Top 10 Shadowhunters Moments

The world of the Shadowhunters is high-stakes all the time, so it’s not too often our characters get to revel in some of life’s more everyday problems. When Alec is contemplating sleeping with Magnus for the first time, he turns to Isabelle to calm his nerves and ask for her advice. After some gentle ribbing from her, and the revelation that Alec will be losing his virginity, Isabelle is able to reassure Alec that whatever decision he makes will be the right one for him. It’s nice to see the siblings have a chance to show that they can be there for one another and give each other guidance for life’s big moments.

As the big baddy of the series, Valentine stirred up quite a lot of trouble for the Shadowhunters, but none more so than for Clary, his own daughter. Killing Jace in front of her was the last straw, and with the fate of the world literally in her hands, Clary attacked him in one of the show’s best battles. It was awesome to see her summon her strength in order to stop him from using the Angel to do his bidding. She was able to disarm him, and slit his throat. It was a very intense way for him to go down, but it was the kind of fate he deserved.

Finding out your crush is your sibling is pretty much some of the most devastating news a person can receive, but imagine the whiplash you’d get if the revelation flipped the other way. That’s exactly the scenario Jace and Clary went through in the second season of the show. In the midst of a battle, Valentine revealed to Jace that he wasn’t his son. Instead, he was using Jace as a tool in his master plan, and revealed that he had angel blood, not demon. Jace barely had time to process the revelation, with so much at stake, but it gave all the Clace shippers hope for their future relationship.

Any death on a show is tough but it’s especially hard when it’s the death of a character as beloved as Jocelyn Fairchild, Clary’s mother. As one of the only adult voices of reason on the show, Jocelyn wanted what was best for Clary, even if that meant letting her go off on her own. Jocelyn was set to start a new life in Idris with Luke but never got that chance when she was brutally murdered by Alec, who was possessed by a demon Valentine summoned. Her death was swift, with no time to save her. Our hearts broke when Clary found her mother, since no child should see something that horrific.

As the only mundane in the group, it was a shocking twist when Simon was turned into a vampire. Just as he was beginning to get used to the terms of his new life, Simon was in for another surprise when he became a Daylighter. Unbeknownst to Simon, the blood Jace gave him was pure angel blood. It not only saved his life, but also gave him the ability to walk in the sun. The moment he realized he could do so was a miraculous one, especially since it came after the deaths of so many of his fellow Downworlders. Showing Clary his new ability was his literal moment in the sun.

The Parabatai bond is one of the strongest in the Shadowhunter world, and that connection should never be underestimated. When Alec’s life hung in the balance, due to Jace’s absence and the missing piece of his soul, it was clear that magic wouldn’t work, and that Jace was the key to saving his life. Even though Jace was on the run, he rushed to Alec’s side. In one of the show’s most emotional scenes, Jace recited the Parabatai oath he made to Alec, intercut with flashbacks to their original ceremony. Their bond was enough to bring Alec back, and for that we’re eternally thankful.

This one was a long time coming. One of the best parts of watching the show is the growth and development of Alec and Magnus’s relationship from casual interest to #relationshipgoals. They’ve taken a lot of time building trust with each other, with moments like their first time together, as we’ve noted, being wonderfully built-up. But an even bigger milestone for the couple was the first time they both said, “I love you.” It took Alec fearing Magnus’s death to finally realize that he was in love with him. The exchange was brief and simple, but the depth of their connection is easily felt.

Simon and Jace don’t have the best relationship, considering they were both in love with Clary at the same time, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there for each other. After Valentine slits Simon’s throat, in an attempt to get Clary to do what he wants, Simon had only about half an hour to live before he would turn to dust. Of course Clary came running and convinced the dying Simon to drink her blood. Only . . .it wasn’t Clary but Jace, using the shape-shifting rune. The whole scene was a big fake-out for both the characters and the audience, and it showed how selfless Jace can be when he’s properly motivated.

Clary and Jace had a lot of obstacles to face in their relationship over the course of two seasons, but, of course, nothing seemed as insurmountable as Jace’s death. After Valentine murdered Jace in front of Clary, it seemed like the golden Shadowhunter was gone for good. But in a twist of fate, Clary was able to defeat Valentine, who had summoned the Angel. When the Angel asked Clary what her desire was, she didn’t hesitate before asking him to bring Jace back. Fans breathed a collective sigh of relief, and his return was made even better when he reunited with Alec and their Parabatai rune reappeared.





Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

Jace and Clary’s First Kiss

“Major Arcana”





Magnus Tells Alec He’s Opening Up

“Iron Sisters”





Clary Creates Her Own Rune

“Dust and Shadows”

Yep, Malec again. One of the biggest bright spots of season one was the relationship between Magnus and Alec, with their epic first kiss being the apex. After a lot of build-up, it seemed like their love story was going to end before it really began, since Alec was set to marry Lydia. Leaving it to the twelfth hour, Magnus burst into the wedding ceremony. He didn’t give a grand speech but merely waited for Alec to make up his mind. And Alec did just that when he confidently walked down the aisle with everyone watching, told his mother off, and gave Magnus the beautiful, steamy first kiss he was waiting for.