Differences in Season 1 Episode 5: Moo Shu to Go

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.

I feel like Isabelle and Maryse's relationship in the show isn't the same as it was portrayed in the books.  In the books Maryse confides in a young Isabelle, things that a mother shouldn't be telling her daughter.  Like her issues with men and trusting other people.  But in the show so far all I've seen is Maryse attack and tare down who Isabelle is.  Doesn't seem right to me.

Also Maryse makes the statement that Shadowhunters aren't supposed to associate with Downworlders in any kind of personal fashion.  And even says that the law is hard but its the law when talking about this.  But I don't remember anywhere there being a law that Downworlders and Shadowhunters were forbidden from consorting with each other.  It may be frowned on, but Maryse is making it sound like its against the law.  You show me that law then I'll believe it.

In the show Magnus calls Alec asking if he'll go out on a date with him.  One thing I liked about the books was that it was shy and reserved Alec who sought out Magnus for a date.  It's one of the things that Magnus found so intriguing about Alec in the first place.  Just read the short story in The Bane Chronicles titled What to Get a Shadowhunter Who Has Everything, it'll tell you all about how Alec is the one who goes to Magnus' apartment and asks him out.

I've noticed that in the show the Werewolf pack is interested in Clary because of the Mortal Cup, and Luke isn't the Alpha.  Although, in the books the pack is only interested in Clary because Luke has already taken over the pack to find her and save her.  Everyone in the Downworld seems to be interested in the Cup even though only Shadowhunters are supposed to be able to use.

Out on the street in front of the Brooklyn Academy of Arts when Alec finds Clary she tells him that she knows he is in love with Jace.  In the books when Clary confronts Alec about this he gets physically angry with her and even threatens her if she doesn't keep quiet about it.  But what we see in the show is Alec pretending to not know what Clary is talking about, and acting like a twelve year old.  When Alec comes back with "You're in love with Jace," I almost expected him to say I know you are but what am I.  The way they did this in the show didn't really feel like Alec for me.

When Valentine is putting runes on the mundanes to turn them into the forsaken the instant the rune was finished the mundane would be screaming in pain and be turning into the forsaken.  But what we see is Valentine put the rune on him, and then continue talking like nothing is happen.  The way that this is described in the books isn't what we see in the show, and it disconnected me a little bit.

When Alec, Clary and Simon get back to Clary's old apartment and they can suddenly see the runes and wards of protection Alec says that a Warlock put them up to protect Clary and Jocelyn. The problem that I have is is that the runes used are the Shadowhunter's angelic runes given to them by the Angel Raziel, runes that only shadowhunters can use.  Warlocks do not use these runes.

This is a small point that us as the readers, and viewers, should think about.  We know that Meliorn may be a Seelie but we can't believe a word he says, because we know he is capable of lying.  Are you taking what he says with a grain of salt too?  Every time he tells our Shadowhunters something I think, "Is that really true."

How is it that Isabelle pushes a few buttons on her cell phone and then somehow knows that Clary and Simon weren't actually arrested? Was that strange for you too?

I hate how the show has Jace blaming Alec for losing Clary and telling him that his best isn't good enough.  Because Jace would NEVER tell his parabatai this.  I feel like their parabatai bond is mentioned but so far the intensity and meaning behind it is not only being overlooked but downright ignored.  Later on the writers seem to appreciate this bond more, but right now its not being handled correctly.

Why does every Downworlder in the show so far seem so keen to go about breaking the accords?  Abducting mundanes and Shadowhunters alike.  Threatening to kill them, too.  This doesn't seem right to me.

One last thing at the end of the episode Jace basically turns his back on Alec and leaves with Clary and Simon.  Again this would never happen, because would never turn his back on Alec, even for Clary.  It just would not happen.

Till Next Time Friends,