Description: The second season of Shadowhunters returns with the Shadow World in upheaval with Valentine and the Circle continuing to grow stronger by the minute and our gang quickly becoming disillusioned with the Clave and their reaction to the recent events. Loyalties will be tested, unlikely bonds will be made, and relationships will be pushed to the limit as the Shadowhunters and their Downworlder friends make their own way in a new world.
Creator: Ed Decter
Staring: Katherine McNamara, Dominic Sherwood, Alberto Rosende, Matthew Daddario, Emeraude Toubia, Harry Shum Jr.
Info from: IMDb and Shadowhunters Wiki
I need to talk about Shadowhunters Season 2 and Julie is 7 episodes behind. 7! I am moving on without her!
Spoilers obviously!
Season 2 of Shadowhunters has been a crazy, fun, roller coaster. And I’ve enjoyed every minute of it!
Here are some things I REALLY LOVED:
- The series has veered so far away from the books that I have no idea where it’s going, which is fantastic. I love not knowing what will happen next! The series has made changes, but also included some key points from the books. There have been some shocking deaths (Jocelyn, Hodge) that made me wonder if the creators and writers had read all of the books in the series. But we also have the essential scene of Simon becoming a Daylighter and that great scene with the Seelie Queen. The team running the series are clearly picking and choosing which aspects of the books to include, keeping watchers who are also readers on our toes!
- Sebastian is such a deliciously evil character and Will Tudor has made such an impression that I can’t wait to see what he does next! His introduction in Mea Maxima Culpa is fabulous. His attempt to hit on Clary is completely creepy that it left a serious impression on me. I hope this isn’t the last we see of Sebastian!
- The heartbreak of Malec splitting up is, yes, one of my favorite parts of the whole season.
I know. I know. Hear me out. Magnus and Alec are one of my favorite couples on the show and in the books. What I love here is the amazing acting between Matthew Daddario and Harry Shum Jr. Their emotional connection is palpable. I felt the heartache and betrayal between these characters.
I’m looking forward to season 3 to see this couple get back together, stronger than ever.
Here are some things I really DIDN’T LOVE:
- Izzy’s Yin Fin addiction is not a plot line I can get behind. First, Yin Fin isn’t even introduced in the Mortal Instrument series; it’s in the Infernal Devices series. Izzy has always been a strong characters. I don’t really understand the need to change her character so much. Sure, this plot line gave us more scenes with Raphael, and is our introduction to Sebastian. For those reasons only, I’ll accept this plot line. But I don’t have to like it.
- This season has been a dodecahedron of romantic entanglements and I was not a fan of Simon and Clary as a couple. #TeamClaceForever Why even was this a thing? I’m used to Simon having a crush on Clary. But she never reciprocated those feelings. Yes, their relationship did add depth to the scene at the Seelie Court where the Queen makes Clary choose between Simon and Jace. But otherwise, not a fan.
- I’ve accepted the fact that Luke is a cop in this series, and not a book seller. But Luke’s (police) partner’s investigation of Luke and his goings on with the wolf pack feels invasive. I hope it’s leading somewhere in season 3. Because otherwise, it was a complete waste of my time.
My Favorite Episode:
Mea Maxima Culpa is a top episode for me. After that long break between the two halves of season 2, this episode was great. My favorite episode, though, is Day of Atonement. I love seeing Simon and Maia at dinner with Simon’s family. On the Shadowhunter front, we have Clary and Jace portal to Lake Lyn, looking for Sebastian and Valentine. We learn who Sebastian really is. And we have Jace using his angelic superpowers to save Clary. So many great elements!
My thoughts overall:
I loved this season! And I’m super excited about the potential of season 3. Though, not so excited about waiting for the next season! 
Julie, 7 episodes behind?! I caught up while season 2 was on hiatus. Lynn – wasn’t season 2 even better than season 1?! Like you, I don’t mind Luc being a cop instead of book seller. I think they showrunners did this to add more action. But his partner is annoying as hell. How did she conveniently start to remember something wonky was going on after Raphael wiped her freaking memory? That was a continuity jump that displeased me greatly. At least explain that she is resistant and special or something, geesh.
And hey, Simon can SING!
I did think it was odd that Max has survived as long as he has. I think that’s a diversion from the book. And yeah, I didn’t remember Jocelyn dying so early on in the books. Again, my memory is so sketchy and mostly big picture for this book series. Plus, I did the audiobooks so that probably makes some details harder to remember.
Personally, I didn’t care for the tv decision to have Clary and Simon be naked in bed together implying so clearly that they actually had sex. They never got that far in the books and with good reason. I thought it made her kissing Jace courtesy of the Seelie Queen’s game a harder sell in a way. And why was Jace banging the wolf girl? I don’t recall that in the books either. I preferred the books implying he was stud but not giving us such blatant examples of that. I get why they did in the show, but I didn’t like that all the same.
The two actresses (really young one and the older one) were great and suitably manipulative. I wish I could remember the details of Simon’s deal with her, but honestly I don’t at all. So it’s a watch and see what the tv show version does with that story arc.
Raziel was cool, wasn’t he? I like how they did his sound effects a lot. And the dreams that were visions for Clary were intriguing. I was right with her when she figured them out.
Overall, I wanted all the naysayers who thought this cast was not talented to go suck on a rotten egg! I enjoyed it from day one even if they had to find their individual acting rhythms.
What did you think of the shortened intro? I actually like it and no longer remember the original opening, doh! Okay, I will stop gushing here, but I’m so happy you did this post. Thank YOU!
I read the books so long ago that I don’t always remember some of the details as clearly. Ultimately, I think that helps some of the tv show changes work better. I haven’t read the Infernal Devices for example, so I had no idea that the Yin Fin thing wasn’t a tv show only invention. Thanks for enlightening me on that plot origin! But I also agree with you that weakening Izzy’s kickass image was an odd choice.
Will Tudor was excellent and creepy as all get out as Sebastian/Jonathan. He nailed the creepy-it’s-totally-normal-that-I-kissed-my-sister so well. I really liked his scenes with Valentine when he confessed his evil plans and still wanted Valentine’s approval.
Alan Van Sprang who played Valentine finally won me over during this season. Most of season 1 I kept wishing they had convinced Jonathan Rhys Meyers to return to the role in the tv show after playing him in the movie adaptation.
And I really liked the flashback scenes Magnus had while he and Alec were on the outs. These two really are fantastic on screen together. They are seriously my top favorite romantic couple on tv currently. I will miss the hell out of them until next season. When is season 3’s premiere date? Gah!
Livia – Thanks for gushing over Shadowhunters with me! I’m happy to hear I’m not the only one obsessed with this show!
Good point about Max. The fact that he is still alive, when Jocelyn is not is weird to me as well. Maybe the creators\writers were reluctant to kill off a kid? Personally, I wanted to smack Max a couple of times during the season!
And yes – I’m with you on Simon can sing! I’m glad they found an actor who can tackle that side of Simon’s character.
Raziel was cool! I always love the bad guys.
Valentine won me over as well this season. But those body swap scenes with Magnus were killer. I was seriously worried for Magnus’s life!
And I may have had a twig in my eye or something during those Maguns\Alec flashback scenes.
IMDb shows 2018 for the next season. Gad. That’s a long time to wait!