Several characters choose new paths in "Rise Up" including Simon (Alberto Rosende) who struggles with his new life as a vampire and several of the Shadowhunters who will have to make hard choices given the shifting balance of power within the Institute. Believing it to be the best option to restore his family's honor, and continue to hide his sexuality, Alec (Matthew Daddario) announces his engagement to Lydia (Stephanie Bennett) to shocked friends and family. His sister, however, chooses a different path after Lydia has Meliorn (Jade Hassouné) jailed and tortured on orders from the Clave as Isabelle (Emeraude Toubia) decides to side with Clary (Katherine McNamara) and Jace (Dominic Sherwood) over her family.
"Rise Up" does quite a bit of heavy lifting in rearranging the chess board for the season's remaining four episodes. By the end Clary has forged an alliance with both the vampires and werewolves, and Alec has cemented a new role for himself alongside Lydia as the show sets up internal conflict among the Shadowhunters with the series main villain still waiting in the wings to snag his prize. Sticking largely with it's soap opera themes, the episode offers several scenes of Clary attempting (and mostly failing) to help Simon through his transformation, Simon fighting his vampire instincts, and as Magnus Bane (Harry Shum Jr.) reacting to Alec's wedding plans. Nine episodes in the show is still more of a guilty pleasure (at best) than anything else, but I am curious to see if the shake-up in the institute and a new status quo with splintering Shadowhunter loyalties can infuse a bit more life into the final few episodes.
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