Shadowhunters – TV Show Review

Posted May 10, 2016 by Lynn in Movie Reviews, Reviews, TV Show Reviews / 4 Comments

Shadowhunters-TV-series-artwork-key-art-logoDescription: Clary Fray is a normal teenager living in Brooklyn with her mother. One day, she discovers that she is descended from a line of Shadowhunters; humans born with angelic blood that fight to protect our world from demons. After her mother is kidnapped, Clary must team up with three Shadowhunters: Jace, Alec and Isabelle and her best friend Simon on a quest to find her mother and recover her past.

Creator: Ed Decter

Staring: Katherine McNamara, Dominic Sherwood, Alberto Rosende, Matthew Daddario, Emeraude Toubia, Harry Shum Jr.

Info from imdb.

 

 

Julie and I thought we’d do another chat post. This time, we are chatting about Shadowhunters! The TV series. The movie. The books. Beware of spoilers ahead. And add your feelings about the Shadowhunter world in the comments!

Lynnpic Here’s the episode recap if you need it.

 

Julie Review Avatar  well that’s quite helpful. let’s hope I paid attention enough to have a halfway fun chat about Shadowhunters

 

Lynnpic  Do you want to start?

 

Julie Review Avatar  Sure! So first, let’s talk about Clary’s hair. I know, such an important topic. I like how bright it is. I think it was that bright on the book covers right?
I think the show was much better cast than the movie was.

 

Lynnpic  I agree with you on the cast. Not so much on the hair. Way too orange.
I think the cast of the show was much more in line with how I pictured the characters.

 

Julie Review Avatar  yea, Jace in the movie was… creepy looking. This Jace is right.

 

Lynnpic   yeah – Jace in the movie was just not good. I didn’t really “believe” him as Jace.
I like Dom Sherwood – as previously discussed re: vampire academy

Julie Review Avatar  Though his acting could be better, I don’t believe he’s into Clary like he should be. Also, where are our 1 liners!

 

Lynnpic  I think Harry Shum as Magus is great
I did miss the one liners. They got better towards the end of the series. But yes – I could use more cocky Jace humor.

Julie Review Avatar  yes! He is an awesome Mangus. Quirky and all.

Lynnpic  Cat eyes, too!
Even doing the silly warlock-y moves with the CGI.

Julie Review Avatar  yea I like those
fits the character well
his mannerisms too, goes well with the moves and the finger magic moving

 Lynnpic yes – I agree.

 

Lynnpic  Plus, I can see him a centuries old. He seemed to have that ancient vibe going for him

magnus

Julie Review Avatar  omg that is an awesome gif find!

Lynnpic  thanks.
I was productive while you were walking!

Julie Review Avatar  I think he is the best actor in the show

Lynnpic  I think so, too.

Julie Review Avatar  I like Isabelle’s casting too

Lynnpic  Plus, Magnus was always one of my favs from the books.

Julie Review Avatar  Alec grew on me, a little too broody

alec

Lynnpic  Yes – to Isabelle. She really fit the character I had in my head. Whip and all.

isabelle-izzy-shadowhunters-tmi-Favim.com-3675172
And I like how the tv show had the whole fae story line that the movie left out.
I did like Alec. And yes, broody.

Julie Review Avatar  yea that was fun showing us that both siblings like the Downworlders more than they should
the angel blades though, lighting up like light sabers, a little silly

Lynnpic  Yes. And Alec was way more in control, leading the institute in the show than the books. Much less presence of the Lightwood parents.
And true about the Downworlders.
That is a pretty good allegory to real life, I think

Julie Review Avatar  I think that was playing up the YA trope of absent parents.

Lynnpic  hmm. Yes.
What did you think of the changes to Luke’s character? Being a cop instead of the book seller?

Julie Review Avatar  I did think the story line with the almost marriage alliance was kind of strange, but it worked for moving the plot.
You know, I forgot that part. I was merging him in my mind with the werewolf cop on Lost Girl, cause it made sense. Yea so that was a good change because he being a strong leader needed to be in a stronger job role.

Lynnpic  yes, that alliance thing was weird. and not in the books. But it did work. Especially with the suspicion of who the traitor was at the end. Gave us a character we may not have liked to put the blame on.
I thought that Luke’s change was good, too. He could do things as a cop that a book seller could not.
And werewolf cops must be a trend if you know of more than one!

Julie Review Avatar  Yea it gave him more authority, though Luke still wasn’t a big character for the most part

Lynnpic  very true on both points.

Julie Review Avatar  Yea, Alphas as cops are in a good position to cover up things humans shouldn’t see

Lynnpic  I did like how he was sort of mentoring Simon though. That was a nice addition to the story

Julie Review Avatar  I liked that too. Someone needed to support Simon. Everyone was just ignoring him.
And Simon’s Mom is the girl off an older vampire show (I’m pretty sure). So this was interesting.

