Guys, we are getting closer. The wait for Season 3 of Shadowhunters has been much longer than fans are used to – even with Freeform announcing the premiere date had been moved up from April 3rd to March 20th, 2018. With two seasons now under its belt, the series has become a well-oiled machine. Season 3 will begin with a brand-new threat on the horizon and new problems to be faced by our characters. The first two trailers have dropped and we have been receiving minor spoilers on social media regarding what to expect. We even know right down to the second when Season 3 will start from where we left off in Season 2 (it’s 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 31 seconds, if you were curious). Read on for what else you may have missed, forgotten, or simply want to be reminded about what is to come.
Warning: Spoilers from interviews, social media, trailers, and the books lie ahead.
Consequences for Everyone
The underlying theme permeating Season 3 will be consequences for the actions taken by several of our characters last season. During our coverage at New York Comic Con 2017, showrunner Todd Slavkin went on record as saying that the new season has plans to “really deal with the realities of ramifications from bad decisions.”
Katherine McNamara has stated that Clary will have to face some unhappy Shadowhunters as a result of her using the one and only wish granted by the Angel Raziel to bring Jace Herondale back from the dead.
Magnus Bane will also be facing retribution for the decision he made last season to side with the Seelie Queen.
Clary Will Be Settling into the Shadow World
In the Season 2 finale, Clary Fairchild was successful in bringing down the mortal enemy of the Shadow World – her father, Valentine Morgenstern. The latest trailer depicts what appears to be a ceremony in Idris held in honor of the heroic deed. However, we know that this is not the complete story and it is only a matter of time before the secret about what else happened that night at Lake Lyn reveals itself. But it looks like she will be able to enjoy being a Shadowhunter for at least a little while. Katherine McNamara told us: “[Clary is] put on missions officially instead of just as a tagalong or a trainee. Having that responsibility is amazing – it’s all she’s wanted.” She will be choosing her personal weapon and this “becomes kind of a big deal moving forward, the particular weapon that she chooses and why.”
When we last saw her, Clary was just beginning to wrap her head around her extremely powerful rune-creating abilities last season. Season 3 will have her further exploring this talent. There are definitely a few of her runes from the books we cannot wait to see on the show (especially the alliance rune).
There’s Something Seriously Wrong with Jace
As we saw at the end of Season 2, Jace’s resurrection will not be without some painful physical consequences. We can assume from the trailers that he is also being haunted by some Jonathan Morgenstern-filled hallucinations. “There’s something seriously wrong with Jace,” enough that he will be avoiding sleep altogether in favor of becoming a workaholic. This has us all theorizing, and since this season is meant to be (loosely) based on the fourth book in The Mortal Instruments series, we have a sinking feeling we know where this is all going…
Clace Will Get to Be a Real Couple
Bad news aside, we will finally get to see Clary and Jace become a real couple. “Training, battling, dating, dreaming,” showrunner Todd Slavkin has assured us that “[Clace have] never been more in love. Finally, they can act on their feelings and love each other like never before.” We will even get to see them “relax as a couple” and go on a mundane-type date (complete with burrata salad, shellfish, and flatbread). However, regarding their secret, McNamara said, “They know their time is limited. They know that everything’s gonna hit the fan pretty soon – and they can’t ask anyone for help, because anyone they turn to is also implicated. That’s where the tension between [Alec and Clary] comes from.”
Izzy Will Become a Woman of All Trades
In Season 1 and the early half of 2A, we saw Isabelle Lightwood lending her forensic expertise on a few different missions, but her addiction to yin fen sent her off-track for a while. Now that she has recovered, she will again be leaning into that side of herself. We’ll also see that Izzy’s passion for weaponry goes beyond just a simple admiration for the Iron Sisters when she is given the title of Weapons Master. She will even be able to repair her necklace (which was broken when she was attacked by Azazel at the beginning of Season 2B). According to Slavkin, “She’s doing great. New job, new responsibilities. Ordering lots of take-out, taking care of friends [and] family, and kicking lots of ass. Learning to open up her heart…but it takes [a] special someone.”
The (Continuing) Slow Burn of Sizzy
Speaking of special someones, Isabelle will be back to rescuing Simon Lewis (again), and it will “shatter” our hearts. But don’t get too worried, Sizzy fans; that ship is apparently still “simmering, a slow burn burning brighter” and there is also a “beautiful Sizzy scene brewing in [the] Hunter’s Moon” that we can look forward to. We’ll drink to that!
