The gripping second episode of Season 1 of "Paris Has Fallen" opens with Pearce unveiling a harrowing video chronicling his and his men's ordeal. Meanwhile, the elite team hot on the trail of Karim Hassan corners him in a bustling Parisian market. They shadow him discreetly and witness him handing over his backpack to an unidentified individual. Vincent tails Karim while Zara, swift and decisive, sprints after the recipient of the backpack. However, fate deals her a cruel hand; she loses the suspect in the crowd and mistakenly confronts an unrelated individual.
Elsewhere, Vincent pursues Karim into a public lavatory. A fierce confrontation ignites, culminating in Vincent's tragic necessity to end Karim's life. Their crucial lead to uncovering Pearce's plans disintegrates with Karim's demise. Returning to their office, the duo is shrouded in despondency, with Matis heaping further pressure on them for their misstep.
Across the city, Matthew, the recipient of Karim's backpack, prepares to execute his next target. Simultaneously, Pascal's digital world is disrupted by an email from Pearce, a chilling visual narrative of Philippe's suicide. Amidst the turmoil, a staff member interrupts Pascal to inform him of Pearce's call. Pearce's demands are stark – 100 million Euros for the lives of his men and compensation for his suffered tortures. Pascal, steadfast in his refusal, declines to engage. Pearce, unyielding, threatens to eliminate those dear to Pascal, hinting at a sniper's cold precision waiting in the wings. Assured by his staff that his loved ones are secure, Pascal makes a fatal misjudgment, dismissing Pearce's threats as mere bluffing. But his cocksureness is shattered instantly when Pascal's bodyguard is brutally assassinated right before his horrified eyes.
The police have seized control of the investigation, delving into the reasoning behind Pearce's assault on Pascal. It transpires that Pascal had coerced Philippe into betraying Pearce, due to the latter's actions in Afghanistan threatening Pascal's business interests there. By scrutinizing the surveillance footage captured near the rooftop where Matthew dispatched Pascal's bodyguard, they identify the make and license plate of Matthew's getaway vehicle.
Meanwhile, within the palace walls, the President and her advisors grapple with the growing public sympathy for Pearce's plight, likening their struggle to a public relations war against a terrorist. At the precinct, the investigation team receives a breakthrough on Matthew's car and speeds to the indicated location. Simultaneously, Matthew prepares for his next strike, pinpointing his target just as the police reach out to warn the intended victim.
Zara and Vincent arrive on the scene and give chase to Matthew, but he manages to slip through their fingers. During their journey back to the office, Zara inquisitively asks Vincent about his military discharge. Vincent confides in her, revealing he couldn't bring himself to eliminate the family of a Boko Haram commander. Zara then receives a desperate message from her girlfriend, Thea, and Vincent hastily drives her to the location. Zara discovers Thea in a drug-induced haze and transports her back home. Vincent assists Zara in caring for Thea, and they agree to keep the incident confidential. Zara expresses her profound love for Thea and her fear of losing her, even if their bond jeopardizes Zara's career.
Pascal and his family remain under the watchful eyes of the police. Pascal's son inquiries about Pearce, prompting Pascal to weave a lie. Shortly thereafter, the son receives a message from his girlfriend, urging a meet-up. She reveals her pregnancy, prompting him to sneak out to see her. Unbeknownst to him, the messages were orchestrated by Pearce's men, and his girlfriend is actually trapped in the trunk of their car.
The following morning, Vincent receives a message from the President, requesting a meeting that very evening. Before Vincent can even formulate a reply, Matis hastily summons him. Matis reveals that shortly after Pearce's rescue, he abruptly departed the office and headed to Pakistan. While there, an unknown assailant planted a bomb in his vehicle. It appears that someone sought to silence Pearce, preventing him from exposing the betrayal he had endured. Despite the gravity of the incident, no one has taken responsibility for the bombing. Tragically, Pearce's girlfriend and her two innocent children lost their lives in the explosion.
Upon discovering that his son has gone missing, Pascal hastily contacts the police. They swiftly trace the boy's whereabouts to a nearby park. Meanwhile, Matthew lies in wait, his gun ready to eliminate the young boy. Suddenly, the police arrive on the scene and intervene. A fierce gunfight erupts, ultimately culminating in Vincent's fatal shot to Matthew. After experiencing the near-loss of their son, Pascal's wife firmly insists that he honor his debt to Pearce and purchase their freedom.
Turning our attention back to Pearce, Freja stumbles upon a photograph of his girlfriend and her children amidst his belongings. He shares with her the warmth and kindness that Amina had shown him, expressing his belief that there was once a glimmer of hope for them. However, that fragile hope was shattered along with Amina in the bombing.
Back at the station, Zara finds herself pondering deeply over the mystery of how Pearce is financing his vengeful mission. The IT team is diligently sifting through Matthew's phone for clues and may have stumbled upon a promising lead, yet they remain uncertain about the identity of the man frequently mentioned in the messages.
Later in the evening, Vincent arranges a meeting with the President, both striving to maintain a nonchalant demeanor. However, Vincent can no longer suppress his feelings and confesses his affection for her. To his surprise, she reciprocates his sentiments, and despite knowing that their union is forbidden, they succumb to their desires and share an intimate moment.
Obeying his wife's counsel, Pascal hands over the money to Pearce, hoping that this will bring an end to his troubles. Yet, his hopes are dashed as Pearce and his cronies storm Pascal's home, seize him, and drag him to a desolate spot. In a brutal display of retribution, they set Pascal and the 100 million euros he paid alike aflame. Pearce leaves a chilling message, declaring that his vengeance is unbuyable and that he is relentlessly pursuing everyone involved.
