#shadowhunters commentary

[bananacakepie]

whenever I see anything that is set of seven, I immediately try to connect it to the Blackthorns, so this will show you my brain’s inner workings

Monday left me broken (Helen)

Tuesday, I was through with hoping (Mark)

Wendsday, my empty arms were open (Julian)

Thursday, waiting for love, waiting for love (Livvy)

thank the stars, it’s Friday (Ty)

i’m burning like a fire gone wild on Saturday (Dru)

guess i wont be coming to church on Sunday (Tavvy)

[toomanybirdsss]

One of my favourite dumb but funny moments in fantasy/sci-fi books or shows is when everything from the characters, the locations, the houses, to the animals have crazy weird names, like fantasy names that are basically just a bunch of syllables smooshed together, but then one of the main characters or even the main character has the stupidest real life name ever.

My favourite example: the Dune series. All the weirdest names under the sun for everything in that series and then one of the main characters name is Paul. Like why is his name Paul?? (i know there is actual story reasons for it but still) One of the worst white boy names ever imo. His last name is Atreides, and his first name is Paul?? Like we were apparently smart enough up to that point to comprehend all the other weird names but the main character had to be the most recognizable basic name ever. Like come on.

Hilarious and infuriating at the same time.

[think-pieces]

Sunjoy signing on

Something about vampires, I don't know if it's the age I grew up in. Or genuine interest and love for vampires. But by golly I fucking love vampires.

In almost any media context I love vampires. I am currently reading, Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda simply because it's vampire themed. Twilight, the Vampire Diaries, Shadowhunters, Vampire Knight, some episodes of Supernatural. I love vampires. Lore, history, stories.

I should preface, so long as it's either tasteful, OR (as seen in my choices), it's so tacky, it's good. I will argue, Vampire diaries has the best ~lore~ about vampirism. Do I think it should be as long of a series as it is? Oh god no. But the lore is peak in terms of the Vampire content I consume. I will say though, Vampire Knight has a strong aesthetic foothold. It could be the style of anime, the "costuming" but it simply is better in the aesthetic department.

Twilight. oh good god. Twilight is a mix (for me), of Vampire Diaries, Tortured Artist TM, Vampire knight. In the funniest way. it has a better styling of "we're techincally dead. frozen in time." there's a lack of warmth, and a strong design of hollowness that resonates in them. I do like how they unintenitionally write them as being the age they are "frozen" at. Solely because it makes sense. The lore is, ugh. But it has moments of clarity. just moments. Let's not give Stephanie Myer too much credit.

I do enjoy when Vampires are made to be "monsters". Why you ask. Because they are. If not for them being argubly the most humanoid monster out there. THEY'RE STILL MONSTERS. When Supernatural had them grow rows upon rows of teeth when they smelt or tasted blood. Shit was horrifying. As it should be. Edward Cullen shouldn't ~Sparkle~. They're nighttime creatures. they should burn in the sun like in the Vampire Diaries or in (I think Shadowhunters does this too).

I fear we as a society stopped growing for the better when we made Vampires hot and have them prey after actual 18 year olds. it is the obvious choice at times. Vampire hold a certain unnattainable sensualism about them. Untouchable, graceful, elegant. They are in my opinion, one of the best things to come out of the monster world.

signing off

sunjoy

[allthestories]

I’m actually incredibly disappointed that Cassie made it so that Matthew was lying about not drinking in Paris. 

Like to have him confess his deepest secret to her and then have him lie to her about this? 

[cassandraclare]

will we ever get a scene or reference to the "i did not choose this life. 1904" engraving in the scholomance that ghost livvy found in gotsm? i had thought it would be a plot point in chot given the year, but it wasn't. was it meant to be, and you changed the location to the silent city instead?

No, it was never meant to be a plot point in TLH. Only Chain of Thorns takes place at all in 1904, and then probably only in the first week or so of 1904. The majority of the book takes place in 1903. The Scholomance is never mentioned in TLH because it just doesn’t have anything to do with the story. Nobody we know is there or ever has a reason to go. I know the dates are close to each other, but there is nothing else connecting that detail from GOTSM to TLH, and everything has to happen in some year or other! I recall when Kelly and I wrote that story, and we never discussed that piece of writing as connecting to Last Hours or anything else - it’s meant to be a commentary on being a Shadowhunter, more than anything; it’s possible Livvy may come across the ghost of whoever wrote in in TWP, though!

[dreaming-marchling]

I don't know if you have a set of questions we can ask you, but I was wondering...

