Episode 6 of Carnival Row's captivating second season, entitled "Original Sins," commences with Agreus stirring awake in bed, the echoes of his heated debate with Imogen about Ragusa's perilous nature still lingering. Imogen, her voice gentle yet firm, assures him of her genuine happiness within the city's confines, urging him to embrace the place with an open heart. She hints at a darker truth, whispering that Leonara's wrath would descend upon him if he persisted in his resistance. Touched by her plea, Agreus vows to strive for contentment for her sake.
At breakfast's cozy confines, Kastor's surprise is palpable as he beholds Agreus' uncharacteristically docile demeanor. Impressed by Imogen's persuasive prowess, he regales them with tales of Leonara's transformation from a prisoner, forced to scrounge for scraps, to a revolutionary, who rose up against her oppressors. He gifts them with incendiary literature, announcing their induction into the New Dawn and inviting them to partake in the festivities celebrating the movement's first anniversary. As he departs, beaming with enthusiasm, Imogen's keen eye pierces through the propaganda's veil, realizing that dissent from the revolution's agenda could prove fatal.
Agreus, relieved by this revelation, and Imogen conspire to flee Ragusa, counting on the loyalty of their remaining shipmate. Amidst the jubilant celebrations, they meticulously devise an escape plan aboard a vessel, only to be interrupted by Leonara's abrupt summons. She confronts Agreus with a pistol aimed squarely at his chest, his heart racing with fear. Yet, in an unexpected turn, she introduces Ezra and hands over the weapon to Agreus, exposing his true intentions: to assassinate Agreus and abduct Imogen under the guise of aiding the New Dawn.
Agreus, gun now steady in his grip, confronts Ezra, who pleads for mercy as the barrel wavers. Agreus' mercy prevails, granting his brother-in-law a reprieve, but Leonara's stern warning lingers—Ezra's fate now rests solely on Agreus' shoulders.
Escorting Ezra to Imogen, the revelation sends shockwaves through her. The nightmares she's endured, where Agreus' hand was stained with her blood, pale in comparison to the chilling reality unfolding before her eyes. Her disappointment mingles with embarrassment, as she confronts the harsh truth of Agreus' vulnerability and the ease with which they were all but pawns in a larger game.
Ezra, his aristocratic ambitions ringing loud and clear, drones on about being the patriarchal shield, protecting her from herself and adhering rigidly to societal constructs. She, unamused, slaps him across the face, a hint of deadly intent in her eyes, whispering that if Leonara had entrusted her with the gun, he would have met his end at her hands. Her escape with Ezra is a bitter pill to swallow, yet Agreus insists it's the path of righteousness.
The narrative shifts to a vivid flashback, seven years ago in Tirnanoc, where Pact soldiers relentlessly pursued Philo and the wounded Darius, a mere mortal. In a display of loyalty, Philo lingered, sacrificing his own safety to buy Darius precious time. Suddenly, a winged terror akin to the one plaguing the Burgue descended, mowing down the soldiers with ease. It alighted before the terrified Philo, transforming into a woman before his very eyes. Recognizing his half-fae heritage, she spared him, bidding him to flee.
Back at his command post, Philo was confronted with the revelation that his rescuer was a Sparas, a race loathed by humans. Despite the inherent hostility, he advocated for an alliance, only to be met with skepticism from his officers who reminded him of the Sparas' deep-seated hatred. As they strategized their retreat, a grim proposal emerged—to bomb the valley, obliterating the last vestiges of the Sparas. Philo's objections were met with a stark ultimatum: obedience or demotion. Reluctantly, he gave the order, his heart heavy as he witnessed the flames consume the innocent creatures.
Returning to the present, Philo finds himself unjustly imprisoned, accused of aiding the very Sparas who now terrorize the Row. Dombey and Berwick intervene, persuading the warden to let him be. Amid the confusion, Philo experiences a vision of himself, a stark reminder of his deceitful past, which prompts a wry smile.
Meanwhile, Vignette races towards the Row, horrified by the sight of police engaging the airborne fae. She stumbles upon Tourmaline within the Haruspex shop, sensing her presence as if they were still connected. With a pang of regret, Vignette confesses she should have fled with Tourmaline in Tirnanoc, lamenting her inaction.
Tourmaline strives to reassure her of her safety, yet Vignette's anxiety persists, realizing they are still trapped and vulnerable within the confines of the Row. Her inquiries about Philo's whereabouts evoke confusion, as she was unaware of his daring rescue mission to free her from the Keep.
As Philo engages in a playful yet introspective dialogue with his own imagination, Berwick's expression betrays a deep concern. A vision flashes, causing Philo to ponder why he, himself, feels remorse when he had allowed the Sparas to perish in Tirnanoc. He confesses a self-loathing rooted in his futile attempts to conceal his true fae identity. Philo strives to recall his noble beginnings, joining the force to aid those like him, yet another vision interrupts, forcing him to acknowledge that his assistance to the police inadvertently harms his own kind.
Tourmaline, observant as always, notes that Philo's darkasher, though alive, writhes in distress, igniting her worry for him. Suddenly, Darius's unexpected arrival startles Vignette, who is swiftly informed of the Sparas' fate. Tourmaline realizes with a jolt that she's been viewing the world through the Sparas' eyes, and that very consciousness now seeks her destruction. Vignette proposes a hasty escape, but Tourmaline, love etched in her voice, reveals that Vignette's unwavering commitment to her causes will never allow her to prioritize their safety above all else. Vignette, contrite, offers an apology.
Meanwhile, the Pact and Winetrout successfully liberate Millworthy, imploring his aid. Yet, he, with a polite farewell, chooses his own path, leaving them to their endeavors. Vir, tailing him, whispers a sinister warning: the humans, incensed by the Sparas' murders, seek to raze the Row to the ground. While Vir harbors little concern for the fae, he desires to avert a civil war among his allies, lest it distract them from the dawn of a new era—a revelation that leaves Millworthy torn between duty and conscience.
Berwick treads into Philo's realm, his words weighted with urgency. He divulges that even the formidable Dombey and the Sarge have acknowledged Philo's innocence, exonerating him from Sparas' sinister schemes, revealing his sole motive as Vignette's liberation. Yet, Philo's stubbornness stands firm, his heart hardened by humanity's hand in Sparas' demise. Berwick is perplexed by Philo's eerie, Gollum-esque mutterings, sensing a deeper, visionary calculus at play behind his denial of aid.
At the bustling shop, tensions simmer between Darius and Vignette. Darius' frustration boils over as he questions the relentless devotion surrounding her, wondering if she too will unravel Tourmaline's life as she had Philo's. Vignette, her voice laced with subtle threats, hints at a bond stronger than Darius' own, leaving him unsettled. Just then, Kaine breezes in, bearing news of liberated fae plotting grand designs, but Vignette coolly declines, her mind already set on other paths.
Tourmaline's joy is palpable as Vignette reveals their impending escape, a revelation that casts a shadow of suspicion over Darius' brow.
Within the confines of the Keep, Dombey confronts Philo with an ultimatum: lend his aid in apprehending Sparas' murderer or face the bleakness of a prison cell. Vision!Philo's lips curve into a mischievous grin, as he counsels Dombey to craft a lie as their ticket to freedom. Philo hesitates, his resolve wavering, but ultimately acquiesces, his words echoing a begrudging pledge to Dombey's devious plan.
