Shadowhunters The Fair Folk Recap/Review
Welcome back Shadowhunters fans. Sorry for the delay in getting this Shadowhunters The Fair Folk Recap/Review posted. We hope you guys haven’t missed us too much. Without further ado, let’s dive into our recap!
Recap
The episode opens on Jace (Dominic Sherwood) playing piano in the Institute, totally lost in the music until Sebastian (Will Tudor) arrives and applauds him. He asks who taught him to play and Jace replies Valentine did. He used to break Jace’s fingers if he made a mistake, and then Iratze them before making him try again. Valentine Morgenstern, once again showing why there is no “Best Dad Ever” mug in his kitchen! Sebastian asks if Jace is up early or still awake. Jace admits he just came back from The Hunter’s Moon. Sebastian seems to know he was there for Maia, which confuses him as he assumed Jace has a thing for Clary. Jace replies that’s ancient history as Clary (Katherine McNamara) arrives with a message. Alec is about to make an announcement.
Alec (Matthew Daddario) tells the assembled Shadowhunters that he plans to host regular meetings with the Downworlder leaders at the Institute in attempt to mend relations. Lindsay and another Shadowhunter have a little bitch about Alec bringing the Downworlders to the Institute and the fact he’s dating a Warlock. Izzy (Emeraude Toubia) snaps at them to show some respect. Jace compliments his parabatai on shaking things up. Clary asks what she can do to help and Alec tells her he is send her and Jace on a mission. They are going to the Seelie Court to talk to the Queen about Kaelie. Clary asks Jace how he knew Kaelie and he replies “book club”. Remember this?
The look on Alec’s face says it all. Why does everyone find it so hard to believe that Jace reads? Clary asks where the Seelie Court is. Izzy tells them it’s in another realm, and the nearest entrance is in Central Park. Guess she knows from visiting Meliorn.
At the Boatyard Alec meets with Luke (Isaiah Mustafa). Luke has so far refused to join the council Alec wants to set up. He wants change – either the Soul Sword destroyed or Valentine dead. Alec says the Clave will never destroy a Mortal Instrument, but he will be pushing hard for Valentine’s execution. Alec wants to improve relations between the Downworlders and the Shadowhunters.. y’know Jace seems too be trying to do that too… just sayin’
Jace is waiting in Central Park for Clary…who shows up with Simon (Alberto Rosende) in tow. Jace is pissed off, the Queen requested “Valentine’s experiments” meaning Jace and Clary, not the vampire too. Simon is insistent on coming despite Jace’s numerous warnings about the dangers. Jace finally capitulates and leaps off the bridge into the creek below where the portal is. On the other side he waits for Clary and Simon to arrive.
Alec calls Magnus to tell him about the meeting. He asks Magnus to attend as The High Warlock of Brooklyn and not his boyfriend. Magnus looks a little wounded but he agrees to support his boyfriend anyway.
Maryse (Nicola Correia-Damude) arrives at the Institute and finds Alec in his office. She congratulates him and tells him she always knew he was destined to lead. As a child she would find him at his father’s desk writing memos in crayon (by the Angel someone draw this for me PLEASE). Alec asks about his father and Maryse replies that their relationship is over but that they are remaining together for the sake of their political careers. Alec reminds her that Izzy doesn’t know yet and it would be terrible for her to find out via Clave gossip.
In the Seelie Realm Clary, Jace and Simon are walking towards the Court. Simon and Clary comment on how romantic it is before he smells blood. He walks to a tree and leans on it, squashing some bugs with his hand. Jace tells him to get away and then drags him away. He explains that the tree is predatory and could have killed Simon, ripped his pretty face off. Seriously Simon – stop trying to show off in front of Clary and listen when the person who has spent his LIFE training as a Shadowhunter and understands the world you are in is telling you that shit is DANGEROUS!
