So, while I think that any episode of Freeform’s Shadowhunters that doesn’t have Magnus can be classified as pure filler, Dead Man’s Party (air date January 26, 2016) definitely moved forward the story quite a bit and introduced watchers to some key characters that will become extremely important later on in the story line. If you haven’t watched the episode, do not pass go and head on over to Freeform’s site and stream the episode (you may have to sign in with your cable provider to see the current episode or wait until it’s unlocked if you don’t have a password).
My copy of City of Bones by Cassandra Clare is still packed, and will be until we move again during the summer. I have requested it from my local library system. Wonder of wonders, they actually mail the book to you instead of you having to pick it up at your local library branch. That is a bit strange to me, but as I wait for it to arrive I’m going off my memory of having re-read it before packing it in October.
In the episode, we pick up right were we left off, with Clary, Jace, Alec, and Izzy finding out that Simon has been taken from the van and by the vampires no less. Their demands are simple- Simon for the Mortal Cup, and they’re sure that Clary will trade. Only one small problem- Clary has no clue where the Cup is, and even if she did, the Shadowhunters wouldn’t let her trade it for a mundie. (note- mundie is definitely a slur, do not use in mixed company) So while they head back to the van to regroup and plan, and Alec to brood, we get to look at the Hotel DuMont.
We get introduced to Raphael, dragging poor Simon around- although to Simon’s credit he does try and stab Raphael, which just makes a hole in his suit and make Raphael pissier as he didn’t want to take Simon and make the Shadowhunters any angrier. But, who’s the baddiest vampire bitch around? Camille! And oh, does she make an entrance- calling Simon candy nicknames and revealing little bits of her plans, she doesn’t care who she upsets, as long as she gets the Cup. (It actually reminds me a bit like Kim Harrison’s adult book series, The Hollows, where they call humans cookies.)
Back to the Shadowhunters, they’ve gone to a graveyard to find an ancient cache of weapons, and Izzy goes off to seduce a half-elf, half-angel to find a secret entrance to the vampire lair. Who’s also been her lover, and who’s also a Clave member. Alec starts showing more of his jealous side (and those who have read the books know what THAT is all about), and ends up leaving for the Institute to grab his bow. Jace gives Clary some fighting lessons *cough*, then they crash a vampire bar, steal a vampire bike, and head to the Hotel.
Izzy, however, really starts to shine- aside from showing off all of her curves, she gets information from Meliorn about the Hotel DuMont and is not ashamed about her body, her curves, or how she goes about it. She points out the bigotry of other Shadowhunters, to boot. Go, Izzy. How you run in those heels, I have no clue, but go!
Alec has an encounter of his own, but not the romantic kind. He got caught putting protections on the arrows he wants to use while at the Institute, but the buddy buddy that he is, good ol’ Hodge won’t tell. Nope, not going to tell anyone. Why? Oh, because Alec reminds him of himself- the smarter, older Shadowhunter that was always in the shadow of the other. Dig that knife in a bit, won’t you Hodge?
Meanwhile, Camille has been going a bit too far with her flavor of the day, Simon. While playing kissy-kissy, she finds out from a love-drugged Simon that not only does Clary not have the Cup, but that her memory has been wiped. And oh, does Camille know who did it. And if anyone can drive Camille to drink, it’s Magnus. Bloody Marys for all, and it’s Camille’s own recipe. Which evidently is enough, or Simon’s innocent is enough, as Camille ends up crossing a few too many lines with Simon.
Izzy and Alex meet up on the roof, and start providing “distraction” by sneaking through the air vents- while they’re runed for silence, their angel descended blood is distinctive to vampires. Jace and Clary go in another way, and they meet in the middle and find Raphael holding Simon at knife point, Raphael having convinced Camille to save herself. Raphael leads the Shadowhunters to the outside, and when they’re safely out, throws Simon to them, calling to Jace to remember who their friends are.
Jace and Clary and Izzy are on the roof, celebrating being outside, Alec is moody, and Simon is breathing. Then Jace goes to talk to Alec, and they have a bromance tiff over Clary again, and then Simon starting having a love triangle tiff over Clary. Again. But wait? Is it Clary being so attractive, or is it her blood?
THINGS I REALLY LIKED ABOUT THIS EPISODE:
- Izzy: I loved that Izzy is completely positive about herself, her body, her sexuality, her curves, and everything about being Izzy, and the actress playing Izzy is playing her to perfection. We need more of these characters on TV for girls and young women to see- that you can be in positive sexual relationships, that you can be a confident young woman and have sex, that you can have curves and kick ass.
- POC rule again: Raphael is played by David Castro (Puerto Rican, Italian, and Jewish), Meliorne is played by Jade Hassourne (Lebonese-Canadian), and Camille is played by Kaitlyn Leeb (nee Wong, Chinese-Irish). More, more more!
- Raphael: Raphael was brilliantly played by David Castro, and it left no doubt about where his loyalties lie. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out considering where the books go.
THINGS I’M CURIOUS ABOUT:
- Simon’s vampirism: they are flying awfully fast through the first book if my memory is correct, and Simon didn’t show vampire symptoms until later on in the series. It’s awfully fast for him to be craving blood, and if they’re going to convert him this fast, how fast are they going to challenge the vampires?
- Seraph Blades: Shadowhunters don’t go anywhere without their blades, and each blade has a specific name. In fact, each Shadowhunter had specific blades. And names for them. Where are the names? Are we not naming them because of the religious aspects?
- Alec: Izzy hinted in this episode that Alec is repressed, and anyone who’s read the books knows what is really going on with Alec. How far are they going to go with it?
Did you watch? What did you think?