Warning: I did not read the books and am very late to the Shadowhunters world.

In American media, a lot of same-sex couples until fairly recently, used to suffer such tragic storylines, or need to go through a lot of adversity and were barely developed the way Shadowhunters tackled Magnus (Harry Shum Jr.) and Alec (Matthew Daddario). We are taken into their world from courtship; we watch their love grow, as they both become more vulnerable with each other, and end up happily married, and we are rooting for them at every step of the way. The support Magnus and Alec receive from the other characters helps to cement their relationship and shows how friendship and familial support enable people to reach greater heights. When it comes to wholesome relationships, Malec takes the cup.

Magnus is interested in Alec at first sight, despite having closed off his heart for a hundred years. Alec, on the other hand, because of his role at the Institute has been in the closet and infatuated with his “foster” brother Jace. This is a testament to who Alec is, someone who doesn’t really take risks and becomes infatuated with the closest person he could without having to put himself out there. Although it is never actually explicitly shown that the Institute or the Clave are homophobic, Alec keeps his identity to himself for fear of being rejected by his family. All this becomes redundant when he falls in love with a Warlock, much against the norms of Shadowhunters who hunt down demons.

Magnus immediately tries to court Alec, he asks his sister if he is a “flowers or cologne” guy, always tries to have Alec in proximity to him and Alec, while fighting it (barely), quickly comes to trust Magnus and both men’s feelings for each other grow, (despite Alec being in denial of his own feelings). In order to create a political alliance, Alec decides to marry a woman he doesn’t love, sacrificing what might have been between him and Magnus. Magnus tries to intervene and show Alec that he needed to prioritize his happiness and allow himself to feel love. Alec is finally able to look inward and take account of his own feelings. On Alec’s wedding day, Magnus’ fashionably late entrance just before Alec takes his vows leaves Alec in a sort of trance as he decides that he cannot go through with the façade and goes to kiss Magnus in front of the wedding guests. Alec’s siblings, father, friends and even his betrothed are all supportive of him, except his mother, who is appalled that he would kiss a warlock in front of his guests.

The idea that a Shadowhunter and a Warlock would end up together is Romeo and Juliet levels of star-crossed lovers. However, Magnus and Alec, through communication and their strong connection are able to overcome many of their problems. Although Magnus falls for Alec first, Alec, with his cautious personality and level-headedness, is equally in love with the eccentric warlock and despite their differences. Magnus is hundreds of years older than Alec, is more experienced and worldly than Alec, who had never been in a relationship until with Magnus. The two are, however, able to put their differences aside and work on their relationship, which is new to both of them. Alec is surprisingly communicative and takes accountability for his actions whenever he allows his head to rule over his heart in their relationship. The fact that their friends and family quicky, become a support structure for them also helps their relationship, as their friends provide them with assurance about each other, even when they are in doubt.

Shadowhunters does a great job of making Alec and Magnus’ relationship three dimensional. Despite Magnus’ status as the immortal High Warlock of Brooklyn, he is able to become vulnerable to Alec and their relationship is humanized as they both face their demons and are able to be there for each other. Despite Alec’s status as the head of the Institute, he is constantly having to reconsider his stances and priorities, which not only helps with his relationship with Magnus, but allows him to be a greater and more compassionate leader in the grand scheme of things. Magnus and Alec’s relationship creates and synergy, making for the greatest power couple that isn’t actually always quarter to destroying the world (cough, Jace and Clary).

When Magnus loses his magic and Alec sees how miserable he is without it, he makes a deal with Magnus’ father to give him back his magic. However, this is on the condition that Alec would stop seeing Magnus. Alec chooses to “make Magnus whole again” at the expense of their relationship. A selfless act that leaves Magnus undone and heartbroken to the extent that he wants to erase all his memories of Alec. Once again, Magnus’ friend urges him not to erase his memories but rather cherish the love that he once felt for Alec. In the end, through Alec’s mother’s help, he is able to figure out why Alec broke his heart to begin with and they are able to resolve their problem and continue on their path of love. Their friends and family equally play a role in their relationship being strong and they act as strong support systems for the two, which extends to the wholesomeness of their love.

Magnus and Alec’s relationship is particularly interesting because at the face of it, it should not work, and both of them are presented with seemingly ideal other partners they could be with. Alec could be with Underhill, a fellow gay Shadowhunter, and Magnus could be with Dot, a fellow Warlock, and their lives would be simple. However, they chose each other and all that it meant to be together. Alec is willing to stay in Edom for Magnus, Magnus is willing to quit alcohol (not sure if he would follow through on that one) and they both are in deed “one soul at a time” people, and despite Magnus having had great loves before, this one is so special, that he marries Alec.

Magnus and Alec’s is an epic love story, and I’d watch it over and over again.