Episode 1 of "Prime Target" kicks off in the bustling city of Baghdad, Iraq, where Baidaa and her daughter Amira embark on a simple quest for ice cream. Baidaa temporarily entrusts Amira to the shopkeeper's care while she steps away to withdraw some cash. However, the serene afternoon is shattered by a sudden explosion that propels Baidaa through the air like a rag doll. Miraculously, Amira survives the blast, but as if fate had other plans, the ground beneath them collapses, sending them spiraling into the depths below.
Across the globe, in the hallowed halls of Cambridge, England, we encounter Edward Brooks, a mathematician deeply engrossed in his work. He's a man of numbers, not people, and Fiona's obvious infatuation with him falls on deaf ears. Though he finds her age of 23 intriguing—a prime number, after all—his heart remains unmoved.
During his math lecture, Edward's pessimism contrasts sharply with Professor Robert Mallinder's enthusiasm for the wonders of mathematics. While Robert pitches for funding, his true feelings about Edward's research paper become evident when he privately scans it with a lackluster expression. Clearly, Robert is a master of his craft, and an eerie sense of surveillance lingers as cameras capture Edward's every move. But who is watching? That remains to be seen.
Elsewhere, a teacher named Andrea is thrilled by news of the gas explosion in Iraq—the very same one that opened the episode. Her excitement stems not from the tragedy but from the revelation of a nearly untouched underground chamber from the 9th century. The Baghdad Department of Culture and Antiquities beckons her to investigate, and she jumps at the chance.
Andrea, who happens to be Robert's partner, urges him to find common ground with Edward. For Edward, math is life itself, as evidenced by his constant scribbling in his notebook and his introverted nature. However, he does share a rapport with the male bartender, with whom he spends the night. But come morning, Edward's demeanor grows icy, and he abruptly dismisses the bartender as he resumes his work.
When he mentions having "family coming over," he isn't entirely incorrect, though his claim might be somewhat stretched. The next evening, he joins Andrea and Robert for dinner, where the conversation drifts to numbers and the thrill of exploration.
Andrea is profoundly impressed and proudly displays the artifacts retrieved from the enigmatic underground chamber in Iraq. Ed scrutinizes them meticulously and promptly detects an intricate numerical pattern adorning the chamber walls. The photograph Andrea possesses, though, lacks the clarity to fully reveal the pattern's extent; nonetheless, they have undoubtedly stumbled upon something monumental.
Part of the friction between Ed and Robert stems from Ed's unbridled enthusiasm for mathematics. According to Andrea, it's "just like her," though the precise implication remains elusive for now. Nevertheless, it is evident that both Ed and Robert are under surveillance. As they jot down the numbers and attempt to decipher the pattern, an unseen entity lurks, surreptitiously snapping pictures of their efforts.
Speaking of unseen forces, when Ed confronts Robert the following day, he postulates about prime numbers and the potentially groundbreaking discovery they might have unearthed. He believes in the existence of something called the "God's Cipher," and speculates that the underground chamber in Baghdad harbors a formula related to prime numbers.
Robert firmly urges Ed to abandon this line of inquiry, refusing to present their findings to the Board. He doesn't want Ed to become consumed by this pursuit, as others before him have been. With that, he hastily leaves. It transpires that Robert might be collaborating with mysterious figures, as evidenced by a message from someone named "The Keeper" on his computer, inquiring about his work on prime numbers.
Robert's inadvertent mention of others pursuing prime numbers prompts Ed to conduct some online research using the university's computers. He notices with alarm that the research papers of other students who have delved into prime numbers have mysteriously vanished from the records.
Upon returning to his dorm, Ed discovers that Robert has been there too, stealing and incinerating all his work. Enraged, Ed rushes to his house, where he finds Andrea equally bewildered. Robert leaves a farewell message, apologizing for his inability to do more.
Meanwhile, as we shift our focus to the professor, we witness a grim scene: he is slumped inside his car, lifeless.
