He's Not a Morganstern : Shadowhunters 2x10 Review

YA'LL.

Excuse me, please, while I channel my inner Christine [@xtinemay] here and gush over the Winter Finale episode of Shadowhunters.

To preface, let me say that if you didn't know, I am among the ranks of those who've read all the Shadowhunters books so far - which, for clarity, they aren't technically called that:

The Mortal Instruments:

... and yes, I bought these also, because SPINES: 

same books, different covers... 

The Infernal Devices: 

The Dark Artifices [at this point, Lady Midnight]:

& the author, cassandra clare

And naturally, I spent 3 months hunting down and fiiiiiinally obtaining the UK version of LM:

this was worth every day waiting & every penny. 

And Lord of Shadows has been pre-ordered. And I finished up both The Bane Chronicles and Simon's conversion journey in Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy. So we're all set.

Mmkay, mmkay, mmmmkeehhh. If you don't want the Shadowhunters experience spoiled for you, then stop reading this. If you have only watched the show so far, and have not read the books, please, please, please go and READ.THE.BOOKS. I would recommend starting with The Infernal Devices, even though they were released after The Mortal Instruments. They're intended as a prequel trilogy anyway, so start there and I DARE YOU not to fall in love with Tessa, Jem & Will.

And then read The Mortal Instruments, and I dare you then to not fall in love with Magnus. Clary's a little grating, and Jace is sassy as can be, but in the end, if you're like me, you'll love it all the way Cassandra Clare wrapped it together for us. 

That brings me back to the show. It goes without saying that the writers of season 1, at best, LOOSELY based the show on the books themselves. I feel like the conversation surrounding plot departures in general is a song for another day. Now that we're in season 2 with all of these new plot departures, I have finally accepted that that's how it is, but honestly, I'd find it hard to believe that I'm the ONLY ONE who was leary after episode 9, of how they'd pull this back together and at least make some nods to the books. 

SPOILER: The creepy clown warehouse, neither Iris Rouse nor Madzie even exist in the books [same for Lydia Branwell], Jocelyn doesn't die AT ALL, EVER in the books, and Clace don't find out they're not related until after Sebastian comes along in the books. Oh, and Alaric doesn't die that way in the books. OH, and shape shifter runes? Definitely a show thing. 

So it's been a rough ride for me and seemingly some others who hold the books dear. But that brings me to tonight's Winter Finale episode.

I.. did.. not hate it. I can't decide if I'm embarrassed for not hating it. I didn't love it the way I would like to, but if nothing else it's refreshing to watch the show and not know exactly what and when things will happen.

********And sidenote, I'd kinda started writing this with the intent of just including this show as part of what I did today, but now that I've unintentionally launched into full review mode, let's go with it... ********

I'll start with the Hmmmmeehh?!:  

- Oh heeey, kinda-recovering DOT, on Magnus' couch?
- Are we supposed to believe that Madzie is the warlock "baby" that will be eventually adopted by Magnus & Alec? She's just kinda here now, and since Iris is in Idris..... I just.. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ?
- Simon GETTING HIS THROAT CUT BY VALENTINE was exceptionally unexpected, gross and chronologically weird for me to digest. Especially given that
- JACE then uses a SHAPE SHIFTING RUNE to be Clary, and then Simon drinks his blood instead of Clary's and now Simon is a Daylighter but doesn't understand it but it happened at the INSTITUTE and that's not how it goes in the books someonepleaseexplainthis.
- Shape. Shifting. Runes. 
- And then Clary, being very Clary-ish, is all "No Magnus, go on ahead. I'll WALK THROUGH THE INSTITUTE ON MY OWN BECAUSE WHAT COULD GO WRONG IN THIS SPECIFIC SCENARIO."
- Alec got locked in an elevator by a kid warlock. MehhhIIII dunno.
- Maia's brash tantrums don't seem at all like the more calculated, precise book Maia. 

- Alaric and half the wolf pack and a handful of seelies die in the institute after Jace accidentally activated the soul sword.
- JACE JUST ACTIVATED THE SOUL SWORD. 

