Ep 2. Episode 02

In Grisse season 1 episode 2, titled "Episode 02," the simmering tensions between the colonial Dutch rulers and the native Indonesians continue to escalate. The episode opens with the Dutch governor, Zelle, receiving a report from the head of the VOC (Dutch East India Company) in Batavia that a local trader named Jan Pieterzoon has been kidnapped by a group of Javanese rebels. Zelle orders his soldiers to launch a punitive expedition against the rebels, but Dutch trader Herman Muntinghe volunteers to negotiate with the kidnappers in exchange for rescuing Jan Pieterzoon.

Meanwhile, in the titular town of Grisse, tensions are high following the attack on the brothel in the previous episode. The brothel's owners, Madame Lu and her partner August, blame the attack on the local Dutch soldiers and threaten to seek revenge. But their plans are complicated by the arrival of Chinese triad leader Tsai Lan, who claims that Madame Lu owes him a debt and demands payment.

As the situation in Grisse becomes more volatile, a new character enters the scene: a mysterious Javanese woman named Kalia. Kalia is a skilled fighter and herbalist who is seeking revenge against the Dutch for the murder of her family. She forms an unlikely alliance with Dutch soldier Johan, who is haunted by his own guilt over his role in the massacre of a Javanese village.

The episode's various storylines all come to a head during a tense standoff in Grisse's central market. Dutch soldiers confront Madame Lu and her associates, while Kalia and Johan attempt to defuse the situation by negotiating with Tsai Lan. But when the Javanese rebels arrive in town with their hostage, the situation spirals out of control.

Overall, "Episode 02" feels like a continuation of the first episode rather than a standalone installment. The show continues to explore themes of colonialism, racism, and violence, while introducing new characters and expanding on existing ones. The action is tense and unpredictable, and the show's attention to detail in its portrayal of 19th-century Indonesia is impressive.