Clary’s intuition and Magnus’s assistance help them discover who the Owl is once and for all

This week’s episode of Shadowhunters features moments that we all saw coming, but in a way that we were not expecting them to come. The episode kicks off with Heidi (Tessa Mossey) getting ready to see Simon (Alberto Rosende) while she has a mundane upside down behind her and draining his blood. Without an invitation, she visits Simon at his apartment, surprising him by being already inside when he came in. Heidi tells him that she is a vampire now and that because he is her sire, they belong together. Showing a clear obsession with Simon, Heidi continues insisting they should be together throughout the episode. After she fights Izzy at the Hunter’s Moon, Simon says he’ll take care of her and arranges the Praetor to take her in and help her the help she needs.

At Magnus’ loft, Magnus’s (Harry Shum Jr) and Alec (Matthew Daddario) have a fight when Alec brings out his insecurities with Magnus’s immortality. The discussion gets a little heated and after some harsh words are said, Alec storms out of the apartment.

After talking to Jace (Dominic Sherwood) at the Institute, Clary (Katherine McNamara) has the feeling that something is off with him. So when she goes to visit Magnus to gather information about the demon that killed Ithuriel, she also tells him that Jace was acting weird earlier that day. Later, when she and Magnus talk to Brother Zachariah,  they learn that Jace never went to the Silent City after all, which only increases her worries.

RELATED | SHADOWHUNTERS ROUNDTABLE: LILITH IS TRULY ANOTHER DIMENSION OF EVIL

At the Hunter’s Moon, Alec, Izzy (Nicola Correia-Damude) and a possessed Jace go to dinner with their mom, Maryse (Emeraude Toubia), who’s back in New York after being deruned by the Clave. Luke (Isaiah Mustafa) also comes to the Hunter’s Moon later and after seeing Maryse, he sits down and has a chat with her. The Owl then sees Ollie (Alexandra Ordolis) as a possible target and when he sees her leave, he goes after her. Alec, upset about his fight with Magnus, gets drunk. Not wanting his family to see him this way, he hides while talking with Underhill (Steve Byers), who is playing pool and hanging out at the Hunter’s Moon as well.

At the end of the episode, when the Owl starts to possess Ollie, Clary and Magnus arrive at the scene and attack him. But when they aren’t able to stop him and the Owl is about to attack them, Luke arrives and shoots him in the back. This is when the Owl reveals his identity in front of Luke, Magnus and Clary, who can’t believe Jace has been the Owl all along.

Another packed episode. Let’s meet our roundtable guests for this week and start our discussion!

María (@ShadowhuntersJA) – Shadowhunters Spain Administrator

Sonia (@Shadowhunters.Blood.isnt.Love) – Tireless reader, Fantasy lover, Founder of Shadowhunters “Blood isn’t Love.”

ShadowhuntersLA (@ShadowhuntersLA) – Update/fan account of shadowhunters Latin America.

Megan (@TMIronSisters) – prolific reader, aspiring writer, amateur photographer, lover of theatre and a fan of Shadowhunters.

ShumDario News (@shumdarionews) – Update account about Harry Shum Jr. and Matthew Daddario.

1. Maryse and Luke had a very cute moment at the Hunter’s Moon. Do you think that there is a possibility of something more happening between the two of them?

Megan (@TMIronSisters): To be honest, I really hope so. I don’t think it should only be the younger characters who get to ‘let their hair down’ and experience these intense relationships. Luke and Maryse have had some tough times in the past, they both deserve some happiness and their moment in the Hunter’s Moon definitely brought some light to an otherwise dark episode.

María (@shadowhuntersja): Maybe, maybe not. Who knows? What is clear is that among them there is chemistry, they have many things in common, one of them being that both of them used to be shadowhunters and are not anymore, therefore Luke can be a great support for Maryse since he can perfectly understand the situation that our Mami Lightwood is going through. So I think that this whole storyline can bring them closer to each other and they can end up romantically involved. We’ll have to wait and see how the story unfolds. I certainly would not mind if they end up together, it’s time for both of them to be happy.

