As Episode 10 of Carnival Row's gripping second season commences, the air is thick with the humans' fury, their wrath aimed squarely at the Row following the inferno that consumed the bar. Phaedra, with a cool demeanor, reveals that the destruction was all part of a calculated plan, leaving Vignette perplexed and driven to uncover the truth. Together, they embark on a journey to the New Dawn, where Vignette's path unexpectedly intertwines with Philo's urgent mission.
Philo, his mind racing, is bent on rushing to the parliament to sound the alarm about Vir to the humans. Darius, attempting to halt his friend's rush, queries the sudden deviation from their plan to eradicate the Sparas. Philo, his voice tinged with regret, apologizes for endangering Tourmaline and presses on, leaving Darius to grapple with the change in plans.
Darius, undeterred, returns to Tourmaline, intent on pushing forward with their mission despite Philo's absence. She, in turn, employs every tactic to dissuade him, declaring her lack of romantic feelings and fear of facing him should he succumb to the werewolf's curse amidst the Sparas' fury. Darius, recognizing her efforts to distance herself, relents but not without a trace of reluctance.
Meanwhile, tensions boil over in the common room as the Pact ambassador and Major Vir simmer with indignation over the New Dawn emissaries' impending presence in parliament. Millworthy, diplomatically navigating the tense waters, reminds them of Imogen's legal standing while promising to secure them a platform to counter her narrative. He departs, leaving the ambassador and Vir to stew alongside Kastor and Imogen, who happen to be present.
Kastor attempts to lighten the mood with a jest aimed at the ambassador, but Imogen remains entrenched in her anger over Agreus' plight. She seeks reassurance that he won't suffer at their hands again, only to be met with Kastor's honest yet bleak assessment: trust is a luxury they cannot afford.
Elsewhere, Agreus lies sprawled, his consciousness shrouded in darkness, his body bound and adorned with the ominous mark of a solitary horn, a sight that ignites a flicker of empathy within Vignette's heart. Kaine looms over him, her voice cold and unyielding as she pronounces, "This is the inevitable fate that awaits anyone who dares to challenge the ascension of the New Dawn." Her words echo through the air, heavy with foreboding, serving as a stark testament to the dire consequences of rebellion.
Leonora, her voice firm amidst the escalating chaos outside the Row, unveils their subsequent strategy. She declares that the Sparas have sinister designs for the parliament, and it falls solely upon the fae to confront the raging mob. Her initial plan, fraught with the specter of heavy losses, threatens to devastate the Row, but Vignette interjects with a more cunning alternative. Boldly, she offers herself as a decoy, recognizing that the mob seeks vengeance for the bar's destruction. Kaine, unwavering in his loyalty, joins her in this perilous endeavor. They devise a plan to lure the mob into Oberon Square, where they can minimize their own casualties, utilizing the strategic cover to rain down fire upon their foes.
As Philo, driven by urgency, attempts to breach the parliament's defenses, he is abruptly halted by Thatch and his ruthless men. They hoist him high, intent on a gruesome execution, but as consciousness fades, Vignette's face flickers before his eyes, a beacon of hope amidst the darkness. Miraculously, Dombey and his men arrive, swooping in to save him from the brink of doom.
Meanwhile, Imogen pores over the speech crafted by the New Dawn, finding it lacking in the refinement and gravity the occasion demands. Amidst her meticulous critique, she notices Kastor's distraction, his gaze repeatedly straying towards Vir, who taps his fingers in a possible Morse code transmission. Just as Millworthy inquires whether the Pact representatives should be granted access to the chamber, the parliament's indifference is palpable; they yearn for nothing more than the swift conclusion of this ordeal.
Taking advantage of the moment, Imogen feigns a faint, drawing Kastor away to fetch water. In his absence, she confides in Millworthy, whispering her suspicion that Kastor and Vir are colluding. As the Row braces for the mob's onslaught, Millworthy confronts Vir, who does not shy away from the accusation. With unwavering conviction, Vir vows to support Imogen's peace initiative, even if it means sacrificing himself. He holds Millworthy in high esteem, admiring his unwavering defense of the fae, and challenges him to choose his allegiance: with him or against him.
Elsewhere, Agreus, a force of nature, harnesses his immense strength to break free from his bonds, dispatching his guards with ruthless efficiency. The air crackles with tension as each character's fate hangs in the balance, and the stage is set for a climactic confrontation that will shape the future of their world.
Amidst the tumultuous chaos outside the Row, Dombey's loyal guards valiantly attempted to quell the raging mob, but Thatch, with a cunning smirk, egged them on to unbolt the gate, unleashing a stampede of violence upon the unsuspecting fae bystanders. Kaine, his voice urgent, urged Vignette to remain concealed amidst the turmoil.
