Qualifying comes to Kansas City, Missouri where competitorsface new obstacles, including the Big Dipper, Floatingtiles, and Stretch Hold. Veteran contestants include MeaganMartin (the first woman to complete the Jumping Spider lastseason), Brian Arnold and the "Wolfpack" rockclimbing team.
Jonathan Strange travels to Spain where he learns that LordWellington does not want to use of him until he summons ancientand troubling magic to fight the Napoleonic armies. Mr Norrellis attempting to keep his secrets hidden in London.
Mr Norrell's magical illusions manage to baffle the French Navyand secure him the loyalty of Sir Walter Pole. Some magic hehas used to revive Lady Pole has released something unnaturalinto Sir Walter's home. Jonathan Strange's magical abilityincreases and he travels to London take up an apprenticeshipwith Mr Norrell.
With the Families First Bill growing increasingly toxic, Garysets up a clandestine meeting with Dan and Amy to persuade themto lobby against it. Meanwhile, Selina attempts to keepworking while ill in bed with the flu. As the vote on FamiliesFirst draws near, her staff works to ensure the deciding votewill go in their favor, as it becomes clear that victory ordefeat lies in the hands of just one congressman.
A malfunction at a mining operation sends an asteroid careeningtowards the sun, endangering crewman Ned Tedford. Alan andKayo deploy Thunderbird 3 for the rescue mission, but a roguesolar flare knocks out their sensors. They land near the mine,and must find a way to alter the asteroid's trajectory so thatit slingshots around the sun instead of crashing into it.
When Richard takes pity on a competitor, he accidentallysparks a feud that finds him paranoid about security. Jaredexaggerates Pied Piper's size to get results. Facing pressurefrom board members, Gavin looks to place responsibilityelsewhere.
As the ":Starry Messenger": comet approaches Earth,heralding the culmination of the Witches' dark plan, theCountess Marburg makes a long awaited acquaintance with one whoplays a pivotal role in her and the others' cause. Mary andWainwright grow closer, their mutual affection heightened byrecently discovered revelations, but as the pair plans for thenext steps along the journey she has in store for him, another- displeased with these recent developments - takes mattersinto his own hands. Even as Mary prepares to strike against theCountess, she receives news that shakes her to the core. AsCotton tries to reason out information recently revealed tohim, the betrayal of a recently made ally may spell his mortaldoom. Meanwhile, Anne continues to glean knowledge from herdead father's writings, and a long-brewing feud reaches atipping point, culminating in a surprising and potentiallygame-changing disclosure.
Hecate returns to her mother with a gift: Evelyn works on anew totem; the mansion is attacked; the Creature growsimpatient with Frankenstein; Rusk interrogates Ethan; Vanessaand the Creature's friendship deepens; Angelique is humiliatedwhile out with Dorian.