Ron Does Stuff

We’re down to the last three episodes! In the previous episode, Deryn finally comes clean to Aleksandar. How will things turn out between them now? Let’s find out!

Aleksandar is understandably pissed that Deryn never told him her secret, especially since they promised each other no secrets back in episode four. But their confrontation will have to wait as Nora Barlow calls them to the bridge for an important discussion.

While Nora Barlow took all her uncle’s documents from the Tunguska site, she’s also aware that the Germans will catch on soon enough and will either prevent them from getting to New York or get ahead of them to get to Nikola Tesla. They need to get in touch with London fast to get permission to fly into New York, and Deryn gets the job of setting up the antenna so they can establish a connection. It’s here that Aleksandar reveals why Deryn never told him her secret in the first place. Since setting up the antenna in the middle of a storm is dangerous, Aleksandar volunteers to help Deryn out, with the subtext being it’s too dangerous for a girl to do this. I know it’s well-intentioned, but this isn’t the way to go about this, Aleksandar.

Deryn accomplishes the task, but is blown off by a gust of wind and ends up in the Leviathan’s bat tubes. At least she didn’t fall to her death! Aleksandar, however, is aghast that Deryn is left alone out there to face the elements on her own. He tries to sneak out later to help her out, but is stopped by Volger, who reveals that he also knows Deryn’s secret. Aleksander truly is clueless. Lilit read him like a book. But their discussion is overheard by someone, which could mean terrible things are going to happen to Deryn even if Aleksandar rescues her from her current predicament.

And of course, Aleksandar shows why Deryn didn’t want him to be part of the mission in the first place, as he fumbles his attempted rescue and ends up being rescued by Deryn instead. Deryn rubs this in his face when he regains consciousness after he hits his head against the Leviathan, and honestly? Can’t blame her!

It does lead to a hurt/comfort scene which is always a welcome trope for me.

When Aleksandar next regains consciousness, it’s in his room in the Leviathan. Volger tells him that the Leviathan has been given permission to fly to New York, and that Deryn had been demoted to janitorial duties because the crewman that overheard them reported it to the officers. Considering that I was thinking she’d be put to death, janitorial duties doesn’t seem as a bad a disciplinary action.

Aleksandar doesn’t think that’s right and rushes over to where Deryn is cleaning the windows, but she is rightfully pissed. We then hear that this isn’t actually Deryn’s final punishment. Once they get back to London, she’ll be removed from the Leviathan and her airman duties. But the soldiers make sure to tell her that her skills aren’t the issue and that she’s a terrific airman. It’s just that those are the rules and they as the soldiers have to abide by it.

When Aleksandar finds out that Nora Barlow also knows about Deryn’s secret and never said anything, he realizes that his old-fashioned way of thinking — that Deryn must need help because she’s a woman — resulted in him taking something important from her. He’s now worried that she’ll never talk to him again and the kilig? The kilig I’m feeling? I’m feeling it.

While Aleksandar stews, Nora Barlow calls Deryn over to her quarters and tells her that she can be her assistant once they get back to London. Deryn doesn’t know what to say to that, especially since becoming an airman has been all she’s wanted for some time now. Nora Barlow does tell her that times will change and that what Deryn’s done now should make all women proud.

And then we get to hear Aleksandar playing violin? Nora Barlow says she recommended Aleksander play it to unwind, but what Aleksandar is playing is the same song that Deryn sang to him when they were in the bat tube. Nora Barlow tells Deryn that maybe it’s time to forgive Aleksandar, and why wouldn’t you now that he’s basically serenading you?

ALSO DID SOMEBODY SAY SERENADE?

Stream it on Spotify too!

And then Deryn accompanies Aleksandar’s violin playing by singing? The way they sync together, even with a wall dividing them? OH THE KILIG I’M FEELING. Of course, after all of that, Deryn and Aleksandar finally forgive each other and understand each other. So sweet!

The Leviathan finally arrives in New York, and Aleksandar nabs an invitation to the demonstration of Nikola Tesla’s latest invention by revealing himself as an Austrian prince. However, the invitation is only for two people and while Volger tries to be the one who goes to the event with Aleksandar, Nora Barlow manages to outmaneuver him and has Deryn go instead. There’s a funny scene where Deryn runs out of the room where Nora Barlow’s prepared dresses for her, and she comes down instead, looking handsome in a suit. In an alternate, alternate universe, this would be the plot for a BL.

The demonstration starts and I know Tesla isn’t claiming he’s invented wireless communication when it’s my main girl Hedy Lamarr who came up with all that. Put some respect on her name!

But the demonstration that Aleksandar and Deryn watched still isn’t the main thing that Nikola Tesla was working on. It’s a reveal that he’s saving for the next day. At the…afterparty? Aleksandar is straight to the point and asks Tesla if he knows anything about what happened in Tunguska. Oh, he’s not playing around anymore.