Shadow and Bone, based on Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse books, recently premiered on Netflix. It features an intriguing world full of interesting characters. One character that particularly fascinates some fans is The Darkling/General Kirigan (Ben Barnes). Though his real name is Aleksander Morozova, he is known mainly as General Kirigan in the show and the Darkling in the books. In the show and the books, he is briefly a love interest for the main character Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li). Alina and the Darkling's relationship is attractive to many fans, though Alina herself does not know how to feel about it. After finding out that the Darkling created the Fold and how he treats her afterward, such feelings are understandable. Yet the Darkling/General Kirigan seems to some to honestly care about Alina. Others will disagree, of course. There is always the possibility that he was just manipulating her.

Yet if he does genuinely care for Alina, he is not exactly a full-on villain. Not entirely, anyway. And that might make some fans wonder: could the Darkling be redeemed? Now, of course, fans' opinions on the character will differ. Some might think he's too far gone to ever find redemption. The Darkling's redemption arc also might not fit the story that Shadow and Bone is telling. However, it is a fantasy story. And stranger things have certainly happened in fantasy worlds. If Game of Thrones can turn a mostly heroic protagonist into a villain at the end, why can't Shadow and Bone do the opposite? So let's explore the Darkling's character so far in the show and explain whether or not a redemption arc would be possible.

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Since Alina is the main character of Shadow and Bone, viewers mainly meet the Darkling through her eyes. The two characters first meet after Alina is revealed to have Grisha abilities. The Darkling is curious to see if she really is a Sun Summoner and tests her to see if she has those abilities. When it turns out she does, the Darkling orders her to be taken to the Little Palace in Os Alta. This is meant to be for her safety, though Alina doesn't like it initially. Understandably, Alina doesn't like it since she is being taken from everyone and everything she knows to an unfamiliar place. While on the way to the Little Palace, Fjerdan assassins attack Alina before the Darkling saves her with his Shadow Summoner abilities. So it seems that Alina is actually in danger; therefore taking her somewhere safe makes sense.

The Darkling/General Kirigan (Ben Barnes) and Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) first meeting in Shadow and Bone

Once at the Little Palace, Alina seems to do her best to fit in in her new environment. She even makes some new friends, such as Genya. Though some might point out that Genya is only spending time with Alina because of the Darkling's orders, that does not necessarily mean they didn't become real friends. Some fans might suggest that both, seemingly conflicting facts, can be true.  The Darkling presents Alina to the King and Queen of Ravka, and with his help, she demonstrates her Sun Summoner abilities. After the King agrees to let Alina stay in the Little Palace, the Darkling welcomes her home. The two of them then take a horseback ride around the palace grounds. Alina admits to feeling a bit lonely in her new environment.

The Darkling tells her a story about how he used to come to the fountain and throw a coin in, wishing to be someone else. Here is where he tells her that he is descended from the creator of the Fold, the Black Heretic. Of course, the truth is that he is the Black Heretic. Yet, it makes sense in a way that he doesn't tell her the truth yet. After all, the two characters don't know each other too well yet. Alina then confesses that she's worried she'll be the most hated Grisha in Ravka if she can't get rid of the Fold, and he tells her he won't let that happen. The two of them later meet when Alina can't sleep at night, and he talks about how the Ravkans are starting to turn their backs on the Grisha, and Alina reassures him that he's not alone.

Then comes the Winter Fete, which shows Alina embracing her abilities and wanting to bring hope to all of the Grisha. While Alina and the Darkling are talking in his room before the party, they kiss. In fact, Alina is the one to initiate it. After the demonstration of her abilities, they kiss again, and things get rather steamy. Then they are interrupted, and everything goes downhill from there. The Darkling goes after the Stag for its amplifying abilities and forces Alina to use her powers. He also expands the Fold, killing an entire city.  It would appear that the Darkling is probably not able to be redeemed after such actions. And indeed, it might not happen. Yet could it? Certainly!

The Darkling/General Kirigan (Ben Barnes) and Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) when she discovers her powers in Shadow and Bone

Fantasy stories are all about magic and intensity. Fantasies are meant to take their viewers out of reality into another world. So a villain being redeemed would not be so outlandish for a fantasy world. Furthermore, the Darkling actually has understandable reasons for most of his actions, as horrible as some of them might be. If he realized that his actions are wrong and make amends for them, it would certainly go some way towards redemption. This redemption wouldn't have to be complete, and it would be necessary for the character to be sincere. And yes, it might not fit the story Shadow and Bone is telling. Yet wouldn't it be interesting?

Of course, not every fan will agree that the Darkling could be redeemed, which is fine. Everyone has different tastes in characters and plots. Yet fantasy stories are meant to bring hope. And what could be more hopeful than someone seeing the error of their ways? Someone truly changing and growing and turning to the side of good would bring a lot of hope to many fans. And though the Darkling isn't redeemed in the books, the show has already changed things from their book portrayal. And perhaps this change, if the show writers did make it, would be for the better, just like adding the Crows and making Alina part-Shu. It's hard to know, but nevertheless, some fans might be rooting for this change to be made.

And it's hard to blame them entirely for wanting a different take on Shadow and Bone's story. Especially one that would bring hope. Many people like a hopeful ending, even for the most morally ambiguous of characters.

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