The last thing I expected to see trending when I checked Twitter on my lunch break at work was #saveshadowhunters
As far as I’m aware this is a popular show & it’s not usual for Netflix shows to be treated as carelessly as network shows. But more than that it is an important show; probably the most important show to hit our airwaves since Star Trek: The Original Series paved the way for a franchise that remains relevant today.
I can’t think of any show since Star Trek that is so socially relevant & does so with such honesty & integrity, which is in large part thanks to Cassandra Clare’s ‘Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments’ series of books the show is based on. A series that requires at least one more full season to do the six books justice.
Using a supernatural backdrop to tells its stories Shadowhunters doesn’t discriminate with its three dimensional characters that are representative across gender, race & sexuality. The characters & story arks are well fleshed out taking us on a journey we can invest in. We get to see not only the character’s strengths & successes but their flaws & vulnerabilities as well, all of whom are brilliantly brought to life by the actors who portray them. The relationships be they friendship, family or romantic are realistic as they go through the ups & downs of any relationship. The women in the show support each other rather than acting like competition to keep at arm’s length. And through it all the show tackles social issues with natural storytelling that isn’t forced or political but simply human (& Shadowhunter, vampire, werewolf, warlock, seelie & demon).
To say that the cancellation of Shadowhunters is a loss is an understatement. The importance of this show in a world that has lost its way & amidst a generation who has taken the fight for equality in a misguided direction is immense. It takes a special ability in storytelling to bring nuance to social issues without feeling like you are being preached to. Cassandra Clare & the team behind Shadowhunters have this ability; such a shame to let it go to waste.
Be sure to check out all the books in Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunters universe for more adventures with the characters you’ve come to care about.
