A six-pronged electric lamp flickers overhead as episode 1 of Lockwood and Co begins. A teenage boy and girl step out of a cab and make their way to a house. Holding rapiers by their side, armed with what looks like bombs and ammunition, they talk about various contingency plans for their night ahead — they range from Plan A to Plan E.
They knock on the door and see someone moving inside but then a woman meets them outside the house itself. She is Mrs. Hope, the owner of the house who has hired them to get rid of the ghost haunting it. They introduce themselves, Anthony Lockwood and Lucy Carlyle, agents of Lockwood & Co. She hands them a file with information on the house and the recent death of her husband. Before leaving, she laments the fact that their generation must spend their youth in this way.
Inside the house, it’s freezing. Lucy and Lockwood use their extra senses. Lockwood sees the husband’s death glow at the bottom of the stairs, where he died. Lucy hears the sound of some tapping and then hears the impact of the man falling down the stairs.
As they meticulously brew tea in the cozy kitchen, their conversation drifts to the husband's untimely demise, casting shadows of doubt on whether the wife's hand had a sinister role. The woman's haunting description of a spectral presence seeking her out reveals it to be a Type Two ghost, a chilling realization that sends shivers down their spines.
Embarking on a treacherous exploration of the house, they ascend the stairs, each step echoing with a sense of foreboding, until they reach a room at the farthest corner. Lucy's intuition prickles as she senses the very essence of the ghost lingering within those walls. Lockwood, his voice laced with caution, suggests fetching iron filings, only to sheepishly admit he'd forgotten the more potent chains. Lucy chastises him with a gentle scowl but sets off to retrieve them, undeterred.
Returning to the landing, the air thickens with an otherworldly aura as a faint glimmer of light materializes in the room, gradually taking shape as a woman. Lockwood, recalling another deathly glow he'd encountered, hurries to join Lucy, who now confronts the ghost head-on. Employing her unique Listening sense, Lucy feels a profound ache, her ears ringing with the ghost's plaintive plea: "Let go of me." Suddenly, the specter lunges forward, propelling Lucy through the banisters, leaving her dangling precariously over the abyss of the stairs.
The narrative shifts seamlessly to a flashback, three years prior, in Lucy's quaint hometown nestled in the heart of Northern England. Lucy's mother, her voice resolute, engages in a persuasive conversation with Agent Jacobs, showcasing Lucy's exceptional talent and securing her a place in the agency. As they depart, Lucy's trepidation is palpable; she pleads her fear and reluctance. Her mother's response is unwavering, reminding her of the financial burden her father's departure had left them with, a burden Lucy must now shoulder or face her mother's disapproval.
Within the agency, Lucy blossoms, mastering the intricacies of her craft and forging bonds with her fellow colleagues, particularly Norrie, a girl whose friendship becomes a beacon of warmth amidst the chill of the supernatural world. Lucy's Listening skills prove invaluable, saving her friends from peril on countless occasions, ultimately earning her the prestigious third grade, a testament to her bravery and prowess.
One fateful day, Norrie and Penelope embarked on a whimsical conversation, dreaming of a grand escape to London, where they envisioned enrolling in prestigious academies akin to Fittes or Rotwell. Lucy, however, gently coaxed them into waiting a year, until Norrie reached the cusp of her fourth grade. In the pages of the Fittes' manual, Norrie inscribed, "This will be us," and the two girls sealed their aspirations with signatures.
Jacobs led the group on a thrilling assignment to Moorgate Mill, regaling them with tales of how Marissa Fittes and Tom Rotwell revolutionized the understanding of the enigmatic Problem—the ghost epidemic—by uncovering the origins of spectral manifestations. A skeptical whisper from one of the boys suggested a sinister conspiracy, implicating Fittes and Rotwell themselves.
As they delved deeper into the mill, Lucy's ears were assailed by the mournful sobs of a child, and her eyes caught a fleeting shadow of a youthful figure down a dimly lit corridor. Urged by her companions, she hastened to alert Jacobs, imploring him to evacuate the others. Haunted by a premonition of impending danger, she pleaded for swift action, but Jacobs dismissed her fears with a wave of his hand. Returning to the fray, Lucy encountered a chaotic scene, her heart pounding as a boy's terrified screams echoed, beseeching her to flee.
