This week the stakes are high for the Shadowhunters when they keep turning up dead with their runes carved out and must find a way to track down the killer. Without getting our hopes up too soon, as we’ve done before, it seems like they are heading the right way with the series, despite it being different to its original source material.
There’s A Killer On The Loose
At the local Downworlder hotspot, Clary books a gig for Simon while Jace banters with Maia and gets a drink tossed at him by Kaelie, a Seelie he had a fling with earlier in the season. Upon leaving, Simon smells blood and the two come across pieces of cut off flesh which leads to the body of a dead Shadowhunter. The Institute goes on high alert and believes it to be an act of revenge by the werewolves since the body is covered in claw marks.
Now that Jace is a Herondale, Imogen attempts to bond with her grandson by talking about his parents and telling him that he has his mother’s eyes. Is it just me or do all orphans inherit their mother’s eyes? Regardless, she tells her newfound kin that he will become the head of the Institute after she departs, and Alec is pretty miffed by this news.
When more bodies turn up bearing the marks from different Downworlders, it appears an uprising could be brewing and Jace has just become central to preventing it from happening and they choose to collect samples to run DNA tests.
The Shadowhunters Mess Up Big Time
Alec heads off to see Magnus and the two share a sweet moment together, until Alec asks for a strand of hair. Turning into a lovers quarrel, Magnus reluctantly gives it over and orders Alec to leave. This and last weeks ordeal with Valentine poses an issue for the two, especially when Dot turns up and the two begin drinking and chatting about Alec and their past loves, which includes one another. Naturally this turns into a fun little dance scene, but Dot takes it to the next step by trying to kiss Magnus, but thankfully he stops it before it goes anywhere by confessing his love for Alec.
Meanwhile, Simon is approached by some vampires who tell him of the “great leader who could walk in the sun”, which he turns down. Chatting to Luke about the situation, Luke checks in that Clary and Simon are being safe and an awkward conversation begins, but apparently he was referring to the bloodlust. Simon also refuses to give Clary a cheek swab due to his family’s past and after Clary leaves, she’s attacked and drugged, but Simon manages to rescue her before she can be taken away.
He brings Clary to the Institute, but he isn’t allowed to stay with her, which only makes him angry causing him to be locked up by the orders of Inquisitor Herondale. She also makes the terrible decision to implant tracking chips into Downworlders and she is supported by Jace who heads to Hunter’s Moon to begin the process. Maia causes a frenzy of fists and during the scurry, the other Shadowhunter implants her and Luke tells them to get out. When Clary wakes up with Alec by her side and finds out about her beau, she has it out with Jace and during their spat, Maia is brought in accused of the most recent Shadowhunter death.
Max, Maia and Meliorn
After passing his trials, Max will be staying at the New York Institute and Izzy will be taking care of him and as she shows him around, he is ready for his first mission in his adorable leather get-up. Unfortunately, Izzy’s mission is too dangerous as she goes to speak with Raphael who reveals some information about an incident in the 80s where a Seelie suggested taking the extra step in showing the Clave what they really meant. Next thing we know, Meliorn is brought back into the picture.
Izzy and Raphael track Meliorn, but discover Max has been following them. Ordering him to hide, they come across Meliorn and a dead body, who denies it was him and he joins the quest to find the killer. Going back for Max, it appears he has been taken so they instead track him and locate him in the killer’s lair. That killer? It turns out to be Kaelie seeking revenge against Jace and all Shadowhunters. Nevertheless, Izzy kills her.
Rectifying Mistakes, and Making More
Back at the Institute, Jace announces his first act as head of the Institute will be controversial as he is giving Alec the position instead. Alec then visits Magnus to apologise and the two make up. Simon and Clary head to the Hunter’s Moon for Simon’s gig and he sings quite the decent tune, whilst Jace removes Maia’s chip and gives her an apology. After telling Jace to prove he’s not in love with Clary, he kisses her and that’s the start to a disastrous relationship.
Dear Shadowhunters, will you truly be a show where everyone hooks up with everyone? Jace and Maia are the last people I expected to have a thing, although it became quite obvious at the start of the episode which made it feel really forced. With next weeks visit to the Seelie Court, which book fans will know about, it is only going to throw yet another spanner into the works and create quite the mess. Another strange thing about this episode, where was Sebastian? Hopefully they will mention his absence and not just have him come and go in order to advance various plots and add to scenes.
Overall, if they keep it up at this level, they very well might make more fans happy and produce a reasonable season 2B.
What did you think of the episode? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
