And lo we learn that
not only is everyone really creepy and really evil but quite possibly all
working together as well
Except Sir Robert
Peel - but he’s desperate to get his admittedly very nice sounding reforms
passed so is willing to work with just about anyone to make that happen despite
the opposition of the evil dean of Westminster and his evil murdering coroner
Renquist. We’ve already seen him willing to work with Dippel and now he
introduces his new advisor who will hopefully convince Prince William (heir to
the throne, brother to George IV, current king who seems to side with the the
Dean but is also not in great health) to support him. Oh Sir Robert, such good
intentions, such terrible bed fellows
His whole moment is
somewhat disturbed by Nightingale's body washing up, minus heart
Seriously show, I’m
not going to forgive Nightingale's wasted death.
We see Queenie,
naturally, consumed by grief over this - revealing she loved him and also fears
she may have been responsible for his death by telling him about the creepy
things in creepy Dipple’s creepy home. She is convinced to go to the police
with this but the Inspector isn’t exactly thrilled with the idea that a ranting
Nightingale may have gone after one of the richest men in London because he
thought a hanged man had committed a murder. He dismisses her
But when Sir Peel
comes to him to point out they’re now competing with evil church people so
there better be some leed, the Inspector seizes on it as better than nothing
Marlot has gone full
angst mode because Sean Bean, that’s why. He’s driving poor Esther off,
convinced that everyone around him dies because Nightingale’s death is good for
some Manpain. He does ramble about being haunted by the ghosts of murdered
people he can’t help. Which sounds bad but it’s not like any of these ghosts
even invest in chains or anything. It’s pretty low key haunting
He does get a lead on
Lord Hervey though, from Boz, who is more than a little miffed that the church
Coroner Renquist feeding him lies has made him look like a fool. Boz recruits
Marlot and tells him LORD HERVEY LIVES and is working for the Home Secretary.
This leads to Marlot
intimidating Renquist just because he can for some reason but not learning much
beyond how evil traders in body parts have lots of ice - so he’s now off to
harass Dipple. While Renquist goes to Lord Hervey because it turns out he is
Lord Hervey’s protege and has a kind of creepy devotion which may or may not be
gay subtext but if it is I’m going to break things because this is nooooot a
good look. Lord Hervey reveals his plan to basically throw Dipple to the wolves
(because, yes, Hervey knows Dipple. Seriously all the bad guys are working
together here) if the king dies and they don’t have a powerful patron. Renquist
is smart enough to realise Hervey may do the same to him but too devoted to
actually follow through with that
We spoke about Dippel
- so time for The Creepiest Man (and this is a show that has MULTIPLE body
mutilators so that prize is hard fought) to have a moment. He invites Esther
around who is just not doing well with small children dolls because of her dead
son. He kisses her and says lots of creepy romantic things and he wants her to
come with him when he goes away… but she is wise and asks what as - his
mistress or seamstress? He insists wife but she’s definitely not having that -
she accuses him of playing with her feelings from the cruel vantage point of
his huge wealth. So Dippel decides to try a different tactic: seeing her,
vulnerable and wounded and hurting and says that he sees dead people and her
dead son is right there.
Which is a bit of a
revelation that he can see ghosts (and yes, he can) but also, y’know, kind of
horrifying and traumatising for Esther so she runs off to have a really moving
deeply emotional scene that involves smelling clothes (it is still very
atmospheric because this Frankenstein’s Chronicles and they’re really
really really good at this). Meanwhile Dippel drinks a potion - one of several,
each labelled with a year going back a century
Hey, there was
actually a man called Johann Dippel about a century before this show is set and
he was rumoured to have developed
oils of immortality. In case you’re not familiar with this or can’t guess fro the year
labelled bottles, Dippel also reads a letter from his dad basically saying “hey
immortality is awesome and all yours dear boy.”
Esther returns the
next day because how can she not? And He guides her through the process of
almost sensing her son. Which devastates her - the cruelty of god allowing
Dippel to see her son but not her - but Dippel is all “it’s not god” and the
awesome power of life - which he wants to share with her
Bride of
Frankenstein, Esther?
At this point he’s
distracted by the Inspector following that lead and taking him in for
questioning. Which basically involves “I am super fucking rich and above the
law. Jog on policeman.”
But that leaves
Esther alone to be visited by… lord Hervey (yes all the bad guys know each
other) and he follows through with Dippel’s offer of immortality… wait they’re
going for the slice and dice Frankenstein method rather than Dippel’s potion? I
vote potion!
Marlot has continued
his investigating into Dippel and bribes Dippel’s kind of loyal ice delivery
man to reveal where his ice is delivered (therefore where his body bits are
stored). He reveals the location - but then guards it so when Marlot turns up
he gets stabbed. This would be considerably problematic for most people but the
sorta undead Marlot is less murdered by this and has a chance to kill his
attacker. He is still dramatically wounded (something Sean Bean is very very
very experienced in) and staggers down the corridor to have a moment with
Nightingale’s ghost. Which is nice because he’s all reunited with Flora in
death - but this happy death makes it seem more and more likely Nightingale
isn’t coming back.
Merlot staggers on to
find… Esther. And Hervey. And Dippel who has just returned from the police and
apparently supports hervey getting all Frankenstein on Esther.
Merlot yells at her
to stop… but it’s too late, she’s already drank the concoction Hervey has given
her. She collapses - and so does Merlot (from his wound I assume)
Ok… Dippel? I am here
for this. In fact, this is me having a raving, happy dance about this - because
this gives the series longevity and awesome directions. I mean, when
Frankenstein has reached the end of its potential, they’ve opened the door to
all kinds of legends and myths being possible - and they’ve already shown
themselves willing to pull out some really obscure myths as well. More more
more more!
I’m not sure that
this show is going to get renewed (I rather suspect not) but they have laid the
foundations for this to be so much more.