As the mob infiltrated halfway into the premises, the duo emerged from their hiding spots, cunningly luring the frenzied horde towards the square. In parallel, Philo, armed with Dombey's pass, hastened towards the Parliament, his destination Millworthy's chambers, where a flurry of activity heralded the imminent assembly. In a hushed whisper, he disclosed his true identity as the Sparas to Millworthy, unaware that Vir, eavesdropping from the shadows, had overheard their secret. Philo's strategy to evacuate the building was unraveling before their eyes as Vir, transforming into the Sparas with a sinister grin, struck down the Pact Ambassador's interjection with lethal precision.
With Tourmaline's location betrayed by an intrusive thought from within Vir's mind, the Sparas soared towards her, pursued relentlessly by Philo. The crowd of New Dawn supporters, mistaking his arrival for a triumph, erupted in cheers, oblivious to Vignette's realization that Tourmaline was the intended target. She longed to rush to her aid, but Kaine's desperate plea restrained her, their argument spilling them into the open where a human's cold steel ended Kaine's life. Leonora, a silent witness, sought Vignette's demise with bullets, but the fae fled, her escape triggering a hail of gunfire that prematurely ignited the New Dawn's deadly plan.
As the Sparas descended upon Tourmaline, Darius and Vignette intervened, their valiant efforts to fend him off briefly holding the tide. Philo's timely arrival sealed the Sparas' fate with a bullet to the head, yet the victory was marred by Darius' mortal wound, his final moments spent in the embrace of Tourmaline and Philo. Vignette's confession of love for Tourmaline mingled with her plea for Philo's survival, as she struggled to stem the tide of the New Dawn's assault.
Dragging the fallen Sparas' corpse to the square, Philo's actions prompted Leonora to order a strategic retreat. Dombey, finally asserting control, commanded his men to apprehend the remnants of the human mob. Leonora's escape attempt was thwarted by Agreus, who, with cold efficiency, silenced Phaedra's assault. In a defiant farewell, Leonora declared the seeds of revolution sown within the Row, even as she sealed her own fate with a bullet to the heart, her presence betrayed to the authorities.
In the aftermath, Thatch, having bided his time in hiding, emerged to strike Philo from behind, only for Dombey to intervene, dispatching the treacherous cop with a swift bullet. Racing to Philo's side, Dombey's arrival signaled a turning point amidst the chaos, yet the story of the Row and its inhabitants remained far from over.
After a temporal shift, the stage lights illuminate a captivating spectacle as Millworthy directs a dramatic enactment of Philo's supposed demise, with mischievous goblins weaving through the Row's alleys. Meanwhile, within the hallowed halls of Parliament, an unexpected arrival stirs the air: Philo, battered yet resilient, enters leaning on a cane, gracefully acknowledging his appointment as chancellor despite his half-fae heritage. In a rousing address, he exposes their reluctance to embrace change, revealing their misguided assumption that he, a self-loathing fae, would blindly uphold their oppressive edicts. Philo, with a defiance that echoes through the chamber, declines the chancellorship, advocating instead for a faun or a visionary capable of instigating genuine transformation. Amidst the tumultuous uproar, he departs, leaving Parliament in a state of shock and awe.
Elsewhere, Imogen unwraps Agreus' rejuvenated horn, marveling at its regal splendor. Together, they embark on a revolutionary venture, establishing an electric company that electrifies the hearts and minds of their neighborhood's inhabitants. Vignette, on her journey, finds solace in Tirnanoc, where she unites with Tourmaline in a sacred union, sealing their love with the bonds of matrimony.
Returning to the revitalized Burgue, Philo strolls through the Row, now a testament to unity, its barbed wires vanished, allowing humans and fae to mingle freely. A chance encounter with Dombey fills the air with gratitude as the latter thanks Philo for his pivotal role. Soon after, Philo crosses paths with Millworthy, who stands in awe of the tranquility that now permeates the Row. Yet, a tinge of disappointment lingers, for he had hoped Philo would accept the chancellorship. Philo, however, reminds him that the offer was merely a token of privilege based on his Breakspear lineage, emphasizing the urgent need for change. Millworthy, struck by a sudden realization, comments on Philo's resemblance to Aisling, his mother, prompting Philo to discern the human's long-held affection for her. As they ponder the future, Millworthy inquires about Philo's next steps, and Philo, with a glint of adventure in his eye, replies that they shall discover them together, embarking on a new chapter filled with possibilities.
