Mundie Moms

Friday, August 18, 2017

Shadowhunter TV Series, S2E20; BESIDE STILL WATER / Review #shadowhunters

Found on Freeform's Shadowhunters' website.

I have to admit that I love the people who do Freeform's Shadowhunters' website. I think they get it. It's over. The unevenness, the dashed hopes, the glimmer of maybe-this-time-it'll-reflect-the-characters-and-plot-lines from the books we love, it's all over, MMs. Let's try to break down this last episode, shall we?

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SOPHIE'S REVIEW

I feel like this is the new and improved Shadowhunters episode. Like a Costco-sized episode. It packed a ton of loose ends in and tied them all up (wait for it) rather nicely. I know! Who am I with the compliments? Where are the complaints for the director/producer? Honestly, I have very few. THIS is the episode we've all been waiting for. I'm just sad that it took 19 episodes plus an entirely awful first season to get here. But, here we are.

Image found here. 

So, let's do this.

Image taken from Freeform's Shadowhunters' website.
Our favorite bloodclot is alive!!! Sebbie-baby crawls up on a beach and does some sort of weird ritual , which summons Bloodclot Mama. I am hoping that this sticks close to the City of Fallen Angels plot and shows us that particular back-story (as painful as it is) because, it gives us some extremely interesting Shadowhunter mythology by bringing in Lillith, the Mother of all demons. So now that she's here (and I know you've all read the books), it's time to break out all your favorite stress snacks.



Meanwhile in the Seelie Court, the newly transformed Pretty Little Liar, I mean Seelie Queen, kidnaps Maia to ask her about Simon. Do they not have the equivalent of a Tinder app in the Seelie world?

Image taken from Freeform's Shadowhunters' website. 
Cool dragon-like, hydra-multiplying-like demons infiltrated the city. To be honest, the special effects were pretty darn impressive. As were the effects in the Seelie Court. I think the budget may have increased a bit in this finale episode. Everything looked other-worldly in the best possible way (by TV standards).

Image taken from Freeform's Shadowhunters' website. 
And then things move so quickly, Jace and Clary portal to Idris and discover that the Clave Consel, Malachi (for those keeping score, this is the Character Added to the Episode for No Reason at All and Killed Off Immediately), is the one who is working with Valentine. He is captures Jace and Clary and right before he's about to behead Clary (yeah, I'm not kidding, a beheading in TMI?!?!), Jace does the weird thing with his eyes turning golden, and he busts through his shackles freeing himself and then Clary.

Image taken from Freeform's Shadowhunters' website.
The Seelie Queen releases Maia, but you get the feeling that her obsession with Simon isn't done, yet. Jace dies, you guys. He dies pretty much the way he did in City of Glass, and it's sad and it makes you hate Valentine the same way you HAAAAAATED him in the books. In other words, this was a TV adaptation moment at its finest.

Image taken from Freeform's Shadowhunters' website
In another book-perfect moment, BigBadDaddyValentine raises the angel, Raziel, from Lake Lyn. The scene is beautiful and terrifying. Huge props to the director (and the producers for freeing up the budget):

Image taken from Freeform's Shadowhunters' website. 
And you guys know the rest -- Clary kills Valentine, Raziel grants Clary one wish, Clary wishes that Jace was alive, the Shadow World celebrates the victory. What was missing from the episode??? Jace's line about wanting "a brown, manly drink". He is, for the record, drinking beer in the scene, but what a fun nod to the fandom would that have been? Pretty easy and cheap to add it. But alas, missed opportunity although a very minor one.

Outside the celebration Jace collapses suddenly, demons are released, and the Mama o' Demons comes to pet her child. Welcome home, Lillith.

Image taken from Freeform's Shadowhunters; website. 
Phew. What an episode. What did you think? I gave it like 3.5-4 stars (out of 5) in my mind. It was the best episode of the season. A strong ending for sure. Am I looking forward to season 3? Hmmm, hesitantly, yes.

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So, MMs, what did you think? Did this last heart-thumper of an episode secure your loyalty to the show? Let us know in the comments. 

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