Review: Shadowhunters Season 1 Episode 3 "Dead Man's Party"

EPISODE SUMMARY:

Clary begs Jace, Alec and Isabelle to help her rescue Simon; Isabelle obtains information from her favorite Seelie; Alec questions Jace's motives; Simon meets the leader of the vampire clan.

AIRED: January 26, 2016

RATING: 2 ★★✩✩✩ Good!

This episode is about Clary and the team working to save Simon from the Hotel Dumort. The Vampires want the Mortal Cup and will trade Simon for it. Camille wants the Cup so that she can control the Shadow World, but Raphael isn't completely on board with having broken the Accords to get it. Meanwhile, Alec and Jace are at odds about going after the Vampires to save Simon. Alec doesn't trust Clary and sees no reason that they should risk their lives for her and Simon. When Jace questions Alec's trust in him, Alec assures him and states that they are Parabatai and to never doubt him. And Clary doesn't seem to care about anything except getting Simon back.

What I noticed in this episode:

⦁ When looking and finding the cache of weapons in the graveyard, Alec notices that there isn't a bow and needs to go back to the institute to get one. What I don't get is that, as a trained Shadowhunter, Alec should be able to use whatever weapon is available, so why does he absolutely need to have a bow? It makes no sense.

⦁ When Jace was teaching Clary how to use a Seraph Blade, there was so much sexual innuendo that it was ridiculous. He could have easily taught her how to use the Blade without getting all up and personal.

⦁ I didn't really like the scene at the biker bar, Hardtail. It just kind of grossed me out. I didn't like how Jace basically used Clary's inexperience to get what he wanted. And the Vampire motorcycle scene was kind of lame.

⦁ Then there was Hodge sowing doubts in Alec's mind about Jace. That was the first time that Hodge seemed really scheming, like he wanted to put a crack in Jace and Alec's bond. It's the first time that Hodge seems like he does in the books. He puts on the facade of being an ally, but in reality he's there to cause discord. So I liked that there was something else that kind of goes along with the books. But that doesn't mean that I liked what he did.

⦁ What is the deal with everyone making out or using sex to get the information that they need? Isabelle goes to Meliorn to find out how to get into the Hotel Dumort, and basically uses sex to get the information. I know that they have this kind of relationship, but I'm just not enjoying seeing practically everyone in this show using sexuality to get information.

⦁ I did really like Raphael in this episode. He's not happy with how Camille is leading the Vampires and isn't happy that she violated the Accords in an effort to get the Mortal Cup. After he tells Camille to escape when Clary and company storm the Hotel, he "helps" them get Simon out of the Hotel. His parting words to Jace were for him to remember who his friends are. He really feels like the Raphael that we see in the books. So this is another character in this episode that was very much like the books.

⦁ That scene on the roof of the Hotel after they rescue Simon was so cringe-worthy. The only thing I liked about it was when Simon was transfixed by Clary's pulse. We see the beginnings of Simon's transition.

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Review: Shadowhunters Season 1 Episode 2 "The Descent Into Hell Isn't Easy"

EPISODE SUMMARY:

Jace suspects that Clary's memories are the key to locating Jocelyn and the Mortal Cup; Jace, Isabelle and Alec take Clary to face the Silent Brothers in the City of Bones; Simon attempts to adjust to his best friend's new life.

AIRED: January 19, 2016

RATING: 4 ★★★★✩ Excellent!

Clary decides to accept Jace's help and drags Simon along with her. Hodge tells Clary more about the Circle and the Uprising they led that ended up killing a lot of Shadowhunters. He warns them of the dangers of the Mortal Cup getting into the wrong hands. Isabelle takes over looking after Simon. The Circle is hunting down Warlocks to break Jocelyn's spell. Clary realizes that Dot is a Warlock and they need to find her to help them find her mother and the Cup. Luke clears out Clary's room so that she can't be tracked. Isabelle tells Simon about the Forsaken. She thinks Simon is nerd-hot. Magnus portals the Warlocks out of the city to protect them from Valentine. The Circle gets to Dot before Clary and her friends. Jace offers another option: Visit the Silent Brothers in the City of Bones to recover Clary's memories. The Soul Sword will carve the truth from her mind, but it will be an excruciating process. If she's not strong enough, she'll die. Jace reveals to Clary that his father had been a member of the Circle. The Silent Brothers reveal themselves and use the Soul Sword to get the truth from Clary's mind. It revealed that Valentine is her father. Valentine kills Dot. The vampires have kidnapped Simon and want to Mortal Cup in exchange.

We learn all the gritty details about the Circle from Hodge, and boy, does that brand look painful! That was the Clave's way to keep him from talking. What I always thought was ridiculous, even when reading the books, was how the Clave didn't want anyone to know about the Circle. It seems to me that the younger generations should know about the Circle and a lesson not to repeat history. Although I can also see the other side, where knowing could give them similar ideals that the Circle held. But after talking to Hodge, it becomes even more apparent how important it is for them to find the Mortal Cup.

I really liked this first interaction between Simon and Izzy. I'm really enjoying how more accepting Izzy is in the TV show. Simon was just completely struck speechless when he first laid eyes on her. I loved it when she told Clary that Simon was "nerd-hot." Izzy also knows right away that Simon and feeling for Clary. At times, it even seemed like she was goading him about how close Clary and Jace have gotten in such a short amount of time.

My favorite parts of the episode happen at the end when they take Clary to the City of Bone to see the Silent Brothers to try to get her memories back. I already knew that Valentine was Clary's father from reading the books, but it was still really exciting to see it revealed in the show. The emotion that Kat brings to Clary in this situation was very real and I could feel her disbelief, anger and frustration. The Silent Brothers told her that she needs to accept the truth, but at this moment, she doesn't want to accept it. Then we learn that Simon has been kidnapped by the vampires and they want to Mortal Cup in exchange for getting him back. It's one thing on top of another and Clary is reaching the boiling point.

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Review: Shadowhunters Season 1 Episode 1 "The Mortal Cup" [Series Premiere]

EPISODE SUMMARY:

​​Clary Fray is thrown into the world of demon hunting after her mother is kidnapped, and must rely on the mysterious Jace and his fellow Shadowhunters Isabelle and Alec to navigate this new dark world.

AIRED: January 12, 2016

RATING: 4 ★★★★✩ Excellent!

I know that a lot of people were worried about how The Mortal Instruments would be adapted for TV, but I don't think that there was anything to worry about. I thoroughly enjoyed this first episode of the series. I like that it's not going strictly to the original story. I like that everyone was made older and that there are some differences in the story. It makes it a new experience for those who have read the book series. I think that they kept the really important points of the original story, while adding their own touches to it. I liked that Isabelle was a lot more friendly toward Clary in the TV series. I thought that Jace's arrogance and egotism weren't as charming as they are in the book series, it's more dry and rushed so you can't really appreciate it as much. It's one of my favorite characteristic of Jace, so I'm hoping that it becomes more natural as the show progresses. Matthew Daddario plays Alec perfectly. Simon is just as loveable, although I wish that his band was in the show, instead of it being a duet with Maureen. This first episode sets up the show perfectly. It starts out the series much like the books, but with a few differences. I'm looking forward to seeing where they take the story next.

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