Shadowhunters – TV Show Review

Description: 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!

 

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

 

  Do you want to start?

 

  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.

 

  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.

 

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

 

   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

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

 

  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.

  yes! He is an awesome Mangus. Quirky and all.

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

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

  yes – I agree.

 

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

  omg that is an awesome gif find!

  thanks.
I was productive while you were walking!

  I think he is the best actor in the show

  I think so, too.

  I like Isabelle’s casting too

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

  Alec grew on me, a little too broody

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

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.

  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

  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

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

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

  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.

  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!

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

  very true on both points.

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

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

  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.

  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.

  I have the DVDs

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

  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
  I missed rat Simon, too! He became a vampire A LOT faster in the show.
Or at least realized it much more quickly

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

  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.

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

  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

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

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

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

  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.  😥

  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.

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

  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.

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

  Yes to the wedding one!

 

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

  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

  I liked that the alternate had the actual book stuff – Chairman Meow and Luke as the book seller. And Izzy as a giant nerd.
  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.

  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.

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

  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!

  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.

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

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

  definitely

  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.

  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.

  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.

  yes. Here’s my Simon gif!

  I also wonder if Simon and Isabelle are going to happen

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

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

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

  Yes, different names each week band was fun

  Something else to hope for next season

  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

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

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

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

  Oh yea,I remembered she turned into something.

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

  Which was weird because vamp nose should know

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

  Lol right.

  Every other book tells me so!

  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.

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

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

  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

  Haha this will be a giftastic post

  that’s how I like my posts!

  Yes!

  The entire second season should be that.

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

  Yep. And more one liners please.

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

  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.

  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!

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

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

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

  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.

  Ah yea the Magnus series or are there others?

  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

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

  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.

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

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

  More Jace. That’s all.

  those are excellent thoughts to close on!

  Yea, I think our readers will agree

 

What did you think of Season 1?

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