Shadowhunters season 3, episode 20, “City of Glass,” provides an epic finale to a stellar season.

The cancellation of Shadowhunters remains a crime against fandom. However, imagine, if you will, a world where the originally planned Shadowhunters season 3 finale stood as the final moments we would see. Forever.

Luckily, the one good thing to come out of the series’ cancellation is the two-plus hour wrap-up episodes heading our way next week. We do not have to wait several months or a year to find out what happens now that Magnus is in Edom, or what havoc Jonathan will cause, or whose wedding is on the way. Instead, we only have one week until the end.

And yet, that is of little comfort.

Ahead of the season 3B premiere, I spoke with Darren Swimmer and Todd Slavkin about heading into the final run of episodes. One thing they said has stuck with me over the course of the last few weeks.

Slavkin pointed out that while he directed the final two episodes, the wealth was spread around for the first hour, “Darren and I got to write the finale, and the other script [the first hour] was done by a group of our writers and it’s so good, episode 21, it’s incredible.”

If one thing was clear this season in the discourse on social media, it is that the writers, directors, and creatives of this series are deeply connected and proud of these stories. As each writer wrapped their episode, or director saw their last one air, they were in the Shadowhunters chat, giving some behind-the-scenes trivia or chatting with fans.

The sense of community is not lost on the viewer as each episode is a testament to the village it takes to put this show together. The finale should be no different and it looks like it won’t be.

And while we’re looking ahead, another bit that helps to quell the dread rising in our stomachs, Slavkin went on to say, “We can’t wait for the fans to see it because I think, for fans of the show, we wrap things up, but we also left it open. There’s way more to do and I think the end of the show lets you believe that.”

As a package, Shadowhunters season 3 was the best of the best. The show peaked in character development, plotting, demon creation, action choreography, you name it. The show was firing on all cylinders. Unfortunately, this only added insult to injury upon the show’s cancellation.

“City of Glass,” provides the springboard for the final two episodes. There are storylines that need resolution. A few ships that need to sail. And a course that needs to be set for years of fan fiction to keep these versions of our characters living well beyond their screen time.

But right now, in “City of Glass,” it is the end of the world as we know it.

Dark Clary gets what she wants

After being completely creeped out by Clary and Jonathan’s synchronized head turn as they face the Seelie Queen, the duo remains as tight as ever. Their kinship provides Clary with perspective on their situation — they are one, but what they share is a familial bond stronger than any romance. That plot line is best buried forever.

The Morgenstern name is what needs restoring and what Clary reminds Jonathan they are working toward. As Clary and Jonathan reclaim the Morningstar sword from the Seelie Queen, the ambush by Jace, Isabelle, and Alec is set in motion.

One of the more rewarding aspects of season 3 is watching the fight scenes take their time. So much work goes into training, executing, choreographing, and blocking these shots.

“You’re a better fighter now.”

“I’ve been a better fighter for a while now, you just haven’t paid attention.”

We’re paying attention now.

The dynamics at play in the final showdown with Dark Clary were the best part. It showed the contrast of what Clary and Jonathan did not have — someone to watch their back. Out for their own self-interest, the duo was hyper-focused on moving forward that they never bothered to look behind. It’s how Alec came in to take down Jonathan, and why Jace was able to get to Clary and ultimately deliver the fatal blow. There was never a doubt that Isabelle could not handle it, she was charged with the task before moving in. But it’s the importance of having someone to catch you that matters.

Unfortunately, Clary was the tether keeping Jonathan in check. She was as close to an equal as he could have wanted, but her weakness, once recognized, disgusts Jonathan. We’ve seen him in isolation before — he becomes volatile, aggressive, rash.

And while he still has a kill order on his head, stopping Jonathan is not going to be as simple as point and shoot. His strength and cunning aside, he is still Clary’s brother and that connection, though not physically implanted on her chest anymore, is still there.

Clary’s return to normalcy is not going to be an overnight recovery. Those feelings she had for the little boy in the burning tower waiting to be saved are not erased with the rune. Just as Jace did not forget his actions as the Owl, so too will Clary carry the weight of remembering what she did. But Clary feels one clear difference — she had a choice in the manner. She wanted all those things that Dark Clary did.

As Clary is about to hurt and/or kill either him or Isabelle, Simon calls out to Clary in the woods, “That’s a choice you are making. A choice you are going to have to live with every day of your life.” Those words almost map out exactly what Clary is going to deal with in the coming finale — how can she reconcile knowing she wants to help Jonathan, but also knowing that she cannot?

