Ep 2. Windmills

Annie and Owen find themselves drawn back into the experimental drug trial as they continue to face their own personal demons. In episode 2 of Maniac season 1, titled "Windmills," the two protagonists begin to delve deeper into their respective subconscious minds as they continue taking pills that transport them to alternate realities.

The episode opens with Annie in a dreamlike state, still grappling with the grief of losing her sister Ellie. The pill she has taken transports her to a sunny beachside town where she finds herself working as a waitress in a diner alongside her sister. As Annie struggles to come to terms with the loss, she also grapples with the guilt she feels for not being there for Ellie in her time of need.

Meanwhile, Owen finds himself in a stark, futuristic city where he is tasked with apprehending a criminal. As he navigates the unfamiliar landscape, he encounters the recurring figure of a girl who helps him through his mission. However, Owen soon realizes that this girl is not just a figment of his imagination but a real person who is also participating in the drug trial.

As the episode progresses, Annie and Owen's paths cross once again, this time at a grand party hosted by Dr. James Mantleray, the mastermind behind the drug trial. Here, they come face to face with some of the other participants in the trial, including a wealthy man trying to cope with the guilt of his son's death and a woman struggling with her own identity.

As the party continues, Annie and Owen begin to confront their own fears and insecurities. Annie, still reeling from her sister's death, realizes that she needs to confront her grief head-on instead of running away from it. Owen, plagued by his family's dark history of mental illness, begins to unravel the truth about his own past and the extent to which he has been manipulated throughout his life.

In the final moments of the episode, Annie and Owen find themselves back in the lab, strapped to their chairs as Mantleray and his team monitor their brain activity. As they come out of their drug-induced states, they realize that they are more connected than they ever could have imagined and that the drug trial may be their only way to find true healing and redemption.

Overall, "Windmills" is a compelling and deeply emotional episode that explores the trauma and pain that the characters are grappling with. It offers a glimpse into the intricate web of their subconscious minds and sets the stage for even more twists and turns in the episodes to come.