Mikes Film Talk

Shadowhunters; Morning Star continues after the cancelled wedding, the Magnus kiss and the Mortal Cup being take from Lydia. The season one finale sees Camille released from her chains, Jace going after his father and finding him and Clary getting the book of magic. Magnus also wakes Jocelyn.

As Pepe Le Pew would say, getting there  is half the fun, or in the case of some pretty desperate shadowhunters, half the trouble. Fighting vampires and having to hunt down Hodge as well as keep Camille on a short leash, the group do not have an easy time of tracking down the missing tome.

Despite all the hard work, and detective skills of Clary, a happy family reunion is not on the cards for both of Jocelyn’s kids. It may be hugs for the daughter but Jace is stuck with Daddy Dearest who is planning on overrunning the world with his hybrid shadowhunters.

Camille may be free, and she has managed to get a “writ” stating that Simon asked her to change him (signed in his blood) but whether she remains so is yet to be seen. Raphael has no love for the mad-as-a-hatter former leader of the vampires.

The vampire who turned Simon is good entertainment value however.  Teamed with Magnus, her old (as in centuries ago) lover, their interaction is amusingly uncomfortable. Alec and Izzy coming in and catching Camille in a “lip lock” (as the Lightwood sister says) results in some ire from both the siblings.

Bane’s little “she’s crazy” gesture is just this side of brilliant. While this is obviously true, Camille has done her work well, planting seeds of doubt in Alec’s  mind about having a relationship with an immortal.

The released vampire is not the only strong female in this episode. Isabelle comes to the rescue when Raphael and his minion are about to attack the retreating shadowhunters and Camille. And while Clary may need her mum at the end, it is her determination that allows Jocelyn to be awakened.

Granted finding the spell book was more a case of memory vs real detection but find it she does.

Valentine shows up as they head on over to wake Clary’s, and Jace’s, mother.  Jace picks up his sense of timing from dear old dad and he arrives in time to stop Valentine from killing his friends.  Valentine talks Jace into joining him and reveals to Clary that he wants her to wake Jocelyn (Maxim Roy).

While Shadowhunters may have its fair share of violence, the actual acts themselves are not too gory. For example, Jace fights Hodge (Jon Cor) and cuts off the traitor’s left hand. There is remarkably little blood when this happens but the shock is still palpable. Just as it is when Jace picks up the offending hand and removes the “Valentine” ring. 

The build in the show up to this point has been focussing on Jace believing that Valentine (Alan Van Sprang) has raised him to be evil.  This idea has been rattling around in Jace’s head ever since learning that he and Clary are siblings.  Much of his beliefs can be traced back to that feeling of abandonment and major anger at being sexually attracted to his sister. 

Whatever the reason,  Jace has offered himself up to save his friends, mother and sister. Clary has her mum back but Jace has sided with Valentine.  There is no way that this can end well.

Shadowhunters has had a splendid first season overall. While it lost a lot of that smart and cool looking opening, it moved quickly into the verse and left the sparkly things behind.  They (the show’s creator Ed Decter along with the cast and crew) must be doing something right as the series will be back with season two.

Things can only get more interesting.