EPISODE CONTEXT

As the first of only two episodes, this installment carries the full burden of introduction — characters, dynamics, and central desires are all established here from the ground up with no prior episodes to build on. It functions as both setup and midpoint simultaneously given the series' compact format, meaning the narrative tension introduced here will be paid off almost entirely in the next and final episode. Viewers going in should understand this episode ends with threads deliberately left open, designed to pull directly into Episode 2.