Ep 2. Looking at the Past

In Black Earth Rising season 1 episode 2, titled "Looking at the Past", the story continues to follow the character of Kate Ashby, who is struggling to come to terms with her traumatic past as a survivor of the Rwandan genocide. She embarks on a journey to discover the truth about her past and the role her adoptive mother, a British prosecutor named Eve Ashby, played in the aftermath of the genocide.

The episode begins with Kate accompanying Eve on a trip to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where Eve is scheduled to give a speech on the prosecution of war criminals. While there, Kate meets Michael Ennis, a filmmaker working on a documentary about the Rwandan genocide, who offers to help her investigate her past. With Michael's assistance, Kate begins to unravel the events that led to her adoption and starts to piece together the truth about her family's involvement in the conflict.

As Kate delves deeper into her past, she discovers that the truth is much more complicated than she initially thought. She confronts Eve about her role in the conflict and begins to question her own identity as a survivor of the genocide. Meanwhile, an old acquaintance from Kate's past resurfaces, further complicating her search for answers.

Throughout the episode, the tension between Kate and Eve reaches new heights as they struggle to reconcile their past actions with their present selves. Meanwhile, Michael's documentary becomes a source of conflict as he begins to uncover information that could potentially harm Kate's case.

Overall, "Looking at the Past" is a gripping and thought-provoking episode that explores themes of trauma, identity, and justice in the aftermath of a devastating conflict. As Kate and Eve grapple with their disturbing past, they are forced to confront difficult truths about themselves and the world around them. The episode sets the stage for a compelling narrative that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats as the characters navigate the complex, and often dangerous, terrain of uncovering the truth about the Rwandan genocide.