Sonia (@Shadowhunters.Blood.isnt.Love): It’s a good question. Before today I would have never thought of it but from the way Luke reacted on this occasion… he seemed very impressed by Maryse, and there seemed to be a feeling between them.

ShadowhuntersLA (@ShadowhuntersLA): We think that something is going to happen, but we really can’t decide yet if that’s ok. We know that Luke loved Jocelyn so much and despite she is dead, we think it’s too early to move on. And the same situation with Maryse. She just divorced from Robert and the fact that she is longer a shadowhunter is a thing too big to process. But also Luke can be a good friend that could help her get through it.

ShumDario News (@shumdarionews): Isaiah and Nicola did an amazing job and the chemistry was palpable between Luke and Maryse! They have a complicated history especially as Maryse said after Luke’s excommunication but now that Maryse has to start a new life in the mundane world, Luke is one of the few people that can help her as he has lived in it for the past 20 years. It definitely helps that Maryse is apologetic and is doing all that she can to be a better person and atone for her mistakes. Everything can happen from there. We did notice that Luke was being all flirty with his last comment. We see you, Luke. #TeamLukeMaryse

2. After seeing the way she acted around Simon in this episode, do you think Heidi can change with the Praetor’s help or is she past the helping point?

Megan: I’m in two minds. On one hand, maybe time away will help her to adjust and to understand Simon’s position and where she went wrong in her actions. On the other, I feel as though she’s just going to have a lot of time to resent Simon and build up a grudge against him. I think she’s smart enough to play along with the Praetor’s programme until she’s deemed fit to return to society and then exact her revenge on Simon. She’s already done it with Raphael. Although jokes on her because she doesn’t know about the Mark so she’s in for a nasty surprise if she thinks she can harm her Sire. But once she realizes that, I think she’ll play dirty and try and start a clan of her own.

María: I think it will be hard to help her because I don’t think Heidi wants that help. I see that she’s really obsessed with the idea that she and Simon belong together. We’ve already seen what Heidi is capable of doing to get to Simon and how she almost killed Raphael simply because he stood between her and her goal. So I guess before they actually get to help her, she’ll manage to get away.

Sonia: I still think that Heidi is a very unstable subject. I don’t know if rehab will really affect her, at the moment I think she could still create a lot of trouble.

ShadowhuntersLA: Definitely she’s past the helping point, we think that Heidi will be really upset about what Simon did to her, and we already saw how crazy she could get. She is really obsessed with Simon and she will not stop until she can be with him. We think the Praetor’s help isn’t going to be successful this time and we hope that Simon will be okay. He did that to help her, but we are sure that she doesn’t see it like that.

ShumDario News: Heidi’s obsession with Simon has become quite dangerous. Even when he was trying to reason with her, she twisted his words and didn’t listen to him. We want to hope for a possible redemption for her and the Praetor might be her best chance. For now, her mind seems too troubled to let go of her crazy attraction to her sire and we fear that she might not come back from it. However, we still don’t know the extent of the Praetor’s influence and power and their success rate is. Considering they’re an elite force, she might just have some hope.

3. Alec and Magnus had a fight regarding their thoughts on Magnus’s immortality. What do you think of their discussion?

Megan: I think Alec’s situation is understandable and unlike Magnus insinuated, I don’t think it comes down to a lack of experience. It wouldn’t matter how many partners Alec had been with previously, immortality is a unique obstacle. His feelings are not selfish; he’s concerned about Magnus’ feelings and how Magnus will have to watch him wither and die like all of those before him. It was petty of him to suggest that one day he’d be nothing more than one of Magnus’ keepsakes because he himself knows that that’s not true. For Magnus, I think it’s hard for him to understand Alec’s position because he’s never been the one to age and die. He’s always been the one left behind and throughout the centuries he’s found a way to cope with it. I also don’t think he’s ever experienced someone feeling guilty like Alec does already. He’s still young and yet he’s already concerned about a time far in the future, suggesting he plans to still be with Magnus. It was, and still is, an important discussion that needs to be had and I think they’re going to have to revisit it in order to understand each other’s feelings on the subject.

