The Crows and Nikolai's group venture into the Fold, where they are attacked by Kirigan and a nichevo'ya. Kirigan attempts to kill Mal with the Cut, but Alina is able form a Cut made of light to block it. The two Cuts meet and annihilate each other, mortally wounding Mal, and severely wounding Kirigan. A dying Mal asks Alina to kill him so she can use him as amplifier, which releases a blast of light so powerful that it destroys the Fold. Inej and Zoya destroy the remaining nichevo'ya, but Nina is unable to heal Mal. Kirigan tells Alina that her sacrifice was for naught. She rebuffs him one final time and kills him with the Neshyenyer. Alina uses merzost to bring Mal back to life.
The characters regroup. Inej gives Alina the Neshyenyer; Mal tells Alina that their relationship is not the same after his resurrection and he doesn't know what he is meant for. Genya can't find David's body, but realizes he had intended to propose to her before his likely death. Kirigan's body is burned per his request.Afterwards, Mal is offered Nikolai's privateering resources, an opportunity he takes to decide what his purpose is. Kaz gives Inej a lead on her missing brother, but finally admits that he would like her to stay with him. She decides to join Mal, along with Tolya, Tamar, and Nadia.
Nina is able to obtain a pardon for Matthias, but he kills a guard in the fighting pits. In Ketterdam, the Crow Club is flourishing. Before Nikolai's coronation, the Apparet gives some ominous advice and suggests that his betrothal to Alina legitimizes his rule. Alina assigns Genya to oversee the palace and Zoya to oversee Grisha training. Kaz explains the existence of jurda parem, a Grisha-enhancing drug, to the Crows, while a a Fjerdan terrorist empowered by it attacks Nikolai's coronation. Alina is able to take her out with a shadow Cut, to her and the court's horror.
Tropes:
- Awesome Moment of Crowning: Subverted. Supporting protagonist and heir to the throne Nikolai is crowned at the end of the season in what should be a triumphant and hopeful moment for the characters and their country, but it's undermined immediately with the revelation that Nikolai has some form of shadow magic left in his body, to say nothing of the terrorist that violently attacks the ceremony.
- Back from the Dead: Alina uses merzost to resurrect Mal, despite swearing that she'd never use it.
- Blood from the Mouth: The Heartrender infiltrator at Nikolai's coronation takes some jurda parem, which makes her capable of making the crowd of attendees collapse and spurt blood from their mouths.
- Cross-Referenced Titles: The title of this episode, along with the previous season's, forms the Crows' motto: "No mourners, no funerals." (A Non-Indicative Title, as Kirigan gets a Meaningful Funeral.)
- Dying Declaration of Love: Alina and Mal tell each other they love each other before Alina kills him.
- Ironic Echo Cut:
- I Should Write a Book About This: Jesper thinks that they should hire someone to write a book about their adventures.
- Legacy Character: Nikolai passes on the name of Sturmhond to Mal (but not command of the Hummingbird, which he leaves in Tamar and Tolya's hands).
- Meaningful Funeral: Kirigan's funeral pyre is lit by Genya and Zoya, women he'd hurt, as Nikolai gives a speech about how his death and the destruction of the Fold signals a new beginning.
- The Mirror Shows Your True Self: Nikolai's reflection is briefly a nichevo'ya, the monster that had attacked him and left a Wound That Will Not Heal.
- No Body Left Behind: Genya can't find David's body nor feel his heartbeat, but only finds a splatter of blood outside the dumbwaiter he'd locked her in to keep her safe.
- Pimped-Out Dress: After spending the entire season in military wear, Genya, Zoya, and Alina are in fancy gowns for the coronation.
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: Nina spends the entire season trying to obtain a pardon for Matthias and finally gets it for her assistance against Kirigan, but Matthias kills a prison guard just before it can be enacted, and, well, his pardon doesn't cover that.
- Throwing Your Sword Always Works: Alina is held up in the air by a shadow monster. Inej throws the Neshyenyer blade at the creature and the sword lands true, destroying it.
- There Are Two Kinds of People in the World: Nina thinks the two most dangerous types of people are "those defending their happily ever after and those who don't know how to find their way to one." She thinks Alina is unusual for being both.
- Wound That Will Not Heal: The wound Nikolai got from the nichevo'ya is not only still apparently fresh, but expanding.
