Alina and Kirigan grow closer, Mal goes on a hunt, and Kaz gets closer to reaching the Little Palace.
Tropes in this episode:
- All for Nothing: The Crows put a lot of time and energy into stealing a copy of the Little Palace blueprints, only to realize that there's absolutely no way they can sneak in, and turn to Arken's Plan B.
- Artsy Beret: Kaz' disguise as a famous sculptor involves putting on a beret and a colorful coat.
- As You Know: Alina tells the legend of the Black Heretic to Kirigan, who of course knows the story well being his descendant.
- Boring, but Practical: The Crows perform an elaborate heist upon the Kribirsk Archives to steal some floor plans of the Little Palace — only to find, upon examining said plans, that there's literally no way they'll be able to break in. Arken had sensed this scheme might not work, and took about two seconds to just sabotage one of the acts of a travelling theatre troupe so that Inej and Jesper can take the injured performer's place.
- The Caper: The Crows break into the Kribirsk archives to steal some floor plans, and succeed.
- Every Scar Has a Story: Alina got her hand scar squeezing a pottery shard so she wouldn't pass the Griska test, while Mal got his breaking a mug across the face of the quartermaster who had Alina thrown into the brig, so he could go there as well. Alina has the scar erased when she thinks Mal has abandoned her.
- Fantastic Racism: This is what drove the Black Heretic to create the Fold. The King of the time grew paranoid of his growing power, and so put a price on his head and of anyone who followed him. The Black Heretic tried to create a safe space for his kind, but created the Fold instead.
- Foreshadowing : When the Crows are examining their stolen plans and realising there's actually no way into the Little Palace, Arken is only half paying attention and watching the performance going on behind them. Then, as he remarks that he thought the plan might not work, the aerial performer slips and lands hard on the stage below...and Arken carries on drinking his beer. Later on the viewers see that he deliberately sabotaged the performer's equipment.
- Given Name Reveal: Kirigan tells Alina his first name is Aleksander while on a casual trip around the Little Palace. This helps Alina trust him.
- Impossible Task: Orders come down to the First Army that they are to find volunteers to track down a mythical stag that is said to enhance Grisha powers, for the sake of the Sun-Summoner. As everyone is laughing it off, Mal recognizes Alina's drawing, and volunteers.
- Love Is a Weakness: Alina only shows her full potential once she's given up hope of being reunited with Mal. It's implied this is why her letters aren't reaching him.
- More Dakka: The enemy soldiers set up a tripod-mounted machine gun on Mal and friends. Judging by his confusion, this is bleeding-edge technology that no one has ever seen before.
- Pet the Dog: When the Drüskelle ship hits the storm the Captain orders Mattias to kill the captives in case any of them get free. Nina clearly notices that he's not happy at the idea of executing anyone without a trial.
- Reckless Gun Usage: Jesper does an over-the-shoulder shot with his pistol, aiming with a mirror. Doing this with a rifle is difficult, but using a revolver is a bad idea. The muzzle next to his head would've likely deafened him in that ear, and the cylinder gap blast might've just taken his ear off. Shooters with bad hand placement have lost fingers to the gap blast of high-caliber revolvers.
- Ship Tease: When Kirigan starts angsting about all the people who have died under his command, he unwittingly creates a cloud of darkness that Alina banishes with her own power, telling him You Are Not Alone. She then quickly leaves the room on realising the Unresolved Sexual Tension. Given that she now thinks Mal has given up on her...
- Shoot Out the Lock: During heist Inej has to stash her rope to hide it from a Patrolling Mook and so can't climb out, then gets locked behind a gate with the lever that opens it out of reach. Jesper aims at the lever from the second floor and fires as the clock strikes on the hour, with the bullet striking the lever being enough to turn it.
- Slipping a Mickey: Baghra offers Alina an innocuous cup of tea — though soon after taking a sip she realizes it's laced with hallucinogenics.
- Unfolding Plan Montage: The Crows' plan to steal the Little Palace blueprints is said out loud as it's being executed. It hits a slight snag (Inej is caught behind a locked door) but mostly works.
- Voiceover Letter: As a parallel to Alina doing the same last episode, Mal writes and narrates several letters to Alina as he travels with his company.
- William Telling: Exaggerated. To prove his gunslinging skills, Jesper shoots a card in Inej's mouth in half ... while standing with his back to her and she's hanging upside-down from the ceiling in an acrobatic pose. The manager lets him in the troupe on the spot.
- Wishing Well: Or wishing fountain. Kirigan takes Alina to a fountain he would visit as a child, where he would throw coins into the water and wish to be somebody else.
