The WORST episodes of Shadowhunters

Every episode of Shadowhunters ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Shadowhunters!

On her 18th birthday, Clary Fray discovers that she comes from a long line of Shadowhunters, group of human-angel hybrids who fight to protect their world by hunting down demons. With warlocks, vampires, werewolves, and ominous threats at every turn, the Shadowhunters must lean on each other and their abilities to keep the darkness at bay.

Last Updated: 11/8/2024Network: FreeformStatus: Ended
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The Descent Into Hell Isn't Easy
star
7.14
2254 votes

#1 - The Descent Into Hell Isn't Easy

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/19/2016

With the knowledge that Valentine is alive and on the hunt for The Mortal Cup, the Institute is on high alert. Not wasting any time, Jace jumps into action and figures Clary’s memories are the key to finding Jocelyn and The Mortal Cup. Unfortunately, Clary’s memories were wiped leaving her without any recollection of this other life that could help her and the team. With only one other option remaining, Jace, Isabelle and a very reluctant Alec take Clary to the City of Bones to face the powerful Silent Brothers. Meanwhile, Luke continues his search for Clary, and Simon tries to come to terms with his best friend’s new life.

Directors: Mick Garris
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Mortal Cup
star
7.22
2869 votes

#2 - The Mortal Cup

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/12/2016

On her birthday, Clary Fray finds out that she is not who she thinks she is, but rather comes from a long line of Shadowhunters — human-angel hybrids who hunt down demons. After her mother is kidnapped, Clary must rely on the mysterious Jace and his fellow Shadowhunters Isabelle and Alec to navigate this new dark world filled with faeries, warlocks, vampires and werewolves to find answers that could lead to her mother.

Directors: McG
Writer: Ed Decter
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Dead Man's Party
star
7.24
2007 votes

#3 - Dead Man's Party

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/26/2016

With Simon being held captive at The Hotel DuMort, Clary pleads with Jace, Alec and Isabelle to help her rescue her best friend. As the team readies for the mission, Jace helps Clary learn more about her Shadowhunter powers, Isabelle turns to her favorite Seelie for Intel, and Alec begins to question Jace's motives and his place in their partnership. Meanwhile, a very scared Simon gets very up close and personal with Camille, the leader of the vampire clan.

Directors: Andy Wolk
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Raising Hell
star
7.34
1845 votes

#4 - Raising Hell

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 2/2/2016

After getting a clue about who may have wiped Clary's memories, the crew hunts down the High Warlock of Brooklyn, Magnus Bane. With all of the warlocks in hiding from Valentine, the team must lure Magnus out with something he can't refuse — a killer party and something very valuable. But with emotions running high, more may come out of their meeting with Magnus than just the retrieval of Clary's memories. Meanwhile, Simon doesn't seem to be himself after his recent Downworlder encounter.

Directors: Tawnia McKiernan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Moo Shu to Go
star
7.48
1644 votes

#5 - Moo Shu to Go

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/9/2016

Tensions escalate between Alec and Clary as they don't see eye to eye on the best way to hunt down Valentine. But when Jace and Isabelle are sent on an intel mission to the Seelies by Maryse Lightwood, Alec is put in charge of keeping Clary safe, much to both of their chagrin. With his hard-as-nails mother back in town and Clary's rule-breaking tendencies, Alec finds himself struggling to stick to the Claves rules while keeping his promise to Jace. Meanwhile, the New York City Werewolf pack begins their hunt for Clary and The Mortal Cup.

Directors: Kelly Makin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Of Men and Angels
star
7.58
1596 votes

#6 - Of Men and Angels

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/16/2016

With Luke in dire need of help, Jace, Clary and Simon take him to Magnus' lair in hopes of saving his life. Once there, the story of how Valentine came to be evil, and Jocelyn and Luke's past is revealed to Clary in hopes of triggering her memory of what happened to The Mortal Cup. Meanwhile, Isabelle and Alec are tasked to restore their family name in the eyes of The Clave.

Directors: Oz Scott
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
This Guilty Blood
star
7.61
1672 votes

#7 - This Guilty Blood

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/2/2017

Only hours have passed since Jace left with Valentine and all hell has broken loose at the Institute. Alec, Isabelle and Clary are desperate to find Jace, but are quickly stopped in their tracks with the arrival of Victor Aldertree, who means business about getting the Institute back on track. But getting the New York Shadowhunters in-line with The Clave may be counterintuitive to Alec, Isabelle and Clary's plan to rescue Jace. Meanwhile, Jocelyn has a lot to catch up on now that she is awake.