Simon Lewis Is Going to Keep Leveling Up
We last left Simon at the mercy of the Seelie Queen. We were already plenty worried, but scenes of him in the latest trailer restrained by vines don’t make us feel any better! The good news is he will not remain in her clutches for long, as footage also shows Simon deflecting an attack with the help of a special glowing mark on his forehead (and some really cool special effects). Book readers will recognize this symbol as the Mark of Cain, a two-part offensive and defensive rune imbued with angelic power. Simon just keeps getting more and more indestructible!
But in addition to leveling up as a Downworlder, he also will be continuing to hone his skills as a musician. Songwriter Sam Hollander, who composed original music for our musically inclined vampire to perform in Season 2B, is set to continue the trend in Season 3.
Things Will be Heating up for Maruke (That’s Maryse/Luke for the Uninitiated)
The first time fans saw Luke Garroway and Maryse Lightwood share the screen together, our minds went rampant with the romantic potential. Whether the writers planned it or not, it looks like this trend will continue in Season 3. When a fan inquired on Twitter about the possibility of Maruke going on a date, Slavkin responded by saying that this was “already in the works.” Please excuse us while we flail!
The Lightwood matriarch will also be featured in at least one fight scene. It appears as if all that time Nicola Correia Damude spends pumping iron at the gym will finally be put to good use!
Luke Will Have His Hands Full (Not like That; Get Your Minds out of the Gutter)
Despite being “really, really hungover” at the onset of the new season, Luke will be back on the job at the NYPD police station (which is a fancy new set). And apparently, his nosy detective partner, Ollie, who confronted him about his werewolf status at the end of last season (how…awkward), will be continuing to make life difficult for him. At least she’s consistent!
We have also been promised that Luke will be in every episode this season (we will be holding them to that one), along with some father/daughter bonding between him and Clary.
Alec Will Open Himself up to All of the Emotions
Matthew Daddario told us that as Magnus and Alec continue to grow closer, Alec opens himself up to all of his emotions in the continued pursuit of his own happiness. The first trailer for Season 3 showed us a scene in which Alec is imploring Magnus to express his feelings, too (look at our boys learning from each other!). However, “[opening up to one’s emotions] comes with insecurity. You avoid all these different emotions, but once you open yourself up to some of them, you open up to all of them.”
Something also has the normally professional Head of the Institute mixing gin and vodka together to apparently produce “Alec Lightweight.” We just hope it doesn’t have to do with the subject of Magnus’ immortality coming up again, which we were told is supposed to weigh on Alec’s mind this season.
Something is going to happen to Alec’s arm as well, and it doesn’t look good… During Freeform’s “25 Days of BTS” in December, Daddario posted a video of his arm being doused in purple paint and encouraged us to “Speculate as to why with whatever crazy theories you can come up with and then run wild with them till you are nauseous!” You have successfully scared us, Matthew! We hope it’s nothing too serious! Alec needs that arm for archery!
Cooking with Malec
Looks like Isabelle isn’t the only Lightwood who has trouble in the kitchen as Alec has evidently also inherited the “Lightwood Kitchen Curse.” There will also be a scene with Malec enjoying some French toast (which apparently started out as crepes; take from that what you will). How does this all tie into the “Lightwood family dinner” and “Maryse/Magnus laughter” we are supposed to be getting, hmm?
Speaking of Malec, They Are Getting Really Serious, You Guys
Season 3 is shaping up to be the season of Malec as they “continue to be super in love.” Better buckle your seatbelts because it is confirmed that they are cranking the domesticity up several notches (all the way up to 12, apparently). Episode 3×02 “The Powers That Be” is foretold to be life-changing for Malec fans, and on top of that, writer Taylor Mallory boasted that it contained one of her all-time favorite Alec moments. Does this have anything to do with the “very special box” or the “homebrew” Sandalwood shampoo that Slavkin mentioned in his many cryptic tweets?
We already know that Malec can be competitive when it comes to a game of billiards. Now is the perfect time to see what happens when things get a little more physical. When asked about the likelihood of a Malec training scene, Slavkin said, “Um… very likely.”
Slavkin also teased an adorable Malec moment in which Magnus magically alters one of his own shirts to fit Alec. Matthew Daddario has noted that couples who are close end up adopting each other’s mannerisms, and that he was trying to work this into his performance. Be on the lookout for Alec picking up more than just Magnus’ fashion sense!
