Shadowhunters Season 2 Episode 14 Review: The Fair Folk
Justin Carreiro
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There's a reason why people say, "Two's company, three's a crowd." Being stuck in a love triangle just doesn't work.
Shadowhunters Season 2 Episode 14 is the perfect example of this. Clary/Jace/Simon, and to a much lesser extent Isabelle/Raphael/Sebastian, imploded when their underlining issues came roaring back. It's sad to see romances end but some things aren't meant to be.
Firstly, claps all around to the Seelie Queen. You may be one of my fastest favorite Shadowhunters characters ever. Witty, sly, and full of sass – it's no wonder she's queen.
And better yet, she finally got Clary to do what a large majority of us have been wanting her to do for ages: She finally admitted (through kissing) that she still had feelings for Jace.
It's a shame for Simon to find out this way, but I mean...the signs were all there. It was pretty obvious.
Clary was still crushing hard on Jace, even before the lies were uncovered on Shadowhunters Season 2 Episode 10. The worst thing would've been for Simon to be kept hanging on as Clary worked through her feelings. If there was any better example to symbolize dating nowadays, this would be it.
Seelie Queen: It's simple really; all I ask is a kiss.
Clary: You want one of us to kiss you?
Seelie Queen: The game isn't for me. It's for you, Clary. The kiss that will set them free is the kiss you most desire. I suggest you move quickly. Once the vines reach their necks, the boys will be dead...dead...dead.
Clary: Jace is wrong; this is exactly like middle school.
Simon: Clary, just kiss me so we can go home.
[She kisses him and the vines tighten]
Clary: Why are the vines still here?
Seelie Queen: Why do you think?
Clary: I did what you asked.
Simon: Clary...
Seelie Queen: You can fool yourself but not the Vitas Veritas.
[She goes to Jace]
Clary: This means nothing.
[They kiss and the vines loosen]
Should Simon take up the Seelie Queen on her offer? I'm not so sure yet.
Even though he's heartbroken, I don't think he would ever hurt Clary or his friends. She's still his best friend and this would be a big move against her if he did side solely with the Seelie Queen/Downworlders. That's not to say I don't think he won't consider it.
Though, I don't trust the Seelie Queen. My gut feeling is that she ordered Kayleigh to kill all those Shadowhunters, or she knows who did it. This could be a bigger play to starting a Downworlder revolt against the Shadowhunters. It's a smart move.
Also, kudos to the Shadowhunters writers for throwing a bit of real life into the mix. I smiled when they made Sia and Bjork a Seelie. All they need to do next is reveal Lady Gaga is Seelie royalty and we'll be set.
Simon: So you're not mad that I'm here?
Seelie Queen: On the contrary, I was hoping your friends would invite you along tonight. The "Daylighter rock star."
Simon: Certainly is a notion.
Seelie Queen: I've mentored some of the greatest Seelie musicians. Ever heard of Sia...or Bjork? I can help you too. You can visit my court any time; play your music as my nymphs tend to your every need.
Simon: Why would you do that for me?
Seelie Queen: Because I want to be friends...allies. I feel darker times are coming, Simon. And my feelings are rarely wrong.
Speaking of break-ups, I'm sticking with my theory that a "Malec" break is coming soon. The signs are all there! It's going to happen.
Magnus did not look happy when Alec wanted to downplay their relationship for the meeting. It's just another match added to the fire that started since Shadowhunters Season 2 Episode 11. They'll need time to work out whatever drama is coming between them now.
I'm liking the new direction being done to Maryse Lightwood.
The Shadowhunters writers are giving her more depth and the chance to make emotional connections throughout Shadowhunters Season 2. She's not the stoic politician she once was.
Ever since Shadowhunters Season 2 Episode 8, she's making peace with all the people she's wronged. This wasn't a one-time trope, but a significant character growth for her. I liked seeing her reach out to Luke after their past conflict and ask for forgiveness.
One of my favorite scenes of Shadowhunters Season 2 Episode 14 was the mother/daughter heart-to-heart scene between Maryse Lightwood and Isabelle.
