The premier episode of "Curfew," captivatingly titled "Here We Are," plunges viewers into a bone-chilling dystopian universe where the boundaries separating safety and oppression dissolve into a nebulous haze. Set in an alternate present-day landscape, this series unveils a society ruled by the iron fist of the Women's Safety Act, a sweeping legislation that imposes a rigid curfew on men, confining them to their homes from dusk till dawn – 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. – in a bid to safeguard women's well-being. This radical transformation has upended societal norms, granting women unfettered dominion over the night, as men's every move is shackled by electronic shackles around their ankles, monitored relentlessly.
The episode kicks off with a tantalizing tableau: a troupe of women, their laughter echoing through the night, taunting the men peering out from behind the confines of their windows, a bold inversion of the traditional power hierarchy. However, this seemingly lighthearted interplay takes a sinister twist when Suzie, one of the women, finds herself face to face with a fierce male, his misinterpretation of her flirtatious gestures as a breach of the curfew's sacred code leading to a swift and brutal arrest by the authorities, underscoring the unyielding enforcement of these new laws.
Detective Inspector Pamela Green, played with poignant depth by Sarah Parish, is a seasoned investigator haunted by the shadows of her past. Teamed with Eddie, a novice male officer, she is tasked with unraveling the gruesome murder of a woman whose lifeless body lies discarded outside the hallowed gates of the Women's Safety Centre. Pamela's gut instincts whisper that a man lurks behind this heinous crime, a conviction that challenges the very fabric of a system that proclaims the curfew a flawless shield.
As Pamela and Eddie delve deeper into the labyrinthine case, they uncover a labyrinth of interconnected relationships and clandestine secrets. Among them is Sarah Jackson, a Women's Safety Centre employee who battles her own inner demons, grappling with a bitter divorce from Greg Jackson and a tenuous bond with her daughter, Cass. The episode subtly weaves a tale of Sarah's personal struggles, intertwined with her professional duties as she affixes those mandatory ankle monitors to men, placing her in a precarious balancing act where the line between protecting and being consumed by the system blurs irrevocably.
The investigation unravels a haunting revelation: the victim was seemingly slain elsewhere and subsequently transported to the Centre, a chilling testament to the deliberate defiance of the curfew system. Pamela's unwavering determination to prove the crime's perpetration by a male hand pits her against her superior, DCI Sue Ferguson, who adamantly maintains that the system remains intact and the detainee in question is guilty as charged.
This episode delves deeply into the intricate personal lives of the characters, where Sarah's daughter, Cass, embarks on a reckless act, stealing a coder to evade ankle monitors, while Sarah grapples with the aftermath of a brutal workplace incident. The air crackles with tension as they traverse a landscape where trust is a scarce commodity, and the boundaries between morality and immorality blur irrevocably.
"Here We Are" serves as a thrilling prologue to a season bound to unpack the intricate web of power, gender dynamics, and the intricate fabric of justice. It leaves viewers reeling with myriad questions: Does the curfew system live up to its proclaimed efficacy? Who lurks in the shadows as the true murderer, and what motives drive their calculated cover-up? And what lengths will Pamela go to uncover the truth, even if it means defying the authority of her own department?
As the episode draws to a close, Pamela stands resolute in her quest for the real killer, undeterred by the confession of the incarcerated suspect. A heart-wrenching flashback to her own daughter's tragic murder adds a poignant dimension to her character, fueling her relentless crusade for justice. It becomes evident that "Curfew" is a series that dares to tread into the darkest recesses of human psyche and the societal constructs that mold it, leaving no stone unturned in its relentless exploration.
