If they really are going for a Darklina ending, s2 is a super clever way of leading up to it. Alina is going through a corruption arc that is a copypaste of Aleksander's, losing the mortal love of her life, using Merzost and having shadow summoning power, working for a king and trying to make a better life for Grisha and ultimately failing and losing herself along the way. Aleksander's complete emotional vulnerability vs. Alina being closed off and cold and distant in s2. Alina showing everyone she isn't a naive little girl, that she hasn't forgotten or forgiven him for lying to her, collaring her and taking her power, threatening and hurting her loved ones, usuing her as a weapon and disregarding her wishes. She's angry and hurt and betrayed and she's taking it out on him relentlessly. She doesn't melt and run back into his arms the moment he touches her or gives her the puppy eyes. She hurts him back, she manipulates him and uses his feelings for her against him, she mocks him to his face and pokes all his wounds, she refuses to hear him out just like he didn't hear her out, rubbing her relationship with Mal in his face, seductively taking off her kefta with her back to him and looking over her shoulder like "see this? want it? well too bad you can't have it bitch" and landing a double blow by rejecting his color, etc. Aleksander proving his feelings for her are genuine times and times again by protecting her and reaching out to her again and again after being rejected, desperately trying to warm her of the fate that awaits her, dying at her hand and yet feeling at peace because it was her, my little saint, my Alina, GOD HE LOVES HER SO MUCH IT'S KILLING ME. Ehem, back to the point, what i'm trying to say is they're removing the imbalance in Alina and Aleksander's relationship so beautifully???? At first i was too mad at Aleksander's death scene and lack of book Darklina moments to appreciate it but now i'm actually so happy with s2 Darklina?? Like if they were trying to sabotage the ship instead of setting it up to be endgame then their effort was an utter failure lmao. Also, no love rivals in sight?? Mal broke up with her and left and Nikolai is unavailable since he's gonna be with Zoya. Unless they pull a Alina/Genya twist (which i'd love) then it's either Alina on her own (not too bad) or with Aleksander (i'd sell my soul for that). Not gonna get my hopes up though, just in case they fuck us over or we don't get a s3 at all.