Summary
This is the weakest offering from the series yet. A pretentious, cliched, and overly sentimental installment that includes some truly embarrassing, almost laughable flashback sequences. The cracks have been showing for a while now, but the series completely falls apart here.
We recap the Apple TV+ series City on Fire Season 1 Episode 6, “Annus Horriblis,” which contains spoilers.
“Annus Horriblis” is a Latin phrase that roughly translates as “horrible year.” Our gang of misfits in City on Fire seem to be having one of those tragic years themselves; as Samantha’s (Chase Sui Wonders) coma worsens, innocent bystanders are being killed off, and the many crimes in the city lead to further heartache.
City on Fire Season 1 Episode 6 Recap
Starting with the last installment’s cliffhanger ending, we are reacquainted with William as he sinks to the bottom of a river. William’s life flashes before his eyes, and he suddenly awakens.
The troubled artist swims to the surface, commandeers a boat, and heads for his family’s water-side mansion.
Meanwhile, Mercer watches as a body is removed from William’s studio. He’s frightened the body belongs to his partner William, but it is identified as William’s gallerist Bruno instead.
The Detectives ask Mercer about Bruno and then update him on his boyfriend’s whereabouts.
William was last seen boarding a boat after being chased. The Detectives conclude that the two incidents are linked. The intruder was destroying William’s work and important evidence. The fire was not an accident.
After his involvement in William’s murder, Nicky struggles to cope back at base. He gets drunk, feeling somewhat guilty. Charlie interrupts this pity party to confront Nicky. He’s found the photographs; he knows everything.
Nicky is actually impressed; he apologizes for being with Charlie’s infatuation. Nicky admits that the photographed incident broke Samantha. It made her question everything. She was never the same afterward.
Why is Amory angry with Nicky?
Mercer stays with Regan after the studio fire. Amory pays them a visit, hoping to offer his services. Of course, this is all just a veiled threat. Regan and Mercer ask Amory to leave. In the car, Amory unleashes his pent-up anger. Nicky killed an innocent bystander, and William may still be alive. He loses his composure as his many crimes come back to haunt him.
William is very much still alive. He drives to one of his family’s mansions and collapses. The following day, the caretaker, Jacob, greets him. William is back after 15 years away to save his family from the evil Amory.
Flashbacks explore the history between William and Amory further. The man weaseled his way into the family, with sister Felicia marrying William and Regan’s father, Bill Sr.
At a party, Regan is raped, and it seems that Amory was involved somehow, possibly paying off the rapist.
William tries to talk Regan into speaking with their father about the rape incident, but Regan receives a seat on the board instead. Amory also gains a board seat.
William confronts the entire family on the day of the wedding. It’s revealed that Amory has also been spying on William’s extracurricular activities.
This is the infamous incident that ends with William abandoning his own family. William’s attempts to oust Amory fail, and he decides to leave the family once and for all, turning his back on Regan after she sides with the family and their power over her brother and common decency.
What do they find at Amory’s cottage?
In the present, William and Jacob investigate Amory’s cottage, finding boxes of files on the entire family. Amory has been gathering data and dirt on everyone. It’s revealed that Regan’s rape incident ended in an unwanted pregnancy. Regan apparently had the baby in secret. Nicky has a file, too; he is labeled as a pyromaniac.
Elsewhere, the Detectives link the Hamilton-Sweeney Group to all of this chaos. They plan to go after Amory next, although he has friends in high places.
Detective McFadden questions the doorman at the Fourth of July Event, finally accessing the CCTV footage with a warrant. She sees Amory entering the party from the park. He may be the possible shooter, after all.
What is Nicky’s bomb going to be used for?
Detective Parsa calls Samantha’s father, asking questions about the fireworks used in the city fires. Samantha’s dad realizes that they’ve stolen key items which could be used to build a bomb. And then Charlie walks in on Nicky with said bomb. Nicky states that this monstrous creation is to be used on Samantha’s shooter. He’s certain he has figured out who it is and wants revenge.
City on Fire Season 1 Episode 6 Ending Explained
Charlie sees Nicky’s unhinged behavior and calls him out, stating that he’s just a pyromaniac he doesn’t actually have any political or social agendas. Nicky orders Charlie to leave. Sol says that Charlie can’t leave, though he knows too much. Sol appears ready to kill yet another to keep their crimes under wraps.
The episode ends with Charlie escaping the hideout and running for his life away from Sol, the killer. Charlie makes it to a phone box and calls 911, stating that the people at the specified address have created a bomb.
What did you think of City on Fire Season 1 Episode 6? Comment below.
