Spotless Season 1 Episode 2 Carrot & Stick

Set in London, the second episode of Spotless season 1 is entitled Carrot & Stick. The episode continues to follow the lives of brothers Jean and Martin Bastiere, played respectively by Marc-André Grondin and Denis Ménochet, as they confront the consequences of their criminal past.

At the start of the episode, Jean wakes up in a drug-induced haze on his brother's living room floor, having spent the night surfing the dark web. His life continues to spiral out of control as he becomes more heavily embedded in the seedy underbelly of London's criminal world. Meanwhile, Martin is embroiled in his own problems, as he struggles to balance his responsibilities as a family man with the demands of running his crime scene cleaning business.

The episode explores the theme of power dynamics, as various characters use both carrots and sticks to manipulate those around them. One such character is Nelson Clay, played by Brendan Coyle, who is a ruthless English gangster that Jean has recently become indebted to. He uses his power over Jean to force him to commit increasingly dangerous and illegal acts, threatening him with violence if he does not comply.

As Nelson's grip on Jean tightens, Martin finds himself drawn into the dangerous world of crime once again. He is called upon to clean up a grisly murder scene for the third time in recent months, and this time, the victim is someone he knew personally. It becomes clear that both brothers will have to confront their past in order to move forward, as Jean realizes that he cannot keep up the facade of a normal life, and Martin begins to question the morality of his profession.

Alongside these darker elements, the episode also explores the complicated family dynamic between the two brothers. Martin is clearly the more responsible and level-headed of the two, but he also appears to harbor a deep resentment towards Jean for the trouble he has caused in the past. Meanwhile, Jean is desperate to prove himself as capable of turning his life around, but his addiction to drugs and his increasing involvement with the criminal underworld make this an uphill battle.

Overall, Carrot & Stick is a tense and gripping episode that delves deeper into the complex characters and world that Spotless has created. It leaves the audience wondering what will happen to the Bastiere brothers next, and whether they will be able to overcome their past and make a better future for themselves.