Shadowhunters: By the Light of Dawn

“Please let this work.”

Well, they certainly ended the mid-season with a bang. Trust was the name of the game this week. Yet, we're the ones left wondering who to believe.

Shadowhunters: Bound by Blood

“You always told me to read the fine print. Well, I guess now I know why.”

This week on Shadowhunters Behaving Badly... Clary is punished for forgetting about Madzie, Izzy and Raphael conflate addiction with love, and once again Alec loses his temper with just about everyone.

Shadowhunters: Love Is a Devil

"Someone's playing with our minds."

Love may be a beautiful thing, but this episode explores all the ways it makes us vulnerable.

Shadowhunters: How Are Thou Fallen

“No one is innocent in war.”

In a show about Angels and demons, imagery of the fall from grace was inevitable. I just didn’t expect it to be so literal.

Shadowhunters: Iron Sisters

“No one is safe.”

This episode is proof you can’t trust appearances.

Shadowhunters: Dust and Shadows

"Take this time to grieve and plan for what lies ahead."

That this week’s episode centered on the impact of Jocelyn’s death was no surprise. How dangerous the combination of Clary’s grief and Alec’s guilt was.

Shadowhunters: Day of Wrath

“Be thee innocent or guilty, may the truth free they soul.”

This episode had less to do with wrath than with the themes of justice, forgiveness, and mercy.

Shadowhunters: Parabatai Lost

“I gotta get to my brother.”

While this is essentially one man’s quest to save his brother, in reality, it is a test to see what each of our characters is made of.

Shadowhunters: A Door Into the Dark

“There’s no place for you here.”

Given the events of the previous episode, it is unsurprising each of our heroes is in a dark place. If combined with doors as symbols of transition then the title provides a pretty apt metaphor of the current state of affairs. Each has discovered their world is not what they thought it was. Now they must determine how they fit in, with the help of or despite the parental figures in their lives.

Shadowhunters: This Guilty Blood

“I know you think you understand this world, but you don’t.”

The above quote sums up the theme of this week’s episode. After last season’s quest for self-discovery, our heroes appeared to be little more than pawns of their “betters” in this season’s opener. Whether that was Valentine, the Clave, Maryse, or even Jocelyn.

Shadowhunters: Morning Star

"Only the worthy shall survive."

If you were wondering about the title, Morgenstern (Valentine’s and by extension Jace and Clary’s surname) means Morning Star. So, is it any wonder most of this episode revolves around that family’s drama?

Shadowhunters: Malec

“Where’s the honor in living a lie?”

It's Alec’s wedding day. Although given the title, it’s no secret how the day turns out. The narrative may be straightforward, but the themes of honor and truth follow a more circuitous path.

Shadowhunters: Blood Calls to Blood

“Everyone has a choice.”

We knew Izzy would be on trial for treason. We knew Jace and Alec would have to grapple with their fractured relationship. We knew finding Jace’s father was not the blessing it appeared to be. But I did not see that ending coming.

Shadowhunters: This World Inverted

“On a scale from one to namaste, how screwed are we?”

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, alternate universes are a staple in the sci-fi, fantasy world. At their best they offer commentary on “the normal world” in addition to serving as a fun plot device. Showing the same characters under different circumstances can provide insight on who they are at their core.

Shadowhunters: Rise Up

“They put a bunch of unrelated facts together and came up with a big lie.”

This episode asks if there is such a thing as an objective truth or if it is all a matter of perception? Then adds the corollary of how to define loyalty and betrayal.

Shadowhunters: Bad Blood

“People make mistakes.”

There are two running themes in this episode. The first is about the choices we make and the price we pay for them. The second dovetails into the first on multiple levels. Blood, in both the literal and metaphorical sense.

Shadowhunters: Major Arcana

“This should be easy.”

This week all eyes were focused on retrieving The Mortal Cup. Well, all eyes except Simon’s but we’ll get to that.

Shadowhunters: Of Men and Angels

“The honor comes from the deed.”

The question posed to each of our characters is “what would you do for your family (either blood or found)?” Unsurprisingly, some are found wanting.

Shadowhunters: Moo Shu To Go

"You don't have to do this alone."

Stories work on two levels. There is the internal journey characters must take to grow and change. Then there’s the external plot which forces that growth. This episode clearly knew what it wanted to say about the former, but had a hard time settling on the latter.

Shadowhunters: Raising Hell

“I need to know who I really am.”

Self-discovery is our theme of the week. Clary attempts to find her place in the Shadow World. Simon attempts to make sense of his new predilections. And Alec has a few things he needs to come to terms with. In an episode ostensibly about Clary’s continuing search for her memories and her mother, it served more as a forum for Alec’s revelation and Magnus’ formal introduction.