Ep 1. Flashing Before My Eyes

The show Erased follows protagonist Satoru Fujinuma, a struggling manga artist living in Tokyo. Although he possesses a unique ability called "Revival" that allows him to travel back in time a few seconds to prevent accidents or mishaps, he feels disillusioned with his current life. However, when a tragedy strikes close to home, Satoru is transported back to his childhood in the late 1980s.

The first episode, titled "Flashing Before My Eyes," begins with Satoru witnessing a mysterious phenomenon known as "Revival" while he is at work. Frustrated with his mundane life and feeling like he can't make any meaningful changes, he is surprised when he is transported back eighteen years to his elementary school days in Hokkaido. At this point in his life, Satoru is struggling with elementary school life and with his strained relationship with his mother. Although he is back in time, Satoru retains all his memories and knowledge from the future.

Satoru soon discovers that something terrible has happened to one of his classmates: Kayo Hinazuki has been murdered. As the episode progresses, we learn more about her character: she's a quiet, introverted girl that has been frequently absent from school for mysterious and troubling reasons. No one knows much about her home life, but Satoru takes it upon himself to get to know her better and try to prevent her eventual murder.

As the episode progresses, Satoru starts seeing signs that Kayo is not safe and is possibly being abused by her mother. He tries to intervene, but his classmates don't take his concerns seriously. Satoru starts to act on his own, taking Kayo under his protection and trying to keep her safe. He uses his knowledge of future events to try and outmaneuver the killer, but everything goes awry when Kayo disappears.

The episode ends on a cliffhanger as Satoru realizes that he has failed to save Kayo. He is transported back to the present time, left with the burden of his failure. He wonders what he could have done differently to save her and resolves to try again.

Overall, the first episode of Erased sets up the story nicely, and the tension and suspense are expertly crafted. At its core, the show is a mystery thriller with a fascinating time-travel twist. Viewers are invested in Satoru's character and his relationship with Kayo, and the ending leaves them clamoring for more. The show's attention to detail and the complexities of Satoru's character are particularly noteworthy and make for excellent viewing.