María: I think it’s a discussion that sooner or later had to happen. And I’m glad that it has already because that means that they can work on solving this problem between them. It hurts me to see them suffering from this but I think it is necessary for both characters to grow as a couple and as individual characters. As several characters have said in the episode if there is anyone who can solve that situation, it’s Magnus and Alec, and I’m sure they’ll do it.

Sonia: This topic is complicated and it was inevitable that it would surface. Alec and Magnus have two completely different points of view and this creates friction. I’m sorry to see them quarreling, I don’t like to see the Malec disunited. I hope the situation will be resolved soon.

ShadowhuntersLA: As book fans we know that could happen at any time. Alec has some issues about what could happen on the future, and Magnus already has been through all difficult situations and for him, his immortality is something he wants to forget all the time. The two of them said things that hurt each other but we know that they can figure it out. They belong to each other and they can resolve this.

ShumDario News: The most infuriating part of this fight along with other Malec fights is that they’re both arguing with very good points. They were both right and wrong in this situation and as Magnus said, they both said things they didn’t mean. Alec is understandably insecure about just being a small chapter in Magnus’ life, terrified that Magnus will move on but not understanding that that would not reduce what Magnus ever feels about him. Magnus, on the other hand, would rather not talk about an issue that he doesn’t see happening for a while. There’s also the matter of him being immortal and doesn’t measure time the same way mortals, especially shadowhunters, do. Magnus not wanting to talk about their issue appears to Alec as him not caring, merely dismissing the issue that obviously means a lot to Alec. But it is Malec and we know that they will resolve the issue diplomatically once emotions don’t cloud their judgment so much and they’re more willing to listen to the other.

4. For books fans, Brother Zachariah is a very special and important character in the Shadow World. Were you excited to see him on the show?

Megan: Of course. Jem is such an integral part of the stories both past and present. He’s always been one of my favorite characters from the Shadow World and now that they introduced him I’m curious to see how they choose to use him in terms of the rest of the season and hopefully, the fourth season.

María: I really wanted to see Brother Zachariah. If you have read the books, he is a character to whom you have a special affection and it is always great to see the characters that you like on the screen. It is true that maybe I did not expect it so soon, but since it is here now I want to see how they will develop the character and know if we will see him again soon.

Sonia: Uh yes, I’m a big fan of books and I couldn’t wait to see him on the show! It was a moment of excitement, then when he mentioned Will my level of agitation rose. I hope we will see him soon on the show, he is a character who deserves his space.

ShadowhuntersLA: Brother Zachariah is one of the most important and loved characters for books fans. We know that the opinions can be divided but yes, we are super excited about his participation on the show. It is always good when some hints, names, and places are mentioned by the different characters on the show, so we have really high expectations about Brother Zachariah. We really hope to see him on more that one or two episodes.

ShumDario News: It’s always exciting to have a new character from the books introduced in the show, especially because the writers always try to give it their own spin. We definitely hope to see more of this character especially seeing as he plays an important role in helping the Shadow World later in the books. We also always love getting to see a glimpse of Magnus’ interaction outside of the little circle of Shadowhunters and Downworlders. Hopefully, he’ll appear more on the show!

5. Alec got drunk at the Hunter’s Moon, clearly still upset about his fight with Magnus. What do you think about seeing him this way?   

Megan: If the fight hadn’t been the reason for his excessive drinking it would’ve been comical but it was obvious he was uncomfortable. There was the barest suggestion – echoing Magnus’ previous concern that Alec had only ever been with one person – that Alec would seek comfort in the arms of somebody else. I can’t explain the relief that came over me when he got in that taxi alone. Even though I truly believe the writers would never even consider a storyline in which Alec cheats they just seemed to be walking a dangerous line. Now that some time has passed since I watched the episode, I can see it more as an act of nostalgia; leaning on the pool table where they played, sitting at the bar where they sat together, sneaking out the back like they did at the end of season two. It was reminiscent of happier times which made it that much more upsetting.

