'Shadowhunters' Series Review
Freeform’s ‘Shadowhunters’ series provides something for everyone - be it adventure, magic, romance or badass females. An adaption of author Cassandra Clare’s ‘Mortal Instruments’ series, the television show makes the characters and the universe its own in visual form. For those who have read the novels, the series provides a refreshing change and new level of excitement to the fantasy realm created in the books.
The series trails the fierce Clarissa ‘Clary’ Fray (Katherine McNamara) as she enters into the supernatural world of warlocks, vampires, werewolves, faeries and demons following her mother’s kidnapping. When Clary is taken in by a group of New York Shadowhunters - sarcastic bad boy Jace Wayland (Dominic Sherwood), strong and sassy Isabelle Lightwood (Emeraude Toubia) and serious older brother Alexander ‘Alec’ Lightwood (Matthew Daddario), it isn’t long before she finds herself battling in the next Shadowhunter war: fighting demons and keeping the Downworlders (aforementioned fantastical creatures) in line, whilst remaining hidden from the ‘mundane’ (human) world.
SPOILER ALERT!
The show would be little without its intriguing characters, each of who have their own development arcs throughout the series. Interestingly, the most notable character storylines are attributed to secondary characters Isabelle, Alec, and Clary’s nerdy best friend Simon Lewis (Alberto Rosende): Isabelle fights against the scrutiny of her own mother and the rest of the New York Institute about her open sexuality and friendliness with Downworlders; Alec fights between his duty and desire to protect his family and his secretly being gay; Simon must deal with his unrequited love for Clary, the mutual animosity between himself and Jace, the new world he has succumbed to, and oh, his becoming a vampire.
On paper, these scenarios read ridiculous; however, on screen they not only create a compelling commentary on modern day social issues, but also make for beautiful television viewing. Undoubtedly, this is achieved through clever casting, talented acting and amazing cinematography. In Season 1, Episode 6 when Isabelle – following a discussion with her mother about responsibility - breaks up with Meliorn (her faerie lover) and changes into a more conservative dress, the viewer is given the full impact of the moment when she ties her hair back, revealing her striking resemblance to her mother. The scene evokes a sense of loss in this moment, while the absolute silence and filming of her reflection in the mirror are both emotionally and aesthetically pleasing.
Notably, LGBT themes are prominent throughout the series. Poignantly, the most popular onscreen couple are not protagonists Clary and Jace, but Alec and warlock extraordinaire Magnus Bane (Harry Shum Jr). In Episode 12, the pair is dually named Malec: a nickname previously given by fans of the show. This is a relationship that does more than simply highlight the need to publicise LGBT and its community. It frames a relationship between two men as something natural that inherently faces issues many relationships don’t, such as marrying a woman to ‘save face’ for fear of being shamed. The tenderness, range of complex emotions and humour of Malec are but few of the reasons the pairing continues to grow in popularity.
Despite its ability to captivate the audience, there are of course moments where the show feels a little shallow. Although portraying strength, mischievousness, and defiance extremely well, Katherine McNamara could equally be accused of overacting at times – especially in scenes when screaming, shedding tears, or both.
There are also a surprising number of tropes used throughout the series: alternate universes, weddings and dramatic retellings of backstories using flashbacks. Its redeeming quality however is the fact that many tropes are given a refreshing twist: Alec becoming close friends with his female fiancé is treated with a hint of comedy, adding to the otherwise dramatic scenes a sense of charm and wit.
All in all, ‘Shadowhunters’ is a feast for the eyes and mind. Its characters are developed equally and respectfully, while its soundtrack values the importance of mood music. It addresses serious topics with humour and elegance, yet its storyline remains dramatic and compelling. Binge-worthy to say the least!
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