The first look at Shadowhunters season 3, episode 11 arrives with a sneak peek at the reunion of Simon and Maia.

It’s no secret that Maia and Simon have many, many emotional hurdles to overcome in their relationship. With her return in the back half of season 3, having the opportunity to speak alone will prove to be a crucial first step on their road to recovery. In the sneak peek from Shadowhunters season 3, episode 11, Maia and Simon find that moment and begin the hard work of filling Maia in on what’s been going on in Simon’s life.

‘Shadowhunters’ season 3, episode 11 sneak peek

When we catch up with Mimon… I mean, Saia, in this clip, I have a feeling we are catching them in the middle of things. Maia is clearly not going to just suggest ever so lightly that Simon and her take a stroll outside if not for the failure of other attempts at getting him to make some progress in handling the aftermath of Clary’s presumed demise. Which, as we already know, both Simon and Jace feel responsible for.

At this point in their reunion, is Maia aware of Simon’s decision to cut off his entire family by having them believe he is dead? I am not confident that information has been passed off to Maia yet, especially based on what we see from Izzy in the trailer. I would like to think that moment of confrontation between Izzy and Maia follows her arrival back into Simon’s life at this particular moment.

So, Maia is working off of fragmented information regarding Simon’s current mental and emotional state. But let us also not forget that she is dealing with her own struggles. Maia is returning hoping to walk back in with Simon and rekindle the relationship they had when she left, especially the emotional support aspects of it.

Maia, on her solo journey, found some perspective. When Hypable spoke with Alisha Wainwright at the end of season 3, she told us that, “When [Maia] comes back, she comes back having made a choice and a decision. That is going to dictate how she moves through the rest of this season.”

What is that decision? And how will it change the way she approaches her interactions with Simon and her interactions with Luke and the pack? In the Shadowhunters 3B trailer that Luke ushers Maia into a larger role within their family. But will that drive a wedge between her and Simon. And Simon almost kissing Izzy in the trailer doesn’t exactly help matters.

But focusing back to this particular moment, this scene, whether it is the first or second time we see the pair together in the premiere of 3B, it will likely set the course of their journey together.

I’m interested to see how they empower both Maia and Simon in these moments with one another, and how the writers handle giving them agency in their emotional journeys and seeing who each of them choose as their anchor.

Shadowhunters season 3, episode 11, “Lost Souls” airs Monday, February 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET on Freeform.