Shadowhunters, Season 2, Episode 20: Besides Still Water

Jonathan is alive… but only briefly. He bleeds and calls for his mother, his blood forming a pentacle which summons a great big ugly demon

Hey, I’m with you demon mum, someone calls me unexpectedly in a morning will not get me at my best

Simon and Luke have noticed that Maia is missing and they go to visit the Seelie Queen (well first they visit Magnus who is all “excuse me, valentine, genocide, et al. Priorities”) who they have randomly decided is responsible (accurately but hey, Valentine is running around but you assume the Queen is at fault). She lets slip she made a deal with Valentine to get him out of the city and Simon and Luke pretty much spend the rest of the episode playing in the Seelie realm looking for Maia. This would be the magical fae realm of Plotboxia!

The Shadowhunters - well, Izzy, Clary, Alec and Jace since the rest of the Shadowhunters only exist in crowd scenes in the Institute. They fight the big demon which splits into a gazillion little demons which all run and hide. This is when Clary gets the news from Luke that Valentine has fled the city. They can’t take down the warlock ward against angel blood because it will let the demons out.

Wait… why… what?

They also decide people need to go to Idris to protect the lake from Valentine’s shenanigans. Yes there’s an army of Shadowhunters there but they’re ALL CIRCLE MEMBERS. Seriously like half the Clave is a circle member. Of course Clary and Jace go. Of course they do.

That leaves Alec and Izzy to stop the demons by closing the portal. For that they need a powerful warlock. Magnus you have been summoned, at least he makes it clear he’s not doing this for the Clave. They go to the portal, fight more demons and seal the rift. And by “they” I mean Magnus

So, to Idris where Clary and Jace discover that the army led by chief Clave member Malachai are all Circle members. No, really. I told you so. He makes a big speech about how the Downworlders are totally the worst and how Clary and Jace have to die - starting with Clary

We even pull out the sad music for Clary’s impending doom. I didn’t press fast forwards. I was tempted. To the shock of no-one, Jace activates his wondertwin powers and he and Clary kill everyone. How shocked

To the lake before Valentine (hey, is this a good time to remind everyone Valentine only knows about the lake because of Clary & co? Yes?) and Valentine appears and stabs Jace. Woe he’s dying. And dying. And still dying. And Alec is feeling it through his rune and oh he’s dying and dying and woe and DIE ALREADY

Look, absolutely no-one watching this thinks Jace is actually going to kick the bucket. Stop wasting your dramatic tension on this

So Jace is dead and Clary imprisoned and Valentine makes another speech about how he’s totally not a bad guy - and he summons the Angel Raziel

And I honestly expected better CGI. This is your angel, Shadowhunters do better! Valentine announces he wants all demons dead. And all Downworlders. And all nephilim who don’t support him (all 6 of them).

Raziel points out heaven is totally uncool with this - killing Nephilim is bad. Killing Downworlders (who have souls) also totally bad. Killing demons is cool though

Valentine doesn’t even pause on hearing this (fuck the will of heaven apparently) and plans to go for it anyway- because apparently if you cut yourself in front of the angel he totally has to do what you ask

Shadowhunters, Season 2, Episode 18: Awake, Arise or be Fallen Forever

Let’s look at the Downworlder’s first - Luke and Magnus go to the Seelie Queen to agree that, yeah, the Clave is the Worst in every way and we totally can’t trust them. Downworlders need to unite to face off against Valentine because the Clave absolutely cannot be trusted to do the right thing and they do evil all the time

Also the Seelie Queen thinks that the Claves rules are terrible and they should ignore them.

Luke says hell no and asks to back off a little because uniting and war against the Clave are two different things. I would consider this if it weren’t for the fact that Luke has never ever ever ever ever ever thought of his Pack first, second, third or, hell, is it even in his top 10 priorities? If he had to murder every last member of his Pack so Clary can be slightly happier? He’d do it.

Magnus is more torn - basically he pretty much agrees entirely with the Seelie queen but he also loves Alec. His entire species vs his love life: the Seelie Queen gives him some time to decide. Also you’re with her or against her. Also she’s a creepy child.

Why wasn’t Raphael invited? Don’t they want the vampires on side as well?

Maia and Simon are having a really sweet romantic date involving paddle boats and duck murder when they run across a guy being attacked by a werewolf. The werewolf leaves and they get his victim, Bartholomew Valasquez who, for some gods unknown reason which may just be summed up as Shadowhunters goes by the name Bat. He is really bad injured and would quite like a hospital and a rabies shot, with option for a priest.

Instead they take him back to the Chinese restaurant and meet up with Luke (who runs into his partner Ollie and her partner - romantically - Sam who are checking out the restaurant. I hail the same sex couple, hope they actually get a storyline and not dead. I’m less convinced on the latter because they bug the place so they can hear Luke talk about werewolves). Maia tells Luke that Russell is back in town - the werewolf who took half the pack with him to Philadelphia after Luke go so many of them killed - and Luke goes to find him leaving them to deal with Bat

Bat is obviously freaking out a little but he does start changing. Maia and Simon lock him in when restraints don’t seem to work and get a whooooooole lot of food ready for when he changes. Maia also tells Simon the very emotional story about how she was turned including how it has left her with a lot of issues about trusting people and relationships. Simon understands but is still continuing the relationship and they have more sweet fun couply stuff

While Luke goes and hunts down Russell and says nope, no rule breaking recruiting humans and they will fight for leadership of the back. Luke wins, and decides to change the rules so he doesn’t have to change Russel and it’s almost hilarious that he says this no 10 minutes after arguing in favour of rules. Everyone hails Luke and the new pack leader and he has a big speech for them.

Ok, but is this it? Ok Luke can fight. But the issue has never been about Luke being tough or dangerous or strong. The issue is whether he gives a shit about the Pack. This is why Russell left. This is why Maia called him out on multiple occasions: Luke has shown zero investment in his own pack and an outright willingness to ignore or sacrifice them in favour of the Shadowhunters. Defeating Russell doesn’t actually change that.

I suppose we need to catch up on the Clave

So Jonathan smacks Max down but doesn’t kill him because he’s interrupted. It would have taken him 5 minutes to snap the kid’s neck.

Shadowhunters, Season 2, Episode 17: A Dark Reflection

Clary now has visions nightmares because she isn’t special enough. And she needs more sexual tension with Jace.