María:  I really expected another version of drunk Alec, something more fun but this hasn’t been bad. Best of all, that he hasn’t been able to remove Magnus from his mind. It has been good to see Alec like that because being in that state we have been able to access what he really feels and thinks about the situation that he is in with Magnus right now. He was also lucky that Underhill was there to help him reflect on it and I think that it will really help Alec to solve everything he feels.

Sonia: It hurts to see Alec in this state. It’s clear that this thing of immortality for him is becoming a torment, now it’s a fixed nail. Seeing Alec drunk makes us realize how much pain he is in. I saw an Alec very insecure and vulnerable in these episodes, I hope he will soon find a meeting point with Magnus.

ShadowhuntersLA: It was a little bit painful to see Alec being upset because we’re #Malec fans, but the scenes in the Hunter’s Moon gave us a really good opportunity for (hopefully) a new Brotp. I think it’s very important to find someone who is there for you just to listen, give support and be genuinely friendly. And Alec totally had that with Underhill. Alec was able to speak out and get off his chest some things that were bothering him. Usually, he would talk to Izzy or Jace, but Underhill is the one who really could understand him at some point. This whole drunk scene was just to show that Alec is also a vulnerable person no matter how tough and serious he seems to be in his roles as a soldier, Shadowhunter, and Head of the New York Institute. We simply saw a young man painfully in love, who doesn’t know how to deal with some relationship issues.

ShumDario News: It was sad to know what the reason for his drinking was. We were hoping his reason for drinking would be more celebratory, not to drown in his own sorrows. Though the reason was sad, Alec is definitely the funniest and cutest drunk we have ever seen. We always love salty Alec but a drunk Alec is much saltier than when sober. He seemed a lot more relaxed and willing to joke around with his family and even Underhill. Despite being drunk, Magnus was on his mind the whole time and it broke our hearts. Hopefully, when Alec does get drunk in the future, it’ll be for much happier reasons.

6. Clary immediately noticed something was off with Jace when he supposedly came back from the Silent City. How is she going to cope with the fact that he is the Owl?

Megan: To be honest when the Owl transformed back into Jace and Clary realized and said ‘Oh God it’s been you all along’ she didn’t really sound that surprised. I’m wondering whether she’s had a niggling suspicion, especially since he started going missing and turning up without remembering where he’d been.

María: It’s going to be hard for her to get through this whole situation with Jace. I think we’re going to see Clary suffer even more than we’ve seen. In the previous season she lost her mother, now she also lost Jace in some way.She also has in her head the words that Ithuriel said that when she brought Jace back he was left unprotected and for that reason, Lilith came to him. It has a lot of weight on her shoulders. Although I think she’ll risk everything to get Jace back and save him from Lilith. The question now is what price Clary will have to pay to get it.

Sonia: I think it will be difficult for her, Clary doesn’t know what is happening to Jace and why he is doing this. And seeing the person you love acting like another person is not easy. I hope they will soon discover that Lilith is behind all this in order to resolve the situation.

ShadowhuntersLA: Even though that was a shocking disclosure, we think after some crying she will definitely turn on the “ready to do anything to get him back” mode. She will not waste time crying and whining. And we will see fierce Clary Fray, our stubborn redhead in action. Maybe at some point, we’ll also see Clary “It’s all my fault because I told him not to go to the Silent City” Fray which will intensify Clary’s determination to get HER Jace back even more. We don’t think she will be digging into the fact about Jace going totally #TeamEvil mode by possessing Mundanes because it’s really easy (at least for her) to justify Jace’s action by a Greater Demon’s control over him. So there will be no second thoughts about saving Jace at any cost or protecting him (if anyone will dare harm Jace).

ShumDario News: What a shock it must have been! Clary has been carrying the guilt of their secret since 3×01 but while she noticed that Jace was acting really weird and might be developing mental issues, she still didn’t say anything. Now that she’s discovered that all this time Jace was the one attacking mundanes and that she might have prevented it by talking to Alec or Izzy or anyone about the state Jace was in, we can easily assume that she will feel even more guilty.

7. At the end of the episode, Clary, Magnus, and Luke learned that Jace is the Owl. How is his family going to react to the news and what do you think they’re going to do next to handle the situation?

