Ep 3. Playing with Fire, Part 1

DCI Banks season 1 episode 3, titled "Playing with Fire, Part 1," follows Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks as he investigates a series of suspicious fires in the town of Eastvale. The episode begins with a fire at a local farm, which quickly escalates into a full-blown inferno that destroys the entire property. Banks and his team arrive on the scene to find that the farm's owner, Mark Siddons, is missing and presumed dead. However, they soon discover that Siddons' wife, Lucy, managed to escape the fire and is now in critical condition at the hospital.

As Banks delves deeper into the case, he starts to uncover a web of secrets and lies surrounding the Siddons family. Mark Siddons had a troubled past and had served time in prison for arson, making him the prime suspect in the latest string of fires. However, Banks soon realizes that there may be more to the story than meets the eye.

Meanwhile, Banks is also dealing with personal issues, including his strained relationship with his estranged wife Sandra and his attraction to fellow detective Annie Cabbot. As he tries to keep his personal life separate from his work, Banks becomes more and more consumed by the case and the dangerous game of cat and mouse that he finds himself playing with the arsonist.

"Playing with Fire, Part 1" is a thrilling episode that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. With a tense and captivating storyline, strong performances from the cast, and breathtaking cinematography, it is a standout installment in the first season of DCI Banks. As Banks races against time to catch the arsonist before they strike again, viewers will be left guessing until the very end.