‘Clary giving Jace the “the world doesn’t revolve around you” lecture’ I’ve always thought a ‘look who’s talking’ line was in order. I mean, unlike with this new Sabrina show, the narrative didn’t hold the heroine in check. They could’ve shown that her messes didn’t magically solve themselves and she didn’t get moral high grounds in every situation. E.g. Clary doesn’t get to save the day when Izzy is on trial but has to watch Magnus and Alec going into trouble to help, (1/2)
or Lydia snaps at her for acting as an entitled ‘straight savior’ while she contributed to the situation where Alec has no choice but to sacrifice himself, instead of spewing some cringe worthy shit, or something else (2/2)
Oh, the new Sabrina show. How I enjoyed watching Ambrose warn Sabrina that she can’t just bend the rules to her will. How I enjoyed even more watching Sabrina do it anyway and the dire consequences that entailed.
Watching Clary get away with bending the rules not only cheapens the character arc the writers clearly wanted Clary to go through (from selfish loner to considerate team-player), it also ruins the threat posed by the Clave. By all means, let Clary break the totalitarian and unfair rules created by the Clave. Why should Clary care about what a military dictatorship wants from her?
But then, make consequences out of it that affect Clary. Not Simon, who will be mad at her for an episode and then go back to loving her. Not Alec, who will go through his own arc of rebellion and end the season thanking Clary for unintentional good timing.
Clary, who broke the rules, stole from the Clave, incited dissent, and altogether defied the Clave’s power, should be the one getting a punishment. She shouldn’t get to walk into the Institute in possession of the Mortal Cup and her enchanted mother without being immediately separated from Jocelyn and arrested. She shouldn’t get to accuse the Head of the Institute of treason or go on missions. Because, if she does, then the Clave is no real threat. All one needs is a good enough bargaining chip and they are free to do as they will. It’s a wonder no Downworlder has tried that in a millennia or so.
