Shadowhunters review: A prince in a burning tower

Two hearts were broken on Shadowhunters this week (unless you count nearly every viewer). And yet, it was truly glorious.

With just three episodes left in the final hunt, Shadowhunters is dangerously close to the end, and raising the bar each week. Heartbreaking though it was, this week’s episode might’ve been my favorite this season.

It didn’t necessarily start out in somber fashion. In fact, the opening moments had more of an upbeat vibe than any Shadowhunters before it, except maybe “This World Inverted.” Then we drop down to Jonathan’s holding.

It’s hard to begrudge the Shadowhunters on their restraining technique when it comes to him, given what he’s done. But with each passing week, Jonathan reveals more and more of his story, making it easier and easier to sympathize.

Of course, he’s only willing to tell that story to Clary, but can you really begrudge him that?

This week, we learned all about Jonathan’s time in Edom. This meant more flashbacks with Lilith, which I’ll never be mad about. Anna Hopkins is a treasure. She does bad so well, and Lilith is so very bad.

Well, cruel is more like it. Lilith literally burns her love into Jonathan, keeping him prisoner in her kingdom, all while giving him just enough hope to carry on. Hope may not have been her intention, but then again, it very well could have been. It’s a powerful motivator to get Jonathan to help her.

All he wanted was to meet his real family. He called out to Clary from his tower, and she heard him. She just didn’t know it was him. To her, he was just the starring character in her nightmares — the prince who needed her to be his savior princess.

The writers have been slick this season, and this was the best way to bring back the fact that Clary always had the Sight.

For a moment, I believed Clary might finally give in to herself, and to Jonathan and help him out. But once she has the Heavenly Fire serum, she’s ready to part with him permanently. As Jonathan’s left screaming for her in his cell, you can almost see the last little bit of human in him shatter. It’s a gut-wrenchingly beautiful performance from Luke Baines.

Let’s discuss how Clary got that serum though, because Sizzy is already proving to be a power pairing.

Together, they managed to infiltrate the Heavenly Fire division of the Gard, destroy it, bust Aldertree -– who will be missed exactly zero percent — and pick up Raphael on the way. Granted, he’s a little different.

Okay he’s a lot different; he’s human now! The serum burned out his demonic blood entirely. And though that may be a gift for him, not every Downworlder would agree, including Helen Blackthorn.

Readers of the Mortal Instruments series recognized the name immediately, as she is the future girlfriend of Aline Penhallow. Chalk up another seamless tie-in for the writers’ room.

It’s a happy ending for nearly everyone — except Magnus and Alec. When the latter asked for the family ring in the final moments of last week’s episode, Malec shippers everywhere might’ve blacked out for a moment.

These two deserve to be happy, and deserve a life together. The thing is, Magnus doesn’t want a life without his magic. He’s coping with alcohol, and finally just unleashes on Alec, putting any kind of proposal on hold and a lot of fear in Alec’s eyes.

But there could still be hope. The episode faded out with Magnus in Alec’s arms. That can’t mean nothing.

We’re nearing the end Shadowfam, and I don’t think any of us are ready.

Shadowhunters airs on Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on Freeform.