Reasons why I love Harry Shum Jr - His Wife Shelby

So, I'm going to take a few posts, at random, and explain why Harry Shum Jr. is my favorite actor from the Shadowhunters cast.

I mean, yeah, he’s already popular. I already established that a few posts ago. For me, it isn't about the fact that he's already one of the cool kids. This is more about my experiences. So what about Harry made him rise above the others on the show - who are all really awesome. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE them ALL! 

Think of it like a check mark system. Everyone gets checks for something cool, but the winner has the most checks. Tips the coolness scales and all.

It started out really innocently. I watched an interview with Harry where they mentioned he was recently married to someone named Shelby. At the time I didn’t have much more context than she was Harry’s wife. She doesn't come up until the end of the interview - it's like 5 minutes, you can take 5 minutes to listen to Harry! 

Then someone posted a bunch of Shadowhunter pics and an image of Peridot from Steven Universe. I was baffled – why is there a Peridot pic mixed in with Shadowhunters? And why is Harry saying something about Shelby loving it?

Okay, let me drop that Truth Bomb for you.

Harry Shum Jr’s wife Shelby Rabara is the VOICE OF PERIDOT ON STEVEN UNIVERSE.

Jennifer Paz and Shelby Rabara

I got louder there at the end because I wanted you to pay attention.

Can we just take a moment here and talk about Steven Universe?

We can. I checked. It’s my blog and I can do what I want.

I love Steven Universe. My nephew made me watch it. As in, he kept insisting that I watch it until I actually did and I was like.. “Yes Nick, this is the best show ever!” It's a show that doesn't get too hung up on gender and introduces viewers to concepts like 'Love is Love' in an approachable way. For the LGBTQIA community, this show works represents all types of relationships, helping to broaden our own understanding of what a couple is or should be. For younger viewers it is especially important to see what we might consider 'non-traditional' images of couples, as it helps plant the seed of acceptance. This article from the web-site Autostraddle, helps sum it up quite nicely. Written by Mey, it's titled: "Steven Universe" and the Importance of All-Ages Queer Representation. 

This leads me into Peridot! 

Peridot from Steven Universe

Peridot is such a great character because she goes through such a transformation. At first, you don’t like Peridot – she’s a big supporter of Home World, and our Crystal Gems are more of the rebel variety. After spending some time in the bathroom to contemplate her behavior (SU fans get this comment), Peridot comes to realize that the Crystal Gems aren’t that bad and maybe Home World isn’t as cool as she thought it was. Oh, and her favorite phrase is “You Klod!”

Shelby is so much fun! I found a YouTube video, which of course is included for your pleasure, of Shelby live streaming and talking about the Mr. Greg episode of Steven Universe. That episode of SU ended up playing upside down and I STILL watched the whole thing. I don’t watch upside down TV for just anyone! I didn’t realize that she did the foley sounds for the tap dancing scene. AND—AND that she and Harry choreographed the dance scene with Greg and Pearl. I was smitten.

You can also find Shelby in the YouTube Red series Me and My Grandma. She plays the ever eccentric but always entertaining Heidi. Just like Lazlo Hollyfield in Real Genuis, Heidi appears in Janey and Grandma’s apartment as if she were living in the basement and not a next door neighbor. Shelby gives Heidi so much life that even with her sardonic personality, you still want to hang out with her.

Here's the promo for Me and My Grandma! It's worth checking out YouTube Red to watch all the episodes. It's too bad I don't get paid for this blog for advertising, because YouTube Red OWES ME.
They could pay me back with Season Two of Single By 30.

Can I also add that Shelby even commented on one of my Twitter posts?
If we were playing Six Degrees of Twitter Separation to Harry Shum Jr (which trust me, I AM), then I’m at a one.

I think I might love Shelby more than Harry. Shhh! Don’t tell.

Seriously. How could you not? Imagine living like this....

Whoever came up with Live Video is an Evil Genius!

One of the tools used to engage fans of Shadowhunters is live videos. In my head I call them “pop-up videos” because you never know when they are going to happen. They kinda just happen with no or limited warning. You have to be diligent and watch for notifications, which can happen on any of a number of social media sites.

Some apps allow you to set notifications before an individual begins a live video, but that’s in the moment. What if you’re in the middle of class, and your app says – Hey! Dominic Sherwood just started a live video? I mean, if there was advanced warning, you might have thought about skipping class to watching this video. Not that I’m advocating skipping class.

Go to school!

Many fan accounts will re-post notifications for live videos – so if it happened on Instagram, you can still find out about it on Twitter. It’s helpful because keeping track of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat is a full time job.

Not a paying full time job.

Momma needs money for her fancy house, expensive cars and extravagant vacations.

None of which I have.

I LOVE the concept of the random live-video because it requires you to be engaged all the time.

Live video applications also give fans the opportunity to interact with the actors by allowing them to post questions or comments. I admit, many of them are silly. Lots of “I love you” and “say hi to me in <insert geographic location here>!” But sometimes fans have some great questions and the actors answer them. They might be about the actors or about the show – if the actor likes the question and can read them (they tend to fly by), then they may answer them. It can be rewarding, especially if your question gets noticed.