- Jocelyn is still dead. Again, Jocelyn's not dead at any point in any of these books. WHO is Luke going to marry now?! *sniffle.
- #RAPHSWERVE: For SOME reason, Raphael is the only one of the downworlders who went raging into the room to attack Valentine, but left just before everybody else died. Which was only like 4 seconds after they ran into the room. So did he like, U-Turn as soon as he got there?!
- So the soul sword can wipe out the entire downworld.... but only if they're in the same room?! (Mmmkay.)

- Izzy is [still] addicted to Yin Fen. WHAT IN THE ACTUAL......
- P.S. - Yin Fen is made from Vampire Venom?! For REAL?
- Aldertree: Since show you is doing whatevs you want except for knowing the password to the iPad on the roof of The Institute, please go find Izzy a cure for the Yin Fen that YOU. GAVE. HER. 

- Clary is alladasudden an expert at hand-to-hand deathblows with a seraph blade, but looks like a toddler being dragged across the room by Valentine. Plausible. *dry cough.
- Climon. I'm still cringy. Nothing to do with the acting, just... romantic Climon is cringy.
- I. Want. SASSY Jace back. Not this brooding, moody Alec-ish character. Alec is Alec for a reason.
- Who's the Assassin's Creed-looking person who strolls off with the Soul Sword at the end?! WHO IS THAT?!
- Lastly, JUST LIKE THAT, Valentine tells Jace he's not his son, and Jocelyn's not his mom and by the Angel, Maury, Clary is NOT his sister.

Which brings me to this clip. In my opinion, I thought the acting was very well done, and even as I sat wide-eyed shaking my head because Valentine would never just make it this easy, I still felt that moment, and for all intensive purposes, that's how it should be. I should feel things. 

  Poor Jace. Poor, poor broody show Jace.  Here are some things I found redeeming. Again, my opinions - feel free to agree or wholly disagree! (And share them freely, but politely). 

The Yasss Moments: 

- Maybe not in any particular order with these, so I'll start with the Simon-drinking-Jace's-blood thing. NO, it didn't happen in the institute [per books], but I got pretty stoked once it clicked in my head that THIS was the moment that Simon drinks Jace's blood, becomes a daylighter and erego doesn't die. And Jace doesn't die, either. And even though it didn't happen on the ship, this moment is a real catalyst for all the core characters......... at least it is in the BOOKS.  - Jace finds out he's not Clary's brother. Yeah, THAT part. Can we get this Climon crap off the table STAT, please?!  - MALEC. - Luke. I just.. I love Luke. Regardless of how weird the assembling of the downworlders at the institute was, I felt like the show painted Luke correctly in that he leads the pack and speaks for both Shadowhunters and Downworlders.  - Meliorn's back, making calm but snarky comments at Luke. Fun.  - Show-y plot twists that were fun to watch: i.e.: Jace shape shifting as Clary. Jace not having demon blood [sure, at the expense of accidental soul sword activation & destroying a room full of well-intentioned downworlders]. Valentine spilling that Jace isn't his son.  - MALEC.  - Aldertree's FACE on the rooftop when he realizes what a turdbag he is. And presumably also for what he did to Izzy.  - Izzy & Alec having a sibling moment, after some clear dissension over the Raphael.... thing.  - Madzie. I do and I don't know how to feel about her as a character, but if she's here to stay, well then.. ok. I did like the scene with her and Magnus, I think more so because it highlighted Magnus' compassionate, candid side.  - I liked how the writers wove this sense of unity into this episode, to tie together all the various downworlders and Shadowhunters. It's a little early for all that, if we're comparing it to the chronology in the books, but we're really not, I guess, so I'm willing to let the show stand on its own in this way. I think [hope] this sets the stage nicely for June, when 2b starts.  - And.. MALEC.
I never would've imagined myself so wholly entrenched in a book series, or so adamant about holding a candle to the show version, but here I am, and here that was, and here we go, fingers crossed looking very much forward to June and 2b.  I am not ashamed by any of this. :) 
Happy Monday!  xo | cms 

It's a New Week!

Yes, yes it was.

One of my favorite things is a collection of people who can suffer joyfully through something together. One of my not-so-favorite things is that the reason we're suffering is because midwest weather seems to be having a midlife crisis. As a result, I along with a bucket of my fellow Ohioans are feeling the glowing effects: sinus infections, colds, flu, bronchitis, strep and delightfully-disgusting things that are coughed up first thing in the morning.

