This week’s action-packed, tear-jerking finale of Freeform’s Shadowhunters featured a very drunk Luke, a temporarily dead Jace, Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Oh, and dragons. You can read our full review here, but below are some bite-sized bests from episode 2×20!
1: Monster of the Week:
Here there be dragons.
Here there be dragons! No, for real; though these aren’t Khaleesi’s glorious beasts, these flying lesser demons wreak a special kind of havoc across the city. Not only do these demonic pests look amazing, they’re also apparently wily enough to sneak off even when partially vanquished. Another convenient thing about them is that since they CAN FLY (have we mentioned?), they can only be defeated by long-distance combat like archery and magic blasts. So, if you wanted to thank anyone for Battle Malec, send the dragon demons a fruit basket.
2: Episode MVP:
Clary straight up murdering her father.
As Valentine was more than ready to sacrifice who he believed to be his only living child, it was a total boss move of Clary to just slash him right in the throat. We’ve mentioned it before, and it’s become a pattern now – Clary is ruthless and does not hesitate with the stabbing. She stabbed Valentine four times, dare we guess: once for herself, once for her mother, once for Jace lying dead just feet behind them, and perhaps, in that moment, maybe even a stab for what he did to her brother, corrupting him before he even had a chance. Great job, Clary. Although we wouldn’t have begrudged you a few more stabs just for good measure.
3: Most Heartbreaking:
Clary and Alec reacting to Jace’s death.
“Death doesn’t discriminate […] it takes and it takes and it takes.” We may have had an inkling that Jace’s death wasn’t exactly going to stick, and yet, when the moment came, there wasn’t a dry eye. While his death itself was hard to watch, the part that really gutted us was the choice to echo the grief of Jace’s death in both Clary and Alec’s reactions, showing us the devastation of the two people who love Jace most. Clary screaming in tears over his dead body; Alec doubled over in pain feeling his Parabatai die. It was, shall we say, very effective. As glad as we are that everything turned out alright for Jace in the end, nothing will erase the complete heartbreak this scene caused us!
4: Holy Ex Machina:
The Angel Raziel pays a helpful visit.
Giles has no time for Valentine’s genocidal rage and we’re here for it. The good angel honestly seemed bored by the request, although we’re side-eying the logic of a heavenly host being forcefully compelled into mass murder “against Heaven’s will” (we know it’s a thing in the books, too). Getting to hear the dulcet tones of Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as the Angel Raziel amongst all the pain and angst was, we must admit, very soothing, and the celestial being looked stunning to boot! We’ve seen an angel on the show before (remember hunky Ithuriel?), but never in all their angelic glory. Raziel floated in a bright gold contrast to the darkness of the shores and the Nephilim before him. The angel is also quite a helpful apparition when you, for instance, need a main character immediately resuscitated. Overall, a very beautiful plot device, super convenient, 10/10 would raise again.
5: Life of the Party:
Drunk Luke was everything we didn’t know we needed.
Were you expecting drunk pack papa Luke Garroway? We sure weren’t, but it was a very pleasant surprise. Who could blame the guy, when all your kids decide to embark on a journey of mortal peril and you’ve been trying to back off from the brink of war – the death of his worst enemy at his own step-daughter’s hand had to be enough to send Luke into party mode. We’re so pleased to see him so carefree, celebrating Downworlders, Shadowhunters, and probably giggling at all the young love around him. Luke is definitely invited invited to our next party.
6: Most Love-Struck:
Alec Lightwood wears his heart on his face.
Alec Lightwood, best known for shooting arrows and sassing short redheads, needs to CONTROL HIS HEART EYES. But if we know anything about Alec, it’s that he has absolutely no chill whatsoever – the guy loves Magnus and he’s not about to be subtle about any of it. Maybe you think the reunion was a little rushed, maybe you think it was perfect, but I think we can all agree that Alec wearing his heart on his face like a love-struck fool was the cutest.
Shadowhunters will return with Season 3 in early 2018.