Directors: Matt Hastings
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Bad Blood
star
7.61
1428 votes

#8 - Bad Blood

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/1/2016

With word of Alec, Jace and Isabelle’s “extracurricular activities” with Clary reaching The Clave, a convoy is sent to observe the Lightwoods running the New York Institute. Once The Clave representative arrives, it is very clear how much trouble the Lightwoods are in. Meanwhile, Clary is faced with a devastating decision.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Blood Calls to Blood
star
7.63
1384 votes

#9 - Blood Calls to Blood

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/22/2016

After receiving important intel about Valentine from a surprising ally, Clary, Jace and Luke devise a plan to rescue Jocelyn. With the mission looking almost impossible, the three will stop at nothing to rescue Clary’s mother and put a stop to Valentine once and for all. Meanwhile, Inquisitor Herondale arrives at the Institute for Isabelle’s trial as Alec turns to Magnus for help.

Directors: Mairzee Almas
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Major Arcana
star
7.64
1473 votes

#10 - Major Arcana

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/23/2016

After piecing together the clues as to where her mother hid the Mortal Cup, Clary, Jace, Alec and Isabelle are on the clock to find its hiding place before anyone else. But with demons and Downworlders lurking everywhere, obtaining the Cup may not be as easy as they had hoped. Meanwhile, as Simon’s symptoms become increasingly worse, he fears he is turning into a vampire.

Directors: J. Miles Dale
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Door Into the Dark
star
7.65
1434 votes

#11 - A Door Into the Dark

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/9/2017

The hunt is on for Jace Wayland, and Alec and Isabelle hope to reach him before the rest of the Shadowhunters do. With orders from the Clave of “shoot to kill,” the Lightwood siblings must act fast. Also on his own search, Simon turns to Magnus for help when he finds himself at odds with both Raphael and Aldertree. Meanwhile, Clary struggles to find where she belongs since she doesn’t seem to fit into the Shadowhunter world, yet can’t go back to her mundane life.

Directors: Andy Wolk
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Rise Up
star
7.66
1466 votes

#12 - Rise Up

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/8/2016

After the attack, the Institute and The Clave are on high alert and taking no prisoners to get answers. When Lydia makes a harsh call on the Seelies, Jace, Clary and Isabelle fear that this decision could be disastrous and the wrong way to defeat Valentine. Left with no other choice, the trio takes drastic actions to stop what is about to take place. Meanwhile, Simon struggles to deal with his new situation, and Alec is emotionally torn with what is happening at the Institute.

Directors: J. Miller Tobin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Parabatai Lost
star
7.67
1279 votes

#13 - Parabatai Lost

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/16/2017

Already cut off from the Institute and his friends, Jace finds his situation worsen when he becomes a target for the New York wolf pack who believe Jace to be a killer. At the same time, Aldertree and the Shadowhunters continue their own hunt for Jace, making him the most wanted man in New York — can his friends get to him before everyone else? Meanwhile, Simon is on a search of his own as Raphael puts pressure on him to find Camille.

Directors: Gregory Smith
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Morning Star
star
7.71
1470 votes

#14 - Morning Star

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 4/5/2016

Jace, who is still reeling from everything that has happened, makes hunting down Valentine his number one priority even though he continues to wrestle with his conflicted feelings. In hopes of finding a way to stop Valentine before it is too late, Clary and Simon must find the key to unlocking Jocelyn’s coma. But that key to unlocking Jocelyn’s spell may just undo the Downworlder peace treaty, Simon’s relationship with Raphael, and the Vampire clan in the process. Meanwhile, Alec must deal with the aftermath of his decision and what his choice means for his future.

Directors: J. Miles Dale
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
This World Inverted
star
7.71
1420 votes

#15 - This World Inverted

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/15/2016

Clary and Jace get a tip from Meliorn that they can find Valentine by locating a portal in another dimension, but only Clary can venture into this new world. What Clary finds in this alternative universe is that life there is as if the threat of demons no longer existed and Shadowhunters were no longer needed. While she realizes that this dimension is the life she always dreamed of, Clary must act fast or she will lose herself in the alternative world forever. Meanwhile, Alec and Isabelle must face the consequences of the Downworlder attack.