Beautiful visual, eh?

What I do look forward to on Mondays, for now at least:

And no, I didn't mean jumping ship after the standard Monday [although fitting, yes!]; Mondays mean new episodes of Shadowhunters, and I think it goes without saying I'm a hooked fan. I'm still 110% surprised at how much I don't hate all the plot departures in the show (vs. the books). When we got hit with Lydia in season 1, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to handle these, but now that there's been a shift change with the writers, all the non-booky things seem to be weaving a course of their own that's still comprehensive, and dare I say it's kind nice? 

^ If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you really need to read the books. Honestly, I'd start with The Infernal Devices and work your way through those before The Mortal Instruments. It's all just... so good. So. Good.

SPEAAAAKING of TMI, this this THIS THIS THIS THISSSSS came today and I'm tripping over myself in excitement. I've been hunting this specific edition of Lady Midnight down since just before CHRISTMAS, when I spotted it on a couple of my favorite book instagrammers' feeds (bookstagrammers?). I learned it's a limited edition, and mostly specific to the UK. The Book Depository website told me it was out of stock, and the only available copy I could find in the U.S. via Ebay was going for over $200. I think not. THEN, just when I had a friend living in London who offered to procure this from a Waterstones and send it to me, Book Depository emailed me to let me know it was back in stock, and well.. the rest is history. This gem arrived today, from Australia, and it is even more beautiful than I'd imagined! ♥♥♥♥

i. am. swooooning.
#nerdstuff #goldenrunes

It's so.. beautiful. And it adds so nicely to the mantle shelf, which speaking of that.. is going away hopefully this weekend, if not very soon thereafter. The last thing I need is to replace a broken mantle and whatever book damage happens when gravity has had enough :p

So I'm outta here; it's time for the episode. One of these days I'll channel my inner Christine Riccio and do a book or episode review. We'll see. We'll see. 

xo | cms

Sunshine, Bicycles & Good Books

Ohhh, sunny DAYS!
Even though I was working today, I did have an altered schedule that I didn't hate. It was mostly due to a hiring event I hosted in partnership with one of the Northern Kentucky career placement services; she set me up in a conference room for the afternoon and I knew then that the day would be all right:

i'll just swim on in there... hardy har har... 

The event ending gave way to a commute back across the river, which was packed full of commuters until I neared the river line on 275, and I couldn't help but snag a shot of the state line welcoming me back across the water.

and i'm cooomin' on back.. 

I hurried so that I could catch Sydni's bus; it's the first time this year that I've been able to see her off the bus after school, and while I snagged a shot of her coming off the bus, I wish I could've captured her face when she realized she was going straight to the car, with me. Be still, my heart... seriously.

so little, but so grown up.. how's that possible?!

We ran a couple of errands, went grocery shopping and had a mini mommy-daughter date for a snack before we headed home. Today's been gorgeous, and this evening didn't disappoint. Sydni and I cleaned up some around the house, and then I joined her outside for a couple hours of bike riding.

my toothless little darling! ♥

I had to remind her today that there was a time not long ago that she believed she would never learn how to ride her bike, and now.. this.  For hours, if I'd let her. I love everything about it.

I sat outside sprawled across one of the patio chairs, with Sydni blurring across my left and right peripherals as she rode in a circle up and down our street. Eventually, the bike retired to the garage, and for a moment, I became audience to an impromptu 1 person gymnastics meet:

She tumbled on and on, rolled around the yard several times and chased a teasing blue jay until it finally got bored of her being bound to the land. I drank it in, and managed to squeeze in the final few chapters, epilogue and bonus short story at the end of the latest book. I've been afraid of finishing Lady Midnight, because if I'm honest, I've read all 6 of the The Mortal Instruments, all 3 of The Infernal Devices and now this, the first in The Dark Artifices series that Cassandra Clare has released.. all within the span of less than 2 months.

lady midnight - done! 

NOW WHAT DO I READ?! 

Just kidding. I'll hunt down the Bane Chronicles or the Shadowhunter Academy books next and indulge myself in Simon's quest for ascendance. Do I sound like a nerdy maniac? Only if you've never read any of these, I suppose.. haha. Never in a million years would I have thought I'd be the one hooked on a book series like this, but yeah.. let's go with it! 

