Differences in Season 1 Episode 2: The Descent Into Hell Isn't Easy

I'm going to start off by giving all my readers a Spoiler Alert.  Each one of these blog entries will be going over events in both the show and the books, while discussing the differences.  And giving my opinion on those difference. If I agree, disagree, or understand but prefer the original.

In this episode the first difference I take note off is the circle rune.  The circle rune can't exist because it is clearly not a rune that is in The Grey Book, which are the only runes that the Angel Raziel gave to the Shadowhunters.  Shadowhunters are unable to create new runes.  Clary is the only one who can, because of the angel blood that makes her special.

This next one isn't so much a difference, because it's purely visual.  It's the way that the Shadowhunters re-activate old runes.  I love the way that they burn the new runes into their skin, it' s exactly as I pictured it.  But in the books the runes that aren't permanent need to be reapplied like any new runes, but in the show the runes just basically light back up and that's not how I pictured it.

This next one is a fairly small one, and not that big a deal but I wanted to make note of it.  It's the fact that Hodge Starkweather is more than just the Shadowhunters weapons trainer.  Hodge is also their tutor, teaching the young Shadowhunters everything they need to know, not just fighting.

The Mortal Cup does not control demons in the books.  I get why they made this change because it gives the show a chance to add some action into the show a little more organically.

In this episode I noticed that Jace specifically says that only Warlocks can create portals, and this is true.  But as i remarked in the previous blog entry I've noticed in future episodes that it appears that anyone can create portals, because Warlocks are hardly ever around when portals are created in the show.

Now I understand why the show created the portal shard that Clary wears.  It has a very specific purpose in an upcoming episode, and that is one of my favorite episodes.  But the way that Clary is able to find, and see anyone she thinks off while touching the portal shard seems way to convenient.

In the books only Clary and Jace go to the Silent City, which is in a cemetery.  I think the fact that the entrance could be found in a grave yard added to the creepy and the unsettling factor of the silent brothers that we don't get in the show with the entrance only being under a graffiti filled bridge.

This isn't a difference at all but something that I think is done perfectly.  The way that Matthew Daddario portrays Alec as uptight and annoyed with everything is absolutely perfect.

In the final book City of Heavenly Fire Magnus establishes the fact that Warlocks can't use their magic while their hands are bound behind their backs.  Yet, Dot is able to break her chains in that exact way.  This is another one of those little things that for some reason bother me, even though it's not that big of deal.

When the Vampires abduct Simon from outside the Silent City Raphael says that they haven't broken the accords, and if the Shadowhunters attack them to get Simon back they would be breaking the accords.  This is untrue.  The fact that the vampires actively abducted and threatened Simon's life is in fact breaking the accords.  FYI.

Lastly, for this episode, let me just say what do the writers, both for the movie and show, have against Simon turning into a rat?  To be completely honest I loved in The City of Bones when Simon accidentally turned himself into a rat, and got taken by the Vampires because they thought he was one of them.  But, in the show, and movie, Simon was abducted by the Vampires because they want the Mortal Cup.  So sad we never get to see Simon the rat ☹️😥

Till Next Time Friends