Jace attempts to make her feel less defeated, reminding her that he understands the urge to fight to protect your family, no matter the cost. Whether under the influence of a powerful demonic rune, or complete possession, or acting with a completely clear mind, the desire to protect your family is something that everyone grapples with. We’ve seen the worst of it with Valentine, with Asmodeus, with Lilith.

There is a line between the family you want to fight for and the family that demands you fight for them. Clary is, without a doubt, going to fight for the family she has grown and not the one whose name she rejects.

Magnus gets a pretzel and his man

Asmodeus reminds Magnus that while he may not be Magnus’ chosen family, there is no denying the strength of their shared bloodline. The measure of a warlock runs deep down into Edom where, unlike in New York City, Magnus’ lineage can pull rank.

Magnus and Asmodeus make a wickedly awful team. And in another timeline or series, I’d probably watch Jack Yang and Harry Shum Jr. go across the realms and wreak havoc on all who dare cross their path. But even for all that Lorenzo has done to torment Magnus over the last season, I could not bear to watch the smug look that sweeps across Magnus face as he leans into his father’s hand.

Asmodeus does not kill Lorenzo, much to Magnus’ surprise. A kind gesture on the part of Asmodeus for sure as he is trying to win his son’s favor. The soft child who spends his days among mundanes and Shadowhunters is likely not going to pledge his loyalty to a father who kills on a whim. Instead, a chameleon now resides in the apartment of the returned High Warlock of Brooklyn — Magnus Bane.

That taste of power that comes with the title, in that moment, feels good. But it is nothing to the feelings that arise from his love of Alec. And luckily, Maryse is there to break Magnus free from Asmodeus’ grip. As we saw with Lilith in the first half of the season, there is nothing more powerful than a mother trying to save her son.

Magnus wastes no time removing Asmodeus from his life, but some parting words echo what is to come. The power that Magnus can draw from Edom is extraordinary and exactly what Asmodeus wants from his son — their combined powers can control the demon plane. So, while Magnus sends his father to an eternity in limbo, his presence remains imprinted on Magnus’ final moments with Alec and what it will take to save the home and people of the person he loves.

The sun sets on Maia and Jordan

Jordan’s silver poisoning turns out to be a case too far gone for the Praetor to cure. And as we saw in the final moments of last week’s episode, he stole a vile of the Heavenly Fire to give to Maia.

Jordan is trying in his final days to make amends for what he has done in his life. He is a failed protector, something that he never fully comes to terms with despite Maia’s attempts to convince him otherwise. Jordan wants Maia to undo the damage that he bears responsibility for. But what Jordan doesn’t see, and unfortunately will never learn to know, is that in this new life, Maia is strong, fearless, and will do great things.

Out of the pain of his death and the pack’s slaughter, Maia will rise.

Luke, however, is about to fall. As Maia says, no one organization should have access to something as powerful and destructive as Heavenly Fire. While Luke agrees that the Clave should not have the vile, he seems to be following orders from the Praetor. Or is he?

I have a theory that in the final episodes, Luke’s detective friend, you know the one who was very interested in the silver, is going to overthrow the Praetor’s plot.

The City of Glass falls

For all the winning that the team just accomplished, there is a battle yet to be won. Alicante is falling thanks to Jonathan’s attack on the demon towers. His rise to power has broken the barrier between the worlds. Jonathan has turned his back on Clary, on any path that could lead to redemption. And with that the city burns, and any shot at bringing Jonathan back into Clary’s good graces fails.

Alicante is more than a place to visit when laws need to be addressed; it is a sacred place — home. I do not think the message of this hit home quite as hard as when Jace utters that word to Clary.

Watching the city fall weighs heavily on Alec, Isabelle, and especially, Jace. This was where they had their rune ceremonies, where they trained, where Alec and Jace became parabatai.

But with the demon barriers being down it only means that once they banish a demon, they can come right back across the rift. However, it also means that one person can enter without any fear of rejection — Magnus Bane.

Malec fans had to know that those words of Asmodeus would come right back to haunt us during this tender and loving reunion. Love brings these two together just as frequently as it tears them apart.

However, all is not lost. There is a proposal, an exchange of rings, a union is set down, but it is not sealed with a kiss. Magnus throws himself into Edom to harbor its power and save Alec and their family. Just like Clary, Magnus fights for the family he chooses, not the one he is bound to by blood.

And it’s only Edom…he can always come back…right?

Could you imagine if that was the last scene we saw of Shadowhunters ever?

Stray Observations

Shadowhunters season 3, episodes 21 and 22, “Alliance” and “All Good Things,” air Monday, May 6 at 8:00 p.m. ET on Freeform.