Izzy, their youngest child, is missing and thats a problem.
The chief reveals that in the house, firefighters found little fires everywhere.
And we learn two things right off the bat: 1.
Erin Simkin/Hulu
The Richardsons daughter Izzy is the prime suspect and, 2.
Elena was in the house when it started.
How did we get here?
Little Fires Everywhere – “The Spark” Episode 101 – The picture-perfect lives of the Richardson family are upended by the mysterious arrival of artist Mia Warren, and her daughter, Pearl, in Shaker Heights, OH, an idyllic town founded on the utopian principals of harmony and order. Egged on by her guilty conscious, do-gooder Elena rents to the mother-daughter duo and encourages her younger son Moody to befriend Pearl, irrevocably intertwining the fates of the two families. Pearl (Lexi Underwood) and Moody (Gavin Lewis), shown. (Photo by: Erin Simkin/Hulu).Erin Simkin/Hulu
Elena, specifically, lives a very regimented life tracking her weight, measuring her wine, scheduling sex.
Theyre new to Shaker Heights and are sleeping in their car as they search the classifieds for an apartment.
As the police cruiser approaches in the lot, Mia reminds Pearl to keep her hands visible.
Its a subtle but stark reminder that the Richardsons and Warrens live very different realities.
Things between Mia and Elena are tense from the start.
Its not helped by her oblivious belittling of Mias art career.
The next morning, at Elenas suggestion, Moody goes to the Warrens to say hi.
He and Pearl immediately hit it off and theyre soon hanging out every day.
Its what the free sample can of paint covers and is easy to cover up before their inevitable move.
Meanwhile, Elena struggles to connect with Izzy.
Elenas always fit in and doesnt understand why Izzy cant just go with the flow.
Elenas concern quickly turns to anger as she accuses Izzy of intentionally setting her hair on fire.
Mia rebukes the idea of posed photos, saying she prefers to capture people as they really are.
the same thing but with a cozier name.
And Bill says as much when Elena explains how Mia balked at the offer.
The next day, Moody shows up at Pearls with a bike.
The two hang out and talk poetry, losing track of time.
April coldly says Izzy knows why and calls her a freak.
Izzys face hardens and she pulls out a black marker.
During the concert, she sits still, refusing to play.
First staring April down, Izzy turns to the audience with not your puppet written across her forehead.
The watch patrolman a friend of Elenas brings the pair to Mias.
She reminds Pearl that theyre not like the Richardsons.
They have something at stake if police get involved.
Still hurt and angry, they do their special knock, indicating itll all be okay.
The next day, Pearl goes over to the Richardsons to return the bike.
Moody isnt home but Trip invites her to hang out with him and Lexie.
Mia makes a paint recommendation from one artist to another which catches Izzy off-guard.
Inside the house, Mia sees how comfortable Pearl seems to be in the Richardsons home.
Elenas arriving home as they leave and in a tension-filled exchange, she accepts Elenas job offer.
Mia has a second surprise for Pearl: she built her a bike.
Mia and Pearl reconcile but Elena doesnt know how to talk to Izzy.
She takes a long pause outside Izzys door, unsure of what to say.
Only, he tells her hes never heard of Mia Warren.
Most overt 90s references:
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