Ranking Every Major Performance In Carnival Row

Simon McBurney’s Runyan Millworthy is a strange character to watch. In the early episodes, he seems to be there to add nothing more than a bit of flavour to the Row, performing with his Punch & Judy style street show. However, once his Critch friends/employees are deported (following a paperwork mistake by the police, no less), he takes it up several levels.

Aside from the central Critch characters, it had been hard to develop much of a connection with the minorities of Carnival Row. Once we see a heartbroken Runyan desperate as the deportation ship sails away though, the consequences suddenly feel very real.

By the time he becomes Jonah’s tutor and refuses to be spoken down to, we’re all rooting for him. He’s one of the few characters who doesn’t raise a moral dilemma, but it’s good to have an unflinchingly good man on board.

There’s very much a sense of more to come, however. His final scene sees him promoted to Chancellor’s advisor, a role which will surely offer a bigger part in season two. Simon McBurney seems well placed to take advantage.