SHADOWHUNTERS - "Raising Hell" - The Shadowhunters will have to put their trust in a Downworlder to access Clary’s memories in “Raising Hell,” an all-new episode of “Shadowhunters,” airing Tuesday, February 2nd at 9:00 – 10:00 p.m., EST/PST on Freeform, the new name for ABC Family. (Freeform/Sven Frenzel) MATTHEW DADDARIO, KATHERINE MCNAMARA, DOMINIC SHERWOOD
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SHADOWHUNTERS Still Isn’t Hell on Wheels Yet

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Episode 1004 “Raising Hell”

The basics: Clary and Jace are circling, Simon’s jealous and turning into a vampire maybe, Alec’s jealous, and Isabelle is still pretty.

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We pick up where we left off last week, with Simon (Alberto Rosende) recovering from his ordeal at the hands of the vampires. He’s off-balance emotionally, mainly because he’s been Friend Zoned™ by Clary (Katherine McNamara) and he’s jealous of Jace (Dominic Sherwood), although I’m not sure why, with that floppy mess of hair on his head…

Clary, of course, is still focused on getting her mother Jocelyn (Maxim Roy) from the clutches of her evil father Lord Vader Valentine (Alan Van Sprang), who is still trying to break the spell that’s keeping her in a protective forcefield that not even Geordie LaForge could break through.

[And seriously, how much is Maxim Roy getting paid to lie on a slab and pretend to be unconscious for how many episodes? I want that gig.]

In her memory-fragment nightmares, Clary remembers the name of Magnus (Harry Shum, Jr.), and Jace realizes it was Magnus who put the protection spells on Clary. He’s a Big Deal Warlock to the 12th Power or something, guy. Seriously serious. The High Warlock of Brooklyn, he is. And he’s gone to ground with the other warlocks, hiding in the Phantom Zone his secret lair while The Circle, the Vampires, and the Shadowhunters stake out their territories in the battle for the Mortal Cup.

Redemption-Arc Hodge the Shadowhunter Q (Jon Cor) says that Magnus could probably be tempted to remove the protection spells if he’s given something of value — and lookee, we just happen to have something of value that used to belong to Magnus! See how that works?

This preciousss Burmese ruby pendant is 300 years old, a gift from Magnus to Camille (Kaitlyn Leeb), the vampirella who has Simon in thrall. Seriously, she shows up in his mirror and everything. Even though vampires are supposed to have a thing about mirrors…

So the Shadowhunters figure to make a trade — the ruby for Clary’s memories. And Isabelle (Emeraude Toubia) knows just where to find the hedonistic Magnus. He can’t resist a good party, and the “underworlders” are having a rave at the biker bar where Jace and Clary stole the demon-powered vampire motorcycle. [Convenient – saves money on location fees…]

Sulky Alec (Matthew Daddario), of course, sulks. He thinks it’s a bad idea, but after Isabelle teases him and lets him grumble a little, he admits he feels a little less sulky. And he actually gets a different expression on his face, guys!

Little Black Dress (Freeform/John Medland)
Little Black Dress (Freeform/John Medland)

And what’s a rave without dressing up? Of course, Clary’s just fine in jeans and a t-shirt, but that just will not do. And with Isabelle’s help, Clary gets her Little Black Dress, which is a little too tight and has my “dad” instincts kicking in because I knew Kat when she was 10… erg.

Jace comes in, says she looks like a proper Shadowhunter (slinky is in, I guess) and gives her one of those plastic swords they all carry. Isabelle picks up on sparks between them.

One word: Plastics! (Freeform/Sven Frenzel)
One word: Plastics! (Freeform/Sven Frenzel)

At the rave, they meet Magnus, give him the ruby, only to find that he doesn’t have Clary’s memories anymore. He fed them to a memory demon in anticipation of being captured by Valentine. Magnus wants Clary to come with him to his lair, where he can protect her, but she’s not having any because it won’t do anything to get her mother back.

I like how the writers are keeping Clary focused on a single goal. This could provide some interesting story opportunities. What if Clary’s goal leads her to make decisions that betray the rest of the group?

"Come with me if you want to live." (Freeform/Sven Frenzel)
“Come with me if you want to live.” (Freeform/Sven Frenzel)

When a Circle assassin shows up, Magnus knows he’s been compromised. And by the time the Shadowhunters find his lair using Jace and Alec’s Blood Brother Bond, it’s just short of too late, as the Circle has already attacked. But it’s Clary’s selfless act of protecting a young downworlder that gets Magnus to change his mind and help.

Well, that and “Pretty Boy” Alec, apparently. Impressed with the Shadowhunters’ willingness to help defend his people against the Circle, he gives the ruby to Isabelle, asks if Alec is a flower or cologne man, and gives Clary a pentagram drawing to duplicate on the floor, which she does. This they use to summon the memory demon. And as many times as Magnus says, “Don’t break the circle,” you know it’s going to be broken just when it matters.

As it does, because each of them has to give up a memory of the one they love the most. For Isabelle, it’s a memory of brother Alec. For Clary, it’s a memory of Jocelyn. But for Alec, it’s a memory of Jace — which freaks him out, causing him to break the circle, retreat from the room, and give the memory demon enough insult that it grabs Jace. Fighting to control it, Magnus has only seconds before he loses containment, so Clary wields the Plastic Sword and vanquishes the memory demon, thus destroying any chance of regaining her memories.

Meanwhile, Detective Cool Wash Luke (Isaiah Mustafa) is eating beef jerky.

And Simon has developed a sensitivity to light and a taste for blood. Which he discovers after Maureen comes over to check up on him — remember she like likes him — only to learn that he was out all night with Clary, only to learn they’re not dating, only to confess that she wants to date him, and in her awkwardness she knocks over a photo, breaking the glass in the frame and cutting her finger. While Simon is entranced by the blood, Maureen figures he’s ignoring her and makes a humiliated exit.

I’m so glad I grew out of my twenties…

Valentine is not a merry man, and he monologues too much. (Freeform/John Medland)
Valentine is not a merry man, and he monologues too much. (Freeform/John Medland)

In the end, Clary tries to contact Simon, who’s gone wandering back to Camille, and then uses her Deep Purple Pendant to locate her mother, only to find Valentine hovering — and he speaks directly to Clary: “Give me the cup!”

 

 

Shadowhunters airs Tuesday nights at 9/8C on Freeform.

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Jason P. Hunt

Jason P. Hunt (founder/EIC) is the author of the sci-fi novella "The Hero At the End Of His Rope". His short film "Species Felis Dominarus" was a finalist in the Sci Fi Channel's 2007 Exposure competition.

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