Ep 1. Part One: The Kidnapping

In the first episode of The Radical Story of Patty Hearst, titled "Part One: The Kidnapping," viewers are introduced to the 19-year-old granddaughter of William Randolph Hearst, one of the most powerful men in America and owner of the San Francisco Examiner newspaper. On February 4, 1974, Patty was kidnapped from her apartment by a left-wing terrorist group known as the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA).

The episode begins by detailing the events leading up to Patty's abduction, including her enrollment at the University of California, Berkeley where she became involved with various radical student groups. Through interviews with friends and family members, viewers get a sense of Patty's personality and worldview at the time of her kidnapping.

The episode then delves into the SLA, their origins, and their ideologies. Comprised of mostly young, white, middle-class individuals, the group sought to combat what they saw as institutionalized racism and capitalism in America. They also had a particular focus on the prison system, which they believed perpetuated these injustices.

Viewers are given an in-depth look at the events surrounding Patty's kidnapping, including eyewitness accounts and footage from news broadcasts of the time. The kidnappers demanded that William Randolph Hearst donate millions of dollars to food banks in California in exchange for Patty's safe return. Hearst initially complied with the demands, but the kidnappers reneged on the deal and demanded even more money.

As the situation unfolded, the SLA released a series of communiques detailing their demands and ideology, which were aired on national television. The group also demanded that Hearst use his newspaper to publish these communiques, which he eventually did.

The episode ends with the shocking news that Patty had declared her allegiance to the SLA and was seen participating in a bank robbery in San Francisco. The kidnapping, which had initially garnered sympathy for the Hearst family and anger towards the SLA, had taken a drastic turn.

Overall, "Part One: The Kidnapping" sets the stage for the rest of the series, detailing the events leading up to Patty's abduction and the ideologies of both the SLA and the Hearst family. It also introduces viewers to the complex and often conflicting motivations and beliefs of Patty herself.