Ep 2. The Flamingo

The Flamingo is the second episode in the first season of the Norwegian-American television series Lilyhammer. The show follows the story of Frank Tagliano, a former New York gangster who enters the witness protection program and moves to Lillehammer, Norway, to start a new life under the alias of Giovanni Henriksen.

In this episode, Frank becomes the owner of a nightclub named The Flamingo after he saves its owner's life. The club is located in the heart of Lillehammer and is the center of the town's nightlife scene. Frank sees this as an opportunity to integrate into the local community and make a legitimate business for himself.

However, things do not go smoothly for Frank as he faces several obstacles in running the club and making it successful. To begin with, the club's primary source of income seems to be from illegal activities like drug trafficking, prostitution, and money laundering. Frank is not in favor of such criminal activities and decides to clean up the club's reputation.

He hires a local musician named Jan Johansen as the club's new singer and tries to shift the focus towards live music and entertainment. Jan brings in a new crowd of people to the club, and the business starts to thrive. However, Jan harbors his own secrets and owes money to a local loan shark. This puts Frank and the club's business in danger, and they have to come up with a plan to pay off his debts.

Meanwhile, Frank's new life is still plagued by his past, as he is recognized by some Italian tourists in Lillehammer. Frank has to avoid any attention and keep a low profile so that his past does not catch up with him. This is a constant challenge for him and makes him paranoid and anxious.

Overall, The Flamingo is an engaging episode that explores Frank's attempts at building a new life in a foreign land. It also delves into the challenges he faces in reconciling his past with his present, and his desire to leave a life of crime behind. The episode introduces several new characters and sets up storylines that will be explored further in the series. With its mix of humor, drama, and action, Lilyhammer continues to be a compelling watch.