Episode 1 of "The Survivors" unfolds with a harrowing scene: a teenage boy named Kieran, trapped inside an ocean cave amidst a tempestuous storm. Desperately attempting to swim against the relentless tide, Kieran finds himself repeatedly pounded back by crashing waves. Struggling mightily to keep his head above the churning waters, he vociferously calls out for assistance.
Enter his brother, Finn, and their mutual friend, Toby, arriving in a boat to rescue him from his perilous plight. They battle their way through the tempestuous seas towards him with all haste, but fate deals them a cruel blow when their vessel suddenly overturns, claiming their lives.
A haunting voiceover narrates the tragic demise of the two boys, noting that on that fateful day, another soul was also lost – a teenage girl named Gabby Birch, whose disappearance went relatively unnoticed and unremarked upon.
Fifteen long years later, Kieran returns to Evelyn Bay, accompanied by his partner, Mia Chang, and their four-month-old infant, Aubrey. Kieran's mother, Verity, greets them at the airport, and together they embark on an awkward journey home. Despite the tense atmosphere, Verity and Mia endeavor to make polite conversation.
Verity informs them about the upcoming 15th anniversary of Toby and Finn's untimely deaths, revealing plans for a memorial service and expressing her hope that Kieran and Mia will stay for it. This prompts a poignant flashback for Kieran to his hospital bed in the aftermath of the disaster, revealing the unspoken accusation in his mother's eyes – that he bears some responsibility for Finn's passing.
Arriving at their home, Kieran is overjoyed to see his father, Brian, who is equally delighted to meet his new grandchild. However, Brian's joy is marred by confusion as he mistakenly identifies Kieran as Finn, hinting at a possible battle with dementia that clouds his mind.
Mia embraces Kieran warmly to offer him solace amidst the confusion, and together they venture onto the sandy shores where they encounter Aubrey. As they stroll along, fate brings them into Ash's presence, whose face lights up with joy upon seeing Kieran back home. When the conversation turns to the memorial, Kieran harbors doubts, believing that people might not want him around. Ash, however, reassuringly dismisses such notions, insisting that the town's collective heart has moved past the past. He eagerly invites Kieran to a gathering at the newly erected clubhouse, a testament to the memories of Finn and Toby.
Their chat is interrupted by Bronte, who snaps pictures along the beach, her lens capturing the essence of Evelyn Bay. Ash introduces her as a close friend of Olivia and Trish, explaining that she's in the area for the summer to work on a project centered around their town. Kieran introduces himself, taken aback when Bronte already knows his name, realizing that whispers of his story still linger in the community's corridors.
As Verity watches over Aubrey, Mia and Kieran head out to the local pub. Inside, a poster advertising the memorial catches Kieran's eye, triggering a flood of memories from the fateful day. Mia notices his hesitation and offers to return home, but Kieran insists that a few drinks will steady his nerves. Upon entering the club, they feel the weight of everyone's gaze. Kieran spots his friends, Ash and Sean, Toby's brother, their faces glowing with happiness at his return.
Bronte joins them, and Mia introduces herself, only to find out that Bronte already knows her as Gabby Birch's closest companion. Mia is astounded by the connection, especially when Bronte mentions knowing Gabby's mother, Trish. Olivia's arrival blends them further into a circle of reunions. Bronte requests a private word with Mia about Gabby's mysterious disappearance, a conversation Mia readily agrees to. As they exchange contact details, Olivia gently reminds Bronte to resume her duties.
Later in the evening, Kieran and his friends relish their beers and rekindle old bonds. The mood shifts abruptly when Liam, Toby's son, storms in, shouting Kieran's name. Anger fuels his actions as he throws a jug of beer at Kieran, blaming him for his father's demise. The incident leaves a sour taste, prompting Kieran and Mia to bid the club farewell for the night.
On the journey back home, Mia reassured Kieran, gently informing him that he bore no culpability for the tragic accident that claimed the lives of Toby and Finn. It was merely a twist of fate that placed him at the wrong place, at the wrong time. As their footsteps echoed along the way, a speeding vehicle narrowly missed Kieran, sending a chilling shiver down his spine.
In the depths of the night, Kieran was aroused by Audrey's wakefulness. With tender care, he escorted her to the living room, seeking to soothe her disturbed spirit in the shroud of darkness. From his vantage point, he glimpsed a car pulling up and, unnoticed by his father Brian who retired for the night, discreetly deposited him back home.
The following dawn, Kieran stumbled upon a note from Mia, informing him of her solo stroll with Audrey along the beach. Intrigued and seeking solace, he too ventured towards the shore, only to encounter the police cordoning off an area where a body lay lifeless. A wave of panic surged through him upon realizing Mia had preceded him; he dashed towards the scene, his heart pounding. There, he found Olivia weeping inconsolably beside Bronte's lifeless form.
With compassion, Kieran guided Olivia into their home to wash away her tears. Borrowing her phone, he hastily informed Mia of the harrowing discovery. Soon after, Officer Renn arrived, instructing Olivia and Kieran to evacuate the premises due to its potential as a crime scene. While permitting Olivia to use the restroom, Renn strictly prohibited her from taking anything, maintaining the integrity of the scene.
As they awaited Olivia's return, Renn interrogated Kieran, probing for insights. Hidden in the confines of the bathroom, Olivia exchanged secretive texts, hinting at a botched plan. Her cryptic messages left Olivia visibly shaken, though their contents remained concealed from Kieran's eyes. Before departing, Olivia sneakily infiltrated Bronte's room, absconding with her phone, her actions caught in the periphery of Kieran's vision.
Gathering at the Surf n’ Turf, the townsfolk convened as Detective Pendlebury and Alex Dan led the police in collecting statements. Pendlebury advised treating the incident as a grave accident, urging caution. Kieran and Mia recounted their experiences before heading back to their residence, the weight of the day's revelations still heavy on their hearts.
Back at their home, Kieran turns to his dad, Brian, inquiring about the possibility of returning home in the dead of night. However, before Brian can utter a word, Sean bursts in, shouting for Liam. To Kieran's astonishment, he learns that Verity has allowed Liam to stay under their roof, sharing his very bedroom. Understandably upset, Kieran receives an explanation from Verity: she needs someone to lean on after losing her son, and Liam, too, seeks solace following the loss of his father.
Sean interrupts again, mentioning that Liam is in possession of Julian’s rifle. In a rush, Kieran grabs the car keys and speeds towards the cliff, where Verity believes Liam is hiding. At the cliff's summit, Liam is found drinking, a shotgun clutched in his hands. Far from pleased to see Kieran, he brandishes the weapon, threatening him. Shortly after, Sean and Verity arrive on the scene. They attempt to reason with Liam, but his agitation leads him to fire a shot. Fortunately, no one is harmed.
With a heavy heart, they escort Liam, his grandfather, back to Julian’s house. Julian opens up about the police harassment Liam has endured in connection with Bronte’s death. He reveals that Mia has identified Liam’s car speeding on the road the night before the incident. He urges Kieran to confront Mia about it. Julian then inquires whether the police have questioned Brian, reminding everyone that he himself had driven Brian home around 1 am the previous night. This prompts a flashback in Kieran’s mind: he recalls Brian arriving home late, his boots encrusted with sand.
Meanwhile, Mia sits at home, scrolling through Bronte’s social media posts. She uncovers startling information – Bronte had been investigating Gabby’s disappearance and had formed a close bond with her mother, Trish. In the clips, Bronte vows to uncover the truth behind Gabby’s fate and ensure she is not forgotten.
