The new teaser for Shadow and Bone season 2 suggests it will fix an issue that many readers of the books had with season 1. Netflix's adaptation of Leigh Bardugo's fantasy saga has been praised for its clever execution, as well as for its colorful and endearing characters. While the teaser gave away little regarding the plot of Shadow and Bone season 2, it included a short interaction which seems to confirm it will introduce an important element from the books that the first season left out.

Shadow and Bone takes place in the fictional Grishaverse and combines the stories of Bardugo's Shadow and Bone trilogy and two Six of Crows novels into a single narrative. Set across a variety of fictional nations inspired by real-life countries, the series' action is centered in the Russia-inspired kingdom of Ravka, a nation split in two by a vast dark realm known as the Shadow Fold. It primarily tells the story of young orphan Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Lei), a cartographer who unwittingly discovers she possesses a unique gift when her crew and childhood friend Malyen "Mal" Orestev (Archie Renaux) are attacked by Volcra, the flying monsters that patrol the darkness of the Fold.

Related: Every New Shadow & Bone Season 2 Character Revealed So Far (& Explained)

As the series progresses, it becomes clear that Alina and Mal have a romantic connection that they have long felt but failed to acknowledge. While this is clear in the series, their relationship is slightly different in the Shadow and Bone books. One such difference is the complete lack of kissing between the two throughout season 1 of the Netflix series. Most significantly, just before Alina and Mal locate the magic stag, both the show and the books include Mal's line "I'm sorry it took me so long to see you, Alina. But I see you now." Whereas this line leads to a passionate kiss in the books, in the show it is followed instead by a smile, making the extent of their relationship more ambiguous and leaving some book readers disappointed. This said, the recent teaser includes a short clip of Alina and Mal kissing, which indicates that Shadow and Bone season 2 will finally evolve their relationship.

Why Alina & Mal's Relationship Holds Shadow & Bone Together

Shadow and bone where alina and mal are going season 2

For many, Alina and Mal's relationship is the crux of the series. It is the first relationship seen on screen and provides an essential link between Alina's childhood past as a young orphan and her future as the Sun Summoner, the most powerful Grisha in Ravka. Unlike General Kirigan or the Darkling (Ben Barnes), with whom she shares a brief romance, Mal has cared for and loved Alina long before her powers were ever revealed and continues to do so even when they are. For some, therefore, the choice to omit such a significant moment from the books implied that the series would seek to lessen the impact of their romance. Fortunately, it's now clear that this isn't the case.

Speaking earlier this year, showrunner Eric Heisserer addressed this particular issue and revealed why Shadow and Bone didn't include more kissing. Clearly referring to Alina and Mal's relationship, he explained that "several key relationships in this are a bit of a slow burn and you want to honor that." It seems Heisserer wanted to allow their relationship to build slowly before including as significant a moment as a kiss. Heisserer also revealed, however, that "I have plenty of plans for so much more kissing if we go forward in the future" and the recent Shadow and Bone season 2 teaser suggests he is fulfilling his promise.