SHADOWHUNTERS “You Are Not Your Own” Review

SHADOWHUNTERS – “You Are Not Your Own” (Freeform/John Medland)
ALAN VAN SPRANG, HARRY SHUM JR.

By Andrea Dixon

“You Are Not Your Own”

 This week’s episode laid the groundwork for some compelling character arcs and relationships that will no doubt play out over the remainder of the season. The hour was filled with revelations and budding character friendships that left us feeling more than a little anxious — in both the nervous and excited senses of the word.

The body-swapping storyline was undoubtedly the obvious highlight of the episode, really allowing actors Harry Shum Jr. and Alan Van Sprang to flex their acting chops by portraying the various nuances of each other’s characters.

While Magnus is stuck in an actual prison enduring relentless torture, Valentine is trapped in his own type of prison within the body of something he despises. Magnus spends the majority of the episode pleading for anyone to believe him, but it doesn’t mean much coming from the mouth of a man who is infamous for his deceptions. Van Sprang’s scenes opposite Matthew Daddario’s Alec were especially heart-wrenching as we watched Alec struggle with whether to trust his mind or intuition.

The big hero (not-so-much) moment teased by Daddario in cast interviews prior to 2B comes when Alec vanquishes the greater demon Azazel in an attempt to rescue who he thinks is Magnus. Throughout the episode, we see poor Alec attempt to act accordingly within the roles of caring boyfriend, shadowhunter and Acting Institute Head, but as we have seen in the past, acting as expected isn’t always the best course of action in every situation.

When Izzy introduces Sebastian to the rest of the shadowhunters, Alec is not as quick as his sister to trust the newcomer, but it is thanks to Sebastian that Alec has the know-how to defeat Azazel. Sebastian also helps Clary with her rune troubles when her desperation is enough to let the Clave treat her like a lab rat (as Jace puts it). However, his teaching methods leave much to be desired. Sebastian clearly has some screws loose!

Simon and Izzy meanwhile are brought together when Simon recruits her to help him get Raphael off his back (incorrectly assuming that Raphael and Izzy’s relationship is based on something amicable). Izzy trusts Simon enough to tell him about her addiction problems and he relates his experience with his mother’s alcoholism. She introduces Simon to Raphael’s little old sister, Rosa Santiago, encouraging him to take a picture with her as a mock threat. Guess Izzy is throwing Raphael’s trust out the window! This leads to an inevitable confrontation with Raphael, as well as the other vampires finding out that Simon is a Daylighter. Also, Izzy lets it slip that Clary and Jace are not related after all. See what I mean about reveals this episode? Looks like Climon (Clary and Simon) will be joining Malec as another couple dealing with some difficult issues in the episodes to come.

SHADOWHUNTERS – “You Are Not Your Own” (Freeform/John Medland)
ALAN VAN SPRANG, MATTHEW DADDARIO

Watching Valentine attempt to convincingly act the part of Magnus is entertaining while it lasts, but the charade is dropped in the face of Valentine’s impending execution. Taking drastic action, Valentine manages to lure Jace into a trap and hold him hostage, threatening to kill him if the Clave refuses to let his body go. This leads to the reveal of Jace’s true heritage as a Herondale (the Inquisitor is actually his grandmother). After being misled for so long, it feels good to know the whole truth and nothing but, doesn’t it?

Here’s something else that feels good: having Magnus back in his rightful body. Valentine and Magnus are able to reverse the body swap, and Clary and Alec, with the help of Sebastian, manage get Valentine back into the hands of the Clave. However, Magnus is not left unscathed from this ordeal. He divulges to Alec that the torture he endured brought back past memories that he would rather keep buried, and the couple are again faced with something that is bigger than the both of them.

Speaking of making bad memories resurface; after having done just that to Clary, Sebastian asks her out on a date. We are dealing with a very strange person here indeed. She of course turns him down and instead goes to reassure her boyfriend about the niggling detail of Jace not being her brother.

Even though it appears that Azazel and Valentine are taken care of, all of our characters have more than enough to deal with in the coming episodes. Watching them navigate through these issues should make for some really interesting television.

Additional notes:

• Even though it sucks for Magnus to have to relive painful old memories, the light at the end of the tunnel is that we will get to learn some important details about Magnus’ past (and maybe there will be a Lightwood at the end of the tunnel too to help him get through it).
• Jace said Herondales are like shadowhunter royalty. Does this mean Jace is going to be expected to take on another role, and if so, what does this mean for his relationship with his adopted family?
• The unrest between shadowhunters and downworlders escalates next week when some shadowhunters are slaughtered and downworlders are captured. Just when you think the gang has enough to deal with, there’s always something else thrown at them.