We Will Be Learning Even More About Magnus Bane
“Magnus goes through [an] amazing journey in Season 3 – selfless, heroic, full of love, strength, and humor.” Magnus’ Indonesian roots will be “on full display in Season 3,” and a popular Indonesian dish called nasi goreng will be working its way into the narrative somehow. Magnus’ loft will be getting a new magical apothecary set, with all the powders and potions befitting of a High Warlock (and it seems Alec will be getting in on the brewing action, too!). We will get to attend a warlock party, and gain some new insight into warlock culture. We will also be meeting Lorenzo Rey, a Spanish warlock rival from Magnus’ past, who will “stir things up a bit.” During his live takeover, Javier Muñoz teased that the two powerful warlocks will be facing off against each other several times and that we will “love to hate him.” At the same time, Muñoz assured us that his character wasn’t necessarily going to make us “angry,” but would “make things interesting.” The ominous “Being the High Warlock meant everything to him” line from the trailer is making us seriously worried Magnus might lose his beloved title! And Javier may be a sweetheart, but that would probably make us hate Lorenzo at least a little!
In regards to Magnus’ greater demon lineage, Todd Slavkin has mentioned that we will be visiting Edom, and name-dropped Asmodeus while he was at it, too! Anyone who has read the books (or seen the many spoilers online) will know why this information is making us both excited and nervous!
We Will See the Softer Side of Raphael
In an interview for Hidden Remote, David Castro talked about portraying another side of his character, Raphael Santiago, in Season 3. This side will be different from the serious one that we are used to seeing. He also added that fans are “going to be really touched by it.” Might this have something to do with his aging mortal sister, Rosa? As for Simon and Raphael’s relationship, it is “ever-evolving and fraught with complications, but a bond is a bond is a bond.”
Lilith Will Add a Spooky Element to the Series
The big bad of the season, Lilith, is the “mother of all demons.” Believing that she is cursed to be barren for all eternity, she considers Jonathan Morgenstern to be her “son.” She also intends to make Jace pay for killing Jonathan. In the latest trailer, we see her wreaking havoc and declaring, “Together we will usher in a new dawn.” Slavkin has also hinted that we will see the Church of Talto.
Maia Will Be Dealing with Some Ghosts from Her Past
In addition to bartending, studying marine biology, and dating a “neurotic vamp,” Maia’s past will be catching up to her this season, a “past she can’t forget.” Her and Simon’s relationship will be “realistically complex” and we will see them “work through problems and problem solve together as a team.” We will also finally get to meet Maia’s werewolf ex, Jordan Kyle, who Slavkin and Darren Swimmer told Entertainment Weekly will be introduced into Simon’s life in “a fun, unexpected way,” with “the two instantly [hitting] it off.”
Maia’s relationship with Luke is going to continue to develop, but it won’t be without its hangups: “I think it’s just natural that [Luke and Maia] butt heads, but it’s coming from a place of commonality that we do have the same goals in mind. So, we’re not against each other, but we sometimes get in our own way a little bit.”
We Will Be Seeing Some Familiar Faces
Raj (as in “Shut up, Raj”) and maybe also the wildly inappropriate previous acting Head of the Institute, Victor Aldertree, are set to make comebacks this season.
Magnus’ best friend Catarina Loss will be making another appearance with Madzie in tow. Madzie, the powerful little warlock we met in Season 2, will have some adorable scenes with her “uncles,” Magnus and Alec, that will “make [us] beam.” We have no doubt these scenes will have fans delightedly dreaming of Malec becoming fathers to their own children someday (and if this behind-the-scenes picture of Matthew Daddario and Ariana Williams is anything to go by, our hearts will surely not survive the impact of this ridiculously cute trio).
There you have it: a comprehensive overview detailing what we know so far about Season 3A. We hope it got everyone even more hyped for the upcoming season. We can’t wait to see how all of these hints and teases play out, and look forward to compiling an article about Season 3B in the coming months! With only just over a month left until the Season 3 premiere, promotion should be about to really pick up. What teasers have you most excited? Let us know on Twitter.
Shadowhunters is available for streaming via Freeform for U.S. residents and internationally on Netflix. Shadowhunters returns with Season 3 on March 20th, 2018.
