Carnival Row: Season 1, Episode 1 “Some Dark God Wakes” [Series Premiere] – Recap, Review (with Spoilers)

Carnival Row may begin with a gorgeous, complex world with varied creatures, but the beauty fades when anything is put under a microscope.

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Plot Overview

7 years after a war which ripped apart the world of what was once seen as fantasy creatures, we find ourselves in a 7^th century, nearly steampunk world where creatures from centaurs to faeries intermix with humans. As you can imagine, humanity is not fond of the arrangement, despite their war causing the immigration into their cities, like The Burgue.

Yet, as tensions rise, one man, Inspector Philostrate, tries to actually keep the peace, hunt those who murder foreigners and be some sort of ally. But, with being a veteran of the war humanity started, and cop, many don’t take to him on first glance. But perhaps his biggest problem might be his ex Vignette who he left behind for reasons not yet revealed.

Review

Highlights

The World Building

The world of Carnival Row feels massive! We have Tirnanoc, and all that continent could offer, the Burgue which, even with being a city, seems extensive. For whether we are talking about Carnival Row, where many fae creatures live, the racism that the city is dealing with, and the history of tension between humanity and fae, there is so much to unpack over the next 7 episodes.

There Is Something There Between Philo and Vignette

Bloom and Delevingne’s chemistry is undeniable. I’d more so contribute it to Delevingne, purely because I know her work better, and because she can bring both this playful flirtatiousness and lust to her scenes with Bloom. Making it so, while things clearly are complicated between her character and Bloom’s, seeing them reconcile and fall in love all over again likely is going to be the highlight of the season, if not show.

On The Fence

I Can’t Say The Majority Of The Characters You’ll Take A Interest In

With such a massive world being introduced, it is only natural that it is filled to the brim with characters to bring it to life. The problem is, no individual character really pops. I’d even submit the draw Delevingne brings has less to do with your interest in Vignette and more the persona she has in the majority of her roles, and what she appears to have in real life. Which creates a bit of fear for this is an 8 episode series, each episode around an hour, and with one, maybe two characters you love, and none which necessarily you love to hate, that may create a problem in the long run.

First Impression: Positive (Watch This)

All that Carnival Row needs to do is make it so viewers are just as enamored with the characters as the world they live in. For that seems like what will be the main, if not only, problem. Especially since there is so much to unpack. Hence a first impression which leads me to think you should watch this. Carnival Row may not necessarily be built to seem like a major epic that will be compared to, but it will have its place for fantasy fans. Particularly those who love rich lore, complicated relationships between characters, and factions, all of which will likely reach a fever pitch.

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Carnival Row Directory

Creator	Travis Beacham, René Echevarria
Character Guide	Created
Collected Quotes	Not Created
Current Status	Active
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Season Reviews
Season 1 (Storylines & Major Arcs)
Check Out The TV Series & Specials Page

