Episode 4 of Carnival Row commences with a chilling summons for Rycroft to another grim crime scene – this time, the gruesome fate of the Headmaster echoes the previous horror. Pursuing the enigmatic clues, Rycroft delves into the shadowy underworld, where he confronts a monstrous aberration, face-to-face with terror itself.
Vignette, triumphant after her daring flag heist, is hailed by the Black Raven and tasked with shadowing Oona, a mission that uncovers a treacherous spy lurking within their midst. As the air thickens with suspicion, Dahlia vows retribution, her voice heavy with menace, daring the "little insect" to reveal themselves. When no one steps forward, the threat hangs heavily, a promise of unimaginable torment.
Imogen's intricate web of intrigue, spun around Argeus, backfires spectacularly as he catches wind of her schemes and retaliates with his own dark promise. Yet, as the truth unfolds, he realizes her machinations were rooted in desperation – her brother's dire need for a loan.
Rycroft's relentless pursuit of the missing liver mystery leads him to uncover the secrets of creating a Darkasher, an abomination stitched together from the limbs of the deceased. In the bustling streets of The Row, Vignette and Rycroft's paths cross, igniting a terse encounter that prompts Rycroft to trail the fae, seeking answers. But their conversation is cut short, as Rycroft's investigation propels him to a witch's lair, where he's compelled to sacrifice a part of himself for the creation of this monstrosity.
Absalom, pushed to the brink of madness, explodes in court, confronting Longerbane about Jonas' abduction, unaware of the true culprit's identity. Manipulated by Piety, Absalom's wrath is harnessed to arrest Longerbane, determined to extract a confession. A personal visit to Longerbane's abode seals his fate, and he's dragged into custody.
Vignette's encounter with the Inspector inadvertently places her in Dahlia's crosshairs, wrongly accused of being the traitorous spy. With quick wits and a cunning promise, Vignette narrowly escapes Dahlia's wrath, swearing to uncover the real culprit before midnight strikes, leaving her with no choice but to delve deeper into the shadows and uncover the truth.
In dire straits, desperate deeds are demanded; Tourmaline urgently relays to Rycroft the grim turn of events involving Vignette, his voice laced with curses. Hardly having the breath to dwell on this news, he and his fellow officers at the precinct swiftly learn of Jonas's captivity, a gift of information from Piety's covert sources. Yet, upon his rescue, a haunting familiarity in the echoing footsteps strikes him, a chilling realization dawning—his own mother might have orchestrated his abduction.
Elsewhere, Agreus treads the path of redemption, returning to Imogen's abode to seek absolution. There, the veil of deception is torn, as he confronts her over the tea and the true motive behind their encounter—a barter of gold for entry into the exclusive echelons of society. Trapped between a rock and a harder place, Imogen reluctantly agrees to aid him, granting him passage through her front door, a reluctant accomplice.
Vignette finds herself at a crossroads, facing down the spy in a tense standoff, only to be snatched from the jaws of danger at the eleventh hour by Rycroft's timely intervention. With a bullet to the chest, she drags the fallen fae back to Dahlia, where her bravery is rewarded with a promotion and a stern warning not to grow too entwined with the enigmatic Inspector. In the wake of the murder, Rycroft undergoes a transformation, intensifying his pursuit of Portia, offering to escort her on a dinner date, while Vignette grapples with the moral implications of ending the life of one of her own kind.
The episode's chilling prologue masterfully sets the stage, amplifying the impact of the fatal act. Carnival Row adheres to the archetypal beats of its genre, weaving a dense tapestry of crime and intrigue that propels the narrative forward with unwavering momentum. As darker magic weaves its way into the narrative and the urgency to uncover the true culprit behind the murders intensifies, the second half of this series promises a thrilling dash towards its conclusion.
