Episode 1 of "Dalah: Death and the Flowers" kicks off with a jarring image: Dalah, frozen in her floral studio, her gaze locked on Ohm's inert form. Risa approaches her with earnest pleadings for trust, immediately immersing viewers in an eerie and gripping atmosphere.
The storyline then retrogresses through time, introducing Ohm as a contender for the nation's premier leadership position, betrothed to Risa, with Dalah serving as the esteemed floral designer for their wedding. Dalah, a celebrated and award-winning florist, finds herself inextricably drawn into their lives. Meanwhile, demonstrations break out against Ohm's contentious plan to raze a public square to make way for a shopping mall. Despite formidable threats, including one from an armed protestor, Ohm remains steadfast, vowing that the venture will generate livelihoods for those displaced.
At a familial dinner intertwining the Aueathepa and Tangsinsup clans, tensions flare, their historical rivalry palpable, and the dynamics of power unmistakable. Prior to entering the hotel for the dinner, Pam shares an intimate moment with her partner Bee, planting a kiss on her lips as a tear trickles down Bee's cheek. In contrast, Risa and Ohm arrive at the venue, under the watchful eye of a protester from the demonstrations.
A pivotal conflict arises concerning the floral decorations: the Aueathepa family's emblem is the rose, while the Tangsinsup family's is an exotic tulip. Dalah discovers a shortage of tulips, which could slant the arrangement in favor of the Aueathepa side. To uphold balance, Ohm and Risa concur to decrease the number of roses. As the dinner progresses, Risa excuses herself, prompting Dalah to covertly trail her, only to witness her vomiting in the lavatory.
Following dinner, Risa and Ohm make their way to Dalah's flower studio, a place imbued with an eerie, enigmatic ambiance that perfectly reflects Dalah's own mysterious demeanor. Pam joins them, enhancing the intriguing dynamic within the studio. As Ohm excuses himself to the bathroom, Pam follows, eager to delve into a conversation about his political aspirations. Meanwhile, Risa steps outside for a brief respite.
The studio's door creaks open once more to welcome Ekapop and Prapha, the acting heads of both families. Their conversation flows smoothly until Dalah notices Risa in a heated dispute with Pam and Kris, her nephew and a renowned pop star. The tension in the air is palpable.
After the family heads depart, Dalah's phone buzzes with a cryptic message from Ohm: "Who, precisely, are you?" The message lingers in the air like a ghostly whisper. Shortly thereafter, while the others remain outdoors, Dalah takes a call from her father. Her voice is resolute as she declares, "I've made my decision. I'm going through with it."
The episode draws to a close with a haunting montage: fireworks burst vibrantly against the night sky, their colors clashing sharply with the image of Dalah's studio, now in ruins, its floral arrangements trampled and disheveled. The next day, when the wedding planners arrive to retrieve the arrangements, they stumble upon a harrowing sight—Ohm's lifeless body, lying among the wreckage of what was once a beautiful, serene space.