Izzy is training, blowing off some steam when Sebastian arrives. They talk a little as she is worried about her mother being back in town. Maryse doesn’t know about the Yin Fen or what Izzy has been through. Sebastian tells her that it’s okay to struggle, that maybe the weight of expectation was why she ended up hooked on Yin Fen to begin with. He thinks she’s doing great but she isn’t so sure. He attacks to make a point and she flips him on to his back. I’m inclined to agree with Sebastian on this one.
At the Jade Wolf, Luke is getting ready to leave when he receives a fire message. It tells him to go outside and face east. He does so and hears a cellphone ringing. He finds it and answers the call. A distorted voice tells him that he can help Luke get to and kill Valentine tonight. Luke’s painfully annoying partner Ollie shows up and interrupts. She says she needs Luke’s help with paperwork. Luke evades her, saying he has a date, and drives off. Ollie looks around the dumpster where the phone was hidden but doesn’t find anything.
In the Seelie Realm, Clary, Jace and Simon finally arrive at the Court. They are greeted by Seelies who take their steles and weapons. Clary panics until a Seelie steps forward and says they will get them back when they leave. Jace bows to the Seelie, it’s the Queen. She is very young, appearing to be no more than a child. The queen asks what the vampire is doing there. Jace absolutely nails the courtly speech expected in the Seelie Court when he tells the Queen that Simon is a friend and ally. The Queen accepts his explanation and replies that this will be fun as she takes Clary’s hand and leads her forward.
At the Institute the Downworld leaders are arriving. Alec and Izzy greet Meliorn (Jade Hassoune) first, he is very sceptical about the meetings.
Raphael (David Castro) arrives next and is greeted by Izzy. She thinks Alec wanting her there to make the Downworlders welcome is a waste of her talents by Raph disagrees.
Magnus (Harry Shum Jr.) arrives and Alec greets him formally. Magnus returns the formality and the look he gives the Head of the Institute reduces Alec to grinning dork for a few moments. He recovers enough to check out Magnus’s ass as the Warlock walks away.
Alec shakes it off as Luke arrives and Alec tells him he won’t regret coming. Maryse tells Luke how sorry she was about Jocelyn’s death and that she couldn’t attend the Rite of Mourning. Luke replies that he couldn’t either as the Clave banned Downworlders and then he walks off.
Raphael is talking to Izzy about Max when Sebastian approaches. She introduces them, saying Raphael is the head of a local vampire clan and their paths have crossed for work. Sebastian reads between the lines and realises that Raphael is the one that Izzy was getting her vampire venom from.
In the Seelie Court the Queen (Lola Flanery) provides food and encourages them to eat. Jace politely declines and asks if they can talk business. The Queen replies that business is boring, that’s why she sent a proxy to the Downworlder meeting. Meliorn? But didn’t she carve off his leaf tattoo not two minutes ago? She wants to knows about Valentine’s children and their abilities. Jace protests he sin’t Valentine’s son, but the Queen reminds him that he and Clary share the blood of the same Angel. The Queen also knows that Simon is a Daylighter. Simon is amazed she knows. The Queen replies that she hears whispers from the birds, the bees and the bugs which all serve her. Nope, that’s not creepy at all!
Jace asks about Kaelie and whether she was working alone. He says that she didn’t seem the type. The Queen mentions that Jace and Kaelie were lovers, and that her apparent innocence was what made her such an effective killer. Clary catches the “lover” mention and replies “book club huh?” Clary asks if Kaelie was working alone. The Queen says she was working with another Seelie knight but the Queen dealt with him. When Simon questions what she means by that she replies that the other Seelie is now “Dead, dead, dead.” and takes a bite of an apple, showing needle sharp teeth! Yikes! She then says she wants to speak to Simon alone. Jace protests, saying they would prefer not to be separated. The Queen promises to return him with all his limbs attached.
Back at the Downworld meeting Alec explains his plan. He wants weekly meetings with the leaders, total transparency regarding the Downworld. Magnus says he thinks it’s great and Raphael sasses him. Luke asks about Valentine’s execution and Alec replies that they can’t start with the impossible. Magnus reasons for diplomacy and Luke blows up at them all. Magnus tells them about the bodyswap (after first checking, non-verbally, with Alec that it’s okay). Luke says he needs to talk to his pack. He stalks off and dials his mystery caller and says he’s in to kill Valentine tonight.
