Adil and Khalida are on a train in India talking to General Sharma about the new potential home of the Tarim. Khalida is suspicious, knowing how military nations work, but before Sharma can reassure them, she’s attacked by Witchplague that was planted in her teacup. It kills her quickly, spreading out towards Adil and Khalida, who run for their lives as the train gets derailed in the chaos.
Alder asks where Tally heard about Nicte Batan, claiming that she wasn’t in Liberia, but Tally knows better. Knowing she has to at least admit to that, Alder says that the Martyrdom was one of her deepest regrets and that she wanted to hide her involvement in it. She covered up Nicte because she deserted shortly after seeing what Esterbrook and her rebels did to themselves. Alder doesn’t believe that she owes Tally answers. Tally tells Alder that they’re connected; that she’s seeing memories, and that’s when Alder’s face changes. She promises to have Izadora give Tally something that will sever the connection for good.
The next day, Raelle confronts Anacostia and asks if she knew that Scylla had escaped from custody. Anacostia is cagey about the true nature of her and Scylla’s working relationship, but acquiesces and says that the military are aware that Scylla isn’t in custody. Raelle holds up the photo of herself, wanting to know exactly how Scylla got it, but Anacostia doesn’t answer. Willa, who Raelle still doesn’t know is alive, argues with a Spree agent named Jonas who is – in her opinion – off on a suicide mission. Jonas tells Scylla that she’s become soft and weak, but Willa disagrees, saying that there are things worth dying for, but there are things worth living for.
Gregorio finds the unit and breaks the news to Abigail about the train incident. The world fades into the background as Abigail absorbs the very real possibility of Adil and Khalida’s deaths and realizes that the Camarilla attacks are never going to stop. Unfortunately for Alder, the Indian military has placed public blame on the Camarilla for the train attack, and now the secret of their return is out. However, there’s a small victory for the army, as the tapes have been swapped out of the school test, meaning the Camarilla won’t be able to identify any more young witches.
Abigail, who is not acting like herself, throws in the towel during a training session, which worries Tally and Raelle. They offer to come home with Abigail over fall break, but Abigail tells them they won’t be safe there, and won’t be safe anywhere. They’re passed by a procession of cadets with lit torches, following them to a collection of bonfires.
It’s Samhain, or Halloween in the muggle world, and there is a very important tradition to be upheld at Fort Salem. Each coven must defend their hearth from the ghosts of the Lost Regiment, who lost their lives after lighting one fire to stop themselves from freezing to death, until the last stroke of midnight. If successful, you may speak to one dead witch of your choosing. Sekhmet coven just barely make it, thanks in part to Raelle using a more controlled and contained form of her Mycelium powers.
Shane escorts Anacostia and Scylla to a gala, where they discover that the Camarilla have employed their Work-cancelling tech through the power system, so they’ll have to improv. Shane name-drops the Camarilla; he’s not a part of it, but he definitely wants to be. He thinks Bonnie’s too weak for it, though. Shane reveals that he got himself an invite by providing a “gift” although he won’t tell them what. Putting on a mask and becoming another faceless member of the crowd, he leaves Anacostia and Scylla to wonder how Scylla is going to take the Exarch’s face if everyone is hiding theirs.
But they needn’t have worried about identifying the Exarch, as he reveals himself as the cop from the testing center, removing his mask to address the crowd. It’s with dawning horror that Scylla and Anacostia realize what the gift Shane brought is… Tiffany, Brianna’s recently discovered as a witch friend, whom Shane claimed was on vacation earlier in the episode. A gallows is unveiled and Tiffany is bound with her hands above her head as the crowd prepare to stone her to death. Anacostia goes to kill the power to the dampeners, instructing Scylla to get Tiffany as soon as she’s done that.
But Scylla doesn’t wait for the power to go out. She descends the stairs, telling the crowd to take her instead, before removing her mask and proclaiming herself a witch. Not just any witch, either, but a member of the Spree who has killed thousands of civilians. In the basement, Anacostia beats the snot out of Orsatti, again, and manages to shut off the power. Scylla takes the opportunity to Windstrike the Exarch and take his face as the crowd flee in terror, and she and Anacostia get Tiffany out of there safely.