Anywho, it's late, and we're all spent. Happy Tuesday to you, blogbots! 

xo | cmd

It's Just Another MAYnic Mondayyyy

Wow, I went there. Sorry guysssss...

yeeesssssss... 

OKAY, I'm done... haha. Sorry guys, but you knew that was coming, and it's an annual obligation, so just deal with it. #ITSMAY!

Anyway, it's the first Monday of the month and it was certainly an over-exaggerated buster, at that.. 

awesome.

This would've been totally normal if I still lived in Illinois, but here, it's weird for me to see an actual train on any of the tracks that run through the city, let alone get stuck in line for one to cross. But that's Monday, yeah? Yeah. 

Fooortunately, the day improved in leaps & bounds, with the majority of the credit for such falling on Kristin & Clarissa. Here's a free piece of advice on stellar co-workers: if they're as awesome as mine, do whatever you can to realize and express to them how thankful you are that they're not stark-raving lunatics, or otherwise unbearable. These two are blessings in plain view, and I am so thankful for them! 

The day ended, leaving Kristin and I after hours to do some catching up and preparation for the next couple days. The UPS guy took his sweet time making rounds today, so I'm happy that at 5:45pm when he got denied by a locked front door, we were still here to let him. 

Why's that so exciting?
THIS: 

infernal devices...... yesssss... ♥

Poor Rob. He knows that I'm no match for myself when it comes to reading. I got sucked into The Mortal Instruments, but having knocked out all six of those, it's time for these three prequels... *sigh.. 

Oh, AND.... I got home to find this in the mailbox: 

it's here! 

Arley, it made it!! If you just wondered who Arley is, she's one of my gorgeous mama friends from the hometown {MTV} who now sells Mary Kay and will hook it up on whatever it is you need from the MK inventory. Seriously. She's awesome, and so is THIS: 

finishing spray. mascara. 

Stay tuned for some post-makeup photos. I'm really trying to do some girly things and this will be one of them. I also got to support a friend's venture in selling this stuff, so that makes me feel pretty good about it too! 

So, dolls, I'm outta here. I've got mascara to learn how to use, dinner to make and books to read. Nevermind the weeds that I said I'd pull tonight.. it's gloomy anyway ;) 

See ya tomorrow! 

xo | cmd

Mmmgghhh... Monderp Monday.

Workplace tattoo, day 1:

healing up! 

^ Today was one of those Mondays that, I imagine, in human form would resemble some form of rabid, multi-taloned bird skating down the side of a chalkboard, while blindfolded and covered in cheap, wet nail polish. Don't ask me why that's the image that I conjured, but it's an accurate read of what today felt like, but it feels right, so we're going with it. It's either that, or the space of sidewalk that was formerly occupied by a real human, presumably having been abducted by aliens. Today was a mix of chaos and all the people we needed being either unavailable, sick or just non-existent all together (i.e., tenured SharePoint Developer - are you a real thing?!).

So yeah. That was Monday.
Post-workday proved to have better ratings. For starters, there was an impromptu family dinner date:

goofballs.. love them to the moon & back! 

We ran an errand as a family after that: the start of our efforts to dispatch the swarms of dandelions that grow back seemingly overnight in our yard [wish us luck]..

pretty nights at home depot.. haha 

That dandelion problem I mentioned: 

the parking lot & the field...
... aka my driveway.. and my yard. :| 

Rob started yesterday by mowing "I ♥ U" in the yard, and Sydni turned it into a racetrack: 

I seriously love this girl.. haha. 

It seemed like all of us had our fill of this Monday; Syd was out cold immediately following the lawn-mowing, and Rob wasn't far behind her. My body was still in lag mode from this weekend, but I was bent on finishing the final book of The Mortal Instruments, which I did tonight, around 1am. 

And yes, this entry is backdated. 

done & done! 

i'll leave this here like the good fangirl i've evidently become.... 

 ^ Thanks, Tumblr for that last one. Seriously. I'm hooked. Now that I've finished all six of these books, I suppose I'm on now to the Infernal Devices, which is also a Cassandra Clare creation. 

Le sigh. 

Anyway, it's a short week this week [again], and then the Pilcic wedding. Woooo! 

Seeeeee yaaaa... 

xo | cmd