This was a long time coming! Maryse had put so much pressure on her daughter and essentially ignored her in favor of her sons. Suffice it to say, I did not find Maryse to be a well-liked character. That all changed after this scene.
Maryse: I am so sorry. This is all my fault.
Isabelle: No, Mama, it's mine.
Maryse: I've been so hard on you, put so much pressure. Of course, you needed a release. Sometimes our angelic duty seems to overshadow everything else. We forget that we're human too.
These two finally reconnected and worked things out!
I'm glad the Shadowhunters writers included this emotional scene. It would've been a shame if Maryse made people with everyone else, like Jace and Magnus, but didn't do the same with her daughter. They've had the more bumpy family relationship since Shadowhunters Season 1.
Show of hands: Who here was rooting for Isabelle and Raphael to get back together? I wasn't one of them.
Don't get me wrong, I liked their chemistry and their romance had some serious storyline potential. However, I do agree that they're not right for each other. Both could slip back into addiction pretty quickly and Isabelle is already on shaky ground.
It's sad to see her get hurt yet again when she puts her heart out there.
Isabelle: I wanna fight for it.
Raphael: I can't, Isabelle.
Isabelle: Why not? If this is about sex, I don't care about that. I care about you.
Raphael: It's not about that. Our whole relationship was built on our addiction. What if that's what is strongest together?
Isabelle: What if it isn't?! We owe it to ourselves to find out.
Raphael: Do you remember the shame you felt when your brother found us together? My fangs in your arm. All it takes is one moment of weakness and we'll be back there. I'm bad for you, Isabelle.
Though, I still expect the love triangle to pop up again. Raphael isn't going to simply disappear. He doesn't trust Sebastian and his "predator" ways.
Similar to Raphael and Izzy, Sebastian and Izzy (Will Tudor and Emeraude Tobia, respectively) have great chemistry too. They like to be fun and flirtatious; there's something in the eyes when they look at each other.
I wouldn't be surprised if this romance is explored before it's revealed he's evil.
I'm on the fence about Luke's new cop partner. We're learning a lot about her in a short time. She's barely been on Shadowhunters and yet it seems like she's being teased for something greater.
That wolf photo and the introduction of her girlfriend must play a bigger part later on. Her curiosity will get the best of her and she'll pursue it until she discovers the truth. I'm curious where the story goes, but it doesn't feel organic.
Most Mundanes have been oblivious to the other world, but she's getting the "intuition" storyline to discover it. Why is it her and not someone we've met before? And what could the Shadowhunters writers have planned for her?
Luke is lucky Alec pardoned him. With the situation already shaky, the Clave would've used him to set an example. Nobody needs another reason to start a war.
The Valentine confinement, on the other hand, does need to be fixed. He escaped once before and it's clear someone else is trying to get near him. There is no win-win situation here. People are going to a lot of trouble to find out his secrets and the Mortal Cup...again.
This all seems very déjà vu to Shadowhunters Season 1.
Sebastian is evil. We all knew it. He is one charming monster.
I don't believe he wants Valentine dead. There's more to the story here with him leading Luke into the Institute. My guess is that he wants to cause doubt and get closer himself to Valentine.
The bigger mystery, however, is the man locked in the room. Book fans may already have predictions based on the original source material, and I have my theories too. But this is the TV show after all; it's a different story and things could change!
All I know for certain is that Will Tudor is doing a good job. He is shifting between being the dashing stranger and the crazy-eyed monster locking people in rooms. The look on his face during the last scene creeped me out. (And I'm not exaggerating here – those crazy eyes were chilling.)
What did you think of "The Fair Folk"? Are Simon and Clary over? Will Holly soon discover the truth of the Downwolders? Will people find out about the man trapped in Sebastian's apartment?
If you missed the latest episode of Shadowhunters, you can watch Shadowhunters online via TV Fanatic. Come back here and let us know what you think.
Justin Carreiro was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.