How do you choose a title for your stories, and do you find "the one" right away?

I hope you are having an awesome commentary for the new story, and I hope you don't have them haters coming at you! Just know i can fight!

Stay away from my fav writer!

You can ask anything anytime you like, no need to link up to an ask meme :)

I usually just take a few minutes to think after I splat 500 words into a document so I can save it as something. Sometimes I actually come up with something good, mostly I do not lol, and occasionally I change it later on.

The Warlock's Cat was originally some play on "curiosity kills the cat" that was dumb, I forget what it was exactly, but I changed it halfway through writing. Held in Hearts was just Held in Heart for months until the day before I posted. Safe in Certainty had a different title (one I still love) but it felt very final and I wasn't sure if I felt that way about the series (obviously I turned out to not feel very final about it at all lol).

Mostly though, I just brainstorm around the most prominent element of the story and try to come up with something from there. Sometimes I definitely cheap out and just go with Exile or Hybrid though, lol.

And thank you! I always get nervous about posting new stories, specifically for Shadowhunters because I've been burned before, but everyone has been really lovely with the first chapter :)

[barbasbackside]

— masterlist 𓇢𓆸

masterlist on all things fandom and fanbase related that im into. masterlist links will bring you to all the original content i have made—or reblogs i have made significant commentary on—for said fandom

if you want to see my reblogs, then just search said fandom tag in my blog's search bar. my original fandom posts are tagged with "og" at the end so that there is a distinction between the two. i hope that makes sense. happy scrolling <3

☆ tv shows ☆

law & order: svu || supernatural || sherlock || shadowhunters || stranger things || heartstopper || murdoch mysteries || criminal minds || lucifer || anne with an e || good omens || once upon a time || the end of the fucking world || timeless || interview with the vampire

☆ films ☆

dead poets society || lord of the rings || lisa frankenstein || the holdovers || bones and all || call me by your name || fantastic mr. fox || hunger games (tbosbas) || kill your darlings || the diary of a teenage girl || little women (2019) || the virgin suicides

☆ books + universe ☆

marauders || the secret history || looking for alaska (or any john green book) || daisy jones and the six || dorian gray || dracula || catcher in the rye || red white and royale blue || the summer i turned pretty

☆ animated ☆

over the garden wall || hazbin hotel || studio ghibli || the girl from the other side || wolfwalkers || moomins || ratatouille || nimona

☆ music + celebrities ☆

emo bandom (mcr, tøp, p!atd, etc.) || hozier || ethel cain || florence welch || noah kahan || chappell roan || lizzy mcalpine || raúl esparza

[livingfictionsystem]

Shadowhunters commentary: Herondales' favourite past time is falling in love with someone suitable and getting hung up on a contrived reason on why they can't possibly show it.

-Xanthe 🪶

[im-out-of-it]

part 14(or 13) continued of season 1, episode 12 of MALEC

176. IM SORRY BUT I LOVE THE WAY MAGNUS AND ALEC JUDGE SIMON LMAO

177. Alec: babe why are we allowing this?

178. Magnus: I truly don’t know but I’m so entertained

179. this is also important because this is going to be an issue later on that gets developed (but not as bad as the books)

180. yes hurry up and have a drink already!!!

190. we all love Magnus, but is he just hotter when he uses magic?????? ITS SO FUCKING PRETTY

191. Magnus aka you don’t need to touch my boyfriend bane

192. is that jealousy in jace?????

193. Magnus: ah shit. the second I get happy, I have to deal with my psycho ex. why do good things happen to such hot and fantastic people?

194. when jace tells Lydia how she did a good thing “letting Alec choose” basically like what was she supposed to do????? tell Alec no, marry me this instant? I’m glad she stood aside but that’s the most respectful thing I can think of anyone doing. it’s almost using common sense. you stand aside and let the other person happy

195. “I have darkness in me.”- jace. why yes you do so get your ass in therapy!!!!

196. “you’re a good person jace.”- clary. why don’t you join him in therapy????????