With unparalleled determination, Lucy rescued Norrie, who was entrapped by a ghostly hold, and the two fled the perilous premises. She frantically called out to Jacobs for aid, but he remained frozen in fear, anchored outside the treacherous building.
In the aftermath, Jacobs escaped unscathed, while the tragic events were deemed accidental deaths. Days passed, and Lucy's mother, stern-faced, demanded an apology to Jacobs and a resumption of duties. Lucy, her heart heavy with resentment, lashed out, declaring her mother's indifference. The rebuke was swift and harsh, a slap that echoed through the room, accompanied by a command to obey.
Dawn broke, and Lucy, steely-resolved, slipped from the confines of her home, boarding a train bound for London. There, she encountered rejection after rejection at various agencies, her lack of paperwork a formidable barrier. Yet, amidst the disappointments, a glimmer of hope shone in a newspaper clipping advertising a vacancy at Lockwood & Co.
Arriving at the address, Lucy was greeted by a boy named George, as a panicked applicant fled the premises. Anthony Lockwood, the enigmatic proprietor, emerged, introducing himself with a jar containing a skull encased in shimmering silver glass, housing a trapped ghost. He queried her thoughts, and Lucy discerned the truth—it was a masterpiece of illusion, the skull serving as the portal for the spectral entity.
Lockwood then subjected her to a rigorous test, presenting a knife, a watch, and a cup. With uncanny accuracy, Lucy deciphered the emotions embedded in the knife, once wielded by Lockwood's uncle, and the watch, stained with the guilt of a murderer from one of his early cases. The cup, however, yielded no response, revealing its mundane nature. Frustrated, Lucy rose to depart, only to be met with a surprising revelation—she had earned the job, if she so desired. With a hint of deception, she affirmed her eligibility, falsifying her completion of the fourth grade.
Lockwood escorts Lucy on a captivating tour of the mansion, divulging the secrets of his chamber, George's domain, the pristine bathrooms, and a door shrouded in mystery, its lock forever sealed, guarding a realm of privacy. He then unveils the heart of their operation—the kitchen, the dimly lit basement where intricate casework, rigorous training, and impenetrable storage coexist.
When Lucy's curiosity piques about the elusive ghost jar, Lockwood reluctantly confesses that George was its uninvited guest. Their journey continues to the attic, Lucy's new abode, where she finds solace in its charm. Intrigued, she probes deeper into Lockwood's identity, yearning for a glimpse behind the veil. He, however, deflects her inquiries with grace, inviting her wholeheartedly into the fold of Lockwood & Co.
As Lucy settles into her quarters, she gazes upon the testament of friendship, her pledge with Norrie etched on paper. Amidst unpacking, a thirst leads her to seek water, where fate intersects with George, who whispers of the house's bygone era, once the pride of Lockwood's parents. He guides her towards the sanctuary of books, where Lockwood is engrossed in the trivialities of society's elite.
Their conversation weaves between the tapestry of high society gatherings and the reality of their agency's humble beginnings. Lucy's candid observation about Lockwood's embellished reputation prompts an unexpected confession from him—her fib about her academic achievements. Yet, he chooses forgiveness, declaring that the past is but a faded memory, and he has unwavering faith in her talents. Together, they envision their agency ascending to the pinnacle of London's supernatural solvers.
Flashing back to the present, Lockwood's quick wit and bravery fend off the ghostly assailant, pulling Lucy to safety's embrace. This encounter holds a strange familiarity for Lucy; she feels the specter's anguish as if it were her own. A chilling realization dawns—the woman was slain, her mortal remains entombed within the chimney breast's depths.
With iron filings outlining a protective barrier, they embark on a perilous mission to shatter the wall's confines. As the bricks crumble, a force so potent it hurls them from their sanctuary, Lucy remains steadfast. Lockwood, besieged by the ghost, finds refuge in Lucy's ingenuity as she unleashes a bomb, banishing the specter but igniting a fiery inferno.
In a desperate bid to evade the ghost's relentless pursuit, Lucy casts an iron net over the grotesque remains, extinguishing the spectral presence with a wink. Amidst the chaos, her eye catches a glimmer on the corpse's finger—a ring, a talisman of sorts, that she instinctively claims. As flames consume all around, leaving no other option, Lucy and Lockwood leap from the burning window, embracing their fate with bravery and resolve.