The Seelie Queen talks to Simon. She wants to be his friend, to help him with his music. She says she has mentored other Seelie musicians, naming Sia and Björk (bravo writers, bravo). Simon asks why and she tells him she feels dark times are coming and she wants allies in the Downworld. She tells him all Shadowhunters are evil. He thinks she means just the Circle but she says no, all of them including Clary. Simon turns her down.
Raphael tells Meliorn that he doesn’t like Sebastian (who Meliorn thinks is Jace “All Shadowhunters look the same to me”).
Raphael asks the newcomer what his intentions are towards Isabelle. Sebastian says he just wants to be friends but Raphael calls him a predator. That’s a bit rich mate. Sebastian calls the vampire out, saying it doesn’t take a genius to realise that he was the one Izzy was getting vamp venom from, or that Raphael is still hooked on Izzy. Sebastian warns Raphael to stay away, for Izzy’s sake.
The mystery caller guides Luke to a room, telling him that inside, in a drawer, are a knife and the code to Valentine’s cell. He will have 5 minutes to kill Valentine before the security feeds come back on. Maryse arrives and says that she is happy Luke is on the cabinet for the sake of his pack, Clary and Jocelyn. Maryse is trying to make amends to all the people she has hurt but Luke doesn’t care. He is focused on the task of killing Valentine and he leaves.
Jace and Clary, alone in the Seelie Court, talk. Clary says they never should have let Simon come. Jace replies they didn’t have much choice, but he doesn’t blame Simon. If it was him he’d never leave Clary’s side either (oh my Clace shipping heart). Simon comes hurtling back in saying they need to leave right now. Jace asks the Queen’s permission to leave but she conjures up magical vines. They start wrapping around the boys who ask why. She says that they killed some of her subjects. Simon says she’s lying, Jace says she must be mistaken. The Queen repeats her line about the birds, the bees and the bugs and Clary realises she means the gnats that Simon squished back at the Kill Tree. Either the Queen gets restitution or they can play a game. Simon quickly says yes before Jace can ask what kind of game.
The Queen replies it’s simple, all she requires is a kiss. Clary thinks she means one of them to kiss the Queen. The Queen replies that the game is for Clary. The kiss that will set the boys free is the kiss Clary most desires. Simon says Clary just needs to kiss him so they can leave. She does but the vines tighten instead. Clary realises that she has to kiss Jace. She tells him it means nothing (!) and then kisses him like it really means SOMETHING. The Queen watches as the vines loosen and the kiss continues. Simon looks heartbroken and the Queen laughs. Once free Jace asks if they have permission to leave now. The Queen says yes, and one of them already has. Simon is gone.
Maryse and Izzy talk. Maryse tells Izzy about Robert’s affair and Izzy tells her that she already knew. She overheard a phone call. She’s never told anyone, not even Alec. She tells Maryse to leave Robert. Maryse tells her that she hopes that even after all this, Izzy will continue to fight for love, like Alec has. Maryse also says she’s happy everything is out in the open, no more secrets. Izzy tells her about the Yin Fen and Maryse apologises for putting so much pressure on her daughter. Anyone else desperately want to hug the Lightwood women right now and not let them go?!
Luke confronts Valentine in his cell while upstairs Sebastian interrupts the meeting to tell Alec that he saw Luke sneaking off. He checked the security cameras and noticed that Luke disappeared between cameras. they race off and find Luke and Valentine fighting in his cell. Alec hauls Luke off while Sebastian checks on Valentine. In a hiss he tells the older man “you don’t get to die today.” Valentine looks up in confusion and asks if he knows Sebastian.
