My thoughts on #MalecDeservesBetter

Okay, let's talk #MalecDeservesBetter.

It starts with the episode "How Art Thou Fallen" (s2e7) - the same one where Malec's first time happens.

This episode of Shadowhunters has received a lot of heat for the Malec scene. Fans were disappointed in the lack of “skin time” Magnus and Alec had, especially when compared to Jace’s bare skin when fooling around with a Seelie “friend”.

Jace and Kaelie

In fact, fans took to Twitter to share just how upset they were. They felt like Malec was not given as much "skin" time because they were a same sex couple. Especially because within the same episode there was a much more intimate scene between Jace and a Seelie woman. 

 I'm not actually sure what the Seelie woman's name was.

Oooh.. no, I found it. Her name was Kaelie. 

Fans were so dismayed that they started a hashtag - #MalecDeservesBetter to make their voices heard. Posts spoke of equal representation for same-sex couples as heterosexual couples. They spoke of the awkwardness of the scene with Malec - we aren't even sure if they had sex in the end because it was so vague. That we are still in a world that still marginalizes LGBTQ+ people. 

#MalecDeservesBetter

I'm not going to argue with any of that.  

In fact, I love that the fandom can use Twitter to share their thoughts and views of the show. That the producers, directors and cast have the ability to see feedback from us, the viewers, as to what we think - good and bad. 

While fans have a right to feel jilted, I wonder if we are looking at that episode too insularly? 

What if Magnus and Alec’s “skin scene” is yet to come? 

While I admit that anytime we get to see Matt or Harry shirtless is a bonus, was this the moment we needed to see from Magnus and Alec? 

Harry/Magnus shirtless

Matt/Alec shirtless

Magnus might have the experience of 17,000 other partners, but he also admits his own vulnerability with taking the next step with Alec. And Alec - not only is it his first time with a man, it’s his first time EVER. Talk about pressure. 

I feel, personally, that these two deserve their first time to themselves. We’re building our relationship with Magnus and Alec by receiving these glimpses into their private life. It doesn’t need to happen all at once and we don’t need to see every intimate moment they have.

I don’t feel the Malec scene is equal to Jace’s moment with his Seelie friend earlier in the episode. Yes, overall we got more Jace skin than Malec skin, but how many more times is Jace going to make out with this particular Seelie? How many scenes does Jace get skinless overall? Was this really an intimate scene with Jace? 

I would argue that there was nothing romantic or loving about that scene – it was casual sex. If we look at it in this lens, then we realize that we haven’t seen anything special. The scene does help us understand where Jace’s mind is at and how’s he is dealing with the news of not only being Valentine’s son, which crushes his chances with Clary, but also learning that he was injected with demon blood. For a man who has spent his whole life trying to fight demons, this is a crushing blow.

                I’m not saying let’s not have some Malec skin time. 

                I’m all for Malec skin time.

                I’m just saying, if we only get one “intimate” Malec scene this season, I’d rather it be a bit further down the line.

                After they’ve figured things out a bit.

We’re getting to see this relationship blossom. It’s not a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am kinda deal. That isn’t what Malec is about. They are about building love and trust. It's about the slow burn. 

So yeah, if by the end of the season, we have seen Magnus and Alec in bed some form of undress, I'll be upset. But I want to give Matt Hasting, Todd Slavkin and the Shadowhunters Writers the time to develop this relationship before I decide if this was truly about slighting a same-sex couple. 

There's still time friends.

We have 10 more episodes to go before this season is done! 

Here's to hoping the best is yet to come!