Ep 1. Vanish

Camille Preaker, a journalist and recovering alcoholic, is sent by her boss, Frank Curry to her hometown Wind Gap, Missouri to investigate the murder of one young girl and the disappearance of another. Camille is reluctant to return to the town where she grew up and has a painful history with her family, especially her mother, Adora, who is not thrilled to see her return. Camille starts investigating the case and meets detective Richard Willis who is originally from Kansas City and was brought in to help local police Chief Bill Vickery. Camille quickly realizes that this small town has more secrets than she ever imagined, and her family may have something to do with the crimes.

As Camille starts to dig deeper into the case, she runs into a number of obstacles. Vickery is not very cooperative and tries to keep her away from the case. The townspeople are also not very friendly or open to outsiders. Camille tries to talk to the families of the missing girls but can't get any useful information from them.

Meanwhile, Camille is also trying to deal with her own personal demons. She has a history of self-harm and is constantly haunted by the memories of her younger sister Marian, who died when they were children. Camille is also struggling with the fact that her mother seems to be more interested in the social status of her family than the lives and well-being of her daughters.

As Camille continues to investigate the case, she starts to piece together information and finds herself getting closer to the killer. However, when the second victim is found, things start to get more complicated. Camille discovers that the killer may not be who she thought, and that the crimes are much more sinister than she initially believed.

The episode ends with Camille confronting her past and her family. She comes face to face with her mother and confronts her about her behavior and her role in the crimes that have taken place in the town. Camille also confronts the killer and puts herself in danger to try and get to the truth. The episode ends with a shocking twist that sets up the rest of the season.

Overall, Vanish is a gripping and intense episode that sets up the mystery of the show and sets the tone for the season. It is a deeply emotional and psychological drama that explores the themes of trauma, mental illness, family secrets, and loss. The performances of the cast, especially Amy Adams as Camille Preaker, are exceptional, and the writing and direction keep the tension and suspense high throughout the episode.