197. bitch you thought Lydia lmao

198. I don’t blame hodge for what he did because as much as I like (ADORE) the lightwoods, he did get sentenced inside for the rest of his life while other people who probably did worse are much more freer. now this wouldn’t be a punishment for me because I love the indoors but I can understand how he feels about it

199. and of course they have to put some CLACE in this episode when it’s STRICTLY FOR MALEC

200. but easily one of the best episodes and this can’t be argued. like it’s got Alec and Magnus having a small fight, then they see one another and it’s super uncomfortable but you can’t look away, alec wresting with his inner demons (aka Maryse), Alec finally choosing himself (and let’s be clear, he’s not only choosing magnus but finally himself for once), MALEC KISS, the aftermath of Maryse being all mad and Malec stating they’ll go on their date, how everything quickly happened, THE FASHION MAGNUS!!!! EVEN ALEC WITH HIS SUIT AND TIE, to all the other Valentine stuff that we forgot about because MALEC ✨

also it’s funny to me when book fans complain about how Alec is dressed at his wedding. nobody gives a shit if he’s not wearing shadowhunter colors. JUST LIKE HOW HE LOOKS HANDSOME WITH HIS HAZEL NOT BLUE EYES AND WE PREFER HIM THAT WAY. he looks hot doing anything so back off 👏🏼 also Lydia is very gorgeous in her dress so leave your shitty book opinions away 😌

wow 200 is the number!!!!!! I purposely made it this way when I was on 194 but this was a jam packed episode!!!!! I’m learning that I don’t need to post (I try not to people please but it’s fucking hard not to) everyday since it’s easier to prepare my gifs first and then commentary. but I do hope y’all enjoyed this!!!!!! I’m pretty sure it’s in 13 parts not 14 but a lot of shit to remember. so thank you for joining WE LOVE SHOW MALEC AND THEY MATTER THE MOST and ew CLACE shit discussion post/list/bitchfest/commentary. I appreciate anyone who takes the time and tolerates me, y’all are the greatest. next one should be out in a couple of days maybe a week at the latest 🥹

[faejilly]

10 characters/10 fandoms/10 tags (in no particular order)

Alexander Gideon Lightwood--Shadowhunters (TV)

Joan Watson--Elementary (Honorary mentions to Granada Watson & ACD Watson & the robot & tomato & etc. But Lucy Liu y'all.)

Oz--BTVS (Daniel "Oz" Osbourne. I still know his actual full name! From when it aired! I was the same age as Oz when it came out oh gods I'm old. And yet Seth Green is not. How unfair. 🤣)

Joker--Mass Effect (Jeffrey "Joker" Moreau. Now I'm just making some weird nickname & Seth Green commentary, idek anymore)

Amanda King--Scarecrow and Mrs King (#formative influence)

Murderbot--The Murderbot Diaries (Or as I usually call it when it comes up in conversation: Murderbot!Murderbot!Murderbot!)

Molly Grue--The Last Unicorn (Book & Movie & Graphic Novel)

Alec Hardison/Eliot Spencer/Parker--Leverage (The OG OT3 deserve their own line, I don't make the rules that's just how it is)

Anne Elliot--Persuasion (Favorite Austen. Favorite Everything.)

Sebastian Vael--Dragon Age 2 (He's why I'm on tumblr even!)

tagged by @tamsinwilloughby & no pressure tagging @twistedsinews @wellreadpigfarmer @leahazel @rubyvroom @poemsfromthealley @ohfreckle @msviolacea @genginger @numbuh12 @defira85 & anyone else who'd like to try it

[sandylee007]

'In a Valley of Deep Darkness' part 18 sneak peek 1

Alec didn’t know what came over him. Before he realized what was happening his lips brushed Magnus’. “Sorry”, he sputtered, after. “I don’t know... I guess I wanted to...”

Magnus’ pupils were blown wide as the man shook his head. Instead of offering verbal commentary the warlock pulled him close for a second, slightly longer kiss. “I know. Me too.”

[griftermp3]

though at first glance the difference between the amount of canonically queer shadowhunters in tmi and in tlh may just appear to be a reflection of shifting irl norms in including lgbtq+ characters in fiction, i believe that not only is it a subversion of beliefs about the early 1900s saying that queer people had to live in secret, but also a commentary on the way that the progress of time does not always equal the progress of belief, especially after the rise of conservatives into power. one must bear in mind that in 1903, the shadowhunter with the most power over the Clave was Consul Charlotte Fairchild; in 2007, it was rogue shadowhunter and known blood supremacist and bigot Valentine Morgenstern. In text, we can see the reflection of these two time periods (1903 and 2007) as Anna and Ari able to dance together on the dancefloor in view of everyone with little issue, and Alec Lightwood kissing Magnus Bane in the view of everyone to lots of shock and surprise. In this essay I will

[smilebackwards]

For the director's cut ask game, I would love to hear any tidbits about Enthrallment that you're willing to share. I simply adore that fic.

