If there was such a thing as a signature Baccano episode – one which straddles all the different moods and modes of this series and represents it at its most elemental – this might be the one.  It’s the Goldilocks outing, where nothing stands out too much and (in a break with much of the first half of the series, which tended to focus on a small group at a time) most of the main cast makes an appearance.  It’s also singularly and unapologetically weird and unconventional, which is as Baccano as anything can be.

The genius of pouring so many ingredients into this melting pot of chaos is a big part of the charm.  Added to the mix you have the Lemures (an especially terrifying spectre from Roman mythology), who claim to serve Huey Laforet and to be hijacking the train on his behalf.  But imprisoned Huey clearly seems no loyalty in them, only ambition to take immortality – and his daughter Chane is with them only as a useful tool.  And now we learn that Czes is acting as a free agent himself, planning to blow up the train and eventually cut a deal with the Runoratas in New York.

As for Ladd, he’s just plain nuts.  Czes’ offer of $200,000 (that was a lot of money in 1931) for his help is less important to him than the itch to kill Czes when he appears too cocky for Ladd’s taste.  Ladd can’t kill Czes of course (though he doesn’t know that) but Czes has realized – because he used his true name – that there must be another immortal on-board.  For him it’s eat or be eaten – yet another competing interest on this runaway train to Hell.  And now our friend Claire, the Rail Tracer, has seen Czes’ immortality in action.

Two elements here are pretty much typical Baccano insanity as only this series can do it.  First we have three different parties not in the train, but on top of it – each here completely independent of each other.  And then there’s the spectacle of Isaac and Miria trying to “act naturally” – and if there were ever two people constitutionally incapable of acting naturally, it’s these two.  We know now how Dallas came to be an immortal – it seems we’re about to see the same thing happen with Isaac and Miria, though the circumstances could hardly be more different.