: As Coach Ben struggles with his horrific injury (a leg amputation performed by Misty), the leadership vacuum begins to fill. Jackie, the team captain, finds her "queen bee" status doesn't translate well to the woods, while Natalie and Travis begin to form a bond over their shared outsider status and hunting skills. The Long Shadow: 2021
: The soundtrack continues to hit all the right notes, grounding the 1996 timeline in authenticity.
: Fresh out of rehab, Natalie is the most proactive in hunting down whoever is trying to blackmail them. Her confrontation with Misty provides the episode with much-needed dark humor, establishing their "frenemy" dynamic that carries the season.
Following the harrowing plane crash in the wilderness, Episode 2 focuses on the girls' (and their few surviving mentors') initial attempts to find order in chaos. The episode's title, "F Sharp," refers to Misty Quigley’s musical talents, but it serves as a metaphor for the jarring, sharp shift their lives have taken.
: This is arguably Misty's episode. We see her move from a social pariah to a vital asset. Her knowledge of first aid becomes the group's lifeline, but the episode ends with a chilling revelation: Misty destroys the plane's flight recorder (the "black box") after she overhears her teammates praising her utility. It is our first real glimpse into the lengths she will go to feel needed.