The videos themselves can be short or long - a few minutes or up to 40 minutes, depending on the actor’s schedule and how interactive the fans are. You never know what you’re going to get, which makes it all the more important to watch when it happens.

But let’s be honest.

ShumDario News is a great fan resource!

We can’t sit online all hours of the day waiting for someone to host a live video.

There are things to do.

I mean, right now I should be doing laundry, but I’m SACRIFICING my laundry time to be with you.

It’s big of me, I know.

Anyway, it’s inevitable that you’re going to miss a few live videos. But don’t despair. Many sites allow users to post their video after the fact. That way, those fans who missed out can watch it later. For those instances when the site doesn’t keep the video, there is STILL HOPE!

There are a number of fan accounts that go out of their way to record live videos as they happen. That way, if you miss the video or are in that awkward predicament of being in class when the video happens, you can still check it out on YouTube. Shadowhunters has the best fans!

I also love live videos because they give you that sense of common experience.

The first one that I watched was one of Dominic Sherwood, it seemed like in an apartment. I learned that he had a girlfriend named Sarah. He also has a good friend named Daryl. I felt like I took part in a conversation with Dom even though it was rather one-sided.

I also caught part of a live video with Matthew Daddario on Valentine’s Day. Seriously. It seemed like he gave 10 minutes warning about his noon time live stream. Which happened around noon. Noon! I was at work! Kids were in the midst of school! Matt doesn’t tend to share as much about himself, but he does hold an engaging live video. Most recently, he hosted a live video where he talked a lot about plants. He suggested everyone should go on Twitter and @ all of the show’s actors, telling them which plant they were. So now we’re all participating in a group activity because of his video!

Live videos also allow me to differentiate between the character and person. I don’t think of Dominic Sherwood as Jace – those are two different entities. Likewise, Harry Shum Jr isn’t just Magnus to me. I think that’s important not just for me, as the viewer, but for the actor as well. He or she had the opportunity to share who with their fans. When the day comes that Shadowhunters is no longer a show (I mean, a day WAY in the future), then hopefully their fans will follow them to their next acting opportunity.

Because without fans there wouldn’t be a show.

We all need a favorite...

For those of you who haven’t been reading my blog since the beginning, I feel the need at this point to remind you how I got here. Here, as in on Twitter as a Shadowhunters junkie.

Let me recap briefly.

For season one of Shadowhunters, I didn’t watch it when it aired because a) I don’t have cable and b) I was busy working on my thesis. I, in fact, don’t watch much live tv unless it is the local news, which I stream from their website. I didn’t realize, until recently, that actors use tools like Instagram and Twitter to engage their audience. My fascination of this concept, for a myriad of reason, led me to follow the cast of Shadowhunters, and their fans on Twitter (and other social media sites).

There, you’ve been caught up.

Shadowhunters Cast

So, the thing is, I felt like a needed a favorite actor/actress on the show. It’s important because I feel like people on Twitter get associated for particular posts or feeds. It also just helps me, as a follower, focus on what I want my Twitter feed to represent. There are just so many cast members that I can’t post about all of them.
I do have a day job.

Although, truthfully, if I like something, I’ll click the heart or comment or retweet.
I’m not afraid to spread the love.
But I also want to have that experience of focusing an obsession. I think there’s something unique about that experience. 

But who do I choose?

It was really hard, because I love them all. I mean, Dominic Sherwood wins on accent alone.
Yes, I am a fool for an English accent.

He was also in a T. Swift video. Let me just leave that here for you.

This is a judgement free zone kids.

Matthew Daddario would be fun to follow. He puts on a great live video. He’s also super popular with the fans overall. Okay, and he has nice eyes. My cousin Fawn would say “he’s easy on the eyes.”
That he is Fawn, that he is.

Matthew Daddario

Katherine McNamara is incredibly smart and just amazing. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration when she was 17.  She’s also working on a Master’s degree in Applied Economics.
She’s a great female role model for fans.

Katherine McNamara

Emeraude… Alberto… Isaiah “Meme King” Mustafa.. Jade. The list goes on.

It doesn't hurt that they all get along so well. The behind the scenes videos are hilarious. 

I want to work with the Shadowhunters cast. 

I'm sure I'm not the only one and I would have to leave my day job.

Oddly enough, I think some people would be upset about that.

I mean, just watch them play Werewolf.

I didn't EVEN KNOW about this game until I watched this video.

My life is more complete now.

The all have their own amazing qualities that I love and enjoy.
I don’t want you thinking that I’ve dropped them like a sack of hot potatoes.

I also maybe want you to suffer a bit before I tell you who I decided on to focus on.

Partially because I want you to understand how this was a process and I didn’t just wake up one day and decide – hey, I’m going to like….. .
But maybe also because I’m twisted that way.

In the end, I decided that Harry Shum Jr. was my favorite.
I know, statistically, he’s the most popular anyway, but I CAN’T HELP IT.
In fact, I can’t even explain it in a sentence or two because there were a number of things that happened to elevate Harry to favorite status.