Season/ Episode	Synopsis	Episode Information	Topics & Focused Characters
Season 1, Episode 4 "The Joining of Unlike Things"	As a name is given to the beast which haunts the shadows, Agreus makes a deal with Imogen and Vignette is put in a life or death situation.	Director(s) Thor Freudenthal, Anna Foerster Writer(s) Travis Beacham, Marc Guggenheim, Peter Cameron Air Date 8/30/2019 Introduced This Episode Ritter Longerbane Ronan Vibert Sophie Caroline Ford Hamlyn Dejan Bucin Mima Sawsaan Mina Andala	A Life For A Life: Mima Sawsaan, Haruspex, Philo It’s Politics: Piety, Jonah, Ritter, Sophie, Absalom, Imogen, Ezra, Agreus For The Love Of You: Ms. Fyfe, Philo, Vignette, Tourmaline, Dahlia, Hamlyn
Season 1, Episode 3 "Kingdoms of the Moon"	We come to learn how Vignette and Philo met, a grave secret he and Darius hold, and see the final days of the war.	Director(s) Anna Foerster Writer(s) Travis Beacham Air Date 8/30/2019 Introduced This Episode Darius Ariyon Bakare Mima Roosan Badria Timimi	The Young Woman Who Watches Over The Books: Mima Roosan, Vignette, Philo The Secrets A Man Holds: Philo, Vignette, Darius Was It The End Or A Long Pause?: Vignette, Philo, Tourmaline, Mima Roosan
Season 1, Episode 2 "Aisling"	As a formerly famous pixie is found brutally murdered, Philo finds himself a new case as Vignette decides the Spurnrose household isn’t for her.	Director(s) Thor Freudenthal Writer(s) René Echevarria Air Date 8/30/2019 Introduced This Episode Aisling Erika Starkova Afissa Tracey Wilkinson Absalom Jared Harris Jonah Arty Froushan Piety Indira Varma Haruspex Alice Krige Sylvanus Wil Johnson Tourmaline Karla Crome Dahlia Chlie Pirrie	A Missing Son: Absalom, Jonah, Piety, Haruspex A Dead Pix: Aisling, Philo, Sylvanus It’s Hard To Move Forward When You Keep Looking Back: Philo, Vignette, Ezra, Imogen, Tourmaline, Agreus, Dahlia
Season 1, Episode 1 "Some Dark God Wakes" [Series Premiere]	Carnival Row may begin with a gorgeous, complex world with varied creatures, but the beauty fades when anything is put under a microscope.	Director(s) Thor Freudenthal Writer(s) Travis Beacham, René Echevarria Air Date 8/30/2019 Genre(s) Fantasy Good If You Like Shows With Large Worlds & Large Casts Victorian Era Shows, With A Slight Steampunk Vibe A Dash Of Romance, But It Not Likely Being The Selling Feature Possibly Episodic Stories Introduced This Episode Rycroft Philostrate Orlando Bloom Vignette Cara Delevingne Portia Fyfe Maeve Dermody Imogen Tamzin Merchant Ezra Andrew Gower Agreus David Gyasi Unseelie Jack Matthew Gravelle
Season 1, Episode 5 "Grieve No More"	The truth behind Philo’s parentage is revealed as things begin to come to a boil in Imogen and Absalom’s life.	Director(s) Andy Goddard Writer(s) Ian Deitchman, Kristin Robinson Air Date 8/30/2019 Introduced This Episode Dr. Mornage Gregory Gudgeon Runyan Simon McBurney Young Philo Ilian Gergisak Young Aisling Veronika Mackova	How Low Our Family Has Fallen: Ezra, Imogen, Agreus Never Underestimate A Longerbane: Sophie, Jonah, Piety, Absalom A Mother’s Lullaby: Young Aisling, Young Philo, Philo, Runyan, Dr. Mornage
Season 1, Episode 6 "Unaccompanied Fae"	Philo reveals a secret which will cause many, including him, trouble. Which coincides with Sophie revealing her secret, and Imogen coming to a realization.	Director(s) Andy Goddard Writer(s) Stephanie K. Smith Air Date 8/30/2019 Introduced This Episode Quill Scott Reid Cabal Theo Barklem-Biggs Sargent Dombey Jamie Harris	Pity Those Who Underestimate Us: Sophie, Absalom, Jonah A World Of Treasures & A Shocking Realization: Vignette, Imogen, Agreus Be Wary Of Who You Trust: Ms. Fyfe, Philo, Runyan, Afissa, Sargent Dombey
Season 1, Episode 7 "The World To Come"	Philo’s father has been revealed, just as it seems he faces death, and Imogen seems to have picked up her father’s habits in sympathy for fae.	Director(s) Jon Amiel Writer(s) Peter Cameron Air Date 8/30/2019 Introduced This Episode Constable Berwick Waj Ali Magistrate Flute Mark Lewis Jones	Watch The World Burn & Be Part Of Its Rebuild: Runyan, Sophie, Jonah Beauty & The Beast: Imogen, Agreus, Ezra Does The Truth Ever Set A Person Free – Outside Of Their Mind?: Philo, Vignette, Ms. Fyfe, Sargent Dombley, Constable Berwick, Magistrate Flute
Season 1, Episode 8 "The Gloaming" [Season Finale]	In the season finale, the controller of the Darkasher is revealed, as well as who the real mastermind behind the events of season 1.	Director(s) Jon Amiel Writer(s) Travis Beacham Air Date 8/30/2019	A Love Like This Does Not Come Every day: Imogen, Agreus, Ezra Many Secrets Revealed: Piety, Absalom, Jonah, Sophie, Philo, Haruspex The Prophecy Holds True: Jonah, Vignette, Philo, Sophie, Piety