Is Malec being mishandled?
#MalecDeservesBetter. That’s the hashtag that is currently cropping up over and over again on my twitter feed. Many within the Shadowhunters fandom are angry at the writers and show runners for the handling of the Malec relationship. And not without reason.
I mentioned in my recaps of the last two episodes (here and here) that the Malec relationship has felt rushed. We waited 8 episodes from their first kiss to get a first date. Then the next episode Alec literally shoved Magnus into his bedroom. Episode after that they barely even touch each other. And yet this is the relationship that the Shadowhunters official PR and social media channels are going all out to promote. Right down to spoiling key scenes with sneak peeks just hours before episodes air. I’ve seen some fans level allegations of queer-baiting at the show in recent weeks.
Matthew Daddario and Harry Shum Jr. have both spoken on numerous occasions about the importance to them of portraying this relationship right.
They recognise the importance of not leading the fans on. Matt mentioned exactly that in an interview with AOL Build just after the season 2 premiere.
Jump to 12:47 to hear Matthew discuss the Malec relationship in his own inimitable fashion.
It’s not enough for us to be TOLD that Magnus and Alec are in love. We need to SEE it. Slow things down! You know what would have been great? Letting us SEE their date in Japan. I want to see Alec sneaking away for a moment to buy that little omamori trinket for Magnus. Let them have a makeout session (or five) that ISN’T interrupted by Jace.
Now Malec aren’t alone in having the fast forward button apparently jammed down. In this week’s episode, Clary and Simon got together. A sneak peek just released for the next episode shows the pair making out in the boat shed. Simon is shirtless. They have only kissed twice. At least they get equal treatment with Malec in one way, interrupted by Jace.
On-screen Intimacy.
Now this leads to another argument – that Malec, a same sex couple, do not receive scenes showing the same level of intimacy as those given to heterosexual couples. In this show’s history we’ve seen some seriously hot, very intimate scenes between Izzy and Meliorn in season 1 and just last week Jace and the random Seelie. Don’t forget Simon and Maureen waking up together in season 1. Malec didn’t even get an afterglow moment.
Remember season 1 Magnus? He was this flirty, totally secure in his sexuality, flamboyantly dressed badass.
@PatronusMalec @MalecWings +same person anymore. Where's the man who said "I'll do you pro bono"? Did they decide it was too much? Where +
— Erika ➰ (@Malec_Immortal) February 24, 2017
Can you imagine that guy answering the door to his boyfriend the way Magnus answered it to Alec in 2.08? Hell no. He’d have kissed him, or touched him, or shown some kind of physical intimacy towards the man he is sleeping with.
I spoke to one member of the fandom who said “with their first time it fell flat. The build up wasn’t enough, it didn’t take its time to breathe onscreen, they wanted it to be over with.”
Unlike Izzy and Meliorn which saw both of them using sex as a tool to get information, or Jace attempting to bury his emotions in no-strings hook-ups, Malec is an actual relationship. It definitely deserves more than a fade to black and no follow up on such a momentous step.
#MalecDeservesBetter
So if you think, as many seem to, that Malec deserves better it’s time to speak up.
The fandom is going to try and trend a hashtag tomorrow to get the attention of the writers and show-runners. Using #MalecDeservesBetter let the Powers That Be behind Shadowhunters know how you feel. But please, be polite and respectful. The Malec fandom is one of the most eloquent and thoughtful I have seen. You guys are powerful. Don’t forget Harry and Matt saw the last trend. I don’t doubt you can make your voices heard again.
I’d like to thank all the fans I spoke to who have let me use their words or tweets.
