Ep 1. Devil

Detention is a Taiwanese supernatural drama series from Netflix that takes place during the period of martial law in Taiwan, in the 1990s. With a mix of horror, suspense, historical and cultural reference, and religious aspects, the show has quickly gained attention and popularity among audiences worldwide.

The first episode of Detention season 1 is titled 'Devil.' It begins with a young high school student named Fang Ray-Shin (played by Lingwei Lee) who is going to school after her mother has recently passed away. Ray-Shin seems to be struggling with her grief and loneliness as she has no friends in the school. She's shown being constantly harassed and bullied by her classmates, and the punishments she faces are disproportionate to the mistakes she commits.

After a brief introduction to her character, the episode takes the viewers through a brief and surreal dream sequence that shows Ray-Shin running through the forest and a hand coming out of the ground to pull her. This dream sequence sets the tone for the episode and gives a glimpse into the horror elements that Detention is known for.

As the day goes on, Ray-Shin is asked to deliver a file to her teacher, Mr. Chang (played by Jack Yao). On her way, she comes across Wei Chung-ting (played by Ning Han), a transfer student at her school who seems to be equally isolated as she is. Their interaction initially is awkward, but it's clear that they find solace in each other's company. As they walk towards the teacher's office, they experience strange events, including Wei seeing visions of a ghostly hand grabbing him.

As they deliver the file to Mr. Chang, they realize that he is not his usual self. He behaves strangely, and his eyes are empty as if he is possessed. Soon after, strange events start to occur throughout the school. Doors slam shut, there's a haunting presence throughout the school, and strange symbols start to appear on the walls.

With no one to turn to, Ray-Shin and Wei are forced to work together to investigate the happenings and try to find out what is happening. The two of them venture into a science lab where they find documents from a secret military experiment called Project D, which seems to be the root cause of the supernatural occurrences.

As they investigate further, they come across a secret underground room, which houses a mysterious presence. A bright light encompasses Ray-Shin, and she has a vision of a ghostly figure being injected with a strange serum. The two of them realize that Project D was a military experiment conducted on the student body, and the serum was created to give the students powers beyond human comprehension.

The episode reaches its climax when Ray-Shin and Wei find themselves trapped in a music room, surrounded by possessed students who seem to be under the command of a mysterious entity known as the Devil. The two of them must face their fears and find a way to protect themselves from the otherworldly power that controls the school.

Overall, the first episode of Detention season 1 is a gripping and suspenseful introduction to the series. It draws upon elements of horror, suspense, and coming-of-age themes to create a compelling narrative. The production values are high, and the cinematography is stunning, with gloomy visuals that add to the horror elements.

The character development in the episode is impressive, with Lingwei Lee's portrayal of Ray-Shin delivering a heartfelt and emotional performance that leaves a lasting impression. Ning Han's Wei Chung-ting is a mysterious and brooding character that brings depth and complexity to the show.

With its mix of historical, cultural, and supernatural elements, Detention is a unique and thought-provoking addition to the horror genre. Season 1 episode 1, 'Devil,' sets up a promising storyline that will keep audiences hooked until the end.