Ep 1. Pilot

In the Dark starts off with its first episode named Pilot. The show revolves around Murphy Mason, a unique character that brings a refreshing change to the typical protagonist tropes. She is a messy, self-destructive, and flawed individual who becomes involved in the investigation of her friend's murder. The episode kicks off with Murphy drunkenly walking through the streets with her guide dog, Pretzel. She is on her way to her work as a call center representative for an airline company.

During her shift, Murphy receives a call from her friend Tyson, who is frantically describing his location and asking for help. The call gets disconnected before Murphy can gather any useful information. Murphy tries calling him back, but his phone goes straight to voicemail. In the morning, she decides to go look for him with the help of Pretzel. Her quest is cut short when she finds out that Tyson had been killed.

As the news of Tyson's death spreads, the police show up to investigate. However, the case doesn't seem like it is very high on their priority list since Tyson is a drug dealer, and they believe his death is just part of the trade. Murphy, however, is convinced that there is more to his death, and she takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of it.

The show's pilot establishes the characters in a way that gives us just enough information to understand their personalities. There are moments of humor, but the theme of the episode is very much on the darker side. We learn about Murphy's blindness and how she blames herself for what happened to her friend. The episode expertly weaves in flashbacks to give the audience an insight into Murphy and Tyson's friendship, how they met, and what kind of person Tyson was. We also learn about her abusive relationship with a drug addict named Jess, who is now in jail.

The flashbacks show us Tyson's involvement with the local gang leader, Dean, and the kind of danger he had put himself in. Murphy teams up with Tyson's cousin, Darnell, who is also a member of the gang and is willing to help her find out what happened to Tyson. There are other characters, such as Murphy's roommate, Jess's mother, and the police detective investigating Tyson's murder, who all play an important part in the show.

The episode does an excellent job of keeping the audience engaged as they watch Murphy spiral out of control. We understand why she feels guilty, and we see her try to cope with what happened by drinking and hooking up with strangers. Her friendship with Tyson, their conversations, and their shared love for music are all important parts of the show.

The tone of the episode is intense, and the show's treatment of the subject matter is respectful. It acknowledges the harsh reality of the world, especially for marginalized people like Murphy and Tyson, who are often seen as disposable. The show brings the audience into the world of drug dealers and gang violence, but it never glorifies it.

The episode ends with a cliffhanger that leaves us wanting more. Murphy and Darnell had figured out a possible theory about Tyson's murder, but their investigation is cut short when they are caught snooping around. This sets the stage for the rest of the season, where we will see Murphy navigate through dangerous situations while trying to solve her friend's murder.

In conclusion, In the Dark season 1 episode 1 pilot sets up the show's premise in an intriguing way. It introduces us to Murphy, a character that is unlike anything we have seen before and gives us a glimpse into her complicated life. The episode's mixture of humor and dark themes keeps the audience engaged throughout and sets up the show's tone and stakes for the rest of the season. It's a thrilling start for a show that will keep its audience on the edge of their seats.