SHADOWHUNTERS “Stay With Me” (S3E16): Proposals In Multiple Forms

Tonight was a night of answers, though not as thorough as one would hope for. With Clary (Katherine McNamara) slowly turning dark, a secret organization and the life of Magnus Bane (Harry Shum Jr.) hanging in the balance, answers were welcomed, though not all leading to happy endings.

The Morning Star Sword

Jonathan’s (Luke Baines) obsession with Clary was shelved this week as he put much of his energy into his pursuit of the Morning Star Sword. While there is little known about the sword, it is safe to assume it wields a power stronger than anything we have seen on the series this far. With Jonathan’s reincarnation, the rune binding him to Clary and the magnetic hold it creates on them both, it seems all magic has been heightened to new levels this season.

While the purpose of the sword still remains unknown by episodes end, the call back to Lucifer and Michael when Lilith (Anna Hopkins) reluctantly begins to give information to the Shadowhunters lends itself to the wielding the power of the devil. Lucifer claimed the Morning Star Sword, and the sword him. If only Jonathan hadn’t interrupted the exchange, maybe Lilith would have been able to reveal its power and purpose. For now though, the Shadowhunters will most likely have to wait until it is too late, the future of the Downworlders and the Clave hanging in the balance.

While Jonathan tries every avenue to track the sword down, eventually leading him back to Lilith, he discovers that it is in the hands of the Seelie Queen, whose knowledge of things that have come to pass and those yet to unfold consistently seems to give her the upper hand. Where she had endowed the daylighter Simon (Alberto Rosende) with the Mark of Cain to defeat Lilith, she procured the Morning Star sword long before Jonathan had begun his quest to find it. In retrospect, it seems as though the Seelies and their Queen fight more for the good of all involved. They know what is to come and how to protect the future. It may seem as though it is with selfish intent, yet their cunning moves have saved more lives in the last three seasons than lost. With the Morning Star Sword safely in the hand of the Seelies, Jonathan has only one connection of his past left to break and only one offer he can make with the Seelies in exchange – the head of Lilith on a silver platter.

The Path to the Dark Side

There is a darkness slowly seeping through Clary, gripping every fiber of her being from the inside out. Powerless to stop it, and uncharacteristically lashing out at her friends, Clary begs Jace (Dominic Sherwood) to help her summon Lilith, to take the risk that could provide the knowledge she is in desperate need of. Lilith gave her the mark, she must know how to take it away. Having just gotten Clary back, Jace is terrified to take the chance. Love and duty cry out against the risk, yet as Clary exhibits more behaviors related to the rune, he finds that he has no choice.

Rallying behind Jace and Clary, Isabel (Emerald Toubia) offers up the Malachi configuration that was used to trap powerful demons, modifications made to the device making interrogations more persuasive. Simon, now without the Mark of Cain, pleads with Cain, asking him to help them fight Lilith, to battle beside them if she breaks free. To protect the world and find absolution – no forgiveness can be found hiding in the sewers, but rather by helping others.

Before Jonathan “storms the castle”, reeking havoc in his attempt to collect Lilith’s head, Clary is able to get a better understanding of the mark that has been placed on her. There is little hope to remove the mark, Lilith calling back to the story of Lucifer and Michael. Michael was only able to defeat Lucifer because like the Morning Star Sword, he had his own weapon, a sword forged in the heavens, and when he struck Lucifer, the connection was broken. Only problem is, it was destroyed by the victorious blow. As Clary stares down the face of defeat, Isabel realizes that the answers they may have always needed were back where it all began – in the Clave. With Lilith banished back to hell, with Cain to protect her from Jonathan, the moment is ripe to finally dive into the secret Clave organization that has been looming in the shadows.

Not all Winners

Speaking of Organizations, others surprisingly came into focus this week. As Magnus lay ill due to the affect Lorenzo’s (Javier Muñoz) magic has taken on him, Alec (Matthew Daddario) came to the understanding that for Magnus to live, the magic would need to be removed. It is in this moment the depth of his feelings for Magnus are revealed, realizing that he can not live without him. What starts as a stronghold on Lorenzo to force him to take the magic back, turns into pleading as Alec professes his love for Magnus to Lorenzo, exposing his vulnerability in exchange for his help.

Though as Alec has found the true depth of his feelings, Magnus is left deciding between the true self he knows and accepts and the love he shares for Alec. While he reluctantly agrees, allowing Lorenzo to take his magic back, he looses himself in the moment, the identity he holds true gone once again. While Alec prepares to propose, Magnus I feel is about to sink into a very deep slum, a depression and self doubt that could be consuming. These two have had to face a lot as a couple, but this could be their greatest battle yet.

Speaking of organizations to rise up in this week’s episode, I couldn’t conclude my recap without taking a moment to acknowledge the predicament Luke (Isaiah Mustafa) has found himself in. In jail facing multiple murder charges, as well as punishment by those he also had put away, Luke tries to cut every one out of his life, encouraging them to move forward. It was Clary last week, this week Maryse Lightwood. Though try as he might, his destiny his destiny has bigger plans for him. As all seems lost, an acceptance of the bed he has made complete, a strange late night visit for a mystery man opens a new door for Luke. Having been watching him for some time, Luke is recruited into the preator fold.

Conclusion

As the episode concludes, there is so much to take stock of. Simon and Isabel seem to be slowly (hurry up, there isn’t much time left!) kindling a relationship between one another. Alec has found true happiness, contrasting the losses of his partner. Jonathan has been captured, though we know how well the Clave handles their captives – I mean look at Valentine! The rune still remains, though with a small lead to go on. There are so many avenues to close up before the end of the series, yet each seam is sewing up rather nicely as we make our way to the end.