'Shadowhunters' season 2 air date, spoilers, news & update: The Clave takes over the Institute in winter premiere

Fans of "Shadowhunters" are in for a New Year's treat as 2017 ushers in the second season of Freeform's fantasy series. However, the fate of the show's beloved characters may not be in such good shape as Clave representative Victor Aldertree (Nick Sagar) arrives to stir things up at the New York Institute.

The premiere episode titled "This Guilty Blood," finds the Institute in an upheaval following Jace's (Dominic Sherwood) decision to leave with his father Valentine (Alan van Sprang). According to the official press release, Clary (Katherine McNamara), Alec (Matthew Daddario), and Isabelle (Emeraude Toubia) are desperate to look for their friend amid the chaos going on in the Institute.

However, Victor's arrival may prove to be counterintuitive to their plan as the Clave representative gets right down to business to out the Institute back on track. Will Clary and crew be forced to go against The Clave in order to save Jace? And will they be able to do so before their friend completely turns over to the dark side?

The latest trailer for the upcoming season hints at the upcoming conflicts that Clary, Alec, and Isabelle will be facing in their quest to rescue Jace. Their parents want them to stand down and leave the matter to The Clave. But they would rather join the fray and get their friend alive than sit around and watch him die. Everybody seems to have given up on Jace, but Clary believes that her brother can still be saved. Not even her newly re-awakened mother Jocelyn (Maxim Roy) can stop her from trying.

Will Clary's determination put her in harm's way, or will her persistence succeed in bringing Jace back to himself? What other secrets will Clary and crew uncover about The Clave, Valentine's endgame, and the part that Jocelyn plays in everything? Will these revelations finally get the younger shadowhunters in line with The Clave's plans, or pit them against everyone else?

"Shadowhunters" returns next year on Monday, Jan. 2, at 8 p.m. EST on Freeform.