Episode 1 of "Fear" kicks off with the narrative of Martyn, an architect, and his spouse, Rebecca, embarking on a new chapter by relocating into a spacious, state-of-the-art abode with their two cherubic children. Their tranquility is soon interrupted by a visit from their basement-dwelling neighbor, Jan, who introduces himself as an NFT trader and extends a welcoming pizza as a token of his neighborly warmth. This segment of the house, however, does not belong to Martyn and Rebecca.
As the family begins to unpack and establish roots in their new environment, Jan's presence begins to cast an eerie shadow over their lives. On the subsequent day, while the children are engrossed in their school activities and Martyn is diligently networking at his new office to attract clients, Jan drops by with a pot of lentil soup for Rebecca. Touched by his gesture, she cordially invites him to share lunch with her.
Over their meal, Jan unveils snippets of his troubled past, revealing that he was adopted and left his hometown at the tender age of ten. However, as days turn into weeks, Jan's demeanor grows increasingly unsettling. He starts to meticulously monitor the family's movements, even resorting to peering through windows as Rebecca indulges in her private moments in the bath.
In a separate scene, Rebecca catches up with a friend, where she divulges her professional background in gene therapy and stem cells. Her pal persuades her to rekindle her career aspirations and even facilitates a meeting with a potential employer.
Upon returning home, Rebecca finds herself engrossed in mundane household tasks like drying laundry when Jan makes a lewd comment about how fetching she would look in her underwear. This incident alarms Rebecca, prompting her to confide in Martyn. However, the conversation swiftly veers off course as Martyn expresses his strained relationship with his parents. Understanding his turmoil, Rebecca encourages him to attend his father's 70th birthday celebration, and the family decides to visit.
During our visit, we came to learn of a heart-wrenching fact: Martyn's sister had passed away a year prior. Through a vivid flashback, we witness a dramatic moment where Martyn intervened to prevent his father from shooting the doctor who had been diligently treating his sister. Tensions escalate sharply when Martyn catches sight of his father handling a shotgun perilously close to their children, sparking an outbreak of fury that prompts the family to hastily depart.
Another poignant flashback unfolds, revealing a childhood memory where Martyn courageously halted his father from attempting suicide with a gun. The following day, amidst the family's routine activities, Martyn experiences a setback by losing a deal, yet he chooses to keep this sorrow to himself, not confiding in Rebecca. Meanwhile, Jan persists in his sinister pursuit, tracking Rebecca's movements from beneath their floorboards.
Upon returning home from picking up the children, Rebecca discovers a shockingly inappropriate love letter and a bouquet of roses from Jan. She shows them to Martyn, who, fueled by anger, confronts Jan and warns him to steer clear of their family. In a retaliatory act, Jan breaches their privacy by hacking into the couple's devices and initiating a sinister spying campaign.
The situation reaches a boiling point when the family returns from a visit to the garden to find a chilling letter from child services—a false accusation orchestrated by Jan, alleging sexual abuse of their children. The episode concludes on this ominous cliffhanger, setting the stage for a gripping and disturbing conflict that promises to captivate and unsettle.