She’s also all torn up about leanring her brother Jonathan is actually still alive! Yay! But he’s also been injected with demon blood which is probably not good. He’s also been raised by Valentine completely alone who is super duper evil. Therefore he’s probably Made of Evil and terrifying and we should stab him repeatedly

So Clary wants to find him and hug him.

Because Clary’s logic train doesn’t so much derail as it does spontaneously combust while carrying nuclear material.

Basically, whatever the worst possible decision you could make in a situation? That’s what Clary does. It is known.

Jocelyn kept a box of baby keepsakes for Jonathan but disguised Jonathan/Sebastian has intelligently raided it to make sure they can’t track him. How very forward thinking of him.

Alas this means we have to track in on Jonathan and Valentine- and it appears that Johnny boys issues have grown exponentially with Valentine around (which makes sense since Valentine is pretty much the source of all of his issues). His desperate need for validation and family and to be seen as a hero or a good guy are yelled out and Valentine desperately has to tip-toe around his raging dangerous super powered son to manipulate him

First they’re trying to get Cleophas, Luke’s sister who fell off the planet but is apparently in Valentine’s custody, to fix the Genocide Sword - which she can’t do (this would mean undoing Clary’s work and she is the total bestest). His mind control serum (of course he has that) isn’t working well on her because Iron Sister Mojo. this also allows her to send off a fire message, but not escape. She also takes the opportunity to taunt Jonathan and say how Clary is so special and smarter than he will ever be.

So Valentine resorts to plan B - if you have the Sword the Cup and the Mirror you can do badass cosplay. Also you can summon the Archangel Raziel and ask him for whatever you want. This would be bad.

Since they have the cup and the sword they now need the mirror. Which means beating up a warlock called Elliot who apparently knows where it is. Elliot uses inefficient magical suicide rather than tell them where the mirror is. Really, Valentine and Jonathan just kind of watch him chant a like 5 minute death spell and all they can do is yell at him.

He doesn’t actually have the mirror, he has a sigil on his arm which shows the location which now vanishes.

Over to Alec Jace and Clary and we recap the above - what the shiny objects can do when lined up together and how the Clave totally doesn’t have the sword

Clary: ZOMG THE CLAVE LIED! I AM SHOCKED! SHOCKED!

Uh-huh.

Shadowhunters, Season 2, Episode 13: Those of Demon Blood

Side plot I’m supposed to care about - Simon has groupies now because of his whole daylighter thing (like this wasn’t predictable? Well to anyone who isn’t a character on this show since all of them are so monumentally bizarrely foolish). They want to join his “clan” which Simon would rather not because Raphael already has plenty of reason to want to kill and eat him and he’d rather not add this. Clary also decides to get Simon’s band (which doesn’t even exist since the other members left) but having daylighter groupies helps with that.

The main plot this episode is that someone is murdering shadowhunters and carving out their runes (since Shadowhunters are an amazing source of evil this probably makes the world a whole lot nicer). The bodies appear to have been killed by Seelie, werewolves and vampires.

Time for Inquisitor Herondale to look at all of her terrible bad decisions everyone else has made and yell “hold my beer” and go in!

Bad idea the first, since she’s decided that since Jace is her grandson he’s the best thing ever, offers the confused guy the joy of family (hey he does point out that he has had 3 surnames this year so it’s quite understandable) and declares him the new head of the institute when she leaves. Because she’s not even subtle about her nepotism. No, really, she outright says he has the right surname so he gets to lead. Jace protests that Alec is more qualified since he does, y’know, lead rather than just kill stuff and mope

While I ask do you actually have anyone in the Institute over the age of 25 to lead this place? Anyone? Anyone at all?

Oh and she urges Jace to ignore, y’know, logic and just focus on his gut. Which to me sounds absolutely the worst advice from anyone with the title “Inquisitor”

But this is her less awful decision. Because confronted by murdered Shadowhunters she decides to a) lock up Simon after he saves Clary after an attack (she lives, alas), b) block all Downworlder’s from the Institue, c) drag in Luke because he’s a werewolf and then subject Downworlders in general to DNA testing and finally, d) order all Shadowhunters in New York to be TAGGED WITH TRACKING CHIPS.

Seriously Valentine would be a better Clave leader at this point.

Needless to say many people are just not that thrilled with this. Magnus is riotously pissed that Alec, the man who supposedly loves him decides to ask for a DNA test on the basis of his species. Magnus. Is. Not. Amused and kicks Alec out of his house

Shadowhunters, Season 2, Episode 12: You Are Not on Your Own

So remember I theorised last week that Azazel had stolen Magnus’s powers? Nah, apparently that would make him too useless. Instead Azazel has swapped Magnus’s and Valentine’s brains for… funsies? I mean he somehow thinks questioning Valentine’s mind in the body of a Warlock with magic powers is going to be easier than doing so while he’s in the body of funky tattoos?

Of course this does serve the purpose of thoroughly derailing Magnus Alec.

Azazel, tries questioning Valentine about where the cup is but apparently he’s hidden it in a place he can’t reach any more and needs some portalling to do it… y’know for a man who hates demons and downworlders, Valentine uses a lot of their powers and abilities.

Inquisitor Herondale who is now in charge of things would rather everyone didn’t summon Greater Demons into the institute, ‘kay thanks. I think the show expects me to think she’s mean and unreasonable for this – but really this isn’t so much as “against the rules” so much as “holy fuck, do we really need a fucking rule for this?!”. This is what Clary does to your rule book. I would say she is the reason “may contain nuts” would appear on a pack of cashews – but in her case it’s more like “do not lick” signs on an iron.

Izzy has returned and dragged Sebastian to the Institute who conveniently knows the art of greater demon banishing. Alec plans the hunt but doesn’t want Complete Stranger Who Conveniently Turned Up And Is Probably Evil and has No Security Clearance to get involved. Izzy, Clary at al act like he’s being completely unreasonable

Ye gods can no-one follow rules or common sense round here?! The whole core of this show, the underlying world building is that Valentine and a group of affiliated evil Shadowhunters are doing Bad Wrong Things. In what circumstances is it ok to invite a completely unknown, uncleared, unchecked Shadowhunter into your planning?! Has anyone even called London to check his credentials?

Why is everyone on this show so damn mindless?! WHYYYYYY?!

Alec instead goes for… I’m not even going to call it Plan B (because Plan B is “Clary/Jace charge off without a plan and are saved by epic plot armour) – it’s Plan A, turn to Magnus and hope he has a spell for this.

