The Dead Boy Detectives episode 1 erupts with a deafening bang, literally shaking the screen to life. Edwin Paine, the brain of the operation, and Charles Rowland, the muscle, are introduced as they tackle a mysterious case involving a World War I ghost haunting a museum. A client has requested their assistance, and they suspect the ghost's mask is cursed. Ironically, Charles forgot to bring the book of exorcisms in his bag of infinity, muttering that they wouldn't need it.
Charles and Edwin possess the ability to teleport through mirrors, but Edwin's miscalculation lands them in an unexpected locale before they finally make their way back to their office. Little do they know, the ghost has followed them and ambushes them, choking Charles in a vise-like grip. In a flurry of action, Charles grabs the cursed mask and passes it to Edwin, who swiftly performs an exorcism. The two detectives then hide as Death himself arrives to escort the ghost to the afterlife.
Some time later, a girl who seems to belong to the 1800s era approaches the detectives, seeking their help. Her psychic friend is behaving oddly, to the extent of scavenging for fish in a trash can. When it comes to discussing payment, the girl attempts to bargain with her age, but Edwin quickly puts her in her place, pointing out her supernatural longevity and knowledge of the arcane, evidenced by her pet—a glowing magical squid. Reluctantly, she acquiesces and the detectives agree to take on the case.
Disguised as ordinary teenagers, the ghost detectives set out to rescue the possessed psychic, Crystal Palace. They discover that she has been taken over by a demon named—ironically—David. With her memories scrambled, Charles offers her a place to stay with them, much to Edwin's annoyance. Charles is a fun-loving spirit who enjoys the company of others, while Edwin is more cautious and reserved. His sulky demeanor and aversion to interference often clash with Charles' more lenient approach.
Over a cup of coffee, Crystal learns that the two have been friends for over 30 years and willingly chose to remain in the afterlife rather than move on. She's fascinated to learn that ghosts don't need to eat since food tastes like sand to them. Charles finds comfort in the fact that there's someone their age who's still alive and kicking.
Back at the office, Crystal touches a missing girl's flyer and has a vision, convincing the detectives to take on the case despite Edwin's protests. They fly to America, with Edwin grumbling about how mirrors would have been a faster mode of transportation. But since Crystal is human, they're forced to take the longer route.
Crystal manages to secure a room for them, and they visit the missing girl's parents. Disguised as police officers, Charles and Edwin sneak around while Crystal reads their minds. Later, she reveals that the police found the girl's shoes and believes that if she can touch them, she can see where they were last seen before the girl's disappearance. Edwin jumps through mirrors to retrieve the shoes, and they make their way to a nearby house.
Edwin attempts to glean information from a passing cat, but before Crystal can comment on the absurdity of cats talking, the feline sassily replies, "F*ck you. I'm not telling you nothing about that house or the witch inside," and scurries away. Charles remarks that cats don't talk…to humans, hinting at the cat's supernatural knowledge. Now aware that the house belongs to a witch, the situation becomes increasingly complicated as witches are notoriously dangerous.
The trio discusses the case in a bar before Crystal excuses herself to the bathroom, eager to avoid stares from the other patrons. Alone in the bathroom, she finds herself in a dark, otherworldly place where she encounters the demon David. It becomes clear that he is the one who has stolen her memories. David refuses to relinquish them, insisting that she's "special." Before the conversation can escalate, Charles pulls her out of the bathroom, revealing that she had been engaging in a demonic dialogue in the middle of the room. Embarrassed and frightened, Crystal storms out, demanding some space from the detectives.
After Crystal's angry departure, Charles tries to explain to Edwin that she's scared and in need of understanding. Edwin retorts that he's been in hell for 70 years and has seen plenty of horrors. We are then treated to a glimpse into Edwin's past in black and white footage set in 1916. He was sacrificed to a demon in a boarding house and pleaded for mercy, but the demon replied casually, "Sorry. Technically, you're a sacrifice. So technically, I've gotta take you to Hell."
Edwin later encounters the same
