The narrative of Episode 6 of "The Hunting Party" unfolds in the year 2009, amidst the expansive fields of Nebraska. The scene opens with a man speeding down a secluded farm lane, only to have his journey abruptly halted by mischievously placed spiked planks under his vehicle. Desperate and stranded, he seeks shelter at the nearest farmhouse, which happens to belong to the Brandt family, specifically its eccentric resident, Arlo.
Arlo, a figure notorious for his hoarding tendencies, harbors a far more sinister secret—he is a serial killer. With a menacing gleam in his eye, Arlo reaches for a knife, ready to terminate the unintended guest who has crossed his path.
Meanwhile, at the airbase, Bex arrives unusually early for her shift, greeted by Odell who is already deeply engrossed in his third steaming cup of coffee. The duo dive straight into business, with Bex wasting no time in broaching the subject of Silo 12. She presses Odell to uncover the truth, sensing the gravity of the situation. Odell, wary and evasive, acknowledges the perilous nature of the affair but reluctantly agrees to discuss it further later.
Shane, whose father is none other than Dr. Dulles, finds himself entangled in this web of deceit in ways that the rest of the team remains blissfully unaware of. His position is increasingly precarious, caught between loyalty and the growing shadows of deception.
He swiftly joins the ranks of the others as we uncover the dark truth: Brandt's obsessive-compulsive disorder morphed into a monstrous urge, turning him into a serial killer. Within the confines of the Pit, a unique therapeutic approach known as MDT was employed, where Brandt was stripped of all material possessions. The rationale was to delve deep into the heart of his "ailment" and heal him through meticulous behavioral conditioning. A phone enclosed within a wall stood in his cell, its mantra echoing, "Declutter your life, clear your mind." Forced into willingly relinquishing his belongings, Brandt had little choice but to comply, his only reprieve from deprivation being sustenance. Remarkably, within the Pit, he was deemed a success story.
However, the challenge arises now that Brandt has stepped back into society. The fear lingers that he might be overwhelmed and resume his grim work where he left off, albeit with a twist. His modus operandi has shifted, targeting individuals of immense wealth. Arlo Brandt's mantra has become all-pervasive, driving him to abduct Big Gus, the hardware store owner, his son, and others. But murder does not seem to be his intent. Having seized twelve monk's robes earlier in the episode, it becomes evident that he aims to convert them to his extreme ideology. How, you ask? By replicating the stark conditions of the Pit, he seeks to impart a lesson to the world, one group of captives at a time.
Bex and the team swiftly unravel the puzzle, tracing Arlo's footsteps to an abandoned water treatment plant. A tense standoff ensues. Bex manages to calm Arlo, affording Hassani the opportunity to strike unexpectedly, partnering with Bex to overpower the killer and return him to custody. With the case seemingly wrapped up, Shane receives grim news about his father's deteriorating condition. Yet, the plot thickens further as Dulles' daughter enters the scene, oblivious to Shane's identity.
Later, Odell engages Bex in conversation, highlighting that individuals requiring in-depth exploration beyond the Pit were occasionally transported to Silo 12. This very Silo marks the genesis of their entire ordeal. Intriguingly, just prior to the infamous prison break, a breach occurred at Silo 12, where a heavily armed security contingent, comprising approximately a dozen men, was stationed. The Attorney General (AG), privy to this information, might very well be the one behind the catastrophic explosion of the Pit.
