Episode 11 Blood Calls To Blood

This back half of Season 1 is really fucking with our emotions. Episode 11 is all about destroying our them. Alec plays to Magnus’ love of putting on a good show to get him to help Izzy. Magnus rises to the occasion, fabulously. Izzy takes The Clave to task during her fight for freedom. Lydia sees the light. Alec and Jace fight, again. And Magnus makes a very emotional plea, which affects Alec — even though he pretends it doesn’t.

“Everyone has a choice, Alec!” YES!! You tell him Izzy! I said that same thing but he didn’t listen to me! Lydia made her choice and so did you. You chose to let your anger at your parents rule your head and shut down your heart. I love the hell out of you, but this is on you, too.

Alec, I think you’re starting to figure it out. We’re not all the way there, yet. But we’re getting there.

“Funny how those rules for Downworlders stop being such a big deal when you need our help.”

Excellent point, Raphael! I love the Shadowhunters, but they are definitely conceited. Thankfully, our favorite little gang are starting to fight against that status quo.

I am so proud of Izzy and the way she handles this whole trial bullshit. She could have cried and begged, she could have taken the ‘Alec’ route and joined the dark side. But she did neither. She remained stoic and brave and kept to her belief that she was doing the right thing. Even willing to face de-runing to do what she believed to be right.

I am the biggest Malec fan you will find, but… Magnus sassing Alec about Lydia and the trial and calling him ‘Alec’ is peak petty. And, as the pettiest of bitches, I am so here for it. I know he is doing it to hide the pain of Alec choosing a lie over Magnus, but — honestly — is there a better reason to choose pettiness than being lied to?!

Regular Shadowhunters fans know the term ‘The Law is hard but it is the law” and how unfair it is. Mangnus using the shortened ‘The Law is The Law’ version to continue his mocking of Alec’s very poor decision is absolutely hilarious, even though it’s said in pain.

Alec/Matt’s quick little smile when Magnus/Harry says that line is adorable. Matt’s reaction makes me think that either the entire line and delivery were improved by Harry. Or Harry chose to exaggerate it. Whichever way it actually came about, Harry and Matt’s delivery and reaction make this one of my fav Malec moments.

Oh, and Alec, we know that asking Magnus to represent Izzy was NOT Izzy’s idea.

I am so proud of how quickly Clary saw through Michael’s story. Our girl really is a quick study. She may not have all the pieces, yet. But she is rapidly getting there.

Speaking of ‘Michael’, I may not trust him, but he is right about Jace. The fact that Jace is with Clary and not Alec speaks volumes. I’m not saying Clary doesn’t deserve help, because she absolutely does. It’s the way she and Jace have been going about it — completely against everything Alec has said and asked of them. Jace is too attached to quickly and it is messing with his head, his priorities, and loyalties.

I really wish they would not have kept slicking Dom’s hair back. I much prefer it all loose and wild and free like this.

I love legal advisor Magnus. I mean look at that face. His opening statement is full of excellent points. In front of a fair judge, he would have won the case on those words alone. But we all know Imogene was far from fair.

Alec, I’m going to need you to listen closely to Izzy’s words because they are gorgeous. Calling out the Clave for thinking that their Angel blood makes them superior. Reminding them that they are part mundane, as are most Downworlders. Compares their behavior to Valentine’s. It’s all so good.

Magnus calling Lydia to the stand is brilliant. You clever boy.

And I love how quickly she figured out who each of them are

“A brother and sister who disagree on everything except for how much they love one another. And how loyal they are to each other. A man who took this case, pretending to want payment in rare objects but who really believes that injustice toward his friends is intolerable.”

Just brilliant!

We all know that Alec has the most beautiful smile in the Shadow World. But these little half smiles are my favorites. There is just something so sweet and innocent about the way they light up his face. Well played, Daddario.

What Valentine does here, making Jace and Clary believe they are siblings, is shitty. But I don’t hate it. They are both out of control in their ‘defiance’ of Alec. They need distance from each other, to regain clarity. This lie gives them (and us) that.

Jace and Alec both make some great points, here.

Jace telling Alec that he would have regretted it if he had turned in Meliorn, his accusation that Alec almost killed him by using the Parabatai bond. Alec telling Jace that he lied to him and betrayed him, his accusation that Jace allowed the Mortal Cup to get to close to Valentine.

Ultimately, I do have to agree with Alec, though. In this argument, he does have the higher ground.

“You’ll be lonely all your life. Neither of you deserve it. And I don’t either.”

Magnus, you are 100% correct. The look on his face when he confronts Alec, is devastating. This attempt to get through to Alec borders on a plea. Magnus is really showing his heart, here. Something we know he hates doing. And he gets rejected. Honestly, Alec is lucky he keeps trying after this.

And you can see it on Alec’s face, how badly he wants to let Magnus in. How badly he wants to be with him. But his misguided duty is still ruling instead of his heart.

Another emotional rollercoaster of an episode. See you next time for Malec.