Oh, thank you! 😊 Okay, so Enthrallment is set in @lawsofchaos1 beautiful Consular High Warlock verse and based on a prompt they posted to the Malec discord a year ago where a lot of people added great commentary. It kills me to see amazing prompts, especially with extra commentary, get lost in the depths of discord or tumblr or old journals on LJ which is part of why I love to write them out into full fics that are at least mildly less ephemeral on AO3. I think the extra commentary that really, really got me was Lucia_3 came up with the idea that Magnus' magic was automatically abrasive to other warlocks and I had a lot of fun with that.

Other stuff... I have attended some conferences so I enjoyed bringing some of that world into the Shadowhunters world. I particularly enjoyed coming up with conference presentation names:

How to Spell Reforestation: Using Magic to Combat Climate Change

The Cabinet: A Nephilim-Downworld Collaboration Initiative

Identification and Applications of Four-Dimensional Warding

A, B, AB, & O: The Impact of Blood Type on Non Subject Specific Blood Magic

unnamed non-reactive flavoring for potions presentation

I really think that Alec would love slide decks, okay? I don't think he loves paperwork per se but I think he loves organization and so he would love to make a PowerPoint and in other fics I have him set up a newsletter and he has a payment ledger and other stuff. I do this across fandoms too because I think it's funny. Like characters are in Excel and reviewing board notes and studying flowcharts on how the space postal system works and it's personally hilarious to me.

[achaiapelides]

Kit's Diary

Chapter 13

Dear Ty,

I just realised that I forgot to tell you about my therapist appointment last week. As I told you, I had to take notes about what I remember about my childhood. I asked Tessa and Jem about if I should tell her about the first heir stuff and they reminded me that the whole Unseelie Court knows about me anyways for some reason. So I decided to tell her about that too at the next appointment. Mrs. Sullivan, being her enthusiastic self, gave nice commentary like "mmhmh" and "mkay". Please note the sarcasm here.

After my long ass monologue finally ended, the therapist confirmed that I definitely have trauma from what happened since my dad was killed and I found out I was a Shadowhunter, but also possibly some trauma from experiences I made in my childhood, that my brain made me forget to save me from being too traumatised. She asked me if I was willing to be hypnotised, so that she can find out what this traumatic experiences were to be able to help me better. I agreed. Mrs. Sullivan said she would contact a warlock who was able to do that and I suggested that maybe Tessa would have this ability too. I guess I feel more comfortable with having Tessa know my past memories that I don't even remember myself, than some random warlock I never met.

In addition to that Mrs. Sullivan also suggested that I might have ADHD. She printed out some sheets with the traits she observed in me and some other ones typical for ADHD and asked me to give it to several people I know, preferably some with little connection to each other. They should pick all the traits they have observed in me. I'm also supposed to fill out one sheet because some questions are about how I feel about certain things and how I think I behave, which obviously only I can answer. Then we made another appointment in two weeks, because Mrs. Sullivan is on vacation the next week. Well, this week I mean.

When I got home I gave Tessa and Jem one of the sheets and told them all the therapist said. They suggested to give one of the sheets to my school friends and one to Hazel, because she surely observed something about me too, as my ex-girlfriend. Jem even send the photo of the sheet to Emma, so she and Julian can point out, what they observed about me, too. And Tessa agreed to do the hypnosis thing and said she would also feel more safe about me, if no random warlock we don't know found out about me being the First Heir.

I have to tell you about something else, too. In school everyone is obsessed with this one singer from America, who just published her new album. Her name is Taylor Swift and she's apparently super popular, especially in America. I didn't know her. Was I living under a rock for the past years? Yes probably. (That was a metaphor by the way. I don't actually live under a rock obviously. It just means being unaware of mainstream things. Like Taylor Swift apparently. Lol.)

Anyways, back to Taylor. Once Leo found out that I didn't know, she forced me to listen to all of her songs and give her my opinion. After doing that I finally realised why she was so shocked. These songs are amazing. And she has so many different ones. Heartbroken songs, angry songs, love songs, revenge songs, calm songs and sad songs. Even some rocky songs. And some "I don't give a shit" songs. She really has everything you could ask for. Apparently she also is friends with Ed Sheeran and sung a duet with him. Yes I know Ed, but not Taylor. I'm weird, I know. I swear if Jem and Tessa listen to "Perfect" one more time, I'm sending Ed a marriage proposal on their behalf. Maybe he's Will Herondale reincarnated and I just don't know about that. You never know with this Shadowhunter stuff. Lol. And I changed topics again. Come on Kit. You can do better.