Magnus, possessed by Valentine responds reasonably with a “fuck that I’ve got my own life and work to do, toddle on and find another warlock”. Alec realises something is up because Magnus has never been anything but properly subservient. He hurries over to Magnus and Valentine clearly doesn’t realise Alec and Magnus are in a relationship and he desperately tries to bullshit before Azazel appears – to which Alec perfectly shoots him in the special banishing spot.

Well, that removes the greater demon from the plot and leaves Valentine to find a new way to try and swap bodies back.

Shadowhunters, Season 2, Episode 2: A Door Into the Dark

Look, I’m trying not to be vindictive about this, but I have to say again how hard it is to really get behind this show when so much of the acting is so very very poor. Scenes that should be emotional make me cringe

Of course, it’s also hard to get behind this show because it’s pretty terrible. In its defence, it’s terrible for all the reasons the books are terrible: awful character decisions and a whole lot of minority service which is just cringeworthy.

So let’s dive in, get the bleach ready.

Jace rescued Valentine last episode because… because… because it’s the Mortal Instruments it doesn’t need any reason. He’s still trying to convince Jace that killing entire species is a super-fun-cool idea while Jace is not buying but not exactly rejecting either. Valentine tries to extra sell his plan by throwing in some cruel experimentation on downworlders as well. He’s not a great salesman.

Meanwhile back at the Institute, the folks there have noticed that Valentine is managing to recruit more humans to become shadowhunters with the shiny cup by kidnapping fighters from various gyms across the city. So they’re going to stake them out and capture any of Valentine’s men for questioning

(They can’t just go to his boat because it’s hidden. By a Glamour. Close enough to New York to see the city really clearly. Honestly how something hasn’t crashed into it by now is a mystery).

Clary has mother issues because her mother has been lying to her all her life, saying she could live like a normal person and now she’s been thrust into a supernatural world she was woefully unprepared for

Which I’d completely agree with but my gods the acting is awful. Jocelyn’s parenting is just bizarre and there’s no real justification for this. She just decided to keep mind wiping her own child for funsies.

In other intelligent parenting decisions – Jocelyn knows her baby was injected with demon blood and because, when he was a babe in arms, he made a flower wilt he is TOTALLY EVIL AND NEEDS TO DIE. This is a reasonable decision, apparently.

Clary also wants to join in the operation to find Jace but the new head of the institute, Victor, points out she isn’t actually trained for this and is too emotionally involved and is really unsuitable for this role. Oh, he’s being mean and cruel and we should hate him? But but but no lies detected – every thing he said there is true!

Shadowhunters, Season 2, Episode 1: Guilty Blood

Shadowhunters is back and we almost missed it – but we need to find the answer to the most important question… did these characters find the most important treasure of all? No, not the cup, not the cure for Jocelyn – but ACTING SCHOOL?!

Please, watching Harry Shum lower himself and Isaiah Mustafa deliver his lines with a “my agent will pay for this” look in his eyes is depressing.

So, Valentine has Jace on the worst cruise ever and alternates between torturing him and then playing loving daddy. Because this works. Actually that’s not entirely sarcastic, this seems to be actually working. Jace is looking sympathetically towards evil daddy dearest. Really. Even with the torture. He also tries to tell Jace that he’s the good one and his mum is totally evil (and, like every stupid protagonist faced by this stupid situation, he is actually willing to listen to this rather than assume the bad guy is actually lying to him. Really).

Yes I’m going to be saying “really” a lot here. The collective IQ of this show is slightly lower than a Trump rally.

Also Valentine thinks all downworlders are super evil because they have demon blood that they simply cannot control. Also he experimented on Jace by injecting that evil demon blood into him while he was a foetus to make him more powerful.

Really?

Back to the main gang – on considering that Valentine has the Mortal Cup, is threatening to unleash an utter war in their society and generally unleash all kinds of badness, everyone is super worried… about Jace. Fuck the rest, war et al – Jace needs saving

Also the Clave are just the biggest mean meanies evah for not shelving this whole stop-the-war-and-save-the-world and focusing on precious Jace. They have a new leader, Victor. We’re supposed to see him as evil rather than the guy who actually has his priorities in order

Really.

The Clave generally thinks that Jace is less of a priority here and may even be a traitor, since he ran off with Valentine and, by Clary’s own damn words, she had multiple attempts to kill Valentine and he didn’t. His loyalty – from what we’ve seen alone – is definitely suspect. Of course the Clave is the Worst EVAH for seeing Jace as an enemy and is even moar evil by restraining Clary and the gang when they declare “waaaah, we know better and are going to defy you and tell you this to your face, so there!!!!!” I would say they’re under arrest but, given their general demeanour, I think “grounded” is more appropriate.

Borderline (Arcadia Project Trilogy #1) by Mishell Baker

Millie doesn't have much of her inheritance money left and with few prospects, life is a little bleak.  A year ago, Mille was a student at UCLA having made her directorial debut and things were great but now, after trying to commit suicide by jumping off a seven story building, Millie is a double amputee and is struggling to deal with her borderline personality disorder.

When Millie is offered a job with the Arcadia project, though she is skeptical, she jumps at the chance to get out of the hospital and possibly rebuild her life.  What she doesn't realise is that it's going to introduce her to world that she had no idea existed.  Hollywood has always been a magical please to many but what people don't realise is that the magic isn't an illusion, it just comes from a different world.

All artists are talented because they either have a muse or are warlocks.  The greatest films, books or paintings could not have been created without the help of a fae muse.  This puts a new spin on how the media works.  Having adopted the human customs of ranks, only those who are considered royalty are allowed to travel to earth.  This means that every step of creation whether mystical or human, there is a gatekeeper in place.

I must admit that I was attracted to Boderline because of the fact that the protagonist is disabled. Disability is often erased in urban fantasy and when it does appear, more often than not, the character is either a side character or disabled in name only.  I am happy to report this is very much not the case with Borderline.  Millie's BPD affects every facet of her life and she is often forced to come up with coping mechanisms to deal with everyday situations.

"One of the fun bits about BPD is a phenomenon shrinks like to call “splitting.” When under stress, Borderlines forget the existence of gray. Life is a beautiful miracle, or a cesspool of despair. The film you’re making is a Best Picture candidate, or it’s garbage. People are either saints, or they’re scheming to destroy you."

Due to the conditions of her residency, Millie is forced to do without her medications and deals with it by talking herself down from extreme situations and employing the tools that she learned in therapy. This doesn't mean that she can always control it, as evidenced when she beat Teo with her cane for rejecting her sexual advances but it does mean at times she actively puts her "rational brain" in control, aware that she is not perceiving the situation correctly.

Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments, Season One: Episode Thirteen: Morning Star

Morning Star is the season finale of Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments.  The race is on to wake Jocelyn in the hope of stopping Valentine from getting the mortal cup and failing that at the very least stopping Valentine.  Although Alec and Magnus had their big epic kiss, that doesn't mean that there won't be fall out to follow. Alec is also cluing into the fact that he might very well be in love with an immortal which means that they cannot grow old together.  Finally, Jace now has daddy issues having accepted that Valentine is his father.  Jace wonders if he is the spawn of evil.There's enough drama an angst for everyone

Alec goes to see his parents and Maryse is hella pissed about the wedding.  Alec assumes that Maryse is pissed because he kissed a gay but Maryse clarifies the issue isn't so much that he kissed a guy but that guy is Magnus Bane. Maryse is embarrassed because her son kissed a downworlder in front of important members of the clave. Here's the question: is shadowhunter society homophobic or not? In the books, Clare claims that it is, until of course it magically disappears.  It's clear that Alec's first assumption is homophobia and since he believes that this is the case, Shadowhunters must be homophobic.  Clearly, Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments is trying to dance around the issue, even as it throws meat to fetishists.

Since Camille is in possession of the book which contains the spell to wake Jocelynn, it's off to the Hotel du Mort for Clary, Simon and Izzy while Jace and Alec hunt down Hodge.  Raphael is willing to hand over Camille's possessions but is unwilling to wake Camille. Clary cannot take no for an answer, so Izzy distracts Raphael while Clary and Simon break Camille out of the hotel. So much for the vaunted alliance between shadohunters and downworlders. Raphael catches them red handed and declares that Simon is a traitor just like Camille.  Clary, Izzy, Simon and Camille manage to escape Raphael but Camille plays her trump card - she wants a pardon from Simon for turning him into a vampire, thus ending her problems with the Clave.  Clary for once doesn't think of herself and offers to hold Camille down so that Simon can stake her but like a good little servant, Simon agrees to give a pardon to the woman who murdered him.

Jace is busy tracking down Valentine and he uses the ring to contact him.  The conversation is loaded with Daddy angst and reminds just how bad of an actor that Dominic Sherwood is.  Hodge leads him to the place where he last saw Valentine and predictably, Valentine has already moved on.  Did Jace really think that Valentine would just sit there waiting for him?  He's really not that smart is he?

Izzy, Clary and Simon head back to Mangus's so that he can write up the pardon.  Because this episode doesn't already have enough angst and over dramatization we are treated to Magnus's reunion with Camille.  Yes, these two have some history and so Camille decides to taunt Magnus with the fact that eventually, Alec is going to age.  It seems that Camille doesn't believe in true love and has no problem taunting Magnus.  Camille leans in for a kiss just as Alec arrives.  Yeah! More drama!

So they all head to Camille's and find that she has a huge collection of books. Unfortunately for Clary, Camille has no idea which book they are looking for but does however want her pardon right now.  Simon signs the contract with a little hesitation and it seems that more than being concerned about Camille receiving no punishment, he is concerned about the fact that she is leaving. It seems that sire bond is kicking in.

Frustrated in his attempts to locate Valentine, Jace tries again and this time agrees to join Daddy for the wild ride.  Valentine fully aware that in a heads up battle, Jace's youth might well mean he would lose the fight, has decided to go for a softer target and attack Clary.  Jace gets a hold of Clary and warns her to leave but of course, once set on a course Clary refuses to deviate.

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1) by Cassandra Clare

Though its buildings have been repaired. the Shadowhunters are still dealing with the results of the war.  At the Los Angeles Institute, Emma, Jules and the entire Blackthorn family are very much on the front lines of the destruction. It's been five years since the war ended and though she has been told by the Clave that Sebastian is responsible for the death of her parents, Emma is convinced that he is not the guilty party and is determined to find out who the murderer really is.   Julian has been taking care of his younger siblings after having to kill his father in the war.  Julian struggles each day to keep his family together and to hide the fact that it is he and not his uncle running the Institute.

It all comes to a head when the fae arrive at the institute wanting to make a trade. Years ago they had stolen Mark Blackthorn and forced him to be a part of the Wild Hunt. When Emma learns that there are bodies being discovered in the city with the same markings as her parents, Emma becomes convinced that this is the long awaited clue she needs to discover who murdered her. With bodies piling up in Los Angeles, the fae are determined to get to the bottom of what is going on and since no one will work with them but the nephilim, they offer to trade Mark for the identity of the killer.  The clock is racing. Somehow they have to find the murderer without letting the Clave know what is going on.

Finding out that Cassandra Clare had written yet another Shadowhunter book didn't please me at all.

 She has after all written the same series twice and simply changed the name of the characters.  To be perfectly honest, I didn't go into Lady Midnight with a lot hope which is a good thing because I avoided any disappointment. It's official, Clare is going to drain this world for every dollar it can produce because she suffers from an extreme lack of imagination. Love triangles and angst abound in this 500+ page tome to which I unfortunately sacrificed hours of my precious life.

Sure, this time Emma isn't a young girl with no idea about what really inhabits the world but Clare once again has teenagers saving the world.  TEENAGERS.  Of course there are no reliable adults and the kids always know better than anyone how to deal with danger.  However, with all the danger, they still have time for relationship angst, love triangles and sex.

Clare is nothing if not repetitive and this holds very much true for Lady Midnight. I am sure she wanted to give us an update from The Mortal Instruments Series and the Infernal Devices Series but to do that she had to forcefully ram in Clary, Jace, Jem and Tessa in such a fashion, it felt like she was trying to push a square peg in a round hold.  If the focus of this story is supposed to be about the Blackthorn family and Emma, why is it that we had to read repeatedly about Emma's former crush Jace and how he is the shadowhunter of his generation? What was the point of squeezing in a Jace/Clary love scene into the book?  Why did Magnus supposedly accidentally run into Emma and Jules to impart some crucial information and then absolutely disappear from the story?  Sure, it was great to learn that Magnus and Alec have adopted a demon child together but it had nothing to do with the plot of Lady Midnight.

