I have seen enough...
In 2014, I wrote "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones Book and Movie Review". There is no denying I love the Shadow World, the world that Cassandra Clare created after seeing the crisscrossing footprints on the ceiling of a tattoo shop. However, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones film which was released in August 23, 2013 did not give justice to the novel.
Though I love some of the actors and I think they did a great job, it still did not work especially with the script they had. They made several changes that affected the entire City of Bones and the City of Ashes which should have been the second installment.
When I heard that City of Ashes was cancelled, I was sad but more than happy to hear that The Mortal Instruments was given another shot in the form of TV series.
Fast forward to 2016, the Shadowhunters premiered on the 12th of January on Freeform (formerly ABC Family). But I don't have access to that. Thanks to Netflix finally in the Philippine shores, I was able to watch six episodes.
And that is why I can say that Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunters is finally right on track.
The TV Series
The Shadowhunters is based on The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. But it is developed for television by Ed Decter and still follows the story of Clary Fray who just recently been accepted to the Brooklyn Academy of Arts.
As she celebrates her acceptance into arts school and her 18th birthday, she finds out that she is a Shadowhunter, a human who is born with angelic blood and bound to protect humans from demons. That same night, her mother Jocelyn Fray was taken by her father Valentine Morgenstern, a rogue Shadowhunter.Whether you have read book or seen the movie, you'll be glad to know that the TV series stays true to the main story which is the reason why fans love the novel. But since the series is named as Shadowhunters and not The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls, and City of Heavenly Fire, they made some slight changes.
For instance, Luke Garroway or Lucian Graymark owns a book shop but in the TV series, he is a cop. This works well because first he is a Shadowhunter vowed to protect people like cops do. I love Aidan Turner (Kíli in The Hobbit series) and his performance in the TMI film but Isaiah Mustafa has the charisma and fatherly figure I envisioned when I read the novel.
Moreover, some of the later parts in book one where moved to the first few episodes of the series which for me is fine. The way it was written and presented did not leave any holes.
The Cast
Apart from these changes, the new cast is absolutely perfect, well almost. But it's definitely better than the film.
Katherine McNamara as Clary Fray
Look at the hair. Sorry, but the hair says it all. She is indeed Clary Fray.
Dominic Sherwood as Jace Wayland
The Shadowhunter physique I imagined.
Emeraude Toubia as Isabella Lightwood
This is the beautiful but fierce Isabelle Lightwood. For me, Emeraude Toubia is the perfect actress to play Isabelle.
Alberto Rosende as Simon Lewis
I'll be totally honest, I love Robert Sheehan but Alberto Rosende also fits perfectly.
Matthew Daddario as Alec Lightwood
When I read the last book, City of Heavenly Fire I was already imagining Kevin Zegers as Alec and Godfrey Gao as Magnus Bane. But Harry Shum Jr. has the charisma and I can sense the Malec vibe between the new Magnus and Alec. Unfortunately, I have yet to see the bond between the new Jace and Alec.
Harry Shum Jr. as Magnus Bane
Yes, Harry Shum Jr. is indeed the High Warlock of Brooklyn.
Isaiah Mustafa as Luke Garroway
I am sorry Aidan Turner, Isaiah Mustafa is now the new pack leader.
The Shadowhunters airs every Tuesday at 9pm/8c on Freeform (formerly ABC Family). For Netflix users, it's available for viewing on Wednesdays.
Happy viewing!
From Clari Blackstorm
Want to know your Shadowhunter name? Head over here! :)
Note: All photos are from Facebook.com/ShadowhuntersSeries except for the Shadowhunters logo which is from shadowhunters.com.