Lynnpic  Yes – Simon does seem to get the short end of the stick. At least in the first book. And for a werewolf and vampire to be hanging out, that’s pretty cool.
I just looked that up for you – she was on Blood Ties. Which I never watched.

Julie Review Avatar  I have the DVDs

Lynnpic  lol. Looks like it was a short-lived series.

Julie Review Avatar  Yea I was looking it up too to confirm. I recognized her but wasn’t sure since it was so long since I watched Blood Ties.
Yea it was good but not that good. Lots of vampire shows coming up at once.
I just got a chuckle to see her as a vampire mom now.
But speaking of Simon, I missed rat Simon
Lynnpic  I missed rat Simon, too! He became a vampire A LOT faster in the show.
Or at least realized it much more quickly

Julie Review Avatar  well it wasn’t until book 2 right? when he was calling Clary about vampire movies

Lynnpic  yes. Definitely not in book one.
It made more sense this way. Especially with being an emissary.
Though, there was a lot more with Camille than in the books.

Julie Review Avatar  But I can see them condensing into the show like that, since they changed a bunch of stuff anyway.

Lynnpic  yes. That’s one aspect that made it better than the movie, though. 13 hours is a much better story-telling length than 2.
more time for plot AND character development

Julie Review Avatar  yes! Maybe that’s why I’m more attached to these characters heh

Lynnpic  Seems logical to me.
I’m a lot more invested in the tv show than the movie.

Julie Review Avatar  Yea same
It was cheesy at first but I do like it

Lynnpic  I missed it when it was over. Though, I read today the next season will be 20 episodes. Not 13. Too bad it’s a year away.  😥

Julie Review Avatar  they did that with Buffy. First season was short, then the rest were 20-something episodes. I wonder if that’s how they try out a new show. That’s a long wait.

Lynnpic  Maybe. I guess it makes sense to try out a series on a smaller scale first.
And yes, it IS a long way away

Julie Review Avatar  I think they did that with The 100 too. But the first season was great, abut the second was too much out there and I stopped watching.
So Shadowhunters, do your job to make the show continue to be watchable.

Lynnpic  yes – agreed! Let’s have a good second season!
Let’s talk episodes. My favorites were the alternate reality one and the wedding one.

Julie Review Avatar  Yes to the wedding one!

 

malec

Lynnpic  I do have a fondness for alternate reality episodes for most shows I watch.

Julie Review Avatar  I liked the one where Clary figures out how to get the cup out, because she grows a lot as ac haracter.
The alternate world Jace was wimpy haha
I do like the idea though, that wasn’t in the book either

Lynnpic  I liked that the alternate had the actual book stuff – Chairman Meow and Luke as the book seller. And Izzy as a giant nerd.
Julie Review Avatar  YES that scene! I liked how Alec walked out in the isle toward Magnus, turning his back on the wedding. It was way earlier than in the books, but really powerful scene.

Lynnpic  and yes – the cup one – or where she figures out that Ragnor Fell is in the painting
I agree with you on THAT scene. I was clapping!
And glad that Alec finally had the guts to do what HE wanted. Not what he should do.

Julie Review Avatar  Yea, and making it so public freed him a lot. I hope we’ll see a less broody Alec in season 2.

Lynnpic  I hope so, too. Less broody Alex is a lot more fun.
Though, in the book – I don’t remember if it’s 2 or 3 – he starts to freak out about getting old and dying – much like Bella in Twilight. Which is just silly.
oh – and I LOVE Magnus’s reaction to that kiss. Like he’s stunned silly!

Julie Review Avatar  They did kind of bring that up though that Magnus has buried a lot of lovers.
Yea, stunned silly is about right. He definitely expected to be told to leave.

Lynnpic  yes. I just hope we get some happy scenes first.
lol – I think so, too. Nothing like a downworlder, especially Magnus, at the wedding.

Julie Review Avatar  Even Simon got looks but Magnus showing up was a shock to everyone

Lynnpic  definitely

Julie Review Avatar  It isn’t until the 3rd book that Jace and Clary learn the truth. I wonder how long the show will keep them broody. The lead up to their kiss wasn’t long enough.

Lynnpic  yes – I was kind of wondering the same. The movie ruined that whole plot line. But maybe in the show we’ll get to see the visit to the fae queen and the kiss there.
Plus, I’m looking forward to Simon becoming the Daylighter. That was fun. Well, not the part in jail in Idris. But the part where he could walk around an be “normal” again.

Julie Review Avatar  they have a lot of material to work with for season 2 for sure. I’m definitely looking forward to the Daylighter plot. That’s required.