M gives each member of Sekhmet coven a candle, instructing them to light it and speak the name of the dead witch they wish to speak to; they’ll have until the candle burns out. Tally speaks to Esterbrook, who shows her what really happened at the Martyrdom. The rebels surrendered before Alder threw in a Working that made them kill themselves. Abigail speaks to Charvel, who tells her that she must take the fight to the Camarilla themselves; that she is vengeance. Raelle calls for her mom, who doesn’t come. Raelle breaks down in tears, unsure why her mother didn’t want to talk to her, and completely unaware that she is alive. Raelle needs to see her dad for break. Tally goes with her, but Abigail is a woman on a mission. She’s going to find the Camarilla and she’s going to bathe in their blood.
Adil is revealed to have survived the train attack, along with Khalida, and he returns to Fort Salem and reunites with Abigail. They make up, bonding over being hunted by the Camarilla, and Abigail tells him it’s time for the Camarilla to feel like they’re the ones being hunted. Starting with the one who killed Charvel.
Bonnie broaches her concerns over Tiffany to Shane, who reassures her that she’s probably fine, and even if she isn’t, it’s one less witch in the world. Bonnie leans in close, repeats the not our daughters chant to him, and stabs him through the ear with Brianna’s favorite pencil. She pulls out a lighter and burns her face… to reveal Scylla. She leaves Shane dead in his bed and tells the real Bonnie, who has just arrived home from dropping Brianna at school, to find something beautiful to live for lest hate eat her whole. Scylla walks away, hears Bonnie’s scream as she discovers her dead husband, and winces.
Tropes Used:
- Annoying Arrows: Pretty much averted. M warns the coven not to get hit by the arrows the ghosts are firing, and Gregorio finds out why. It takes Raelle Fixing him to get back on his feet, and even then, he needs help.
- Badass Boast: Scylla, although in the process of reforming and thus probably exaggerating a little, delivers this one to the Camarilla at the gala who ask why they should kill her instead of Tiffany.Scylla: Because I’m a witch.Shane: Justine, what are you doing?Scylla: My name is not Justine, you ignorant rat carcass. Not only am I a witch… I am the Spree, and I’ve killed thousands of civilians. And I enjoyed it! Every. Single. Time.
- Black-Tie Infiltration: Scylla and Anacostia get glammed up to attend a gala held by some higher ups in the Camarilla.
- Combat Stilettos: Anacostia fights Orsatti wearing a jumpsuit and stiletto heels. She beats the ever-loving shit out of him.
- Flashback Cut: When Abigail is told of the train attack, she flashes back to images such as Adil’s face, the witches being burned in 1x10, Charvel’s death and Raelle being stabbed.
- Friend to All Children: Scylla is shown to be very good with Brianna and later blows her Justine cover, not to mention putting herself in incredible danger, to save Tiffany.
- Halloween Episode: More Samhain than Halloween, but we do see Brianna in her Halloween costume.
- Horror Doesn't Settle for Simple Tuesday: The Camarilla use Halloween to throw a gala and attempt to stone a child witch to death.
- Ironic Echo: Scylla echoes the “not our daughters” line after she kills Shane, turning it from a chant against the army testing and taking their daughters to join the army into a quiet reflection on the horrors that civilians still want to subject witches to.
- Masquerade Ball: The gala includes blank white masks for everybody, which Scylla and Anacostia note will make it almost impossible to identify anyone.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Abigail, plagued with guilt and PTSD after she was attacked again, taps out of training.
- Pre Ass Kicking One Liner: Scylla gleefully delivers a holiday-appropriate one at the gala before Windstriking the Exarch.Scylla: Trick or treat!
- Ship Tease: Tally and Gregorio get a blink and you’ll miss it moment when she helps him to his feet after the defense of the hearth.
- Special Occasions Are Magic: The episode takes place during Samhain, when each coven must defend their hearth until midnight from the ghosts of the Lost Regiment. If they win, they get to talk to one dead witch of their choosing.
- Survivor Guilt: Abigail is experiencing this, telling her mother that maybe she shouldn’t have survived the Camarilla attack.
- Take Me Instead: Scylla invokes this trope pretty much verbatim to save Tiffany’s life and buy Anacostia some time.
- Would Hurt a Child: Both Shane, who hands the young child Tiffany over, and the Camarilla, who would relish in the opportunity to stone her to death simply for being a witch.