Directors: J. Miles Dale
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Dust and Shadows
star
7.75
1294 votes

#16 - Dust and Shadows

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/30/2017

After the recent attack on the Institute, the Shadowhunters are left devastated and wounded. Trying to regroup, each of the Shadowhunters deals with the situation their own way. Meanwhile, Simon moves home but finds it is not so easy to pull off his new life with his family around.

Writer: Zac Hug
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Day of Wrath
star
7.75
1345 votes

#17 - Day of Wrath

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/23/2017

Clary continues to struggle with the new Shadowhunter order as Jace is being held in The City of Bones with an unknown fate, and all suspicion in the Shadowhunter world continues to rest on Valentine’s daughter. Clary helps Alec and Isabelle hunt down a powerful demon. But what starts out as a routine mission quickly puts the Institute on high alert, and what happens next will change everything for the Shadowhunters and their Downworlder friends. Meanwhile, Jocelyn has a proposition for Clary as Raphael and Simon ramp up their hunt for Camille.

Directors: Joe Lazarov
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Bound by Blood
star
7.76
1257 votes

#18 - Bound by Blood

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/27/2017

With word getting out that Clary is a key part of Valentine’s plan, the Downworlders are at odds on how to handle the issue. But when Iris activates her blood oath, Clary has more to worry about than hiding from Valentine and the Downworlders. Meanwhile, Isabelle and Raphael get closer as Alec tries to figure out what’s going on with his sister.

Directors: Matt Hastings
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Hail and Farewell
star
7.80
1017 votes

#19 - Hail and Farewell

Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 8/7/2017

After centuries of being lied to and treated poorly by The Clave, the Downworlders decide to come together and take matters into their own hands as the hunt for Valentine and Sebastian intensifies. But what starts off as a way to preserve their own, the Downworlders choice to break with the Shadowhunters could quickly escalate to war.

Directors: Matt Hastings
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Original Sin
star
7.82
528 votes

#20 - Original Sin

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/4/2019

Simon is determined to get rid of the Mark of Cain and, with Isabelle's help, tries to track down New York's oldest vampire to get more information on the mark. Now in Paris, Clary desperately tries to find an escape from her current situation. Meanwhile, with his new sense of mortality, Magnus tries to live life to the very fullest.

Directors: Matt Hastings
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Beati Bellicosi
star
7.82
488 votes

#21 - Beati Bellicosi

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/11/2019

Jordan and the Praetor try to track down Heidi, while the Shadowhunters try to locate Jonathan. Meanwhile, Luke looks to Maryse for help and Isabelle gets a possible lead on what is really going on in the Clave prisons.

Directors: Mike Rohl
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Iron Sisters
star
7.83
1253 votes

#22 - Iron Sisters

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/6/2017

To help get answers to what Valentine may be planning, Isabelle and Clary are sent on a mission to visit the Iron Sisters. Once there, more truths may be revealed than Izzy and Clary planned. On a mission of their own, Simon and Maia are determined to find Luke who is still missing after the demon attack at the Institute. Meanwhile, Magnus and Alec finally go on their first date.

Directors: Michael Rohl
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Fair Folk
star
7.83
1017 votes

#23 - The Fair Folk

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 6/26/2017

Alec has big plans to mend fences with the Downworlders, while Jace and Clary are summoned by the Seelie Queen.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
What Lies Beneath
star
7.85
718 votes

#24 - What Lies Beneath

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/3/2018

The Shadowhunters try to track down the new imposing threat, while Jace has a suspicion that Jonathan is back and behind the mundane attacks. Simon tries to figure out what The Seelie Queen did to him during his time in the glade. Alec decides to host a Lightwood family dinner at Magnus’ house after a surprising visit from Maryse.

Directors: Amanda Row
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Thy Soul Instructed
star
7.85
696 votes

#25 - Thy Soul Instructed

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/10/2018

Jace’s concerns grow about his mental state, and turns to Luke for information on his family’s past. Clary and Izzy go after a rogue vampire and Simon hunts for a new apartment.

Directors: Emile Levisetti
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV