‘Shadowhunters’ 1×09 Recap: ‘Rise Up’

Tonight’s episode of Shadowhunters had to be good. Why? Because a large portion of its fanbase – myself included – watched this show with a giant, beautiful new Cassandra Clare book beside us. We were re-entering this warped, different world that the show has created after spending the day immersed in the original Shadow World, the one Cassie invented. In a season of ups and downs, with episodes ranging from good to underwhelming to downright unwatchable, I was fully prepared to hate ‘Rise Up’. But I didn’t.

As with all Shadowhunters episodes, this one had its fair share weird decisions and bad dialogue and cringe-worthy moments that have become almost endearing after nine weeks. However, the acting and the character arcs saved the show.

Simon The Vampire 

I have said it before and I will continue to say it every week: Alberto Rosende is amazing. Right from the start, it’s clear that this episode will dive into Simon’s psychological state as he comes to terms with last week’s vampire transformation. We see him accuse Raphael of turning him into a monster, push Clary away in his fear of hurting her, and finally pay a visit to his mom.

Mama Lewis is worried about her son, as expected, and Simon struggles to come up with an excuse for his disappearance and strange behavior. They hug it out, but Simon’s fangs come out as he finds himself in close proximity to a human’s veins, and the hunger takes over.

Luckily for both of them, Clary chooses that moment to barge into his room, and come up with an even worse excuse about identity theft, pulling Simon right out of the house to talk to him.

And this is where Kat MacNamara begins to truly shine. The actress has been criticized often for her performance in this show, but she has blossomed ever since Simon’s transformation. Maybe it’s because Simon and Clary have always had the best relationship in the show, but Clary shows real emotion when she pleads with Simon, begging him to accept his life as a vampire and stop feeling sorry for himself. She speaks to the human she knows is still inside him, and it works. After Simon finds out the truth about how he became a vampire – how he died, and Clary was faced with an impossible decision – he comes to the realization that he needs to try to move forward, if not for himself, than for the people who love him.

And so, he decides to stay at the Hotel Dumort for a little while. It’s not a choice Book Simon would make, but the hotel isn’t nearly as creepy in the show, so I guess it’s understandable that Simon would want to spend time with his people for a bit. I just hope they never actually become “his people,” because Simon’s loneliness and difference is a defining characteristic down the line and I would hate to see that change.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate Raphael Santiago

I admit I’ve never liked show Raphael. For a long time, I saw him as a caricature of a vampire, a  reminder of how Shadowhunters is making their vampires extremely stereotypical. I also admit I wanted the sassy little boy from the book series, and show Raphael just seemed so dull next to him. But I actually kind of liked him in this episode. His frustrated comment about Simon ruining all his jackets actually provoked a laugh, and his presence was welcome and refreshing throughout the entire episode.

Meliorn’s trial and arrest 

It doesn’t take long for trouble to find its way to the Institute, in the form of Meliorn being escorted in for questioning by the Clave. Isabelle, as his ex-girlfriend, immediately gets involved, demanding answers from Lydia, with whom she has already begun to butt heads.

Lydia’s explanation is simple: Meliorn has been accused of soliciting secrets from a shadowhunter, thanks to that episode three scene that we’d all like to forget ever happened. Also, how the Clave knows about that is something I never want to find out.

His trial is infuriatingly unproductive, until he voluntarily divulges an important bit of information: that Clary has the cup. This isn’t enough to save him, however, as it is soon announced that he will be taken to the Silent Brothers and probably killed, because apparently that’s something shadowhunters can do.

Alec picks a side 

Oh Alec, what have they done to you?

Alec finally confronts his father about the family’s history with the circle, and soon repeats what he’s learned to his siblings, along with the shocking announcement of his engagement to Lydia. Isabelle and Jace echo the whole fandom’s feelings with their shocked and disgusted reactions. Both know that this is a desperate attempt to restore the family name, and that this alliance will certainly not make Alec happy. But Alec isn’t listening to them anymore.

He brushes off Magnus, as if we needed any more heartbreak, and betrays Clary by helping Lydia find the cup. He obviously thinks he’s doing the right thing by helping the Clave, but it would be nice to see at least a little loyalty to his friends and family every once in awhile. In fact, even his motivations seem questionable, as he seems to be doing this out of a sense of personal honor and duty, rather than as a way to save the world.

All this culminates in a final, heartbreaking fight with Jace, which explodes when Jace hints at Alec’s feelings for him. When Alec finally bests his parabatai, Jace doesn’t fight back. He holds up his hands, asking his brother to kill him. “I don’t want to be alive if we’re on different sides” he declares, in quite possibly the best line Jace has gotten all season (which isn’t saying much).

The battle

Once again, the final battle is very underwhelming. Clary rallies the downworlders; vampires, werewolves and shadowhunters alike fighting side by side to rescue Meliorn. It feels way too early for Clary to be painted as a revolutionary, someone able to unite shadowhunters and downworlders, but it’s clear that the show is introducing a whole lot of plots from later books in this first season.

Anyway, once they rescue Meliorn in an incredibly forgettable fight, he offers them his services in exchange for his life: he’s going to tell Clary how to find Valentine.

Shadowhunters airs Tuesdays at 9pm on Freeform.