Anyways, back to Taylor, AGAIN. If you ever read this and you haven't listened to her songs yet, which I highly doubt, considering your literal twin sister is Livvy, you should listen to "Wildest Dreams". I think you might like it. And "Begin Again", too. I also just found the perfect song I can listen to on loop, when I'm missing you again. It's called "Haunted" and for some reason it fits perfectly to us. And it gives me feelings. Much feelings. Why can this woman describe my feelings better, than I can? If she ever stops her career, she should consider becoming a therapist. Wait a second, Julian just called and asked to speak with me. I'll be right back.

Holy shit. You won't believe what just happened. Well, you will actually because it was you idea, haha. Anyways, Julian called and said they saw the sheet Jem send them and were discussing it, when you randomly visited and after they told you what they were doing, you wanted to help them because you knew me best. Holy shit. What? Huh? Am I dreaming. What??? I couldn't believe that was true and literally asked Mina to trip my leg really hard so that could bring me back to reality. But this is real. What? Omg. I think I broke. Where is Taylor when you need her? She better have a song about this.

Sorry, I'm back from my lovesick happiness trip now. Calm your shit, Kit! (oh a rhyme!) He just helped. You didn't even interact. What will you do when it comes this far? Die? Yeah probably. So if I black out, when we see eachother again, don't worry. I'm good. Just lovesick.

Oh man, I'm talking to myself again. I think I need an extra therapy session for this.

Aaaaanyway. (I used this word too much today, I know.) So, Emma send back the sheets with her's, Julian’s and your comments. And I can see so clearly what you wrote. Aaaaahh. Thank you so much. Aaaaahhhhhh.

I think I should stop writing for today. It's dinnertime now anyway. But maybe I can hope that you're thinking about me now too? Is that too much to ask?

I love you so much, Ty. I wish we could be together again. But I guess we both need some time to heal. Don't think I won't miss you every second of it, because I will.

All my love, Kit. (Hopefully yours one day)

Author's note:

What a coincidence that of all the times my friend could have forced me to listen to all the Taylor Swift songs and made me get a bit too obsessed with her, she chose the time when I was writing chapter 13. This was not planned. What the hell?

[dreaming-marchling]

I hope you feel better soon!

Love this bit of cultural worldbuilding in Exile if you have any additional director's commentary!

“I don’t know if Magnus or Jace made it clear or not but parabatai bonds are sacred to us. They’re a serious, serious commitment and there are all sorts of accommodations given to bonded pairs. That someone purposefully broke the bond between you and Jace is literally its own crime. There will be people, especially in the older generations, who will be more angry about what happened to your bond than what happened to you yourself. Mostly those people are anti-Downworlder bigots who don’t like your progressive stance but still, the point stands.”

The show SAID the bond was sacred and then they just never actually showed it. Like super frustrating, it infuriated me all the time. Like bad enough they let Jace be tricked by Jonathan with that text that Max died - HE SHOULD HAVE FELT THAT ALEC WASN'T DEVASTATED AND KNOWN IT WAS FAKE!!! - but like where was the DEFERENCE??

I really wanted there to be scenes where say Maryse tried to pull something on Alec and Jace cut her off like "he's my parabatai and my word goes" instead we got shit like her telling Alec to just like forget Jace because he made them look bad. Or for there to be some sort of "omg those are parabatai warriors, look at them fight, they're blessed by the Angels" awed reaction from new to the Institute Shadowhunters. We got a whole lot of nothing other than an occasional mention that the bond is sacred or losing a parabatai is the worst pain without really showing it.

So I really wanted to show it in Exile. Jace wasn't just in pain, he was shattered and wanted to join Alec in death as their souls were torn apart and wanted - needed - to be back together. I wanted other people to be horrified that Imogen had done that to parabatai. I wanted the breaking of the bond to be its own crime to stack on her mountain. Even Alec who had no idea who he was was dealing with a "rip" inside of him that hurt and destabilized him without understanding why.

I imagine the Clave to be really cutthroat like old royal courts were, lots of scheming and "playing the game" and assassination attempts. I can absolutely imagine some people being like "damn girl" to Imogen for so ruthlessly and effectively taking out Alec to further her grandson's interests and the Herondale name. Not like approval approval but "what a master manipulator, well played" kind of vibe... until she broken an Angel blessed bond to do it.

I have feelings.

Thank you for asking!!