Shadowhunters
- Show runtime: 2 seasons, 2015-current
- Shown on: Freeform (previously ABC Family)
- Creators: Creator Ed Decter, Based on the book series by Cassandra Clare
- Queer characters: Alec Lightwood (Matthew Daddario), Magnus Bane (Harry Shum Jr.)
- Sexuality: Ed Dector, Cassandra Clare, matthew Daddario, and Harry Shum Jr. are all straight.
- Show Description: (from IMDB) After her mother disappears, Clary must venture into the dark world of demon hunting, and embrace her new role among the Shadowhunters.
- Queer Summary: Alec and Magnus meet early in the first season, after Alec saves Magnus from an assassin. Later, Alec, who is gay and part of a very traditional, homophobic magical society, agrees to marry Lydia Branwell, the daughter of a well-known demon hunting family, in order to heal the divide between their two families. On the day of their wedding, Magnus interrupts and they share a kiss, ultimately halting the wedding. They are together for the rest of the series, and share their first sexual experience in Season 2, although it is not shown on screen.
- Creator Commentary: Cassandra Clare (author of the original book series) has both heavily supported the TV series but also heavily vilified Alec and Magnus’s relationship in the original novels. The show creators placed large focus on Magnus and Alec as a couple, as well as defining their individual sexualities. One episode was named after their couple name ("Malec") and writers wanted to ensure Magnus came out as bisexual in the second season. Matthew Daddario and Harry Shum Jr have both commented on how important they believe it is that their characters are defined as queer and also give unique arcs.
- Analysis: Explicit creator focus on queer relationship. Independently defining character relationship and their own sexualities. Magnus is an Asian man and shown as the most sexually attractive character in the whole series, and he is also an Asian bisexual man, something nearly unheard of in modern media. Alec is gay and still a leader within his traditional, conservative magical society. Magnus and Alec are presented as the main couple of the show and not pushed to the side by any heterosexual couples, and they are also shown as having the healthiest communication and general relationship. The show openly shows moments like their first kiss and first time say "I love you" to each other. However, Alec's family is extremely homophobic and originally try to force him to marry a woman. And when Magnus and Alec are shown having their first time sleeping together, it is not explicitly shown. In the same episode, a straight couple is explicitly shown being in bed and being intimate with each other, showing a clear double standard for the way intimacy between straight and queer couples is shown.
This page has paths:
- Queer Content with Straight Creators Delaney P Murray