Shadow Hunters Episode 1: Review

First, I have only read City of Bones.  I wanted to start reading the series before the movie came out expecting it to be a success and watching the sequels going forward.  It’s how I like to read YA novels.  This didn’t come to fruition even though I did really enjoy the movie and the book was OK.

Yah, the book was just OK.  I tried to read the second one and fell off the rail with it.  I will pick it back up again though since I am big believer in finish what you start.

I was interested early on in the announcement that they were going to turn this series into a TV show.  I sat down a few days ago when Netflix all but slapped me upside the head with their promo “LOOK, LOOK WATCH IT DAMN IT LOOK AT THIS HUGE PICTURE THAT TAKES UP 60% OF THE SCREEN. IT’S NEW WATCH IT NOW WATCH IT NOW!!”  So because it was a Netflix Original to which I have never been disappointed by them AND because it was so hyped by the various places I seek my daily entertainment I sat down to watch it.

It kind of sucked.

I won’t give away the plot but what I will tell you is that even for a Pilot this episode really was a hack job.  At a few points, you caught glimpses of the actors actually acting so you know that they do have the ability but the way the scenes played out and some of the lines (many of them Clary’s) were executed made me cringe.  They were rushed and off putting.

I will say that the guy playing Simon was a stand out as he was able to execute most of his lines and he presented himself in a mostly believable manner.  He came off as endearing and sardonic the way that Simon is supposed  to be.  He could still improve but I expect that will be inevitable in the following episodes provided that the creators of this show get their act together.

Clary was the worst.  She really came off as a 90s Degrassi High reject.  Her over stylized execution of her lines made her feel like she was in a play rather than trying to realize a convincing portrayl of a teenager girl whose life suddnely falls apart.  She was cheese topped with spray cheese.  After the 3rd or 4th time she declared “You’re crazy,” “You don’t make any sense,” “What?” I kind of wanted to slap her.  She was so air headed it was sad.

I also have to mention that the choice to change the scene where Clary saves herself to her being rescued is a TV trope that came the closest in the episode to me shutting it down and not finishing.  Again, not trying to spoil the show but when the book writes Clary as being sassy and surprisingly able to take care of herself in a pinch but the show decides she’s just totally useless it makes it very hard to believe why Jace would care about her at all.

Jace.  Wow did they pick a good looking guy for him.  I think he can act but they sort of threw him in as a meat head with no substance.  He lacked the classic Jace snark for the most part.  If he gets that ego more in the next episode I think he’ll be alright.

Is that the Old Spice guy playing Luke?  Cool! Show me more! I think I like him but I think he also had 2 minutes of screen time.  It’s ironic that the man known for cheesy commercials seemed to be the most grounded in his acting for this episode.

Everyone else was paint drying.  Sorry.

The entire episode was condensed and ridiculously paced to the point where all these characters (and they introduced a very large amount of them all off the bat) got nearly 0 screen time and no connection with the audience.

If I had the choice to launch this show I would not have introduced Valentine right away (and I would have chosen a more charismatic and, frankly, better looking actor).  There should have been a build of mystery around his character and there should have also been a build on Clary’s story.

All the information they crammed into this episode could have been better served in a 2 part season opener or just an extended 2 hour special.  The first episode could nicely introduce Clary, her mom and her friends with foreshadowing of what was to come.  The story could progress through in that first hour to her going to the club and witnessing the fight there and her basically having PTSD over it until the first episode ended with the attack on her home.  She didn’t have to find out the entire first novel’s worth of story in 10 minutes.

I will watch the second episode in the hopes that all these kinks that I’m hung up on are smoothed out.  Right now this show is shaping up to being a 1 Season shut down and the final nail in the coffin of bringing The Mortal Instruments to live action.

All in all I would give this Pilot a 4/10.  It was not the worst thing I have ever seen but it also suffered from strange (a bit sexist) changes between the book to the show, terribly cramped pacing, lots of plot dumping, what appeared to be poor acting or poor directing choice, and a lack of emotional impact to care about the characters.  It’s like the creators forgot they have a full season to work with.  It’s ok that you don’t cram every one of the books into the whole season.

–Krysil