Having now completed all 8 new installments in their entirety, in my opinion, I think it's fairly safe to state that "Shadow & Bone" S2 is pretty decent for the majority of the series' run-time (acting as an enjoyable, if slightly unremarkable Netflix fantasy, satisfyingly continuing on as a sequel to the first) & then suddenly (much to my surprise), astonishingly talented director Mairzee Almas (already recieving recent critical acclaim for her handling of "The Sandman" launch) comes along for the final block of episodes & does to the show what renowned filmmakers like Miguel Sapochnik or Alan Taylor did to HBO's mega-hit "Game of Thrones". Hence, there's a noticeable elevation in quality & genuine artistry behind the camera which is simply staggering to witness on screen - resulting in a masterfully crafted, slow-burn denouement, totally reinventing & re-contextualising the narrative we (as audiences) have gradually grown accustomed to (of inherent pure V evil; light v dark), birthing a maturer, morally ambiguous tale (where the lines between good & bad are less distinct) & the clarity of purpose (of predestined magical destiny to become "the saviour") intentionally births a far scarier, relatable scenario in which peace must be preserved through the complex difficulties of diplomacy (people no longer reliant upon the threat of the shadow's expansion & the differences of ideological perspective - dictating how individuals choose to respond to the changing world - being as conflicting as night & day) not an instillation of fear amongst the traumatised & subjugated populace - to ensure the prior conformity.
Therefore, there's no denying "No Funerals" feels unlike its predecessors, yet that was deliberate & I hugely admire the added layers of depth / nuance, always appreciated.