Maia Roberts and Jace Herondale: A Potential Romance Wasted

There are some characters who have instant chemistry such as with the Shadowhunters TV series characters Jace Herondale (Dominic Sherwood), a Shadowhunter and Maia Roberts (Alisha Wainwright), a werewolf. Since this show is loosely based on The Mortal Instruments books by Cassandra Clare, it really would have been interesting if the writers had explored a relationship between Jace and Maia after they hooked up in the episode "Those of Demon Blood" (season 2 episode 13). Instead it was a one time hook up that felt like a total waste since nothing more happened between them especially since these two have such amazing chemistry. Although, they clashed a lot in the beginning, their strong, flirty and sarcastic personalities really work well together.

(Shadowhunters season 2 episode 3 "Parabatai Lost")

I know the main romance of the show is supposed to be Jace and Clary Fray (Katherine McNamara) but I think they are so boring together and have absolutely no chemistry. It's funny that Jace and Clary have more chemistry with Maia and Simon Lewis (Alberto Rosende) than with each other. I really loved Clary and Simon's short-lived relationship, they were so perfectly cute and adorable together.

That awkward double date between Clary, Jace, Maia and Simon in the third season episode "The Powers That Be" really emphasized how lacking in chemistry both couples were. I couldn't help noticing that Jace let it slip that he knew about Maia's butterfly tattoo. She was talking about how she couldn't see herself being a Shadowhunter and having all of those tattoos all over her body and Jace whether subconsciously or not, couldn't help saying something about the fact that Maia had a tattoo. A tattoo that's in a rather discreet location on her body which pretty much meant he had seen it and not from one of her werewolf transformations.

It almost seemed like Jace was absentmindedly flirting with Maia and ended up saying something he shouldn't have said. I don't think he intentionally meant to let Simon and Clary know that he and Maia had been together but he said it nonetheless. As for Clary and Jace, I couldn't help noticing how they really don't know that much about each other especially if Simon had to let Jace know what food Clary doesn't like. I know that Simon is Clary's best friend and ex-boyfriend but shouldn't her new boyfriend also know a little something about her.

(Shadowhunters season 3 episode 2 "The Powers That Be")

I found it interesting that throughout the date, Jace kept glancing over at Maia and if I'm not mistaken was he looking at her while the couples were leaving the restaurant. It's like dude, shouldn't you be paying attention to your own girlfriend and not someone else?

I do wonder why the showrunners didn't further a relationship between Jace and Maia? It really does feels like they missed a great opportunity to give these characters the relationships they deserved. Maia and Jace would have been great together, their chemistry is undeniable and they already had the beginnings of the perfect passionate enemies to lovers romance. Too bad the writers didn't continue with it because they would have been an amazing couple. I also think Simon and Clary should have stayed together because their relationship was very sweet and romantic.

Romance is a tricky thing to write and it's made even more difficult when a couple doesn't have any chemistry onscreen. It doesn't make the viewer want to invest in a boring relationship which is why I wish someone would have made a decision to pair up Jace and Maia and leave Simon and Clary together. They would have ended up creating two very exciting, caring and romantic relationships instead of sticking with two extremely dull ones.