Shadowhunters is back with its mid-season premiere and it brings high hopes that the second half of the season will be more promising than the first half (and even the first season in general).
Season 2A ended with a nail-biting finale that contained shockingly unexpected twists and turns leading to an excellent plot resolution. Although the start of the finale was slow with Clary (Katherine McNamara) trying to resolve the deathly blood oath she made, it soon picked up when Simon (Alberto Rosende) was captured by Valentine (Alan Van Sprang) and had his throat slit, and even though he’s a vampire, it was quite concerning. However, the dreaded shapeshifting rune made its first decent appearance when Jace (Dominic Sherwood) came to the rescue and saved Simon, but then the battle against Valentine began as he activated the Soul Sword wiping out a large group of Downworlders. The Shadow gang managed to stop Valentine along with the revelation that Jace and Clary aren’t siblings (thank goodness that didn’t last long, but what does that now mean for them?). Unfortunately though, someone grabbed the Soul Sword but on a brighter note, Simon can now walk in the sun and they captured Valentine! Happy days!
Now coming back into the season, you’d expect the Shadowhunters to be in action trying to find the Soul Sword, but it seems as though all is well for them at the moment. ‘Mea Maxima Culpa’ opens with Alec (Matthew Daddario) and Jace training once again after having many issues recently. Alec queries if Jace can do something special now that they know he has angel blood and also wants to know what Jace will do with the knowledge of Clary not being his sister except Jace tells him to “worry less about his love life and more about Alec’s fighting skills”.
The Vampire Can Walk In The Sun!
One thing Shadowhunters should worry about is the CGI. We’ve seen some awful backdrops in past episodes, such as when they visited the Iron Sisters, but surely they could recreate a more realistic Brooklyn skyline and location for the two lovebirds to enjoy? Simon is hesitant about his newfound ability to walk in the sun again, except Clary suggests he enjoys until complications arise. Maia (Alisha Wainwright) doesn’t think the same and suggests Simon keeps it low-key because other vampires will be desperate to know how it happened, and that includes Raphael who confronts Simon about how he became a Daylighter.
Inquisitor Herondale Returns & There’s A Suave Demon On The Loose
Inquisitor Herondale (Mimi Kuzyk) returns to the New York Institute to torture the captured Valentine, and although the scene is short, the two more experienced actors produce probably the best scene in the episode. During his torture, Valentine sees a flashback of a boy standing in a pentagram of fire—is it Valentine or someone else? Book fans will know. Herondale also mentions the Soul Sword has been taken to the Iron Sisters, but at the end of the episode it was seen being carried off by an anonymous male so what is she trying to hide? That Clave is losing even more control?
A suave gentleman (Brett Donahue) walks into a bar, and no this is not the start of some joke, as the scene turns into a disaster for many. Upon announcing he is looking for the Mortal Cup and receives no assistance, he kills the entire restaurant with the flick of a wrist. When the Shadowhunters are called to the scene by Luke, they determine it must be some kind of demon. Also, Luke now has a new partner named Molly and it seems as though she’s going to be doing a little investigating into Luke this season.
Izzy Is In Trouble. Again.
Isabelle (Emeraude Toubia) is trying to detox after becoming addicted to yin fen, also known as vampire venom. Luckily, only Alec knows and everyone believes she has the flu, but surely the Shadowhunters have a rune to protect them from mere mortal illnesses or even have a stronger tolerance? Regardless, Izzy heads off to Raphael’s (David Castro) to see if she can convince him to give her just a little to help with the detox, but when he denies her, she ends up in a dodgy area looking for some vampires. Unfortunately for Izzy, her weakness attracts the suave demon who tries to attack her but she is rescued by another new addition to the series in the form of a British Shadowhunter named Sebastian (William Tudor).
The charming Shadowhunter takes her back to his place and offers an elixir to help curb her addiction. When will Izzy learn not to take mysterious products from charming men? Although it seems it will help her, for now, she decides to stay with her new acquaintance to kick her addiction once and for all. Meanwhile, Alec visits Magnus (Harry Shum Jr.) and discovers their demon is a Greater Demon known as Azazel, Prince of Hell. Raphael also turns up at Magnus’ to tell Alec about Izzy’s recent trip to see him which causes Magnus and Alec to go looking for her. Upon finding her necklace, the two become convinced she has been taken by Azazel.
Summoning A Demon Is Always A Bad Idea
The Shadowhunter gang are convinced to get Izzy back so Clary and Jace visit Valentine to see what the evil mastermind knows. Naturally he throws a spanner into the works by suggesting he is used as bait for the demon, but also threatening Jace in revealing that he isn’t related to Clary. After a punch to Valentine’s face, Jace tells Clary and this is both good but a little concerning. There are two ways in which their sibling plot could have been explored by either holding out longer and having Jace lusting after Clary or them both knowing causing for some over-the-top intense ‘moments’ between the two. Looks like we’re going to get the ‘will they, won’t they’ for the rest of the season. Yay. On a funnier note, Jace is in tears which caused me to laugh quite significantly because it was so very unexpected, but he receives a bro hug from Alec, so all will be okay.
Magnus, Alec and Jace have created a pentagram (second time this episode so it definitely will tie in at some point) and they are ready to offer Valentine and his knowledge of the Mortal Cup up as bait. Being a Greater Demon, and also with any demon, it’s never going to end well and this becomes true when Azazel breaks the pentagram and tortures the Shadowhunters. After whispering to Valentine “and now a prison for you” and Jace seeing Clary in anguish, Jace manages to break free as a rune lights up on his arm along with his eyes which glow gold (hurrah for book references). He then attacks the Greater Demon which causes him to leave.
All Is Not Right
Alec soon hears from Izzy that she is okay whilst Sebastian is in the background purposely burning his hand on the stove. Looks like we’re already seeing the psychotic side of him with more to be revealed over the course of the season. Clary then forgives Jace for not telling her but she’s not sure where they stand now and also queries as to how Jace can activate a rune without his stele. For Luke, he’s lost a significant portion of his pack after being questioned and challenged. And lastly, the big cliffhanger when Magnus is walking down the street and says “filthy warlock”. Oh no! Azazel bodyswapped him with Valentine!
Overall, the episode was surprisingly decent. I am expecting more from Season 2B especially with Sebastian coming into play, so lets hope they’ve further worked out the kinks (cheesiness, poor dialogue, cringe-worthy graphics and questionable plots) to produce a better show. Only time will tell however, and this show has a history of going up and down each week, so until next week when we see a new episode titled ‘You Are Not Your Own’.
What did you think of the mid-season premiere of Shadowhunters? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
