The Gloaming Review: Hell’s Black Grammar (Season 1 Episode 2)

The Gloaming Season 1 Episode 2, “Hell’s Black Grammar,” is all about connections.

It’s these connections that lead the investigation as well as the personal stories by artfully weaving everything together while keeping the suspense heightened.

I feel I might soon end up like Charlie on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia trying to prove that Pepe Silvia doesn’t exist. I need a big board to keep track of all the connections and motives and relationships between everyone involved. 

There’s a lot of information in each scene, but it never gets complicated. And there’s a lot of information imparted in quiet moments and subtle reactions. 

Something sinister is going on in Hobart and I am as invested in figuring it out as Detective Senior Constable Molly McGee.

The Spider Web Grows

Molly (Emma Booth) seems to be the only one willing to pursue the clue of Jenny McGinty’s ID card. Confirming a connection will keep Alex (Ewen Leslie) on the case, and that’s something that neither of them want. However, the piece of evidence is too significant to ignore.

Molly faces things that might be difficult through the dedication to her work. Alex would rather forget what happened with Jenny and not be connected in any way to the horrific murder they are investigating. Molly tries to set her feelings aside and Alex is beginning to be consumed by his. 

I don’t fault Alex for this—being on this case is retraumatizing for him. He is visibly upset looking through the old evidence box.

This scene isn’t just to show his emotional state—though, that is done well through Leslie’s performance and the flashbacks—it serves as discovery of another connection. Lewis Grimshaw (Aaron Pedersen) was on the investigating team assigned to Jenny’s murder. He has been discouraging Molly from looking into the possible links between the cases.

Why?

It’s one of many questions that arise on The Gloaming Season 1 Episode 2, “Hell’s Black Grammar.” Others that would make it onto my big board would be:

• What the heck is Grace (Rena Owen) up to with her creepy Christian recruitment center? And what is with that nightmare-inducing shrouded owl figure that is just chilling in the background?
• Why are the Gloamers following Freddie (Matt Testro)? Does Alex have one attached to him, too?
• What is the significance of the dealings between Councillor Jacinta Clunes (Nicole Chamoun) and Gareth (Martin Henderson)?
• How and why does Jenny’s earring end up with Alex?
• What is Lily (Josephine Blazier) mixed up in?

This is just scratching the surface.

Symbolism

The use of symbols on The Gloaming is one of its most intriguing aspects. On this episode, it’s the chalk marking in Molly’s shed where Daisy (Markella Kavenagh) committed suicide. (But did she even hang herself or was there foul play?)

It looks like a blue T above the door to the shed. Molly finds the piece of chalk and flashes back to getting takeaway on Season 1 Episode 1, “The Dying of the Light”—something that seemed so innocuous at the time. Who put it there and what does it mean?

The title of the episode might be a clue. “Hell’s Black Grammar” could refer to evil forces trying to communicate with the corporeal world. Is there a dark magic lifting the veil between the worlds?

There is no lack of questions to ponder on The Gloaming, but also no lack of symbols that keep the mystery humming along.

The symbolism is just one of many layers to this story, and one the show does well. They are not only clues that intensify the plot, but they add to the horror and emotional elements in really cool ways. 

The Gloaming plays as a can’t-put-it-down mystery novel come to life. The pacing is perfect, and so far, Episodes 1 and 2 have ended like chapters in a book where you are compelled to keep reading.

“Hell’s Black Grammar” ends with the discovery of a big connection between Daisy’s suicide and the murder victim, but we can only speculate what that connection could be until the next episode.

It’s the kind of series that will be fun to rewatch over and over to see how the symbols connect and how many were so subtly placed as to have been missed the first time.

I’m looking forward to the next pieces of the puzzle.

What did you think of this episode of The Gloaming? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Gloaming airs Sundays at 9/8c on Starz.

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