Season 1, Episode 2:
Exposure
Lavinia Bidlow: "Three of the Touched declared war on society. Right now, every one of us - of you - is suspect."
With the city reeling from Maladie's opera debut, Mundi takes a personal stake in tracking her down, while Amalia launches an investigation of her own. Meanwhile, the charitable Lavinia Bidlow seeks to destigmatize the Touched at a society event, Hugo Swann enlists Lavinia's younger brother Augie to help monetize his illicit enterprise, and a deranged doctor conducts a series of experiments.
Tropes in this episode:
- All Men Are Perverts: Invoked and subverted. Lavinia dismisses Augie's interest in Penance as mere lust, accusing him of being too concerned with her body to note the social implications of spending time with her. Augie hadn't even thought of it until she mentioned it, and was just enjoying an affinity with a fellow scientist.
- Badass Boast: Amalia, upon having Mundi put a gun to her head:Amalia: Don't make me take that away from you.
- The Beastmaster: Augie reveals that he has a mental link with birds, allowing him to see through their eyes and even control them.
- Deliberate Values Dissonance: Lavinia takes exception to Augie spending time with Penance, noting that she is both Touched and Irish.
- Only a Flesh Wound: Subverted after Amalia shoots herself.Penance: You nearly died, you great idiot!Amalia: [petulant] You nearly died!Penance: But not by my own hand! There's not a place in heaven for them who scorn the gift of life.Amalia: I knew Horatio would have time to sew me back up. I missed the vital organs, silly.Penance: No you didn't!Horatio: No you didn't.Amalia: [beat] Oh. I thought-Horatio: Either you don't know anatomy, or you don't know how to aim.
- Reckless Gun Usage: Amalia grimaces as Penance checks her jammed foam extinguisher by looking into the barrel.
- Sadistic Choice: Invoked by Maladie. She attempts to make Amalia kill either Mary or Penance to save the other.
- Saying Too Much: Desiree's turn causes this in those around her, especially if they're emotionally worked-up.
- Shatterpoint Tap: Mary's turn allows her to break solid objects with just a touch.
- Take a Third Option: Instead of shooting Mary or Penance as Maladie wants, Amalia shoots herself in the stomach.
- Taken for Granite: Harriet's turn allows her to change matter into glass by blowing on it.
- You Can't Fight Fate: Amalia is adamant that the futures she sees with her power cannot be changed.
