Ep 1. Stockholm, Pennsylvania

In season 1 episode 1 of Stockholm, Pennsylvania, viewers are introduced to a young woman named Leanne who was kidnapped at the age of 7 and has just been released from captivity 17 years later. Leanne struggles to readjust to life outside of the small room she was confined to for nearly two decades. Her parents, Marcy and Glen, are overjoyed to have her back but also struggle to connect with the adult stranger Leanne has become.

Marcy and Glen begin to worry about Leanne's mental and emotional state as she refuses to talk about her kidnapper or the time she spent in captivity. Meanwhile, a detective named Charlie Riddick works to piece together what happened to Leanne and to find her captor. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that Leanne may not want to share the truth about her captivity and her feelings about returning home.

Throughout the episode, viewers are given glimpses into Leanne's time in captivity through flashbacks. We see her captor, a man named Ben, grooming and manipulating her as a child and eventually convincing her to believe that he is her father. The flashbacks become increasingly disturbing as we see the extent of the psychological trauma inflicted upon Leanne.

The show also explores the complex emotions and relationships between Marcy, Glen, and Leanne as they try to rebuild their family dynamic. Marcy is overprotective and desperate to make up for the years that were stolen from them, while Glen struggles with feelings of guilt and inadequacy for not being able to protect his daughter. Leanne, meanwhile, feels like a stranger in her own home and cannot bring herself to open up to her parents or to Charlie.

Stockholm, Pennsylvania is a gripping and emotional exploration of trauma, family, and identity. The first episode sets the stage for a mystery that will slowly be unraveled over the course of the season, while also delving deep into the psyche of a young woman who has survived unspeakable horror. The powerful performances from the cast, particularly Saoirse Ronan as Leanne and Cynthia Nixon as Marcy, make for compelling and raw viewing.