Ep 1. Sneaky Pete

Sneaky Pete season 1 episode 1 starts with Marius Josipovic (Giovanni Ribisi), a con man, in prison, trying to make a deal with another convict named Pete Murphy (Ethan Embry) to keep him alive from a dangerous inmate Jasper Chassan (Michael Drayer). In short, Marius is in a fix and he needs Pete's help to get him out of this situation. After a brief scuffle, they finally talk, and Pete explains to him that he's been writing letters to his estranged grandparents, Audrey (Margo Martindale) and Otto (Peter Gerety), for thirteen years, and they've never responded.

Marius, sensing an opportunity, decides to approach them as Pete and con them out of a significant sum. He successfully gains their trust, and they take him in, but he quickly realizes that they are more than meets the eye. The grandparents turn out to be bail bondsmen who routinely track down and recover criminals who skip bail.

To make matters worse, Marius starts developing a bond with them, with Audrey's warm and welcoming nature and Otto's gruff-yet-fatherly approach. Marius convincingly plays Pete, convincing the family that he's a part of their long-lost relative's life. In the meantime, Marius's one-time partner-in-crime, Carly (Libe Barer), shows up at the farm looking for him, thus complicating matters further.

As the story progresses, the episode presents a gripping storyline with multiple engaging arcs. The episode sets up a high-stakes game of deception, with Marius playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse where one wrong move can land him right back in prison or worse, end up with him dead. As Marius weaves his web of lies, he starts to realize that his lies have a cost, especially when Audrey and Otto ask him to come to work for them. Marius doesn't want to jeopardize the illusion he's built, but he also knows that it's only a matter of time before the truth comes out.

The episode is a compelling start to the Sneaky Pete series, setting up an intricate storyline that promises to have viewers hooked. The performances of the stars, including Ribisi, Martindale, and Gerety, are nothing short of brilliant, with each character standing out in their own unique way. The writing is smart, the direction tight, and the cinematography excellent.

Overall, Sneaky Pete season 1 episode 1 is a must-watch for everyone looking for a stylish crime drama series with a well-written script, a finely-tuned storyline, and standout performances. It's a show that you will want to binge-watch in one sitting, leaving you wanting more each step of the way.