Megan: I think that once the Lightwood’s find out the identity of the Owl there will actually be a sense of relief. They’ll be horrified and worried as well. But at least now they know who to track. They might rely on Alec’s parabatai bond. They know that they shouldn’t be shooting to kill but seeking to capture. They can try and follow Jace to the source of his possession in order to stop it all together. So although there’s going to be some panic and probably some people in the Institute who believe Jace to be a traitor or more trouble than he’s worth, I think for those who care about Jace, there will be a sense of relief.

María: I imagine that the first reaction of everyone, especially Alec as his parabatai, will be surprise and pain to see a person they want in that situation, and especially when they’re thinking about what Jace will be suffering at the hands of Lilith. The next thing I suppose that they will do is to try to find a way to help him get out of that situation to have him safe again with them, and I’m sure they’ll risk everything to bring him back and they will not stop until they get it.

Sonia: It will be a blow to them because they don’t expect it. On one hand, they will want to help Jace and protect him, but on the other, they will have to stop him. Then there is always the problem of not letting the Clave know what happened, so they will have to act in the shadows and hope to bring Jace home soon.

ShadowhuntersLA: At first, everyone will be with all sorts of mixed feelings, there’ll be pain, sadness, anger, frustration and guilt, Alec for not following his gut and investigate more about what happened with his Parabatai, Izzy for having focused her attention on other things, Magnus for not realizing sooner about this great threat, Luke for what happened to Ollie, anyway, there will be more than anguish and guilt to share, but in their fierce need to save Jace everyone will start working together to end the living danger that is Lilith, and as long as they stay united as a family and a team, they can overcome all the obstacles that are coming.

ShumDario News: It’s gonna be terrible. Alec and Izzy will be devastated and maybe a little angry at Clary for not saying anything but it won’t last. They will be hell-bent on looking for a way to free Jace from the possession. They will certainly turn to Magnus’ powers and knowledge of Edom to find clues on who is behind the whole ordeal.

Final Verdict: Shadowhunters proved why teamwork is always the solution

In this episode of Shadowhunters, the Owl is finally unmasked in front of others. Jace might have been completely under Lilith’s power now, but that didn’t make him smart enough to hide his secret identity and finish Lilith’s mission. Now that his cover has been revealed, we wonder what everyone will do to catch him and how they are going to react to the news. We have a feeling that it won’t be that easy to bring him back. And what about Ollie? Is she going to kill Sam? Will they be able to save her before it is too late? Seeing as the Owl is still not done with Lilith’s plan, he might go after Charlie too and we really don’t want that to happen.

We think Simon made the right decision by letting the Praetor take Heidi. We’re not sure if she’ll be able to make a complete turn and understand that as a vampire there are rules she needs to follow. Simon is probably going to continue feeling guilty about her. But hopefully, as time goes by, he can realize that seeing as how much Heidi enjoyed the bleeder dens and is enjoying her vampire life now, she was going to either die or get turned eventually anyway.

RELATED | SHADOWHUNTERS ROUNDTABLE: LILITH’S CONTROL OVER JACE IS BREAKING HIM INSIDE AND OUT

Magnus and Alec’s fight in this episode is heartbreaking. We knew it was coming but it still hurts seeing them fight, knowing that the topic they are fighting about isn’t one that can be solved easily. They still need to properly let it all out and take the moment to listen to what each of them has to say before jumping to any conclusions.

Although Maryse will have trouble adapting to her new life, this change can make her grow closer to her family and some old friends like Luke. We saw that they have great chemistry. So count us in on the Maryse and Luke ship. Fans on social media have been talking about the pair ever since the episode aired this week, and we can’t deny that we are just as excited as everyone is. Just seeing how much they enjoyed each other’s company and their big smiles make us excited for what might come next for these two. Both of them deserve to find happiness again after everything they’ve been through and we hope they can find it in each other.

We’re entering the second half of Season 3A, which can only mean that things will get more complicated and messier from now on. We can’t wait to see what is in store as we continue to dive in the Shadow World and follow these characters’ paths along the way!

Shadowhunters airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Freeform.