In another cell, in handcuffs, Luke tells Alec he had no idea who his accomplice was. Sebastian says that all the security feeds have been wiped so there’s no clues there. Alec is seriously pissed at Luke, and would be within his rights to hand him over to the Clave for this. Instead he sets him free, because this is exactly what he is trying to do, show that Downworlders and Shadowhunters can trust each other. But he admits that Valentine is not safe in the Institute.
Izzy goes to Raphael and says she’s been thinking and she wants to fight for what they have. It’s not about sex, she just wants to be with him. Echoing Sebastian’s words Raphael tells her that he is bad for her and they can’t be together. He walks away leaving her heartbroken. Seems to be the episode for break-ups!
Clary goes to the boatshed to see Simon. She’s banging on the door, trying to apologise and begging him to talk to her. Inside he puts on headphones and loses himself in his music.
Jace reports to Alec about the meeting with the Queen. Alec says that the Clave will keep a close eye on the Seelies as something still feels wrong about the situation. Clary walks in and Jace goes after her, saying they should talk but she blows him off. In her room she bursts into tears. Izzy comes in to talk to her about the shitty day she’s had but upon seeing Clary in tears comforts her instead.
Ollie, Luke’s partner, is in the car with her girlfriend. She’s poring over some pictures she took of Luke at the docks. She shows one to her girlfriend because she thinks she can see a wolf standing in the shadows. Her girlfriend sees it too.
In Sebastian’s apartment he is playing the piano. Is that… the same piece Jace was playing at the start?! There’s a weird thumping noise coming from somewhere. The camera pans across a dresser which holds a smashed up burner phone and what looks like a spellbook to a door. Sebastian opens the door to reveal someone tied up, beaten and bloody inside. He tells them to behave or he will have to punish them again… “And you wouldn’t like that.” he says as he closes the door again. OMG!
Review
WOAH! Okay, Let me start by saying I REALLY enjoyed this episode. Regular readers of my reviews will know I’m a fan of the books as well as the show and I really felt like the book fans got fed well this week! Huge shout out to first time writer Taylor Mallory for this one. Her pacing and dialogue were fantastic. Loved the call backs in the dialogue to the book club thing from 2A and Clary echoing Maia’s “This doesn’t mean anything” before kissing Jace. The mentions of Sia and Björk being Seelies was absolutely inspired too! Really hope we get her writing more episodes in the future!
Visually this episode was stunning. The Seelie Court was absolutely gorgeous. It had a creepily ethereal feel, and director Chris Grismer (who happens to be one of my all time faves) did great work evoking the twisted beauty of the Seelie realm.
I’d also like to shout out to Lola Flanery, aka the Seelie Queen. She did an amazing job of capturing the playful yet powerful nature of the Seelie Queen. I really hope we see her back again. Now I know a lot of fans (probably 90%) expected the Queen to be played by Dom’s gf Sarah Hyland (Modern Family). I have a feeling, given the dialogue regarding her ability to manipulate her appearance, that this could still be a possibility down the line.
Regarding Sebastian. Will Tudor is doing some seriously amazing work. I mentioned in my spoiler free take on this episode that he goes from slightly stalkerish (knowing Jace was with Maia) to creepy AF. That final scene, the contrast between the beautiful piano playing and the sheer menace he portrays to his mystery captive, just amazing. Speaking of the piano playing. I have seen a lot of fans talking about that, discussing it in terms of him having watched Jace, the same way he watched the chef make the bouillabaisse. I have another theory. Book fans – I think you might get where I’m coming from on this one. I’m not going to say anything, but if it plays out my way, expect some form of happy dance from me!
Much love for the return of Nicola Correia-Damude in this episode too. Maryse is like a different woman, she’s maternal and loving and the talks she has with Alec and Izzy made my heart swell with love. I really hope she sticks around the Institute and we see the Lightwoods grow even more as a family.
You’re not going to believe this. It seems the Angel heard my prayer. While I was writing this, one of my fave fan artists in the Shadowhunters fandom, Phildrawsfanart, posted a drawing of Alec sitting at Robert’s desk writing memos in crayon. Look at the perfection of this!
Check her out on twitter or instagram. She is so worth your follow!
