While Monday night’s return of Freeform’s supernatural, demon-hunting drama, Shadowhunters, was full of jaw-dropping moments, there were a few that rose to the top. Who is this charming newcomer with the creepy smile? Is Jace ever going to catch a break? And where can we get that coat? You can read our full review here, but there were certain bits that we felt deserved some special recognition.
1: Stand-Out Performance:
Emeraude Toubia.
From the desperate quiver in her voice to the violent, fully-body trembles, Emeraude put her all into this week’s performance. It was easy to believe (as Alec did) that she was committed to getting clean, and seeing her falling off the wagon was heartbreaking and honest. Her amazingly nuanced portrayal of the darkest aspects of Isabelle’s addiction made her our Stand-Out Performance of the episode.
2: Most Swoon-Worthy Moment:
That casual Malec Kiss.
You can keep your steamy bedroom scenes (well, maybe not forever). We’ll be over here swooning at this perfect moment of relaxed domestic love. Harry Shum Jr. and Matthew Daddario managed to put a lot of intimacy into a little kiss, showing a delightful stability to their relatively new relationship. Not only did this moment take the cake for Most Swoon-Worthy, it also made the episode’s jaw-dropping twist that much more poignant.
3: Creepiest Smile:
Sebastian Verlac.
A mysterious knight in Shadowhunter armor with mommy issues (and possible daddy issues to match?) has suddenly appeared and there’s something a little suspicious about him. Perfect sense of timing? Profound knowledge about Isabelle’s affliction? That dreamy British accent? Something is definitely too good to be true – and that certifiable Creepiest Smile might be a hint.
4: Popcorn Worthy:
That dramatic Clace & Valentine scene.
Valentine, you are NOT the father. What’s a supernatural show without a little family drama? Any moment that would make for an appropriate Jerry Springer episode is definitely Popcorn Worthy! Poor Clary had the rug pulled out from under her again, and Valentine seemed delighted at the opportunity to cause a little more chaos. Now that this bit of truth is out in the open, we can resume with the good old game of relationship musical chairs.
5: #BestScene:
The gang summons a greater demon.
It goes about as well as you would expect.
This scene – and that diabolical twist at the end – raised the bar for what this series is capable of. The practical effect of candles might have done the trick on that demon-summoning pentagram, but the special effects (shoutout to Folks VFX for giving this scene some gritty realism) truly brought Magnus’ power to life. And what was that look between Azazel and Magnus all about, and how far does their history go? How much did our hearts break hearing Clary and Alec cry out for the ones they love? And did we just get a glimpse of Jace’s extra angelic powers?! So many feelings, so many raised questions. It’s also, in our humble opinion, the Best Scene of the episode. By the end, we were on the edge of our seats for what’s to come.
6: #EpisodeMVP:
The Coat.
Of course, we can’t talk about the episode without mentioning the Coat. We cannot thank the wardrobe department enough for their artistry. Magnus is undoubtedly a fashion icon any day of the week, but this week, however, that coat, with all of its rockstar-studded elegance, cape-like swooshing effect, and high collar, deserved its own runway. It was, hands-down, our Episode MVP. We can only hope it graces us with its glorious presence again.
Shadowhunters airs Mondays 8/7c on Freeform and Tuesdays internationally on Netflix.
