Katherine McNamara explains shocking turn of events in Shadowhunters' Season 3A finale

The Freeform fantasy drama based on Cassandra Clare's 'The Mortal Instruments' books did make some severe alterations from the original story
Katherine McNamara (Source:Getty Images)
Katherine McNamara (Source:Getty Images)

What just happened in the Shadowunters mid-season spring finale?! For everyone wondering that, especially those who still haven't recovered from the shocking turn of events — it's okay.

The Freeform fantasy drama based on Cassandra Clare's 'The Mortal Instruments' books did make some severe alterations from the original story, for its Season 3A finale, after all.

The show that's primarily about demon hunters and their supernatural alliances ended with Simon (Alberto Rosende) absolutely wrecking Lilith's (Anna Hopkins) lair, while Magnus (Harry Shum Jr) gave up his warlock powers to Asmodeus (Jack Young) just to bring Jace (Dominic Sherwood) back from Lilith's influence.

In all this book-digressing commotion of shockers, a certain Clary managed to escape from The Clave. But nobody can nail the coffin on what happened to her, or what she did; except of course Katherine McNamara herself.

Speaking to Elle.com, she decided to offer some answers to the most confusing situations that the show's mid-season finale gave rise to.

For starters, Clary is not dead, as Katherine told Elle. Then where is Clary? "I am not in Edom, but I am somewhere that you wouldn’t expect." And while that news might save the day for Clary fans, there's something else that has been 'heart-wrenching' for Katherine herself. 

Speaking about the predicament the characters of Simon and Jace have landed themselves in, she said: "I read that scene and I was crying, because I just know how Alberto (who plays Simon) is going to do it, and I could hear him doing it already. [...] I also can’t handle when Alberto is emotional on camera, because he’s so moving. When our characters had to break up, I cried more on his coverage than on my own, because watching him break like that is so awful."

Katherine credits the close friendship between her and Alberto for the successful onscreen chemistry between the two, which has helped Clary and Simon's relationship become such a fan favourite.

"Since day one, we’ve always clicked and I think that’s why Simon and Clary on the show have become such a special fan favorite friendship," she said.

"You get to see that warmth and that comfort, and we really made an effort to build that because our characters have been best friends their whole lives."

But apart from labelling Clary as "the definition of 'it’s complicated' when it comes to relationships", Katherine also shed light on the whole Magnus/Alec situation, and believes Clary and Alec together is "massively  underrated."

"I feel at this point they’ve earned respect for each other and they’ve learned how to have a camaraderie despite their differences," she spoke of the two characters.

"I think neither one would admit it but they do care about each other, so I always want to see that friendship develop—it’s interesting to me."

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

With Season 8 set to premiere in 2027, the Netflix drama has already secured another chapter, with its first seven seasons already attracting more than 500 million views worldwide
2026-11-13T15:48:34.000Z
Ewan McGregor joins Claire Danes in the A24 thriller, which also stars Daveed Diggs and explores how a suspected hit-and-run threatens a marriage
2026-11-13T12:59:20.000Z
‘Happy’s Place’ Season 3 casts ‘Desperate Housewives’ star James Denton as Reba McEntire’s new love interest
2026-11-13T08:12:36.000Z
An unexpected rash turned out to be measles that might have been fatal for one character.
2026-11-13T07:46:24.000Z
Pavi and Nisha will follow separate paths before their journeys bring them back together in Book 2
2026-11-13T04:46:57.000Z
Mariska Hargitay’s reported ‘SVU’ paycheck includes acting and producing, while her estimated wealth reflects a career spanning more than four decades.
2026-11-12T20:43:49.000Z
'Marshals' Season 2 introduces a Texas cowgirl who joins Kayce Dutton at East Camp to help establish an equine therapy program.
2026-11-12T20:24:16.000Z
‘School Spirits’ Season 4 brings back Jennifer Tilly as Deborah Hunter-Price and Milo Manheim as Wally Clark while expanding its cast with four new additions
2026-11-12T20:05:26.000Z
Paul Wesley and Sara Canning reunite for Netflix’s college sports romance ‘Icebreaker,’ years after starring together in ‘The Vampire Diaries.’
2026-11-12T19:40:49.000Z
Peacock’s ‘The Good Daughter’ finale answers questions about the school shooting, Huck’s past and the buried secrets dividing Sam and Charlie’s family.
2026-11-12T16:29:59.000Z