Alina used the darker powers to do it. It was clear in the closing moments of the season that she may have absorbed some of The Darkling’s powers, too. She used The Cut as a shadow to take down the Grisha who was threatening to kill all, and there was a darkness to her smile afterward.

What does this mean for Alina? We’ll have to wait and see when (and more like if) the series returns.

MORE: Who was the real Eat the Rich Killer in You Season 4?

What did you think of the second season? What do you hope to see for Alina? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Shadow and Bone is available to stream on Netflix.