Alina smiles at the end of Shadow and Bone Season 2 because her powers, originally tied to light, become corrupted by merzost, allowing her to summon shadows, and she reacts to this dark revelation not with fear, but with a surprising sense of empowerment or acceptance.
At the climax of the second season, Alina finds herself in a desperate situation. When she attempts to use her abilities to counteract a threat from a Fjerdan, her powers manifest in an entirely unexpected way. Instead of the brilliant light she is known to command as the Sun Summoner, Alina unleashes shadows.
This dramatic shift signifies that her powers have been deeply affected and corrupted by merzost – the dark magic that General Kirigan, the Darkling, wielded. Rather than reacting with fear or despair at this profound and dark alteration of her very essence, Alina is shown to smile. This smile indicates a complex emotional response, suggesting:
- Acceptance of Power: She might be accepting this new, darker aspect of her power, perhaps recognizing its immense potential even if it's derived from a corrupt source.
- A New Path: The smile could signal a willingness to embrace a different, more morally ambiguous path, or a realization that to defeat darkness, she might need to wield a form of it herself.
- Shock and Revelation: It's a moment of profound revelation for her, showing that the line between light and shadow within her has blurred irrevocably.
This scene sets the stage for a significant transformation in Alina's character, as she grapples with the implications of wielding abilities that are fundamentally opposed to her original nature as the Sun Summoner.
