Ep 1. Eleven.Thirteen

In the season 2 premiere of Colony, titled "Eleven.Thirteen," we're brought back into the world of a Los Angeles under occupation by a mysterious outside force known simply as the "Hosts." Following the dramatic events of the season 1 finale, the Bowmans – Will, Katie, and their three children – are scattered and in search of each other. As they work to reunite, they uncover new clues about what exactly the Hosts want, and what they're willing to do to get it.

The episode opens with a tense scene as we watch a man being chased by Host drones through a deserted Los Angeles. He manages to outrun them for a little while, but eventually they catch up to him and drag him away, leaving nothing but a bloody handprint on the pavement. It's unclear what the man's significance is, but his fate is a stark reminder of the danger that still exists under occupation.

Cut to Will, who is holed up in an abandoned hotel with a group of other resistance fighters. He's still reeling from the revelation that his partner in the occupation government, Snyder, was the one who tipped off the Hosts about the resistance cell's location. Will and his fellow fighters are planning their next move, but tensions are high and relationships are strained. Will is struggling to keep both his anger and his fear in check.

Meanwhile, Katie is on a mission of her own. She's trying to track down her son, Bram, who she believes has joined up with the resistance against her wishes. Her search takes her to a shady underworld of black market trading and dangerous alliances. However, her investigation is cut short when she's captured by a group of soldiers working for the occupation government. They take her to an interrogation center, where she's grilled by a brutal interrogator who clearly has an agenda of his own.

As we jump back and forth between the separate storylines, it becomes clear that something big is brewing. All signs are pointing toward an event known as the "Arrival Day Ceremony," which is set to take place in just a few days. Though no one knows exactly what the ceremony will entail, it's widely believed to be some sort of propaganda ploy on behalf of the Hosts, designed to further solidify their control over the city. Everyone – resistance fighters, occupation government officials, and everyday citizens alike – is on edge, and tensions are coming to a head.

One of the strongest elements of "Eleven.Thirteen" is its sense of tension and unease. Even in moments that might seem less urgent – like a conversation between Will and Snyder over a drink at a bar – there's a palpable sense that anything could go wrong at any moment. The characters are all playing some version of the waiting game, unsure of what the future holds but anxiously anticipating the worst.

The visuals in this episode are also noteworthy. The scenes of an empty, desolate Los Angeles are haunting and eerily beautiful, with the wreckage of a once-bustling city serving as a constant reminder that something deeply wrong has happened here. The occasional glimpses we get of the Hosts themselves are also striking, with their insectoid, armored bodies and glowing red eyes.

As always with Colony, there are plenty of questions left unanswered at the end of "Eleven.Thirteen." What is the Hosts' endgame? What will happen at the Arrival Day Ceremony? And perhaps most pressingly, will the Bowmans be able to reunite and work together to survive in this dangerous new world? With such high stakes and so many moving parts, it's clear that season 2 of Colony is shaping up to be just as intense and unpredictable as the first.