The opening of Season 2, Episode 1 of "The Hunting Party" takes us back to Austin, Texas, in 2005. We meet Ron Simms, a shy and reclusive worker who soon reveals his sinister tendencies. Using his job to prey on innocent women, Ron injects them with a paralysis agent so they can't escape, pretending they're a happy couple. In total, he has killed 12 women.
Fast forward to two months ago, and Ron Simms is one of the inmates inside the Pit, a dark and dangerous place. Colonel Lazarus is here too, overseeing proceedings and making sure the dosage is increased for Ron's treatment.
In the present, Rebecca Henderson records her experiences with the Pit, which serves as a big exposition dump for us, the audience. With the video recorded, we learn that Oliver Odell has passed away. He was bleeding out in the finale and now he's gone. This has renewed Henderson's desire to see this Pit malarkey through to its conclusion.
Mallory doesn't have much of a choice but to bring Bex and her team back into the field to catch these dangerous inmates. It doesn't take long before the lights are turned back on at Wyoming, where the old case is back up and running. Shane, Hassani, and Morales are here, along with a host of newbies too.
This week, we're catching Ron, who has extreme anxiety that was never treated as a kid. His desire to immobilize his victims seems to stem from his mother's alcoholism. She'd end up blackout drunk most nights, and he used to cuddle up to her in that state.
Three years ago, Ron underwent behavioral treatment within the Pit, which eventually transitioned to more extreme methods. Dr. Dresden, a psychiatrist specializing in animal-assisted therapy (ATT), took over. This marked a real breakthrough for Ron, as he bonded with the rabbits introduced. After 17 years of ATT, he became comfortable around animals, which helped him showcase his intimacy and softer side. However, the explosion of the Pit has disrupted this progress.
The group soon learns of Ron's next target: Christina Ward, a 42-year-old woman who was on a date with Ron until he revealed his dark past. Christina naturally withdrew, prompting Ron to resort to his old tactics.
Ron's therapy initially transformed him into a different man, and Bex correctly deduces why Ron has regressed. He has lost control, and that means someone else might be next.
Mallory arrives at Wyoming and speaks to Morales about Rebecca's blackmail, mentioning Lazarus's name, which piques her interest. Mallory is determined to control the situation and demands that Morales keep quiet about what she knows regarding the Colonel.
Back to Ron, the group discovers that he's using an app called Matchy Maker to meet women and try to establish a connection. He's going under the alias Mitch and, at a speed dating event, manages to match with four different women. Ron leaves with Debbie Bolton, one of them in particular.
Ron's desire is to find a woman who accepts him as a killer... but he won't find it with Debbie. She's knocked out when she rejects Ron's confession, but Bex and the gang manage to arrive before Ron can finish the job. Unfortunately, this also puts a big target on Rebecca's back.
Bex decides to leverage Ron's deep-seated desire for connection and acceptance by setting up a deceitful online profile, attempting to lure him into a trap. However, Ron proves to be a formidable opponent, outwitting their plan and instead managing to capture Rebecca.
Bex is brought to Ron's barn, where a menagerie of rabbits roam freely. To her surprise, Dr. Charles is also present, dressed in a ridiculous bunny outfit. Ron demands that Bex deliver a heartfelt plea about how he's changed and now cares, leaving her with little choice but to oblige.
Just when the situation seems hopeless, Rebecca tries a new tactic. She stalls for time, suggesting that she understands the true Ron and accepts him as he is. This buys them enough time for Hassani and Shane to appear, leading to a chaotic scuffle in the barn.
The group manages to subdue and arrest Ron, but it's touch and go - Bex almost chokes him out completely. Back at base, Colonel Lazarus arrives and announces that Mallory has been dismissed, and she's taking over now.
The scene unfolds with dramatic tension and unexpected twists, showcasing the complex dynamics between the characters and their motivations.
