Malice Episode 1 recap: Jamie Tanner faces vengeful Adam

Episode 1 of Malice Season 1 takes viewers straight into the mysterious dynamics between Adam Healey and the Tanner Family. The episode opens with Adam as he lands in the United States. But he is stopped by the Border Control and questioned by Homeland Security.

Adam planned to work for a new family in Connecticut, but the questioning landed him in an unexpected detour. From Homeland Security, Adam learns that Jamie Tanner, the father of a family Adam previously worked for, has died. Adam, who had known this family previously, does not showcase any remorse but claims that he was ‘Not a nice man.’

Malice Episode 1 recap: Jamie Tanner faces vengeful Adam

Malice, Season 1, Episode 1, then takes you to the time when Adam was with the Tanner family. This serves as a context for everything that follows in Episode 1. The Tanners consisted of the youngest son, Dexter, the older son Kit, and their sister April. Jodie works in the Tanner household as a nanny. But Nat Tanner is not fond of her easygoing, slightly careless attitude.

We are told that even though the Tanner household looks glossy from the outside, there is already some tension under the roof. Adam enters the family holiday villa in Greece through Jules’ recommendation. He made Adam’s entry smoother with his over-the-top enthusiasm, praising him at every chance. Adam forms a positive impression of him as polite, organized, and genuinely attentive to the kids.

However, Jamie Tanner is vigilant. She observes Adam closely with a more guarded eye, sensing that Adam’s calm confidence could easily shift the balance of authority in the home.

Once Adam sticks his steps comfortably inside the house, he begins to adapt to the family’s rhythm. While on a yacht outing, he cunningly disposed of Jamie’s passport without hesitation. On the other hand, he grows close to the kids, handles their dinner reservations, and takes the daughters on a dawn hike.

Adam maintains a thoughtful and proactive demeanour. But soon a darker nature creeps out when it violently kills octopuses in front of Dexter. This character switches from calm to disturbing in an instant, hinting at more twists.

Dexter is shaken by the sight. But he is not the only one who notices the change in Adam. Tension between Adam and Jamie grows steadily. At dinner, Jamie calls him out for sharing a fake anecdote, copied from Lawrence of Arabia. Adam does not pay much heed to this, but he refuses to be thrown off and continues to work his way inside the family core.

Adam invites Jules for a hike, but the next morning, Jules finds out that Adam gave her the wrong time. He has already gone out with Nat. This move subtly isolates Jules. Meanwhile, the family faces trouble with Kit, who is facing school suspension.

Nat is tense and stressed by the developing dynamics of the home. As a step-mother, she tries her best to handle the family’s situation. This bond between the stepmother and the kids remains a consistent thematic thread in Malice.

An incident makes Jamie and Adam form an uneasy alliance when Jamie encourages the kids to jump off seaside rocks. Dexter is clearly scared, but Adam guides him gently. The boy still injures his head, Jamie and Adam decide to hide the matter from the family.

Things get even more complicated when Adam pressures Jodie to try his cooking. Jodie eventually gets sick, and Jules and Nat observe the incident. It further deepens the cracks emerging inside the Tanner family.

When Adam convinces Jamie to go out and get drunk, following which she gets totally drunk and out of control. Adam, however, never touches his drink. When they return to the villa, Jamie collapses near the lake. Adam stands over him and admits he could kill him right then, but he chooses not to, wanting Jamie to suffer first.

The episode ends with a chilling sense that Adam’s revenge is only beginning. The cracks inside the family have already deepened in Episode 1, Season 1. What's truly Adam's intent remains to be seen in the coming episodes of Malice.

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You can stream Malice on Amazon Prime Video.

Also Read: Malice starring David Duchovny fails to impress audience with a poor Rotten Tomatoes score

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