Title from: I Wake Up Screaming (1941)
Kovacs, Quell, and Trepp work together to get to the Kempists, while Kovacs Prime hunts them. Poe looks for Conrad Harland.
Tropes in this episode:
- Actually Pretty Funny: When Trepp's father is interrogated by the Wedge about what Kovacs and his group were saying to him when they came by earlier, the old man replies that they said, "Go fuck yourself". A female mercenary cannot suppress a giggle.
- And I Must Scream: Dig has override passphrases built into her core code that the Protectorate can use to gain full control of her. It is clearly a horrible experience, made worse when the Wedge simply leave her like that, not even bothering to return her to normal functionality.
- And This Is for...: Kovacs Prime makes his motives clear before he throws Kovacs off the cliff.Kovacs Prime: Say hello to our sister.
- The Atoner: Trepp's father and Dig both try to stall the Wedge to atone for their past failures—Dig for standing by while her archaeologies were murdered, and Trepp's father for not being a good father because he spent most of that time on ice for past crimes.
- Batman Gambit: Carrera shows Governor Harlen security camera footage of Quell in action, warning her that if word gets out the Cartel could use their charter under a vote of no confidence. Harlen secretly releases the footage to provoke a Kempist uprising, convinces the Cartel to vote for martial law to handle the crisis, then uses her newly-granted powers to have them all placed under house arrest 'for their protection' so they can't vote against her.
- Better to Die than Be Killed: Quell gives Trepp a pistol to Read-Death her if she turns again, knowing that Tak would never do it.
- Chekhov's Gun: The decay Poe causes when he glitches while touching parts of the Renouncer VR construct allows him to convince the Renouncers' leader to let him go, since he can use this glitch to destroy the construct from the inside.
- Do Not Adjust Your Set: Kemp appears on the hotel television, and presumably all other forms of video, to announce the end of the ceasefire.
- Emergency Authority: Danica convinces the Cartel to initiate martial law, over Carrera's objections, which gives her full control over all military assets on the planet — including the Protectorate and the Wedge. Her first, immediate act, is to use this new power to put every other member of the Cartel under house arrest and revoke their authority, since she knew they were plotting to usurp her.Meth: You can't do this! You don't have the authority!
Carrera: You gave it to her, you imbecile. - Fearful Symmetry: Kovacs Prime and Kovacs match each other move for move, until Kovacs starts using his Envoy training and gains the upper hand. However, with a bit of luck Kovacs Prime is able to throw him off the cliff.
- Half-Truth: Carrera tells Kovacs Prime that Kovacs killed Reileen, but makes no mention of the circumstances. He also glosses over why Kovacs left the Protectorate (because he found out Jaeger sold Rei into slavery).
- I Want Them Alive!: Danita orders Kovacs Real-Deathed on sight, but Quell's stack brought back intact so the Meth-killing weapon can be recovered.
- Kick the Dog: When Kovacs Prime realizes Trepp's father is stalling and doesn't have anything they need, he rips out his stack and crushes it.
- Killed Mid-Sentence: Tanaseda Yukito, while uttering "What the f..." as Kovacs Prime and CTAC assault him and his gang at the Nevermore Hotel.
- Loophole Abuse: Doublesleeving is illegal, but if one of the copies kills the other, then there aren't two of the same person walking around, and it's fine.
- Lotus-Eater Machine: Poe is offered a "Leave Your Quest" Test when the fake Lizzie asks him to stay in the VR construct rather than return to the real world. When he refuses, the Renouncers say they can trap him in the maze which even an AI won't be able to escape.
- The Maze: Poe has to pass one in order to get into the Renouncer VR construct.
- Mexican Standoff: Between the CTAC team and Yukito's gang at Tanaseda's place. It gets resolved peacefully.
- Mirror Match: Kovacs and Kovacs Prime get into a melee, and find themselves matching each other's moves. However, Kovacs has 300 years of experience on his younger self and gets the upper hand. Kovacs Prime only wins because of a lucky break.
- Not Herself: Poe eventually tumbles to Lizze not being the real one because she's not as bold, trying to stop him from investigating Harlen's fate and encouraging Poe to avoid the pain of the real world.
- Not Now, Kiddo: Kovacs ignores Poe who tries to tell him that the person he was looking for, Quell, is resting upstairs at the hotel.
- Off-the-Shelf FX: A closeup of Trepp's pistol as she reaches for it shows the producers took a leaf from Star Wars—the grip is definitely that of a Luger.
- One-Hit Kill: The Wedge takes out the Yakuza gang with a single shot each.
- The Reveal: Conrad Harland is not in the Renouncer VR construct. They are simply paid to perpetuate the lie that he is.
- Shower of Angst: Kovacs finds Quell in the hotel room crouched under the shower.
- Single Tear: Dig as she struggles not to tell Kovacs Prime where the others are, despite her programming.
- That's What I Would Do: Line said by Kovacs Prime after predicting Kovacs' next move.
- Trick-and-Follow Ploy: Kovacs Prime taunts Yukito into going after Kovacs himself, so the Wedge can follow them to Kovacs hideout.
- While You Were in Diapers: When Carrera's current dragon offers Kovacs Prime to take lead since the latter may still be recovering from getting resleeved after such a long time, Kovacs replies with this line:"I've been running ops since before your grandfather's balls dropped. I'll let you know if I need someone to handle the paperwork."
- Your Favorite: Kovacs Prime only has to drink the whiskey left on the table to realise his other self has been there.
