Episode 3 of Carnival Row's enthralling second season, titled "The Martyr's Hand," commences with a chilling encounter that leaves Tourmaline reeling. Her gaze locks onto the grisly sight of Dahlia and her guard's severed heads, their spectral faces lingering like phantoms in her mind's eye. A shiver snakes down her spine as she snaps out of the macabre reverie, fleeing in abject terror.
Concurrently, Philo's investigative prowess ignites, driven by a relentless need to unravel the enigmatic murders. Vignette, meanwhile, bristles with suspicion, her immediate assumption pointing fingers at the police, before storming off in a fit of righteous indignation. As Vignette's fury echoes through the air, Berwick approaches Philo, only to find himself joined by the ever-provocative Dombey. Dombey, his conscience seemingly absent, weaves a tale of the Black Raven's failed assassination attempt on Jonah, his words dripping with malice.
Kaine, catching sight of Dombey, lunges for his life, but Vignette's swift intervention cuts short the brewing confrontation like a sharp knife through butter. United in their grief, they pay their solemn respects to the fallen, gently removing the heads as the Black Raven offers a haunting farewell, echoing through the air like a dirge.
Philo's confrontation with Millworthy escalates tensions to boiling point, as the latter warns him to abandon his Breakspear scheme. Yet, Millworthy proves a master of intrigue, weaving a new tapestry of deception that seduces Philo with a fresh strategy to reopen Carnival Row's gates. In the shadows, a deal takes shape as Major Vir convenes with Millworthy, who whispers dark secrets of weapon procurement amidst the simmering tensions between fae and humans. Vir, though skeptical, relents and agrees to broker the negotiation for the Pact ambassador, a move that could tilt the balance of power in unforeseen ways.
In a dramatic turn, Sophie's entrance into the Row ignites a media frenzy. She stands tall, proclaiming her mission to bring aid—medicine and food—to the afflicted, defying the Black Raven's recent atrocities. A photograph captures her moment, a poignant image of her alongside a frail fae infant, her expression a mix of resolve and inner turmoil.
Elsewhere, Tourmaline's quest for answers leads her to Philo, sharing the burden of her haunting visions. Philo recognizes their potential as clues to the murders and forges ahead with his investigation. His path crosses with Boz, as he endeavors to broker a message exchange with Berwick, but the formidable thug draws a line, declaring Darius persona non grata after Vignette's group stirred up trouble. Philo, ever the strategist, proposes a bargain—Berwick's message in exchange for sanctuary for Darius, striking a delicate balance amidst the chaos.
In the confines of the Burgue, Millworthy finds himself ensnared by an array of stern guards, summoned to an encounter with Jonah amidst an air of suspicion. The Chancellor's gaze bristles with accusation, branding him a traitor for daring to attend the somber funeral rites of the slain fae, to which Millworthy counters, asserting his unwavering friendship with the mystical beings.
Jonah's inquisition delves into whispers of the Black Raven's disruptive intrusion at the banquet, but Millworthy shakes his head in denial, his innocence echoing in the chamber. Jonah's trust slowly rekindles, and he confides in Millworthy, revealing Vir's imminent request for armaments. However, the Ministers' clamorous protests interrupt the fragile peace, with Sophie intervening to announce her and Jonah's decision to reintegrate a select few fae into the factories' workforce, albeit at the lowest pay scale. Minister Winetrout's scathing remark, hinting at Sophie's potential profit from this arrangement, casts a shadow over Jonah's trust, his eyes flickering with doubt towards her.
Meanwhile, Ezra convenes with Pembroke and Louisa, their conversation swirling around the enigmatic disappearance of Imogen. Rumors of a consensual elopement with the elusive Puck, ignited by Agreus' scheming servant Fergus, taint the air.
Elsewhere, the detective trio of Berwick, Philo, and Tourmaline embark on a pilgrimage through churches, their quest leading them to the very sanctuary where Dahlia and her stalwart guard met their fate. Berwick's deduction, steeped in the belief that a fae's hand was at play, given the height of the crime scene, fuels their investigation. Philo, ever the scholar of the arcane, recalls the ritualistic origins of Haruspex magic, and in a macabre display, dissects a corpse to facilitate Tourmaline's visionary powers. Though repulsed, Tourmaline submits to the ritual, her mind becoming a window into the twisted perspective of the murderer. The visions unravel, depicting the brutal slaying of fae on the Row, and ultimately, locking eyes with her own reflection, a chilling revelation that sends shivers down their spines.
At the shadowy confines of the Black Raven, Vignette's taunts echoed, mocking Dahlia's covert thefts, urging them to rise up and strike back. She wove tales of the Tirnanoc fae, ancient warriors whose bravery ignited a spark within their hearts.
That very night, Tourmaline found herself unwittingly drawn to the eerie Haruspex shop, where a faint sound whispered through the silence. Her gaze fell upon Darius, chained and desolate, his voice heavy with resignation as he spoke of departure. She intervened, introducing herself with a gentle touch, her words an invitation to pause. Darius hesitated, yet her offer of shared tea broke the ice, and they sat in quiet companionship.
Meanwhile, Sophie embarked on a fraught endeavor, attempting to persuade Nilly to abandon their path and join her family's factory life—a guise to veil her true intentions. Her voice trembled as she recounted the plight of an infant fae afflicted by Bas Dubh, tears streaming down her cheeks. Nilly's response was swift and fierce, a slap that echoed through the air, a reminder of Longerbane's brutal discipline whenever Sophie dared to defy. Nilly's words were unyielding, a steely reminder of their ultimate goal: Sophie as chancellor, avenging all those like her father.
Elsewhere, Ezra's steps followed Fergus through the veil of night, his heart torn between loyalty and love. He confessed his understanding of Imogen's allure, yet his bond with his family ran deep. He sought to pen a letter to her, a thread of hope amidst the darkness. Fergus, empathetic, revealed the devastating news—Imogen held captive by the New Dawn in Ragusa. Ezra's confirmation was a somber acknowledgment, followed by a tragic turn as he silenced Fergus forever.
And then, Philo strode into the Black Raven, his words heavy with sorrow as he announced Dahlia's brutal murder atop a church steeple. He declared the perpetrator non-human, yet Vignette's resolve was unwavering, her sights set on Dombey for Oona's sake. Philo, his warnings falling on deaf ears, faced a stark choice: ally with Vignette or align with the police. The tension crackled, each breath a testament to the brewing storm.
