Shadow & Bone Cast Talks Bringing Representation & Diversity to the Fantasy Genre

Shadow & Bone is officially back!

Continuing right where season one ended off two years ago, the second season of the beloved fantasy series (based on the best-selling Grishaverse books by author Leigh Bardugo) is jam-packed with heart, actions, comedy, and magic. But one of the things that fans love most about Shadow & Bone is the visibility it provides to so many people who haven't typically seen themselves in the fantasy genre before. Filled to the brim with complex women, characters of color, and queer characters, Shadow & Bone has been walking the walk when it comes to representation, and many are taking notice.

Out got the chance to catch up with several of the cast members of the series on the red carpet at the recent season two premiere in Los Angeles to talk about the show's continued efforts to make the fantasy genre a more diverse, inclusive space in television!

"Something that I've realized now, since season one came out, was how many people felt represented by the show," Jessie Mei Li, who plays lead half-Shu heroine Alina in Shadow & Bone, told Out. "It's not like in your face. A lot of these things are just, you know, there just happens to be diverse people in this world. It just happens to be that lots of the relationships are same-sex or queer and it's not a big deal. It's just how it is and how it should be. We don't have to always make a big deal out of everything, and that's the kind of representation I think is really important. It's just people doing people stuff. That's why I'm really proud of the show for that, especially."

Shadow & Bone season two is now streaming on Netflix.

Shadow and Bone: Season 2 | Official Trailer | NetflixTo stand a fighting chance against General Kirigan and his seemingly indestructible new army, Alina Starkov and Mal Oretsev ...