So I have decided that my self-imposed ban on reviewing shows is done. Let us rejoice that the national nightmare is over! I had to pick something that would be equally messy as any of the other shows I’ve recapped and Shadowhunters certainly fit that bill after a wonderful first season.

For anyone new here, you should know that these aren’t traditional recaps, more of impressions that are grouped into something resembling a recap. Hope you enjoy!

To start, I think that the show has seemed to take a bit of a step up in every aspect from season one. The first season of Shadowhunters was a scrappy little show that hadn’t fully settled into his messiness and it’s meager budget. Well, the show got a bigger budget and more time to do it’s thing and it’s paying immense dividends. The writing feels a bit sharper, the fight scenes are better, and the acting is up. Good job everyone!

Jace is just going through a rough time, what with Valentine trying to poison his mind and telling him that he literally poisoned him with demon blood as a child. Father of the Year, that Valentine is. This is actually a good storyline for a character like Jace, who has been so righteous and reckless, being forced to combat both sides of himself while being controlled (?) by Valentine. Particularly his actions at the end of the episode with killing that vampire and going against Clave law. Should pay some great dividends down the road.

Y’all know I’m team Malec but whew was Alec acting a fool in this episode! While it was understandable that he was stressed about trying to find his parabatai Jace, I was glad Magnus low key told him off about his rudeness. It of course made the moment where Alec goes over to Magnus’ and apologizes that much nicer. If anything it felt like the plot was trying to lull us to sleep before awakening us with back to back scenes of Harry and Matthew shirtless.

Simon is my favorite character on the show and what I wouldn’t give to have him stop pining for Clary! Sir, let that go. You’re not bold adjacent and she has eyes for Jace. Pls. Though it’s interesting to see that he’s spending a lot of time with Shadowhunters and werewolves, neither of whom are very welcoming to him. Where is Raphael? Why isn’t he hanging with the vamps? I mean episode’s end might tell us but still. Give Simon a good home 2k17.

One thing that will forever make me cackle is the Clave set and Magnus’ “view” of NYC. In many respects, I love the old Hollywood throwback nature of both, but many times I just cackle at how ridiculous they both look. The cavernous Clave set just feels fake and that NYC skyline takes me down every time I see it.

We got a new dude on the show! Victor Aldertree, played by Nick Sagar, is the new head of Clave and is causing problems for everyone. I like that this character and I am here for him stirring up the drama with my faves.

Fave Line: “I’m a vampire. I’m running slow for you.” – Simon

Other Random Asides
-I was here for Clary’s mama tryna shoot Jace and Valentine.
-I loved all of the misdirection in this episode with the characters pretending to be other characters. Gives the actors a chance play other characters playing them.
-Clary and Izzy are friends, I like them together.

My Thoughts in Order
-Clave set is a mess
-credits sequence is so bad
-CLary comes to rescue Jace
-dubstep fight LOL
-he really thought he kilt Valentine
-downworlder zoo
-DAMN his loyalty was lacking
-garbage credits sequence
-back at the Clave, alec is madt that they haven’t found Jace
-moment with mom about Jonathan and she says its impossible
-Alec is being pissy again because he’s missing his parabatai
-Sim
-new Negro as the head of the Clave
-Jace getting mollywhopped and Valentine puts a new rune on him
-Clary interviewed by new Negro “Jace knew ahead of time it would be a trap?”
-valentine making food, Valentine trying to poison his mind by explaining himself, weird freaky dream where Valentine experimented on him with demon blood
-“at the moment? nothing”
-new negro kicks simon and luke out “you’re a smart guy, you’ll figure it out”, kicks the friends off the investigation, can’t challenge the head without deruning
-bold adjacent, simon surrounded, tries to encanto, gets locked in a shed and has to sleep by himself
-there’s a face burning shield around the boat
-training scene with izzy and clary
-mama came with a good word about jace
-clary pretends to be the dude (lots of misdirection and people playing other people), mom locks them in
-alec apologies to magnus
-Simon and Clary bonding over stuff
-alec shirtless magic they found valentine, vamps apparently killing everyone and jace kills them
“I’m a vampire, I’m running slow for you”
-vamp surrenders to the clave, and jace stabs her anyways
-mom shoots at jace, but hits valentine