SHADOWHUNTERS (S3 E19,20) “Aku Cinta Kamu” & “City of Glass”: Double Tap Recap Before The Series Finale

In the finale premiering tonight, everything is coming to a rapid conclusion, any loose ends will find their resolve, and a potential battle between Clary (Katherine McNamara) and Jonathan (Luke Baines) after its exciting set up. With “Aku Cinta Kamu” and “City of Glass” giving last minute storylines and resolutions, the 2 hour season finale seems to promise a satisfying good bye to our favorite Shadowhunters.

While “Aku Cinta Kamu” was not as progressive as its predecessors, it did begin to set up the pieces for the final showdown, one I think will pair either Clary against Jonathan or the Shadowhunters against the Morgensterns – all while the mortal and shadow world hang in the balance. In “The Beast Within”, Jace’s (Dominic Sherwood) hold on Clary was interrupted for only a moment, but just long enough for the twinning rune to take full effect on Clary. With her now turned to dark side, she frees Jonathan, escaping the institute and the Shadowhunters. Yet, it is not so much Clary’s turn that sets up the final, but rather the fall out of her actions. “City of Glass”, even with it satisfying resolve, gives us the fall out, leaving us wondering how this will all wrap up in the end.

Fallen Angels

Now that Clary has turned and Jonathan has been freed, the Clave responds quickly, lifting the no kill order on the siblings. With Clary’s life now in danger, Jace is desperate to find them and protect her more than ever. Guilt swells, the one moment he was not beside her as he promised he always would be was the moment he may have lost her for good.

In “Aku Cinta Kamu” Jonathan and Clary formulate a plan to finally obtain the Morning star Sword from the Seelies. While it has never been attempted, never mind succeeded, Jonathan and Clary devise a plan to kidnap the Seelie Queen, her value worthy of a trade for the sword – their actions worthy of starting a war. Though, their attempt will not be without obstacles. Jace, fearing for Clary’s life and desperate to keep her close, tries with little success to infiltrate the two, losing Clary in the process. With Jonathan keen on finding any moment to prove Jace’s true intentions, it is not long before Clary is forced to show her true strength and power the twinning rune gives her.

Though, even in the face of defeat and downworlder interference, the Shadowhunters are not ready to give up. With Glorious resurrected, they plan to ambush the trade hoping to drive the sword into either Jonathan or Clary, breaking the connection from the twinning rune for good. “City of Glass” sees this success, but with its own consequences. As the loose ends are being tied up, Jonathan finds that what gave Clary strength was actually holding him back. With his increased strength and dark angelic powers renewed, Jonathan presents new and more pressing challenges to shape the upcoming finale.

Father and Son Reunited

This was clearly an idea that the writers had for Magnus (Harry Shum Jr.) and Asmodeus (Jack Yang) that was meant to be more of a seasonal arc, the cancellation of the show snatching any true fruition for this story line. The rapid one, two punch was undeniable, and the completion and resolve just as quick. There was definitely more to the story here, something I do wish we would have had the chance to see. Where one episode returned the father back to Magnus, luring him back into his graces, the next clearly brought a conclusion to the pain Asmodeus and Alec (Matthew Daddario) had brought upon Magnus.

“Aku Cinta Kamu” saw the aftermath of Alec’s decision to break up with Magnus, the sacrifice of their relationship returning the magic back to its owner. Yet, with Magnus unaware of the sacrifice Alec made and his heart breaking, grapples with the decisions to permanently erase his memories of their relationship. Just as he builds up the strength to do it on his own (after being denied by fellow warlocks), his father arrives, seemingly attempting to create a relationship, build a support. If only Magnus knew that his father was the true source of his pain.

“City of Glass” again sees this attempt of a father trying to connect with his son, though viewers are quickly given an understanding as to why. Asmodeus plans to have a kingdom outside of Edon, one that he can rule with his son along side him. When he had Magnus’ magic, he understood the power they both could share with one another, a rule that could have don, the Clave and the shadow world bowing at their feet. Thankfully, for the time constraints involved, Magnus is informed of the sacrifice Alec made – one that will lead him to make a sacrifice of his own.

It will be interesting to see how the series finale brings both of Alec and Magnus back together and closes out their story in a satisfying way for viewers. With an extended episode, one an only hope there is enough time to deliver.

Glorious renewed and the choice of mortality

Simon (Alberto Rosende) and Isabelle (Emeraude Toubia) have been growing closer and closer of over the course of both “Aku Cinta Kamu” and “City of Glass”. If the finale brings these two characters to a satisfying conclusion involving them becoming a couple, I will be thoroughly happy. Their need to protect one another has been a charming direction for the series, their chemistry a perfect match for one another. While I would have loved for her to get back together with Raphel, she isn’t the same character were where introduced to when the series began – and neither is Simon.

Maia (Alisha Wainwright) and Jordan (Chai Hansen) are also two of the remaining characters within the series that need to make receive some form of a conclusion, and between “Aku Cinta Kamu” and “City of Glass”, we are almost there. Maia has accepted her position as Alpha, ready to form a pack of her own, accepting her life as a werewolf, all of the anger and resentment fading away. With Jordan as her Beta, she is finally ready to embrace her life as a wolf. Now throw in a bit of mortality, and a final shake up for these two leads to the end for one. Jordan, who has been still been secretly suffering from silver poisoning, faces death, with the Clave’s glorious elixir the only cure for him – one he would rather go to Maia. It is his last act of repentance for making her how she is before his death, one that she is unwilling to take in light of her recent revelations. Where many of the series characters are still left with an unclear direction or resolution, Maia and Jordon are swiftly reaching their end within the series.

Conclusion

The final battle is coming. Where loose ends are being tied up, and a potential battle between Clary and Jonathan on the horizon, there is thought to the idea that not everything will be resolved. There are still so many loose ends for the series to tie up that will leave viewers satisfied. There is this issue of the Glorious elixir that Luke (Isaiah Mustafa) took from Maia to give to the Praetor Lupus. With only one episode remaining, it is interesting that there are still storylines being introduced. How will this play into the finale? Could someone take the elixir (which is very reminiscent of the cure for Vampirism in the The Vampire Diaries), curing them of their demon nature? If this is to be true, my bet is on either Luke or Simon – though leaning more towards Luke as he has nothing in the werewolf world waiting for him.

With the Praetor Lupus to contend with, Magnus stuck in Edom, and Jonathan free with increased powers, there is a lot to wrap up, but with a two hour finale, dedicated viewers can only hope that everything is brought to the finish line.