The first episode of Talamasca: The Secret Order season 1 commences with a young Black woman named Soledad making her way into an office late at night. Her movements are stealthy, as she rummages through the office and downloads files from a computer. After securing her objective, she slips out, aware of a presence following her. In a desperate attempt to lose her tail, she conceals the USB in an envelope. Alas, her escape is cut short; she is hunted down by a menacing pack of zombies led by Jasper. In a tragic turn of events, she chooses to end her life by standing in front of an oncoming train.
In New York, a White woman named Helen arrives at her office to find a message waiting for her from London. A secretary informs her that the urgent news comes in the form of an eye-shaped package, with the words "We see you" inscribed on it. Helen assumes it's a warning from Jasper to stay away from his business. We learn that the deceased woman is Soledad, sent to spy on Jasper but ultimately failing in her mission. Determined to continue the investigation, Helen insists on replacing Soledad immediately, believing they are close to uncovering Jasper's secrets.
Elsewhere, Guy enters for his interview at the Cavitt law firm with a mix of nervousness and determination. Initially, he struggles to prove himself, but when he's sent out, he stands up for himself and vows to be one of their top hires. The twist? Guy has the extraordinary ability to read people's minds, allowing him to know exactly what the interviewers wanted to hear. Later, he encounters one of the interviewers in the bathroom, who commends him for standing up for himself and hires him on the spot. The man jokes casually that it's as if Guy were in their heads, revealing a sinister truth about the nature of the firm and their clients.
As Guy closed his eyes, memories from his childhood flooded back, overwhelming him with a sense of his abilities. A woman, whose words had once soothed him, approached him then, assuring him that his ability was a gift, not a curse. As he walked away, he noticed Helen following him closely. When he confronted her, she asked for a moment of his time, promising to pay him five grand if he agreed to meet with her. She clarified that they were looking to hire him, but Guy felt that Cavitt was his best option.
Intrigued by the prospect of making a lot of money, Guy agreed to meet with Helen at the address on her card. Upon returning home, he was met with a reminder from his landlord, Larry, that he had until Friday to clear his three-month rent arrears. The next day, Guy met with Helen, who revealed little about her organization. She simply mentioned that she worked for a secret institution with more money than Guy could ever dream of.
She explained that they worked in the world of the supernatural to protect people. Guy's cynicism was palpable, and Helen accused him of hiding from himself and his talent. At the end of the meeting, Guy took the five grand and left.
Taking a short flight to his hometown, Guy met with his foster mom, eager to find out how she came to adopt him. His mom was hesitant but advised him to accept Talamasca's help. He pressed her for more information, and she revealed that the Talamasca had been taking care of him his whole life. The information took Guy by surprise and shocked him.
At the Talamasca New York office, Helen was updated on Archie's travel itinerary. It seemed that Archie was on his way to London, and she believed it was at Jasper's request. Her secretary warned her to back off, but Helen was determined to prove 752 was real and in London. Meanwhile, in London, Jasper was busy with his mysterious zombie-like creatures, their existence shrouded in an air of mystery and intrigue.
As he reentered New York, Guy's steps mirrored a shadow of uncertainty, following closely behind Helen. She offered no denial that the Talamasca had been sheltering Guy, but her gaze shied away from the inquiries about his origins and the fate of his parents. She candidly explained their need for him stemmed from his unique mind-reading abilities. Guy's trust in the Talamasca teetered on the brink of disintegration, and Helen invited him to meet with her, promising a fresh perspective.
Helen led him to Burton's penthouse in the Dakota, their journey laced with whispers of the Talamasca's involvement with the immortal beings. Guy's initial skepticism seemed justified; vampires were a realm he hadn't fathomed in his wildest dreams. Yet, as Burton, a vampire himself, engaged him in a mental conversation, Guy found himself entranced by the unfamiliar territory.
Burton's advice to curb self-judgment and embrace the pain of eavesdropping on others' thoughts came as a shock. But then, Burton's warning about the Talamasca's duplicity struck like a bolt from the blue. He used his powers to implant a subtle suggestion, and suddenly Guy found himself standing at the window's edge. Burton's challenge to resist him echoed in the air, a warning that others would try to mold him into their image and that vigilance was key.
As Guy stormed out of Burton's residence, unsure which path to follow, Helen pursued him, urging him to trust his instincts and judge the Talamasca by their actions. Guy started to walk away, and Helen whispered that it might be the best course.
That night, Guy awoke from a nightmare to find a book propped open on his nightstand, as if Burton had been there all along. The circled name on the page sent a shiver down his spine. The next evening, he attended Malloy's book reading event, showing him the name and seeking answers about his mother. A mind-reading session revealed the numbers 752, a cryptic clue that would lead Guy deeper into the labyrinth of truths waiting to be uncovered.
Malloy avers that he wasn't the one who penned that page; the Talamasca did, and he has a deep-seated aversion towards it. He embarked on a personal investigation and unearthed an old photograph of Anna. He shares this image with Guy, urging him to steer clear of the Talamasca. Malloy believes that the Talamasca is exploiting Guy, much like they did with his mother.
Guy spends the remainder of the night gazing at the picture, his eyes scanning over the Talamasca tattoo on his mother's hand. He also notices a British flag in the frame. The next day, he waits outside Helen's office, and she spots him immediately.
