Episode 1 of "Them" opens with a haunting flashback, replaying a pivotal moment in Lucky Emory's life. She is abruptly confronted by a frantic woman, demanding the return of her son. The scene jolts her awake, her heart pounding.
With her family packed into their car, they embark on a journey towards a fresh start, fleeing the horrors that haunted them in North Carolina. The air is filled with excitement and anticipation as they make their way to California, part of the Great Migration, where countless black men and women sought a better life.
The neighborhood of Compton, specifically East Compton, awaits them. As they navigate the driveway to their new suburban abode, neighbors emerge from their homes, curious to catch a glimpse of the newcomers. Among them is Queen Bee Betty Wendell, her expression a mix of surprise and disdain when she discovers the Emory family is black.
The children explore their new rooms with wide eyes, while Sergeant, the family dog, seems fixated on the basement. His barks echo through the house, drawing Gracie towards the door. But before she can open it, Lucky and Henry arrive, quickly ushering her away. Their attention is drawn to the housing contract, which starkly states "no negro blood." However, their realtor, Helen, assures them that this is merely a formality that can be easily rectified.
And so, the Emory family settles into their new home, preparing for a fresh chapter in their lives. Red expository text flashes across the screen, marking this as Day 1. Lucky finds it difficult to shake the unease that clings to her, but Henry does his best to comfort her, whispering reassurances that these feelings of discomfort will soon fade.
As the night faded into day, a group of neighbours emerged from their homes, chairs in hand. They set up their seats in the street, their intention clear: to antagonize the new neighbours with an obnoxious cacophony of blaring music. But Lucky was made of sterner stuff. She kept her chin high, ignoring the noise as she walked her girls to the bus stop.
There, they encountered snide glances from the cliquey schoolgirls. It didn't faze Lucky. She turned on her heel and headed home, determined to unpack her boxes and settle in. Outside, the music continued to blare, Betty leading the charge in her effort to wind up Lucky.
But the music proved ineffective. What did work, however, was the arrival of Gracie from the bus stop. She began to sing a haunting, familiar melody. This harmony was the same one that Lucky had heard in her visions during the earlier parts of the episode, and it seemed to have a calming effect on the tense atmosphere.
At work, Henry strode confidently into the engineering department. Heads turned as he made his way to his seat, his presence commanding attention. But beneath the calm surface, the residents of East Compton were plotting. They whispered and schemed, intent on driving the Emory household out of their neighbourhood as swiftly and efficiently as possible. Clarke and Betty were the ringleaders of this malicious crusade.
That fateful night within the house, Gracie was jolted from her slumber to behold a mysterious figure seated at her kitchen table. With caution, she tiptoed closer, only to be startled when the silhouette sprang to life, lunging at her with a suffocating grip around her throat. Frustratingly, the looming suspense was abruptly shattered by an artistic fade shot, robbing the scene of its intended horror.
As dawn broke, Gracie lay in bed, her fingers tracing a bizarre burn mark that had mysteriously appeared across her neck. She whispered urgently to Lucky, revealing that Sergeant was missing and someone had abducted their beloved dog. Henry, in a panic, scoured the house, his gaze eventually landing on the open basement door.
The ominous jangling of keys echoed down the stairs, drawing him into the depths of the cellar. There, to his horror, he beheld Sergeant, lifeless on the floor. Lucky, enraged, stormed out into the front garden, gun in hand, screaming warnings to the neighbors to keep their distance from their home.
