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Synopsis
Alec (Matthew Daddario), Jace (Dominic Sherwood) and Isabelle (Emeraude Toubia) make a plan to finally get Clary (Katherine McNamara) back and stop Jonathan (Luke Baines) – much to Luke (Isaiah Mustafa)’s and Simon (Alberto Rosende)’s chagrin. Meanwhile, an emotionally raw Magnus (Harry Shum Jr.) struggles to deal with his father’s reappearance and Maia (Alisha Wainwright) must make a tough decision that could affect the rest of her life.
This is it angels. Shadowhunters – City of Glass – the final regular episode before the finale event next week.
Grab your tissues, some ice cream and maybe a blanket and let’s do this.
I’m gonna say right off the bat that I have some issues with this episode, and they are mostly down to how the preceding episode have been structured. I know that this episode should have been the season finale, giving us a cliffhanger for season 4, but certain plotlines that were not necessary were given time earlier in the season that could have been better used pushing the overall plot forwards. As a result we had less than an episode of “Team Evil” and some of the events in this week’s episode feel like they were just moving too fast.
Action stations
It is an action packed episode for sure, with a great fight scene between Clary and Izzy that really shows how well these two great actresses have grown into their characters.
The final CGI heavy set piece was visually impressive but just didn’t have as much impact for me personally as I would have liked. One of my biggest gripes with the show overall has been how high-tech the Shadowhunters are. Such a far cry from the almost steampunk-y vibe I got in places in the books. I have never felt that as keenly as I did in the final action sequence. There is also one jarring comedic moment that feels totally out of place considering what’s going on around the characters.
Clary and Jonathan
Breaking the bond between these twisted siblings has been the driving force of the season, and things definitely come to a head in this episode. But before that happens we get more creep, twisted sibling interaction.
I know there was some controversy over Jonathan moving to kiss Clary in the trailer before we saw that she stops him. There’s another moment during an early scene between them, instigated by Clary, that I found almost as unsettling though.
Magnus and Alec
Magnus has some corking moments in this episode, both with Asmodeus (Guest star Jack Yang) and on his own. Anyone who has been waiting (like I have) for Lorenzo Rey (Javier Munoz) to get what is coming to him… you’re going to LOVE this episode. Also, keep an eye out for a scene with Maryse (Nicola Correia Damude) though, it had me cheering.
The Malec, and Malec related scenes this week are fantastic, beautiful, emotional and in one case visually STUNNING. However that stunning moment had me yelling “REALLY? NOW?” at the screen as the timing is, shall we say, a little inappropriate. Hopefully you’ll see what I mean during the episode.
Maia and Jordan
After his revelation last week that he’d stolen the last vial of Heavenly Fire from the Institute, Jordan (Chai Hansen) and Maia have some serious deep and meaningful conversations.
Also tied in to this is Luke and whatever shady shit Praetor Scott has him doing in exchange for not being in prison. It felt off to me, but I kept reminding myself that it was obviously meant to set up a plotline in s4.
Maia gets a dramatic moment towards the end of the episode, but again, the way things have played out before took some of the impact out of that moment for me.
Clary and Jace
There’s little I can say that isn’t spoilery but I can say they do interact a few times. They are brief moments, as there is a LOT going on around them in this episode, but important nonetheless.
What happens next?
I am truly intrigued to see what happens in the 2 part “Series Finale” next week given the way this episode ends. There are many loose ends to be tied up, and even in slightly more than 2 hours it doesn’t feel like the conclusion is going to be as satisfying as many hope. That is, as always, just my personal opinion though, and I hope to be surprised when I do watch it.
Shadowhunters – City of Glass airs tonight at 8pm (7c) on Freeform. It is then available worldwide on Netflix from Tuesday 30th April.