Even if were to forgive the awkward cramming in of characters, there's still Clare's appalling writing style to deal with.  I have never read such verbose descriptions of eyelashes, hair and facial expressions in my life -- causing me to wonder if Clare believes that her readers will forget what her characters look like -- if she doesn't describe them in painful detail every few pages.  Emma is a blonde, Jules has blue eyes and Mark has heterochromia. I didn't need to have these simple descriptors repeatedly mentioned in the text to remind me, as though I had the attention span of a toddler.  Her descriptions are at times ridiculous. "It was there in the way his lashes brushed his cheeks when he concentrated," thus causing me to wonder how long are dudes eyelashes really? How can he even see if his lashes are long enough to touch his cheeks when his eyes are closed?   Then there's the purple prose:

Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments Series, Season one, Episode Twelve: Malec

Obviously, the name of this episode is based on the ship between Alec and Magnus.  LGBT people are sorely underrepresented on television and therefore, I must say that I am irritated that such a reductive name was chosen to represent Alec and Magnus affirming publicly their feelings for each other.  I think that they deserved better, particularly given that they are the only two LGBT people on Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments Series.

Clary is still very concerned about the fact that not only is Jocelyn still not awake, Jace has shut down on her since finding out that they are siblings.  Clary seems to take it all in stride while Jace is having real problems with this.  For Jace, it's not only that he cannot be with the girl he loves but that if Jocelyn is really and truly his mother, then she abandoned him.  Jace also cannot let go of the idea that Valentine is his father and very much wonders if this explains the darkness inside of him.  I really would have liked it better if the television show had dropped all of the angst that Clare had introduced into this part of the story.

Isabelle is knee deep in wedding plans though she doesn't think that Alec is making the right decision. In the end, Isabelle does decide to support her brother's decision because he stayed by her side while she was on trial.  Magnus makes his play for Alec and is soundly rejected because Alec feels that he has a duty to his family to marry Lydia.

Unable to get through to Alec, Magnus decides to busy himself with helping Clary wake her mother. To that end, Magnus accompanies Jace and Clary to visit Ragnor Fell, the warlock who created the sleeping potion for Jocelyn.  Fell reveals that he needs a special book to be able to break the spell. They don't get far into the conversation because Fell is promptly killed by a demon. Now would have been the time for Clary to show that she can care about someone other than herself, but she barely spends a moment to acknowledge Magnus's grief.  Clary and Jace head back to the institute and promptly decide that Lydia must have told Valentine about their trip. Jace decides to confront Lydia and Isabelle suggests that this wouldn't be a good idea because things are already strained between him and Alec.

Clary goes to question Lydia about her involvement in setting up Ragnor Fell.  Lydia is adamant about her innocence and so Clary questions how she can possibly trust her. Lydia points out that she learned to trust the daughter of Valentine.  Yeah, I would say that this is a point for Lydia. They then talk about Lydia's upcoming nuptials to Alec and Lydia actually admits that she knows about Alec's feelings for Magnus.  It seems that Lydia is not concerned because she is convinced being raised in a society where self sacrifice is pushed will be enough to ensure that she and Alec have a successful marriage. In a word, DENIAL.

Isabelle's version of a bachelor party for her brother is arranging for Alec to have some alone time with Jace.  At first, both young men are unwilling to talk and Jace actually starts to walk away. Finally, Alec concedes they have things to discuss. The two quickly make up and go on to discuss Jace's confusion about falling in love with Clary and the fact that he wanted to be intimate with her. Jace is rightfully confused and grossed out about having sexual/romantic feelings for his sister but Alec is there to support him saying that things are complicated. As much as Alec is giving Jace advise, he is also clearly thinking about his own situation.

Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments, Season One, Episode Eleven: Blood Calls to Blood

Alec's beard is determined to put Izzy on trial because the law is the law.  Though Alec tries to assure Izzy that somehow Jace and Clary will make it back in time, Izzy wants to deal with the reality of her situation and that means finding an advocate to represent her.  Izzy chooses Magnus Bane and so Alec heads off to see him.  Magnus agrees to represent Izzy but as payment asks Alec to hand over himself and when Alec refuses, Magnus demands his magical weapons.  It's a tough price but Alec agrees to this because of the love he has for his sister.

Jace and Clary are shocked to find that Michael Wayland is still alive.  When Michael recounts a memory that only Michael Wayland can know, Jace becomes convinced of his father's identity. The Ravener venom is actively killing Jace and he is beginning to succumb but thankfully, Valentine has his very own portal, so the three head to see Luke to get Jace medical attention.

At The Jade, they determine that what Jace needs is a blood transfusion.  Who better to get blood from than a vampire?  Paging Raphael. Michael, Jace and Luke stay behind while Clary and Simon head to the hotel to blackmail Raphael into giving them the human blood that Camille had stockpiled. Naturally, Raphael isn't anxious to help the shadowhunters but that's nothing that a little blackmail won't overcome.  Heavily implying that they will tell the Clave about the role Raphael played in Simon's turning is enough to get him to comply.

It's trial time and Magnus brings the panache. Magnus suggests that while Izzy's actions appear to be going against direct instruction, what she did was to stop them from breaking the Accords. Magnus then gets to the heart of the matter.  He believes the issue isn't so much that Izzy stopped Meliorn from being tortured but that Clave will stop at nothing to get the Mortal Cup. Magnus then goes on to say that since the charges are ridiculous that the case should be dropped altogether but the inquisitor is simply not having it.

Jace gets the transfusion that he needs thus saving his life. It's time for Clary to have some one on one time with Michael. Michael reveals that he knew that Jocelyn was preggers and that Valentine has always loved Jocelyn.  I suppose it's comforting on some level to know that Jocelyn's kidnapper has feelings for her but Clary focuses on how it is that Michael would know about Jocelyn's pregnancy. Clary decides to take her suspicions about Michael to Jace.  From the story Jace told her about his father killing his pet falcon, Michael doesn't seem to be the same coldhearted bastard. Jace explains that Michael was just trying to teach him a hard lesson. It's time for some spit swapping cause people coming back from the dead and being on the outs with one's parabati is cause for kissy face time.

Izzy takes the stand at her trial and lies and claims that she acted alone in helping Meliorn escape. The inquisitor goes all side eye at that and it's no wonder because lying is clearly not Izzy's strong suit. It's time to get dirty and it's heavily implied that Izzy's real goal was to help Valentine and why not, considering that her parents were once traitors. Izzy however denies the assertion and responds that the downwolders lives have value.  She stop short of saying Downworlder lives matter. Yes, the appropriation is thick here. Izzy argues that because they are part mundane that their fear and anger often manifests in cruelty. It's this cruelty which Izzy believes will ultimately divide them and turn Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Unspoken is the fact that this has already happened because Jace and Alec are at odds.

