The Darkling talks with Baghra, whom he has locked in something like a giant birdcage. The conversation goes something like this:
ALEK: Lessons.
MOM: Mistakes.
ALEK: Lessons.
MOM: Was Alina a lesson or a mistake?
ALEK: …
David joins the group, he seems a lot bolder than before. Both he and Genya agree that the Darkling has gone nuts and they need to escape to warn Alina. Still, for the time being, David has no choice but to stay and analyze the Darkling’s condition.
It is revealed in this episode that the privateer is prince Nikolai Lantsov of Ravka and what he wanted was to bring Alina back to Ravka, a mission he has accomplished.
Alina punches Nikolai for lying to her about his identity. That’s right, take that, you… you… smart politician who prioritizes your country. You see, Alina prefers the type who DOESN’T brainstorm.
Afterwards, Alina, Nikolai and their team arrive at a small sanctuary Nikolai has built for the Grisha after the Darkling’s show in the Fold. Alina meets Nadia and Zoya here. Zoya offers Alina her alliance.
News reaches the Darkling that Alina is alive and might be looking for the Firebird. He goes berserk and cuts off one of Baghra’s fingers to make an amplifier with, and David is like, okay I’ve had enough.
David and Genya attempt to run away, but the Darkling finds and sets one of his shadow monsters on Genya.
Jumping to Ketterdam for a second here. Jesper and Wylan find Pekka Rollins’ home and also his little son. Now they know Pekka’s weakness, he would do anything to protect his son. When they come back, Kaz demands information about this boy so that he can add some spices to his master-plan against Pekka.
JESPER: He’s just a boy, Kaz…
WYLAN: HE’S JUST A BOY, YOU PSYCHOPATH!
But Jesper gives Kaz the boy’s name anyway and trusts Kaz not to do him any harm.
In the meantime, Inej finds and kills off that crazy dude with the pig mask who attacked her on the roof.
After winning a fight against more than four gangsters with no bad legs, Kaz successfully gets some more men to join him on his next mission.
At Hellgate prison, Nina stumbles upon Matthias, who has been placed in a ring for wrestling matches. She shouts out his name. What? I thought Nina was smarter than his. And Kaz told you to keep a low profile!
Unsurprisingly, Pekka Rollins catches Nina and forces a deal upon her: She will bring him Kaz or he will make Matthias suffer.
In Ravka, David steals the Darkling’s journal and runs away. It isn’t just a “Dear diary, today I ate…” journal, it’s a notebook with valuable information on various topics.
Nikolai proposes a plan to reunite the people of Ravka and earn the Grisha back some trust: A engagement between him and Alina.
Mal is cool with it, so there’s no reason for Nikolai to threaten to gut him like a fish like in the book. The two men actually have a good relationship in this show. It’s Alina who hesitates. She doesn’t want to hurt Mal’s feelings.
Well, I would love to say that I sympathize with Alina’s inner struggle, but let’s see:
The Darkling has lung cancer. Baghra lost a finger; Inej gets new weapons to face a maniacal assassin; Matthias has to collect dung piles in prison; Kaz risks getting beaten to death for a chance to restore his and his friends’ home; Nikolai is willing to take any measure to reunite his country.
So, forgive me if I cannot bring myself to care about what Alina cares about when everyone around her has something more interesting going on.
Anyway, Mal and Alina kiss.
Later that night, Alina comes to Nikolai’s room in her pyjamas and tells him she has made up her mind.
As much as I dislike Alina’s choices, I must admit that her tendency to wander around in lacy nightgowns and knock on others’ doors at night to give them ideas is hilarious, in a good way.