Lynnpic  yes. Here’s my Simon gif!

simon-playing

Julie Review Avatar  I also wonder if Simon and Isabelle are going to happen

Lynnpic I’m hoping so! I think Simon deserves some love. And not from the creepy girl

Julie Review Avatar  Simon is such a little geek. Not so much in this show though. He needs to up the geek a little more.

Lynnpic  And I miss the other guys in the band. With their different names each week.

Julie Review Avatar  Yes, different names each week band was fun

Lynnpic  Something else to hope for next season

Julie Review Avatar  I dunno that plot line just kind of dropped. it would be weird to pick up the band again like it didn’t go away heh

Lynnpic  yes – probably. especially as the “band” was Simon and Maureen.

Julie Review Avatar  isn’t she a wolf in the books? or am I confusing her with someone else?

Lynnpic  no – Maureen is a vampire.
There is a girl wolf, though. I can’t remember her name.

Julie Review Avatar  Oh yea,I remembered she turned into something.

Lynnpic  Along with Simon’s wolf roommate – who Simon doesn’t know is a wolf
She’s part of Luke’s pack

Julie Review Avatar  Which was weird because vamp nose should know

Lynnpic  you’d think. Wet dog smell and everything.
Especially given that they are natural enemies.

Julie Review Avatar  Lol right.

Lynnpic  Every other book tells me so!

Julie Review Avatar  Yea here it is downworlder vs shadowhunter but each downworlder clan for himself if I remember. They were all enemies until they had to bad together in book 3
Oh yea I am also looking forward to Clary’s new rune skills. And Simon’s rune.
Which also showed up on Supernatural last season so that’s cool. Wonder if they will draw it the same.

Lynnpic  yes – when the downworlders and shadowhunters bind themselves together to fight off valentine. that was cool.

Julie Review Avatar  I’m glad they were making a big deal about the parabatai so far with Jace and Alec

Lynnpic  that’s funny about supernatural – sleepy hollow has been using the angelic rune this season. and that’s just weird to me
I’m glad, too. That was important to the books. Though, Valentine and Luke were NOT parabatai in the books. NOT. The tv show has a lot more parabatai action
oh – and I figured might as well do gifs for all the other characters

Julie Review Avatar  Haha this will be a giftastic post

Lynnpic  that’s how I like my posts!

Julie Review Avatar  Yes!

jace
Julie Review Avatar  The entire second season should be that.

Lynnpic  I am sure there wouldn’t be too many complaints.
plus it pretty much sums up Jace’s character

Julie Review Avatar  Yep. And more one liners please.

Lynnpic  yes, for sure
ok – I feel our momentum dropping off. Any last thoughts?
TV Show > Books > Movie

Julie Review Avatar  I think so. The first 3 books were good but then got weird and I never read the last. So far the show has a lot of potential.

Lynnpic  You didn’t miss anything with not reading the last. The series really should have ended after the 3rd
And I think the show has a lot of potential, too. Plus, next season should have a bunch of Idris – if they stick with the book. And I’ve always wondered what Idris was like!

Julie Review Avatar  My neighbor’s been telling me to read the last one heh.
Yes I want to see Idris too

Lynnpic  you could always listen to the audio.
it’s on Overdrive

Julie Review Avatar  Oh OK I might then. Didn’t want to spend a credit.

Lynnpic  yeah – I think they are all there. I am waiting for the Shadowhunter series to be complete so I can listen to all of those short stories.

Julie Review Avatar  Ah yea the Magnus series or are there others?

Lynnpic  The Magnus series. Then the Shadowhunter series is about Simon going to Shadowhunter school. Then there is a new series that just came out – that’s set in LA. Lady Midnight is the first

Julie Review Avatar  Oh man there’s a lot more than I knew about.
I still have the prequels on my maybe read list

Lynnpic  I read the first two – and have the third. Magnus is in those, too. They are way more steampunk.
I think I overdid it on the books and needed a break. I could probably read one now, though! Lady Midnight looks really good – about parabati who fall in love.

Julie Review Avatar  The steampunk is kinda interesting because it is supposed to be a prequel, but sounds like a whole other world

Lynnpic  yes – it is a whole different world. The “beginning” of the whole Shadowhunter world.
any other last thoughts?

Julie Review Avatar  More Jace. That’s all.

Lynnpic  those are excellent thoughts to close on!

Julie Review Avatar  Yea, I think our readers will agree

jace smirk

 

What did you think of Season 1?



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Posted May 10, 2016 by Lynn in Movie Reviews, Reviews, TV Show Reviews / 4 Comments

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4 responses to “Shadowhunters – TV Show Review

  1. LOL I loved this and the gifs were spot on! So glad to see another blog doing a review of this show, I might have fangirled a lot on my review, oooops. Personally I loved the show, yes it was a bit on the cheesy side but overall it grew on me and I can’t wait for the next season!