Book to Movie to TV Series Review: The Mortal Instruments (Season 1)

Summary: On her birthday, Clary Fray discovers a surprise concerning her life. The teenager is not who she thinks she is -- she comes from a long line of human-angel hybrids, called Shadowhunters, who hunt demons. After her mother is kidnapped, Clary is thrust into the world of demon-hunting. Clary relies on mysterious Jace and fellow hunters Isabelle and Alec to help her navigate the dark world. While living in this new world among creatures like vampires and werewolves, Clary's best friend Simon helps her uncover answers that could help her find her mother. The fantasy show is based on a series of young adult books by Cassandra Clare.

I have to say this is a first for me, a Book to Movie to TV Series Review. When Cassandra Clare was writing The Mortal Instruments series we were SO into it! I even traveled to a book signing to meet her (and her rocking purple hair). When the series concluded she dropped two bombshells: 1. it would be extended and 2. there was a movie adaptation in the works. Those two surprises for book lovers are equivalent to winning the lottery. In short, I (and all human-kind) were winning.

Then the last two installments rolled out followed by the movie. I really enjoyed the series and the world that Clare created. I still think it is one of the best YA worlds imagined. With that said, I was so freaking pumped about the movie-- like Twilight excited. BUUUUUTTTTTT... the movie sucked.

I don't mean to be mean, really. The storyline was true to the series and the graphics were fantastic but the actors really killed it for me. I kept thinking of the Volturi when I looked at Jace (Jamie Campbell Bower) and he was just too skinny. I don't know what else to say, I just didn't like it. BUT I still bought that sucker on DVD and supported my fellow YA cronies {my grassroots efforts to keep the YA adaptations flowing}.

So, when I heard that there was a TV series in the works for TMI I was automatically interested. 

Why? 

Because a TV series format can really work out some of the storyline and plot twists in books better than a movie. Case in point, The Vampire Diaries --> the books were terrible. The series (and its spin-off The Originals) are the BEST. VAMPIRE. SERIES. EVER. 

I knew I had to give TMI series a fair shot.

I had to prepare. 

I had to inspect the cast. 

  *Katherine McNamara who plays Clary has been a frequent on several of the Disney shows that my kids love so I was really excited to see a familiar face. Plus I knew she could do weird. #thehauntinghour

Watch the trailers. 

And record the first 4 episodes {see #SHOWHOLE post for explanation}. 

After watching the pilot episode I was on the fence. It was like watching the Vampire Academy Movie with regard to the acting. And then it HIT ME! I looked up my review of VA: Blood Sisters and low and behold who played Christian Ozara --> Dominic Sherwood aka "The new Jace".  He was my favorite of that whole movie adaptation. 

In my best Yoda voice I thought Press Forward You Must.

13 episodes later (season 1) and I'm hooked! It's creepy, clever and even witty. I love all the characters, they all fit what I imagined while reading the series. With one exception, Alec, he is even better looking than I imagined. It made me realize how much I missed Magnus Bane. He is just so fluffy and wise.

There is so much potential for plot twists while still staying true to the series Clare created. So far, I like the changes made and am currently suffering through what I like to call The Star Wars dilemma that Clare so kindly bestowed on us mere mortals. All in all the series ended on a high and has just been given a green light for season 2! 

My final parting words are simple.

Go now and watch. Watch them all. 

Binge on my friends! As always, binge responsibly.

If you're a #Newb and none of this makes sense go HERE.
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