Michael reveals that Valentine pumped him up with Downworlder blood and as a result, he gained enhanced vision and hearing.  Michael claims that he just happened to overhear Valentine's plans and says that Valentine has decided to move to an abandoned hospital near the institute.Gee, that's nice and convenient isn't it.  Apparently, Valentine also took Jocelyn with him when he left, leaving Michael behind to die.  Clary and Luke head to investigate while Michael and Jace stay behind.

It's time for Lydia the beard to take the stand and it seems that she has changed her mind about her prosecution of Izzy.  Lydia The beard starts off with the expected the law is the law but then quickly changes to add that what they need to focus on is love, loyalty and justice. It seems that she has learned by the fact that Alec was willing to sacrifice for his sister and that Magnus accepted payment of a weapon he didn't want to cover for his desire to help. I guess it would have been too much to ask for Lydia The Beard to figure this out before she decided to call the po po.  Lydia The Beard decides that she is going to drop the charges against Izzy. Unfortunately, the inquisitor is not feeling the love and declares Izzy guilty of all charges which means stripping her of all of her runes and kicking her out of the Shadowhunter club.  Ahhh, don't panic, the inquisitor offers an out: all charges will be dismissed if the Mortal Cup is handed over within 24 hours.

While Clary and Luke are away, Jace takes the opportunity to spar with Michael.  Michael of course notes that Jace is much weaker than he should be. Umm he barely survived the Ravener venom, so how about we give dude 24 hours to get back to himself. Jace explains that Alec weakened the bond between them when he was trying to find him.  Michael surmises that Clary is the real problem and suggests that Jace actually cares more about Clary than he does his parabatai. Michael is adamant that being with Clary is going to make him weak and while he wishes Jace happiness, he should be wary of any connection which weakens him.

Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments, Season One, Episode Ten: This World Inverted

Meliorn is unhappy owing a life debt to Clary, so he guides Jace and Clary into seelie land to open up a portal, so that they can find Valentine.  Watching Meliorn open the portal is like watching some really bad tai chi and cheap pajamas.  Meliorn warns Clary that when she crosses over to the alternate dimension, she will be in a world where there are no shadowhunters or demons.  If Clary stays in the alternate dimension for too long, she will forget her real identity.  Hearing that, I kind of wanted Clary to just stay forever because I find her annoying as all get out.

Clary walks into the portal and enters the body of that Clary.  The first thing that Clary notices is that her mother and father are happily married.  She freaks out a bit but after watching a commercial which advertises the services of Magnus Bane as a psychic, Clary knows where she must head for help.  Wow, can you believe how subtle the writers were at putting Clary and Magnus together in this dimension?

In the real dimension, at the institute, Shadowhunters are being questioned about what happened at the Silent Brothers.  Alec pulls Izzy aside, afraid that it won't be long until the investigation focuses in on her.  Naturally he's right, and it's a New York minute before Lydia decides that she needs to arrest Izzy because everyone knows she was sleeping with Meliorn.  How's that for evidence; your sex like makes you guilty?  Alec comes up with a compromise and decides to offer Lydia the Mortal Cup in exchange for Izzy's freedom.  Unfortunately for Alec, he finds that the Mortal Cup is missing. So much for plan one.

Meliorn continues to meditate in front of the portal and an irritated Jace looks on.  In the alternate dimension, Simon is dating Izzy and naturally Jace and Clary are still a couple. Clary tracks down Magnus and he does a tarot card reading, informing Clary that  she is in love (yeah tell us something we don't know). Magnus continues the reading and says that Clary's relationship will be threatened by a revelation (readers of the books totally know what that means). Clary is not content with the reading and informs Magnus that she knows that he is a warlock and needs his help. Unfortunately, Magnus's magic has gone dormant. Magnus makes a potion but still cannot get his magic to work, even when Clary tells him that his spell casting isn't nearly as flamboyant as she has seen him do. In desperation, Clary shows Magnus the shard and when he touches it, it reinvigorates his magic allowing him to see that the portal is in the institute.  Fortunately for Clary, Valentine is holding an Alice in Wonderland party at the institute tonight so they will be able to get in.  Quick question, if there are no Shadowhunters, why does the institute still exist? I guess we won't quibble with common sense and just go ahead with it.

Back in the real dimension, Simon goes to Jade to say that Raphael has made him the vampire ambassador to the werewolves. Now that he is undead, the werewolves don't exactly warm to Simon but thankfully, Luke is the Alpha so Simon is safe.  The two sit and share a few secrets and though Luke is a werewolf, he is able to empathise with Simon's plot because a fledgling vampire goes through the same problems as a newbie wolf.  Aww look, they're building bridges. Simon and Luke head outside and Luke warns Simon not to think about going home until he has his urges under control.  The two are confronted by an internal affairs officer and having a gun pointed at him, is enough to get Simon to attack. Thankfully, Luke's werewolf reflexes stop Simon from killing the cop. The two then set Simon up to play the role of the serial killer that the cops have been looking for and Luke shows up to play hero, shooting Simon dead.  In the morgue, Luke is hailed as a hero for rescuing a fellow cop and closing the case. Wow, I guess internal affairs is about as competent as Barney Fife.  Alone again, Simon opens the body bag and when he is informed that he saved the alpha from a police problem, Simon requests free food for life.  See, that's how alliances are made.

Back at the institute, a pissed off Alec is determined that his sister won't suffer for Jace's girlfriend. With the aid of Hodge, Alec decides to trace Jace through their parabatai bond.  This is huge because it could either weaken or break the bond altogether.  Izzy is particularly concerned but Alec claims he no longer gives a damn about Jace. Oh Alec, thou thus protestest too much. Alec begins the process despite all of the warnings.  Jace and Meliorn are busy fighting off demons but when Alec reaches out to Jace through the bond, the pain becomes unbearable and Jace falls to the ground in pain.  The absence of a foe is enough for a demon to launch itself through the portal.

In the alternate dimension, Jace approaches Clary for a dance and is disturbed that she seems not to be doting on him.  That's some relationship Clary.  If dude cannot handle that you didn't immediately respond to his text and cannot stand the idea that you might not have the time to dance with him, it's time to institute a catch and release policy.  At any rate, Magnus is outside but he cannot get into the party because Clary hasn't gotten around to putting his name on the list (way to go with priorities Clary. ) It's Alec to the rescue and he takes responsibility for Magnus. This is a total role reversal because this time, it's Alec who is doing the pursuing.  He even repeats Magnus words from a previous episode claiming that Magnus is playing hard to get and that he likes a challenge.  I kind of like this self assured Alec, even if he comes across as slightly sleazy.

