Ripper Street S2E2 - "Am I Not Monstrous?" Recap

A woman named Stella Brooks heads to Whitechapel Hospital, where she gives birth. That night, an unknown intruder breaks in and chases her and the baby. She pleads with them to not take her baby but she is found dead the next day, having been thrown down a stairwell. Her baby has been taken.  Reid and Drake are shown a distinctive feature that may help them to learn her identity - she has a tail.

Reid is introduced to a new member of H Division, the young Detective Constable Albert Flight. Reid is displeased by Flight's youth, but Flight assures him that he will not let him down. The investigation leads them to an underground freakshow. They question the leader of the troupe, who identifies the dead woman as Stella Brooks. Another troupe member, John, was previously involved with Stella and had been searching for her for the past seven months. He becomes distraught and flees. They learn that Stella was orphaned and used to be put on display for money.

Merrick attempts to come forward to identify Shine as a murderer, but Shine catches him before he can say anything. He visits Merrick in his room and intimidates him into keeping quiet. Reid later visits Merrick to questions him about Stella, who had reportedly been a friend of his. But he is too distraught after Shine's visit and insists that he leave, summoning the hospital staff to ensure he does so. Flight brings forth research John Good, who is indeed Stella's baby-daddy and has a criminal record, as well as a propensity for violence. An additional side story in this episode is Jackson learning about Long Susan being in debt to a man named Silas Duggan, who is a friend of Shine's. Shine, meanwhile, appears intent on having Merrick killed.

Reid returns to visit Merrick and informs him of Stella's death. Merrick says he had seen her last September and that she ran away because she couldn't forgive John's rage towards their child. She had intended to track down John's father, who was a doctor and a man of wealth. Additionally, John Good was a false name but they've yet to learn of his true name. Later in the episode, we learn that Reid's wife has left him due to his giving her false hope that their daughter might still be alive and for cheating on her

Reid learns that John's father abused him and subjected both him and his brother to a physical regime much like torture. The father believed the sons suffered from a curse of the blood that killed their mother. John's brother drowned himself, unable to bear the torture any longer. They believe that Stella sought refuge with John's father and was tended to nicely before he got sight of her tail, after which she was cast out. They now believe John's father has taken the baby and will likely subject it to to the same abuse he inflicted on his sons.

Merrick leaves the hospital in search of Inspector Reid. He is harassed by townsfolk but Flight comes to his rescue and offers to take him to Reid. John visits his father, where he finds his son okay for now. He asks about Stella and says that she had the greatest gift of all - a lack of shame for who she was. John's father claims that Stella slipped and fell when she refused to hand the baby over. John takes the baby, intending to kill himself and the baby out of mercy and his father chases after him, demanding that he not hurt him.

Reid and Drake arrive and arrest John's father. They see John standing with his baby, preparing to jump from a balcony. Reid tries to talk him down but John seems inclined to listen. Merrick arrives and manages to talk him down. It's powerful, emotional, potent scene and eventually, John steps down from the balcony and hands Merrick the baby. They look upon the baby together. After John's father is taken away, Merrick confesses to Reid that he witnesses Shine commit the murder he is currently trying to pin on Reid. Reid orders Flight to escort Merrick back to his room and to stand guard outside his room. Flight falls asleep, Shine sneaks in, and scolds Merrick for coming forward before killing him by removing the pillows needed to support him when he sleeps.

Ripper Street airs on Mondays on BBC One at 9PM.