Posted April 26, 2016
By AXEL TURCIOS
Many television shows have aired in the past months, but one that has definitely stood out from the rest is the series, “Shadowhunters.”
“Shadowhunters” promotional graphic (Courtesy of Freeform).
This program is based on the best-selling book series “The Mortal Instruments,” by Cassandra Clare. The show takes place in New York City, where half angel and half human beings protect “Mundanes” (humans) from demons.
In the center of it all lives Clarissa “Clary” Adele Fray. Clary, who’s the lead character, lives in an apartment with her mother Jocelyn.
The apartment is located above of the store Jocelyn owns, where she works along with her close friend Dot. In the store, they sell many things having to do with witchcraft and tarot cards.
Clary is best friends with a young man named Simon who she doesn’t know has deep feelings for her. Both of them are inseparable and do everything together.
On the day of Clary’s 18th birthday, she starts to remember memories that she thought she never lived, but in reality they were all memories that Jocelyn told her friend Magnus who is a warlock to erase in order to protect Clary.
Her mother was a shadowhunter herself but retired so Clary could live a normal life. On the same night of her birthday she runs into a fellow shadowhunter named Jace who was surprised when he found out that she could see him.
After running into Jace she follows him into a club named “Pandemonium” where she encounters a demon. Terrified, Clary leaves Simon behind and runs home to tell her mother who reveals to her that she is a shadowhunter and that she must find her close friend Luke who Jocelyn is in love with to protect her.
When Clary arrives at the police station where Luke works at, she finds him talking to members of “The Circle” (rogue shadowhunters). He tells them that he doesn’t care for Clary and Jocelyn in order to protect them both. In tears, she runs back home to find that her mother and Dot are both gone and is attacked by a demon.
Jace, who takes her back to the institute, which is where the shadowhunters live and train, then saves her. There she gets her first rune (markings to help them be stronger) and also meets Jace’s friends Alec and Isabelle. Isabelle is enchanted by her while Alec believes that she is nothing but a threat and danger to the shadowhunters.
While still in the institute, Clary, finds out that her mother was taken by the leader of The Circle, Valentine who is searching for the mortal cup to control demons and make an army of shadowhunters.
Throughout the rest of the series Clary goes on many adventures to try and save her mother and also find the mortal cup, which was hidden by Jocelyn. The show overall has watchers on the edge of their seats anticipating too see what is next to come.
The effect of this production was something that is believed to be very realistic and believable. The way the demons in this series were made gave them the perfect disgusting and terrifying looks. The makeup was so skilled on the demons and other beings that made them seem as if it was something straight out of the real world and not a fictional book.
The acting in the program was very fulfilling. Watching all these talents all coming together to create something out of this world was astonishing. The music used in the show gives it a mysterious and dramatic sense. It is more up beat turn to indie music.
Overall, I truly believe that this show is a big success and that anyone who watches it will be surprised at how such an amazing book was amazingly brought to life. From the beginning to the end of the episodes, whether you have watched it or not, you are always taken on a roller coaster not knowing what to expect next.
- Title: “Shadowhunters”
- Network: Freeform
- Airtime: Tuesdays 9 ET / 8 CT
- Cast: Katherine McNamara, Dominic Sherwood, Alberto Rosende, Matthew, Daddario, Emeraude Toubia, Isaiah Mustafa, Harry Shum, Jr.
- Producer: David Robert
- Director: J. Miles Dale
- Genre: Fantasy and Drama
- Running time: 42 minutes
- Rating: Five out Five