As the veil of night deepens, we embark on Episode 2 of Carnival Row, with police officers scurrying frantically through the dark metropolis, their whistles piercing the silence as they hunt for Vignette, her wings cutting through the night sky. The Inspector, his morning cigarette already in hand, emerges from the shadows, drawn like a magnet to the ghastly aftermath of the pixie's murder from the previous night. Recognizing the recentness of the crime, he discounts Jack as the perpetrator and dispatches his men into the labyrinthine sewers to unravel the true culprit.
Meanwhile, Rycroft, fueled by a relentless drive, treads to Aisling's abode in search of clues, only to stumble upon a hidden figure from her past, cowering in the closet's shadows. He voices his disdain for the police's indifference towards pixie lives, while Rycroft, with unwavering resolve, vows to uncover the truth.
Elsewhere, a storm of panic brews as the Councillor learns of his son Jonas' abduction, his fury promising retribution against the unknown perpetrator. For now, they bide their time, awaiting the ransom's arrival.
Rycroft's struggle against the system intensifies as he returns to the precinct, encountering brick walls in his quest for a coroner willing to examine the deceased pixie and unravel its cause of death. Frustrated, he turns to the underworld of The Row, seeking an unofficial expert to scrutinize the body. There, he discovers a chilling revelation: the pixie's liver is missing, suggesting a violent extraction by an unknown force.
Vignette, meanwhile, deftly fends off an unwanted approach from Ezra before soaring towards the Fae House alongside Tourmaline. She whispers to her confidante about the enigmatic Black Raven, piquing her friend's curiosity. Together, they embark on orchestrating a meeting, and upon arrival, Vignette is greeted by Dahlia, who promptly lays down the law, setting the stage for an encounter fraught with intrigue and mystery.
With Jonas's whereabouts still a mystery, Absalom finds himself at a crossroads, compelled to summon the aid of an aged witch. The ritual, a somber one, demands the sacrifice of a loyal canine, its entrails offering a grim prophecy: the culprit behind Jonas's disappearance is no stranger to Absalom – the notorious politician, Ritter Longsbane, his bitter rival. Yet, the veil of deception is soon lifted, revealing an unexpected twist: Jonas's captor is none other than Absalom's own mother.
As this revelation unfolds, Rycroft hastens to Vignette's abode, arriving amidst Imogen's distressing realization that her household stands on the brink of financial ruin. The Inspector's inquiries about Vignette precede his departure, leaving Ezra to grapple with the bleak financial outlook. Determined to chart her own course, Imogen orchestrates a tea invitation to Agreus the following day, her ulterior motives shrouded in secrecy.
At the coroner's morgue, a Mima arrives, solemn and solemn, to consecrate the lifeless form of Aisling, whispering to Rycroft of a sinister, supernatural force that claimed her. Here, Rycroft divulges the Basilisk's eerie whispers about the dark deities and their forbidden magic. Amidst these unsettling revelations, Vignette storms into the station, her mission urgent, employing Tourmaline as a diversion to slip past the guards unnoticed, her flag clutched tightly. As she eludes capture, her path crosses with Rycroft's, and he, mindful of their past entanglements, allows her to slip away.
Carnival Row, in this second episode, truly unfolds its narrative tapestry, weaving a captivating tale of crime and mystery that gathers momentum with each passing scene. It adheres to the familiar tropes of the genre, with investigative sequences and probing interviews that delve into the hidden agendas of its residents. Yet, it transcends the mundane, imbuing its fantastical world and setting with a distinctive edge that sets it apart.
With a tapestry of unanswered questions dangling, Carnival Row has embarked on a promising journey, its wings spreading wide to embrace a narrative that entangles the fates of the deceased fae with sinister machinations lurking in the shadows. Whether it soars to new heights as a breathless fantasy thriller remains to be seen, but its foundations are firmly laid, promising a thrilling ride ahead.
