Ep 1. Awakening (1)

In the premiere episode of Gargoyles, we are introduced to the titular creatures known as Gargoyles in medieval Scotland. They are mystical creatures that have been pledged to protect the castle and its inhabitants every night until dawn. However, during the course of the episode, we learn that a clan of Gargoyles is betrayed by humans, who see them as creepy and dangerous creatures. In short order, most of the gargoyles are killed, and the remaining survivors are cursed to sleep for over 1000 years, until the castle "rises above the clouds."

Fast-forward to modern-day New York City, where billionaire David Xanatos buys and transports the cursed castle to his rooftop Manhattan Penthouse, where it will rise above the clouds every night. His plan? To awaken the Gargoyles from their extended slumber. The first episode follows Xanatos as he successfully reawakens Goliath, the leader of the Gargoyles, who he has been keeping in a hidden, secret laboratory under the penthouse unbeknownst to the remainder of the Gargoyles who are slumbering in the castle above.

Goliath is understandably angry at being awoken and is initially wary of Xanatos and his motives. Meanwhile, Xanatos seems to be genuinely interested in having the Gargoyles as allies and demonstrates his good intentions by appealing to Goliath's love for his clan by promising to awaken the others. Nonetheless, Goliath remains wary and conflicted throughout the episode. Meanwhile, a trio of young adults, Elisa, Matt, and Chavez, work for a detective agency and are tasked with investigating Xanatos, eventually leading them to the Gargoyles.

Meanwhile, Xanatos offers Goliath a view of the city and takes him on a helicopter ride at night. Together, they witness a failed raid on Xanatos' armored car. The raid is perpetrated by a team of mercenaries working for Xanatos himself, but through this action, we are introduced to the show's main antagonist, Demona, the only other surviving member of the Gargoyles clan from the medieval Scotland period. It's clear from the outset that there is a long-standing history of strife between Goliath and Demona, highlighted by Demona's hostility to Xanatos' plan to awaken the other Gargoyles, as well as their apparent history of fighting against one another.

As the episode draws to a close, we see the detective trio discovering the castle that Xanatos has hidden on his rooftop, and they meet the rest of the Gargoyles in a dramatic moment filled with mistrust and a sense of otherness of their kind. Goliath sets out to warn the rest of the clan and returns to the castle to tell them the news of a world that they would hardly believe.

Overall, the first episode of Gargoyles sets the scene for a complex, dark, and mythic tale that incorporates themes of trust, betrayal, belonging, and otherness, as well as ancient history, modern technology, and supernatural forces. The characters are complex and engaging, and the world-building is intricate and imaginative. It serves as a perfect introduction to a fascinating and compelling animated series.