Ripper Street S2E4 - "Dynamite and a Woman" Recap

Aiden Galvin, an Irish bomber, is sprung free from the prison wagon in which he is locked in when the driver has a heart attack. The following day, he sets up a bomb in a prominent M.P.'s room. Shortly before it goes off, the man spots a flag of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. The man was an outspoken opponent of the Home Rule movement. Chief Inspector Abberline recruits H division to to help him. He beats and salts the wound of the leader of the IRB to get information. They learn that Galvin has a daughter.

Jackson's examination of the bodies and the explosive device shards lead the inspectors to discover that the driver was electrocuted, thus causing his heart attack. Reid notes that the IRB would never disguise their purposes in this manner. The murdered M.P., Knightly, was known for his vicious prejudice against the Irish but they now know to explore who else would benefit from his death.

Flight, who is Irish, is sent undercover into Whitechapel's community to get close to Galvin's daughter, Evie. Michael, the salted IRB leader, tells Evie to expect her father to come find her and seek out refuge. She is skeptical, as he did not write for the 20 years he was imprisoned. Michael reminds her that he has a taste for killing Englishmen even though the IRB have stated that this practice is of the past. Michael wants her to pacify him and tells her that the IRB was a father to her, having paid for her life as an orphan. Flight tries to help her but she sends him off, insisting she can fend for herself. Michael tells Evie to inform him if and when her father makes contact.

When Flight returns to the station, Jackson advises him on how to win over Evie's good opinion. He's warned that he has a frosty exterior and that his repeated refusal of drink makes him seem untrustworthy. He also needs to come up with a story that will be felt in the heart to establish a connection. They get the idea to make him seem sympathetic as a victim of police brutality and have Drake punch him once to give him a black eye. The rouse is effective and it's not long before she's offered him a place to stay and they even kiss.

Reid gets word of a demonstration to take place by a man named Broadwick of Broadwick Machine Works. He demonstrates the apparent superiority of direct current over alternating current by electrocuting a goat. Afterwards, Reid learns from Broadwick that Knightly was accepting bribes. Broadwick then tells them about a Mr. Ferranti, who will be giving a demonstration that night promoting alternating current. Ferranti is Broadwick's rival as they are both competing to build a new power station.

Ferranti admits to Reid and Drake about his bribing Knightly, saying that it was the only way to be even considered. However, he says he would not have needed to kill Knightly, since he had science on his side.

Galvin walks in on Flight (who is using a false name) having a snog with Evie. He asks to have a moment alone with her, saying he has plans to leave the city that night. He admits to killing Knightly, and says he has one last task, after which he wants her to come with him to New York, presenting her with a ticket. Before he leaves, she asks him about a man named Holland, who has been writing to her one her birthday claiming to be her father. Galvin leaves immediately following this.

Flight follows after him and has a police officer he encounters on the way to deliver a message to Reid to inform him of the letters from Holland. Reid deduces that the man resides in Raritan, New Jersey. Menlo Park is in Raritan, which is home to Thomas Edison and the lead traces them back to Broadwick. Reid concludes that Broadwick is in fact Holland and he was responsible for springing Galvin loose to kill Knightly for him.

Galvin confronts Broadwick regarding Evie. Broadwick says that Evie's mother had told him that he was her father and had asked him to look after her. He did not have the strength to be a father, opting instead to write, send money and gifts. Broadwick gives Galvin a device which he means to have placed inside Ferranti's device. The trio arrive and Flight fills them in.

At the demonstration, Ferranti's device is shown to be tremedously popular to the audience. Broadwick and Galvin head out and then the trio burst in, ordering Ferranti to shut off his device and evacuate the guests. When the explosion has yet to happen, Broadwick orders Galvin to go back in and fix it but Galvin refuses, saying he is no longer his dynamite delivery boy. Galvin is intent on getting to his daughter, regardless of who may be her blood relation.

Broadwick goes back in and goes to turn the device back on, checking for the explosive device. Reid informs him that his explosive has been removed and he is under arrest. Broadwick places his hands on the device to kill himself.

Flight goes to visit Evie who has decided to go to New York with her father. Galvin is on his way to Evie but is surrounded by the IRB and Michael delivers a kill shot to his head. Evie is left thinking her father abandoned her but decides to go to New York anyway. She asks Flight for his real name but he will not give it. He admits that the story about his family was true but tells her to go on her way. He gets emotional once she has walked away.

Throughout the episode, Reid is shown to be spending time with Jane Cobden. He rebuffs her advances at the end, though it is quite clear that he does share the same feelings as her. He is still conflicted over his failed marriage.

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