I Will Find You episode 2 slows down the breakneck pace of the premiere to spend more time fleshing out its characters and the mystery behind Matthew’s supposed death. The pace slows a little here, but the episode does a good job of furthering the conspiracy and leaving us with even more questions about who can really be trusted.
David Keeps One Step Ahead
David is trapped by police while on the run from prison after a phone call with the negotiators. He will not surrender, and threatens to harm Philip Mackenzie if the police do not remove the barricades ahead of him.
The bet comes through.
David reaches the city, where Rachel helps him disappear by arranging a car swap inside a mall. Philip drives the original vehicle meanwhile, purposely deceiving the authorities. When finally caught by the police, Philip says he kept driving because David threatened innocent people inside the mall.
Authorities aren’t buying it, but David gets some good time out of the distraction.
The FBI has started a major investigation
David is still at large and the FBI has assembled a special team to track him down.
Sarah Greer is a gifted but troubled investigator trying to redeem herself after a recent mistake. She is partnered on the case with veteran agent Max Williams. The team is rounded out by rookie agent Simmons.
In their investigation they soon uncover suspicious details.
Agents learn that David escaped dressed as a prison guard and Officer Adam is conveniently found bound in Philip’s office. It’s a situation that seems almost too good to be true and the investigators are wondering if the Mackenzie family is actively helping David.
More evidence is coming out and those suspicions are only getting stronger.
Rachel Goes on the Run
As news of David’s escape spreads quickly, those close to him start to worry.
Cheryl desperately tries to contact Rachel, but gets no reply. Rachel does not return her calls, worried that Cheryl may not be emotionally ready for the truth.
Meanwhile, emotionally struggling David is learning details of Cheryl’s new life. The revelations clearly affected him more than he would care to admit.
But Rachel is unlucky: the FBI quickly finds her prison-visitation record and links her to David’s escape. Surveillance footage from her visit has, mysteriously, gone missing, making her even more suspicious.
Rachel is soon the subject of an all points bulletin for possible accomplices.
Ted Learns What Failure Costs
Ted is one of the most tragic storylines of the episode.
Ted attempts to distance himself from the dangerous people who are running the operation, but realizes he has made a fatal error. He tries to protect himself by reaching out to Ross, a violent inmate tied to the conspiracy.
Ross only makes things worse.
Ted is told that he has become a liability and the people running the operation are planning to get rid of him. And worse, if he didn’t cooperate, his family could be in danger.
Ted buckles under the pressure and prepares for the inevitable.
David finds him, and Ted finally tells part of the truth. He explains that he was originally paid just to watch David not to kill him . But now that David is out of jail and federal investigators are on the scene, the outfit figures it can afford to lose Ted.
Sarah arrives on the scene to find Ted has killed himself, there is no other way out for him.
David exits moments before federal agents enter the house.
New Lead Leads to Hilde
Back at the prison, another inmate gives key details as to David’s whereabouts before he broke out. The tip directs investigators to a hidden flashlight connected to Matthew’s case.
Inside it, they find papers related to the original investigation.
One name immediately stands out:
Hilde,
The FBI soon decides that David could be Hilde’s next target. They don’t know that David’s reasons are not the same. He believes the conspiracy is systematically killing anyone connected to the truth, and turns Hilde into a potential victim, not a target.
Rachel Talks About Her Painful Past
The show spends time delving into Rachel’s backstory while they are on their way toward New York.
She says her career in journalism fell apart after she pushed a sexual assault survivor to tell her story publicly. The victim could not cope with the pressure that this created and later committed suicide.
Rachel has lived with that guilt ever since.
It’s a surprisingly emotional moment that adds a lot of depth to her character. Rachel isn’t just an ally to David, she’s a woman with her own regrets to surmount, a woman seeking redemption.
David is soothing, creating a closer relationship between them.
New York Asks More Questions
David is overwhelmed when he reaches New York.
He’s been in prison for years and the bright lights, busy streets and the constant noise seem almost alien.
Rachel calls up Hayden, a rich ex-boyfriend who clearly still has feelings for her. He offers them a place to stay immediately.
But Hayden soon learns the truth when he sees news reports of David’s escape. He checks the cameras installed around his property and realizes that Rachel has brought one of the nation’s most wanted fugitives into his home.
Elsewhere, another big reveal changes the game.
The mysterious man in a suit that appeared earlier in the series is revealed to be a corrupt FBI agent who works for the conspiracy. As David searches for answers, he finds himself actively undermined by powerful forces in law enforcement.
The Biggest Shock So Far
The episode ends with perhaps the most shocking of discoveries.
Adam travels secretly to a cemetery with a shovel. When he gets there, he digs up Matthew’s grave.
What he finds seems to confirm the growing suspicion that Matthew’s death was a set-up from the start.
It’s a chilling final scene that raises the stakes dramatically going into next week’s episode.
Review: Characterization Takes Center Stage
Episode 2 doesn’t hit the same non-stop intensity as the premiere, but it does manage to expand both the mystery and its characters.
Rachel gets some much-needed development, moving from supporting character to one of the show’s emotional centers. Her own history and guilt make her partnership with David all the more compelling.
The relationship between David and Rachel also becomes more and more important. As they grow more trusting of each other, it begs the question whether the series has plans to delve into a romantic relationship. The chemistry is there but it’s still not clear if the story really needs to go that way.
Another highlight is Ted’s plot. His tragic fall demonstrates the ruthlessness of the unseen mastermind. With each episode it seems another person is secretly working for the conspiracy making it all the harder to know who can be trusted.
The last reveal about Adam and Matthew’s grave is the best moment of the episode and guarantees that the audience will want to start watching the next episode immediately.
Final Judgment
Episode 2 slows down a bit, but rewards viewers with better character work, higher emotional stakes and several major revelations. As the credits roll, the conspiracy feels bigger than ever and David’s search for the truth has gotten a lot more dangerous.
Rating: 4/5
A suspenseful chapter that emphasizes character development, while allowing enough twists to keep the mystery intense.