Summary
Episode 3 ups the games, as alliances are made, but deception seeps into the group. This is the first chapter in the series where the game does not conclude, which brings an intriguing continuation in the balance.
This recap of Amazon original Panic season 1, episode 3, “Traps,” contains major spoilers.
As we have established in the last chapter, the games are not that simple, coupled with the police force tracking them down.
Episode 3 reveals that it’s 4th July, so our American characters celebrate and attend a town parade. Natalie (played by Jessica Sula) asks Diggins (played by David W. Thompson) why there have been no updates on the games, but he tells her to be patient. On the small flags, Natalie notices there’s a clue for the next games. Then, more clues arrive for Heather and Bishop. Bishop is reminded of John Davies, who had to stay in a barn with snakes as part of the game in a previous year — he didn’t care about the snakes, however, when he reached the top of the barn; there’s a flock of bats — John got scared and fell to his death. Ray finishes the story and tells his friends that it was bad luck.
Teaming up with Dodge
Well, we thought we could trust Natalie — Panic season 1, episode 3 shows she has an agenda of her own.
Natalie learns a lot about Dodge and uses it as leverage. She asks Dodge for the truth and wonders if he is a judge. Dodge denies being a judge of the game and explains that a hurricane hit his last family home — they lost the business, and hospital bills mounted. Natalie calls him a good liar, but that she trusts him. She tells him that if he wins, they will split the pot 50/50. Dodge asks about Heather, but Natalie does not seem phased.
Abby’s mother believes her death was suspicious
Sgt. Christine Langley looks into Abby’s death — she speaks to her mother; she’s trying to look into who the judges are this year. But the mother isn’t interested — she wants to know who killed Abby; she claims Abby receives threats, telling her to stay in the game.
Stealing
The next challenge requires participants to steal from a farm using illegal entry. The participants learn that points were not lost from the last round because the cops did not turn up, but Heather questions how that is fair. They are stealing from a wealthy farm where the owner has set up plenty of booby traps to stop home invasions. They have to be careful where they walk, or they may get hurt by traps. Natalie, Heather, and Dodge split up in the crop field. However, Natalie meets back up with Dodge to work with him. Ray overhears Natalie and Dodge working together. One of the participants (Drew) falls into a trap in the woods — Dodge clearly has a conscience and helps him out.
The ending
Ray finds Heather, who has lost her phone, so he helps her find it. He then tells her she’s going the wrong way and asks her to follow him. The pair argue as Heather deliberates whether to join him. Heather rejects his help but then looks for him. One of the participants sets off the alarm, and the owner comes out with his shotgun and gives them ten seconds to get off his land. Heather finds a secret hatch in the crop field and heads down it. As she steps down the ladders, someone closes the hatch door — she can’t get out.
Panic season 1, episode 3 ups the games, as alliances are made, but deception seeps into the group. This is the first chapter in the series where the game does not conclude, which brings an intriguing continuation in the balance.
Additional points
- Starting her new job for Ann, Heather heads to a farm.
- Natalie meets Dodge’s sister Dayna.
- Dodge has a conversation with his mother — he tells her that she used to hate cops, but she responds by saying that she needs friends. There’s clearly a tension between mother and son.
- Tyler quits the games believing it’s not worth prison — Ray calls him a pussy and leaves him six miles from his home. On the way home, Tyler is grabbed by masked men and thrown into the back of a car.
