David Appleby/Netflix Arguably the best change in the series, making Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) half Shu Han adds a wonderful dimension to the character and presents a much more realistic reflection of the world. In the books, Alina has always felt like an outsider. By making her look like an enemy of Ravka, the series reframes her ostracization and allows the show to directly explore the racism in this universe. This choice also provides a rich depth to her relationship with Mal (Archie Renaux), who, as another biracial orphan, is one of the few people who can intimately understand Alina’s experiences.