This episode is interesting because the different
storylines finally come together as a whole.
Quentin is being haunted by Alice’s Nifflin who is still
trapped in his tattoo (only Quentin can see her) and really really wants to be set free.
Quentin in his rather patronising style, doesn’t want to set her free because
wizard society puts Nifflin in boxes. Of course she’s kind of imprisoned now
He’d also like to save Alice – despite Nifflin Alice
insisting there’s nothing left of Alice to save. Oh he’d also rather not have
the nifflin go on a rampage despite her insistence that she doesn’t want to kill
people honest
Quentin won’t agree and this promises for lots of drama.
She is willing to compromise and take over his body. He also says no.
In Fillory, the most inept monarchs of all time learn
that wars cost money and cleaning up god shit takes money and the kingdom of
Fillory doesn’t actually have money. And despite being monarchs this is the
first time that they thought to check the royal treasury.
Over to Kady and Julia. Julia is still seeking an
abortion so she turns to Kady’s scary contacts. Asian mages (mugongs? I’m
unfamiliar with this mythology) who can exorcise her baby (yes we’re up to exorcism
not abortion because monster baby). But they want a million dollars. In gold,
to get it done.
And at the same time they’re attacked by an invisible
monster. This turns out to be something summoned by the mugongs because one of
them is super afraid of the evil demon child Julia is going to give birth to:
better to kill them both.
Julia and Kady turn to the one place to be safe – Brakebills.
Henry still isn’t a huge fan of offering asylum but when his teacher officially
announces she’s screwed (which is never a good sign) he agrees to asylum. Which
also gives Kady chance to run into Penny and have breakup-sex which recruits
Penny.
Quentin runs into Julia to have this huge, emotionally
complex moment where they confront that, yes Julia is at least somewhat
responsible for Alice’s death at the same time what happened to Julia is awful
and, ultimately she is a friend Quentin promised to help – and that still
stands.
This is all overlaid with AliceNifflin quipping away and hating Julia which is kind of awesome
So collectively, everyone decides to rob a bank – Penny for
Kady and because he’s always wanted one, Margot and Elliot for the money and,
as Margot puts it: they may hate Julia but “it’s the 21st century
and it shouldn’t be this hard for a girl to get an abortion.” I like this
acknowledgement that you don’t have to like or forgive someone to realise what’s
happening to them is wrong and that they deserve help. Kudos
Turns out Margot has bank robbing experience. Oh and all
banks have magical protections (of course they do – or all banks would be
robbed). So that requires a whole lot of careful planning, drawing on Penny’s
travelling, levitation, bees, time travel, a magical dancing ball. It’s kind of
fun. Also we have a lethal, terrifying battle mage who is an older woman and
Kady proving, again, that while magic is powerful, a fist the jaw is really
effective.
It’s all kind of shiny and they do succeed, but in the
process Elliot’s golem is killed.
They do get the gold – and Julia gets her exorbortion. But
there’s some ominous consequences we’ll find next episode