What Really Happened in Peru (The Bane Chronicles #1) by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan

Of the characters in The Mortal Instruments series and The Infernal Devices series, it's fair to say that Magnus Bane is the most interesting.  When I discovered these short stories, I chose to read them to learn more about his life before his entanglements with the shadowhunters. Being immortal, it suggests that Magnus must have had adventures we can only dream about

As the title of the story suggests, it's all about finding out exactly what Magunus did to be banned from Peru.  After each mini memory, we are told that this is not the cause of Magnus's banishment. It leads one to believe that Clare and Brennan are leading up to some sort of spectacular  debaucherous tale of excitement and adventure, only to have the short story end with no answer as to why Magnus got banned.  Did these two authors just run out of ideas?  Did they just decide at the 65 page mark that they had written enough to legitimize a sale and therefore no longer felt duty bound to at least answer the basic question of What Really Happened in Peru? Someone needs to tell Clare and Brennan that when you ask a question, writing an ending like the following is a cop out.

"The High Council of Peruvian warlocks met in secret, and a letter was sent to Magnus several months later announcing that he had been banned from Peru, on pain of death, for “crimes unspeakable.” Despite his inquiries, he never received an answer to the question of what he had been banned for. To this day, whatever it is that actually got him banned from Peru is—and perhaps must always remain—a mystery."

The upside to What Really Happened in Peru, is that we got to find out a little bit more about the childhood of typical warlocks. It seems that warlocks largely come into being when a demon rapes a human female.  A lot of the time, Demons use rape by deception to accomplish their reproduction. The Warlocks who make it to adulthood do so because there mothers love them unconditionally despite the circumstances of their conception or the markers of what they really are, like Ragnor Fell's green skin for example.  "Our fathers were demons," said Catarina. Our mothers were heroes".

Magnus it seems is the exception to the rule.

Magnus's warlock's mark was his eyes, the pupils slit, the color lucent and green-gold at the wrong angles, but these features had not developed immediately.  He had not been born with Catarina's blue or Ragnor's green skin, had been born a seemingly human baby with unusual amber eyes. Magnus’s mother had not realized his father was a demon for some time, not until she had gone to the cradle one morning and seen her child staring back at her with the eyes of a cat.

She knew, then, what had happened, that whatever had come to her in the night in the shape of her husband had not been her husband. When she had realized that, she had not wanted to go on living.

And she hadn’t.

Magnus did not know if she had been a hero or not. He had not been old enough to know about her life, or fully comprehend her pain. He could not be sure in the way Ragnor and Catarina looked sure. He did not know if, when his mother knew the truth, she had still loved him or if all love had been blotted out by darkness. A darkness greater than the one known by his friends’ mothers, for Magnus’s father was no ordinary demon. (pg 34-35)

I like that there's absolutely no shame for the victim or denial of what they went through to raise their children to adulthood. By talking about the reaction of Magnus's mother, it makes it clear that rape is a violation and some people never ever get over it. It also explains why Magnus is as powerful as he is and why he is so ready to accept the love of those who are mortal.

Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments, Season One, Episode Four: Raising Hell

I think that rather than placing prisoners in solitary confinement, we should just force them to watch this episode on a loop for 24 hours.  That's more punishment than most people deserve. I barely made it through this hour and only the force of my enormous will stopped me from drinking for the pain.

Most people get better as they repeat an action but I think the actors in this series are actually getting worse. I didn't think it was possible but this episode proves it.  Watching Clary pretend to flail from a bad dream and Jace continue to glower suggests that more than anything, these actors are in desperate need of an acting class. Then there's Clary stumbling over her words when she sees a shirtless Jace and his smirk when he recognizes how flustered she is. All of it is badly acted and all of it is overly obvious. It's worth noting that shirtless Jace, no matter how nice the abs, is not enough to make me forget how bad of an actor that Dominic Sherwood is. In all fairness however, the actors really aren't helped by the obviously bad writing. Having Isabelle quip that Clary is lucky that she is so flat chested that she doesn't have to wear a bra to call attention that Clary does indeed have breasts and that Jace has noticed them was just too much.  I suppose even the writers don't trust the actors to properly portray sexual attraction.

This is the most we have seen of Magnus Bane so far.  I get that he is supposed to be eccentric but I think that Harry Shum Jr. took it too far, even though I did giggle when he asked if Alec is a flower or cologne man.  Readers of the books are all too aware of the relationship which develops between Magnus and Alec.  For his part, Alec has been all too obvious of his distrust of Clary which reads as simple jealousy.  Having his memory of a loved one taken from Alec was enough for him to break the circle and endanger his team.  It was a ridiculous move altogether. It was a memory of Jace, not a fantasy that involved revealing his sexuality.  It makes sense given the bond that Alec and Jace have that his memory would be of Jace. I feel like I am being hit over the head with Alec's love for Jace and wonder if the writers have ever heard of subtlety.

So Valentine is still on the hunt for the mortal cup.  I have to say that for a guy that everyone is supposed to fear, he seems to have the most incompetent people working for him.  At every turn each and every one one of Valentine's minions is easily defeated.  In the garage, where Clary steps in to save a warlock child, the shadowhunters don't even break a sweat. Why are they scared of Valentine again?

So, we all know that Clary is the super special chosen one.  Look how willing she is to sacrifice. Look how easily she defeated the memory demon to save Jace.  Yeah we get it just move on with the damn story again.

Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments, Season One, Episode Two: The Descent Into Hell Is Easy

If I had to describe this episode in a word I would have to call it tedious.  I struggled to keep my eyes open as I watched.  Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments might just be why coffee was invented. It's episode two and the acting certainly hasn't gotten any better - particularly that of Dominic Sherwood. That has to be some of the worst casting I have seen in a really long time.

So Simon comes chasing after Clary and naturally he wants to go to the cops but Clary is by now certain that this isn't something that the cops can help with and encourages Jace to reveal himself. They enter the institute and Simon is instantly amazed with the technology. It's time to figure out what's going on with the Circle and the Mortal Cup.  Clary makes it clear that while she and Simon are a package deal, they are not boyfriend and girlfriend.  As much as Simon wants to be there for Clary, the chance to spend some time with Izzy is too much to pass up.  Teenage hormones win the day I suppose.

