Intruders Episode 1 Recap: See This Is Why You Should Not Celebrate Your Birthday (Series Premiere)

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Please Let Me Know Which "Them" To Avoid. There Are So Many.

"Intruders" is an eight part series based on a book by Michael Marshall Smith and adapted for TV by X files writer Glen Morgan. It airs on BBC America on Saturdays at 10 PM ET. If you missed the premiere, episodes 1-2 "She Was Provisional" and "And Here You Must Listen" are available online at BBC America Intruders They must be watched on a flash enabled device (so my ipad didnt work). Note: this review only covers episode 1.

The show has the tag line "Dont Let Them In". OK that narrows it down. "Them" could be anyone but it seems they're older spirits (since Donna was speaking an ancient language). But who knows.

The acting is top notch. I love anything with James Frain in it. Remember him from "The Tudors" and "True Blood" to name a few. Mira Sorvino (for what we've seen of her thus far) is very creepy. And nine year old Millie Brown is wonderful to watch. I cant wait to see what she's up to next.

The first episode must provide the setting so we get lots of locations splashed across the screen in short succession. We open in 1990 in Barstow, California with a teenager blowing out her birthday cake. That night she locks the door and opens her diary where she has pics of Gary and Jack. They are apparently all in high school together. Two men in black arrive. They attack the girl in her sleep. The older one says "Donna can you keep a secret? It's a secret that you gave to us. We're here to give it to back to you just as you asked all those years ago. We are just here to shepherd you." He also says "It sometimes takes a long time if the old one doesnt want to let go." They eventually leave her with a plane ticket and a card with "9" on it. Donna later writes a note to Gary (which includes the line "I am NOT Donna") and then slits her wrists in the tub and dies.

Back to present day Seattle. One of the same men arrives at a house saying he is FBI and is looking for Bill Anderson. His wife Julie says she doesnt know where he is. The mysterious stranger then shoots Julie followed by killing his son Matt (right after he calls 911).

Over in Birch Crossing, Washington we see ex-cop Jack who is now an author. He has written a book called "Afterlife". Today is his wife Amy's birthday. They go home to celebrate. Jack catches Amy dancing to an old jazz song. She is acting peculiarly. She later goes on a business trip to Seattle.

And over to Rena Nevada where a podcaster (going by the handle Professor Purdue) broadcasts saying "Tonight as I speak to you of them, I fear no one". He has been telling his audience about Bill Anderson and the Qui Reverti and how they tried to silence Bill. The Qui Reverti is apparently a secret society whose members escape mortality but jumping from body to body.

In Finley Beach, Oregon a young girl named Madison is about to blow out the number 9 candle on her birthday cake.. She ends up outside on the beach where the same dark suited man appears. He leaves a silver dollar for her.

Gary visits his old high school friend Jack. He says he needs help in finding who killed Julie and Matt Anderson. Bill Anderson is a Acoustics Professor but no one knows where he currently is.

Amy disappears on her trip to Seattle. Jack goes to look for clues. There is no record of her being at the hotel. Meanwhile Oz Turner (the podcaster) gets a mysterious call saying they need to talk.

The guy in black visits Madison again. He says "Can you keep a secret" and give her the 9 card we saw previously. Then he says "Nine years goes fast huh Marcus" and tries to shoot her. She keeps screaming "My name is not Marcus". He cannot bring himself to kill her.

Next the stranger (going by the name Mr Segreto) meets Oz in a bar. Oz says Bill Anderson told him that there were some frequencies that normal people cant hear. If we could learn to harness them we would never die. The stranger says he has to leave but they will meet again soon. And as promised. Segreto shows up at Oz's house. He says you should be proud of yourself-- "They do exist and they dont die but you do" and with that Oz is blasted full of holes.

Next it looks like Madison is going to off herself in the bath in the same way that Donna did. But just then she grabs the cat and kills him instead. Poor Mr Lupe. He deserved a better end.

Jack is still in Seattle looking for clues. He has Amy's phone. He calls a mysterious number on it. Strangeness ensues. He later sees a text that says "We'll have to wait till he's dead". Who is that "he"? In any case when he later calls the number, he only hears jazz music.

Madison calls Segreto. Madison says "You brought me (Marcus) back too early. I dont know why. But Shepherd, what goes around comes around". And from now on Segreto will be known as Shepherd. Thus ends episode 1.

Favorite Quotes:

"In the beginning, there was death".
"Can you keep a secret? It's a secret that you gave to us. We're here to give it to back to you just as you asked all those years ago. We are just here to shepherd you."
"You brought me (Marcus) back too early. I dont know why. But Shepherd, what goes around comes around"

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). I had low expectations but I actually enjoyed episode 1. I found the story to be intriguing and the acting to be stellar. Just dont expect a fast paced show with lots of reveals per episode or you'll be disappointed. Instead sit back, relax and let the story unfold in it's own time.