In the opening episode of Wilderness, we are introduced to Liv, alias Olivia, and Will, alias William, as they embark on a road trip to the vast and unknown wilderness. It becomes evident that Liv is grappling with a profound realization - the fact that she has been living a lie since her childhood. She confesses that her mistake was being honest with Will, revealing her true self.
The narrative then takes us back nine months in time. Liv and Will are portrayed as newlyweds, deeply in love and captivated by each other's presence. At a festive gathering, Liv engages in conversation with a woman named Bonnie. She reveals to Bonnie that she and Will had courageously uprooted their lives and relocated to the bustling city of New York, a decision that Bonnie confesses she could never have made.
On Christmas Eve, Liv receives a call from her mother, Carryl. It transpires that Will has an essential business meeting looming on the horizon. Moreover, we learn that Liv's father has moved on with a new partner and that her parents' marriage has ended in divorce. Despite this, Carryl remains fixated on Liv's biological father.
Later in the day, Will returns home from work, and the joy and warmth that radiate from both Liv and Will on Christmas Eve are palpable. However, Will pauses their intimate moment to inform Liv that he needs to freshen up in the washroom first.
While Will is in the shower, he receives a message from a woman named Sol. Without much thought, Liv glances at the message, but the contents shock her to the core - the revelation that her husband has been involved in an affair with another woman. As Will emerges from the washroom, Liv confronts him, her voice trembling with disbelief and hurt. Will attempts to explain himself, but Liv's heart is already broken, and she coldly escorts him out of their home.
After enduring the emotional upheaval of the preceding day, Liv's Christmas was a somber affair. Little did she know, however, that a surprise awaited her later in the day. Will presented her with honeymoon tickets, a gesture that aimed to mend the rift between them. She grudgingly accepted his apology and the offer to accompany her on the vacation, hoping for a fresh start.
Nine months later, Liv and Will were finally on their anticipated getaway. Over a leisurely meal, Liv paid a heartfelt compliment to her mother, calling her a romantic soul. When Will disagreed, she revealed the deeper meaning behind her words. She explained that her father's betrayal had left her mother emotionally frozen, unable to feel warmth. This statement was a subtle jab at Will's own infidelity, which he quickly grasped. He apologized sincerely, acknowledging his mistake.
Our narrative shifts back three weeks in time. Alone in the room with Will's laptop, Liv embarked on a mission to unlock its secrets. After several failed attempts with passwords, she finally gained access. What she discovered was shocking: her husband was involved with another woman, Cara. Worse still, she stumbled upon a sex tape featuring both of them, evidence of their sordid affair that they had carefully concealed.
Liv's anger and heartbreak were palpable. Yet, when Will returned, she feigned indifference, pretending that nothing had changed. She was still intent on taking the trip with him, though her heart was cold and hard.
Back on their vacation, Liv toyed with the idea of eliminating her husband twice, plotting his demise while they traveled. She couldn't bear the thought of ending up like her mother, abandoned and betrayed by the man she loved. As a result, she hatched a plan to have him killed.
In the closing moments of the episode, however, Liv found herself almost ready to forgive Will. But her heart was broken anew when she overheard him telling Cara that he would soon be leaving her. The episode ended on a poignant note as Will returned to the room and they made love, a final act of desperation that offered a fleeting moment of closeness before the inevitable fallout.