Jace and Clary head off to see Hodge, who is not an old man the way he is in the books, but is in fact a weapons trainer.  I'll admit Hodge is cute but abs don't make an actor, thus affirming in my mind that these actors were cast for the looks and certainly not for their talent.  Hodge has a rune on his neck which causes him pain each time he speaks about Valentine or the Circle but he powers through it because Jace and Clary need to know what's going on damn it. Hodge wonders what would happen should Valentine get his hands on the Mortal Cup even as he keeps repeatedly saying that Valentine is dead and the circle has been disbanded. Cup is so super special that it can either be used to create more Shadowhunters or control demons.

Clary is determined to go after the cup because it's the only link to her mother; however, Jace is quick to point out that Clary is untrained and in over her head. But damn it all, Jace loves Clary's never say die attitude and he's in for the fight. I guess this is what happens when one teen rebel recognizes another.  It's okay to give up now and roll your eyes. So it's time to figure out who the warlock is who wiped Clary's memories and that brings us to Dot but one cannot go warlock hunting without ensuring that one has their Zoolander look in place and to that end, Izzy lends Clary some clothing. This of course allows some time for girl talk and Izzy is happy to let Clary know that it's totes okay to crush all over Jace because she sees Jace like a brother.

Now it's time for Clary to use the force, umm I meant embrace her inner Shadowhunter because according to Jace she was born to do this.

Dot has been keeping busy. She finds Maguns Bane to report that not only has Jocelyn been kidnapped, but poor Clary is unaccounted for.  Magnus however is more interested in protecting his own hide since Valentine has declared it Warlock hunting season.  Dot however is loyal and refuses to lam it with Magnus but when she heads outside, it's clear that she is being watched by someone in the Circle. I think it's time people stop believing that the members of the Circle are dead because they keep showing up everywhere.

So as you may have guessed, the plan to get to Dot failed and now Clary is upset. Nice to know that she can stay on task for a few minutes in between ogling Jace.  Jace brings up the Silent Brothers and Izzy and Alec are not at all cool with this. The siblings are concerned what this could do to Clary  (since when is Alec really concerned about Clary's welfare?) Clary however is full steam ahead once again earning her points in Jace's eyes.

So they arrive at the bat cave (read the Silent Brother Enclave) and twice in on day, Alec expresses concern for Clary but Jace explains that Clary has lost everything and he knows what that's like. They totes relate to each other folks. Now that Alec sees the similarity he is totally sensitive and agrees to guard the perimeter. Simon who is still in the thrall of Izzy, agrees to stay and watch the gate. Once again, hot girl wins out over BFF loyalty. Is it me or did he seem to get over Clary awfully fast?

Sleepy Hollow, Season Two, Episode Fifteen: Spellcaster

At an auction house, they are unpacking an Elizabethan Collection, when the workers come across the journal of John D, the royal sorcerer supreme.  Who should arrive but Solomon Kent?  He of course takes the journal, though the security guard and auction house employee try to stop him. For their troubles, they end up dead for their troubles.

In the meantime, Abby gets an urgent text to meet Ichabod.  Upon arrival, Abby learns that Ichabod is house hunting.  Ichabod is not at all pleased by the so-called huxterism i.e. fake fruit and other dressing employed to attempt to sell the house.  When they leave, Abby points out that to buy a home, Ichabod will need credit rating, bank approval and yes, an income. Speaking of which, how long is Abby going to continue to support both Crane and that wretched wife of his?  Crane admits that Abby has been generous but adds that he is going to need a place of his own.  Abby hands Crane the file from the robbery of the auction house and Crane takes notice of the missing journal.  When Crane admits he is no expert, Abby says that there is a specialist in this department.

Abby and Crane head to see Katrina, who is working on her magic, saying that she is recovering from 200 years in purgatory. Does this mean Katrina is finally going to do something useful for a change? We keep hearing that she is a powerful witch but haven't seen her actually do anything to prove it thus far. Abby hands over a picture of the grimoire which Katrina calls powerful and dangerous.  Katrina thinks that someone drew it to this place and Ichabod suggests that it might be another tormented soul set loose. Of course, the Cranes take time to talk about their baby the freaking horseman of war.

Speaking of  baby Crane the horseman of freaking war, he is holed up in a motel watching infomercials of all things.  The station then shows the Auction House theft.  It seems that Parish is experiencing some regret for his action.  If they rehabilitate his character to make Katrina right, I swear, I will spit my damn dummy out. 

Back at the archives, Abby and Crane discuss the forensics at the scene.  Crane says that the sorcerer uses blood magic and it is one of the dark arts which taps into evil sources. They then look at the security camera footage from the Auction House and Katrina instantly recognizes Solomon Cant - the warlock all witches fear.  Katrina surmises that Moloch's death must have freed him from purgatory and now he is in their world.

Solomon in the meantime has not wasted any time opening the grimoire and starting a spell.

At the archives, Katrina reveals that Solomon was one of the leaders of the town of Salem - yes, that Salem.  It's flashback time and we see Solomon amongst the Puritans, smiling an interacting with them, in particular Katrina's grandmother.  Apparently, Kent became infatuated with Sarah Oswald and healed her hand after she cut it.  Unfortunately for Solomon, Sarah had an eye for someone else.  Solomon accidentally kills Sarah and rather than face the punishment, Solomon changes Sarah's face to make it appear evil.  Once discovered, Solomon tells the people that he acted in self defense and that there are witches amongst them. Katrina's grandmother begs Solomon to stop but instead he turns on her and labels her a witch in front of the people. Ichabod questions how Kent survived the witch trials unscathed but it seems that eventually the coven hunted him down and put him into purgatory.

At the Auction House, Ichabod questions why Kent drew the grimoire to him.   Katrina does her thing and says that she cannot locate the grimoire but John D bound the grimoire with a spell, blocking anyone from using it unless the book was whole. Once again, Katrina's magic cannot help Crane and Abby.  Katrina believes that whoever handled the book must have the missing pages.  Abby declares that they have to find the person who handled the book before Kent.

Abby is walking down the street and pulls her gun when she senses someone following her.  Irving says that Abby is losing her edge because he has been following her for awhile but adds that he wasn't trying to sneak up on her when Abby does not lower her gun. Frank admits being angry with Abby for not trusting him, after all he has done but Abby points out that his soul was stolen by a horseman of the apocalypse.  Frank reveals that Katrina has declared his soul clean and adds that she doesn't blame Abby for not trusting him.  Frank tells Abby that things are good between them and starts to walk away.