
Shadow and Bone
Netflix
The immersive world of the Grishaverse is back with Shadow and Bone's second season - and it is jam-packed with action, tragedy, hijinks and monsters.
Season one of the sprawling fantasy series - adapted from Leigh Bardugo's novels - left off with our protagonist, 'Sun Summoner' Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) escaping the clutches of the Darkling, General Kirigan (Ben Barnes, sneering his way gloriously through the season again) with her 'true north' Mal (Archie Renaux) by her side. The pair are determined to bring down the shadow fold which separates their nation of Ravka, uniting their country after centuries. But Alina's powers aren't strong enough just yet to undo Kirigan's fold, so they set a plan of tracking down the mythical Sea Whip and Firebird to amplify her abilities.
Along the way we're introduced to a few new characters, most notably roguish privateer Sturmhold (Patrick Gibson, The Darkest Minds) - though there's a little more to him than meets the eye.
There's also Grisha twins Tamar (Anna Leong-Brophy) and Tolya (Lewis Tan, Mortal Kombat) who are a fun addition to the crew.
Fan favourites the Crows - Kaz, Inej, Jesper and now Nina - pick up a newbie in demolitions expert Wylan (Jack Wolfe), who helps with their latest series of heists and general shenanigans.
The season also sees action taking places in territories we haven't previously visited.
Once again the costume and production design is top notch, a vital ingredient in world-building for the audience.
The season is a worthy follow-on from the first. 'Malina' shippers won't have to wait long for that romantic potential to be realised, while more space is also given to the very repressed feelings Kaz has for Inej. We also delve further into Kaz's history with baddie Pekka Rollins. Less successful, however, is the retconned relationship between Nina and her Fjerdan beau Matthias - their romantic interest was only hinted at in the first season, but come season two and the northerner is the love of the heartrender's life.
If you're happy to make season two your last trip to the Grishaverse, you can just stop watching about 10 minutes into the finale and be satisfied - the rest of the episode sets up future adventures.

Class of '07
Amazon Prime Video
If you just saw the title Class of '07 and thought this was going to be some standard high school reminiscence-type show, you're in for a rude shock.
The hilarious eight-part Aussie comedy series does take place at a school reunion and feature some flashbacks to high school days, but it's set during a vague apocalypse.
Ridge Heights Catholic Ladies College is situated atop a mountain in the bush, and as such all the women who attended the '07 reunion are safe from the ocean of water that's now lapping at their heels and presumably swallowed up everything below them.
Now they must work together to survive - a task that's difficult when everyone reverts back to their high school social structures.
Emily Browning (Sucker Punch) is brilliant as lead Zoe, and is well supported by Caitlin Stasey, Megan Smart, Steph Tisdell, Emma Horn and more.
You'll smash through it in no time.
Compiled by Jess Layt
Jess Layt
Hi! I've been a journalist with the Advertiser newspapers in Macarthur since 2014, covering all sorts of news, entertainment and sport. I also write movie reviews.
Hi! I've been a journalist with the Advertiser newspapers in Macarthur since 2014, covering all sorts of news, entertainment and sport. I also write movie reviews.