Harry Shum Jr.

No. I'm not going to tell you right now.

That would be cheating. You'll have to look for them in future posts.

Sorry, not sorry. 

Malec - Let me introduce you to Malec

Let’s be honest.

I started this blog so I could talk about Malec.

I understand that this is the first time I’ve actually devoted an entry to them, but I felt like I had to build up to it.

Malec, in case you don’t remember, is a portmanteau of Magnus and Alec, two characters on the show Shadowhunters.

It’s important to understand a little about these two characters.

I’m going to summarize.

A lot.

If you want to know more about them you could maybe Google them.

Or hey… maybe watch the show or read the books.

Just a suggestion.

Magnus Bane

Harry Shum Jr portrays Magnus Bane on Shadowhunters

Magnus is the High Warlock of Brooklyn. He’s lived for centuries, although he still looks 19 because apparently warlocks don’t age. While Magnus doesn’t offer his warlock services for free, he is compassionate and caring to his intimate friends.

Magnus is flamboyant, dressing in flashy colors that flaunt his bi-sexuality. He’s also partial to glitter.

I mean, he FREAKIN’ LOVES glitter.

Magnus isn’t afraid of being himself and he has no qualms about going after what or who he wants.

Alexander Lightwood

Alec is a Shadowhunter at the New York Institute. He’s around 20 (the show and book play a bit with
their ages) but he doesn’t have advantage of not aging that Magnus does. Due to his upbringing, Alec is very reserved and prefers to follow rules in order to prove his worth and bring honor to his family.  

Alec starts out in the proverbial closet regarding his sexuality and has feelings for his brother/parabatai Jace Wayland. Part of his reluctance to admit to being gay is that it isn’t accepted by his society (the Clave). Alec is used to putting the needs of others before his own. At one point he comments that “Emotions are nothing but a distraction”, just so you know where his head is at.

Alexander Lightwood is played by Matthew Daddario

Alec isn’t used to going after what he wants, instead doing what is expected of him.

This juxtaposition of an openly and happily bi character with someone who is still accepting his sexuality makes for some interesting interactions.

I mean, Magnus spends the whole first season trying to convince Alec to go out with him while Alec pretends he isn’t gay.

Or attracted to Jace.

It takes the whole first season of Shadowhunters for Alec figure out who and what he is.

And what HE wants.

But also to build up the strength to go after what he wants. 

It makes it all the more gratifying when he finally does grab that sexy warlock and kisses him.
At his wedding.

To someone who wasn't Magnus.

I digress.

If you read my entry about slang, you'll understand when I say that Malec is canon in The Mortal Instruments/Shadowhunters world.
Malec is sacred because it is one of the few times that you have a HEALTHY gay relationship portrayed on television.
The directors, writers and actors all understand how important this relationship is to fans. They try really hard to honor their story in the show. 

In addition to showing a healthy gay relationship, part of their story is Alec's coming out which, for so many youth, is a relatable experience. It's not always easy to come out to friends and family, especially if they express homophobic sentiments.
Sadly, not everyone has figured out that Love Is Love.

It’s not every day that you find an openly gay or bi-sexual person, not to mention couple on prime time TV.

Yes, for Doctor Who fans we had Captain Jack Harkness.

But Jack had a serious commitment problem.

He was also a bit of a dandy.

I still love him.

Sorry for the Doctor Who digression.

A large portion of Shadowhunter fans that I follow are part of the LGBTQ+ community.
I know this because they mention it in their posts. In their biographies.
They make statements like, "I've been to scared to say this, but I'm bi-sexual. My parents don't even know."
I love it when this happens because so many people send them love and support.
It's when Twitter feels like a community.

I'm glad that Malec has given teens and young adults the confidence to come out and accept themselves.
And while I can't say how it feels to part of the LGBTQ+ community, I know how it feels to not fit in or accepted for who you are.
I will give anyone love and support who needs it.
And while I can't pretend there aren't dinks out there in the world who won't support you, I can at least reassure you that not EVERYONE is a dink.

Fortuitously, Sam Pedley, staff writer at Talk Nerdy With Us, recently re-posted his article titled, "The Impact of 'Malec.'" Reading it reminded me of layers to Malec I had forgotten, such as Alec, representing the white male born into privilege, while Magnus represents the oppressed, being Asian and part demon. Sam also does a great job at getting some real quotes from fans who express how Malec's relationship helped them with their own acceptance and sexuality. Basically, now that you've almost finished my post, you should go read Sam's article.

It's not easy to be strong, but it helps when you have friends.

As a bonus note, Shadowhunters just won the 2017 GLAAD Award for Outstanding Drama Series. GLAAD honors film, television and media for their fair and inclusive representation of the LGBTQ+ community. In their acceptance speech, Harry Shum Jr. said, "I play an openly proud bi-sexual warlock and a person of color that’s in a relationship with a recently out gay Shadowhunter who hunts demons for a living. I don’t think that this combination has ever existed on TV."

I'm glad to say that I'm a fan of Shadowhunters and a strong supporter of Malec.