Ep 3. Little Lost Lamb

In Alien Nation season 1 episode 3, "Little Lost Lamb", we see the first major case for our two main characters, Detective Matt Sikes and his new alien partner, Detective George Francisco. The episode starts off with a young girl named Maria, a runaway who is taken in by a group of aliens living in a shantytown on the outskirts of Los Angeles. These so-called "newcomers" are part of a group of refugees who have escaped enslavement on their homeworld and landed on Earth.

Maria quickly becomes attached to her new alien friends and embraces their culture, much to the disappointment of her human mother. Matt and George are called in to investigate Maria's disappearance and are initially hesitant to get involved in the case. However, when Maria's mother reveals that she is a drug addict who has lost custody of her daughter, Matt and George realize that Maria is in danger and decide to take the case on.

The investigation takes the detectives to the shantytown where they encounter a group of aliens who are less than welcoming. They soon discover that Maria has been kidnapped by a group of humans who are involved in a drug trafficking ring. The gang had mistaken Maria for a newcomer and had intended to sell her into slavery on the black market.

Matt and George are able to rescue Maria and bring the gang members to justice, but not before Maria is traumatized by her experience. The episode ends on a bittersweet note as Maria returns home to her mother but is forever changed by her time with the newcomers.

Throughout the episode, we see the stark differences between humans and newcomers, highlighting the challenges that come with integrating two vastly different cultures. We also see the bond that begins to form between Matt and George as they work together to solve the case, despite their initial distrust of each other.

Overall, "Little Lost Lamb" is a compelling and thought-provoking episode that explores the themes of prejudice, cultural differences, and the struggle for acceptance. It sets the stage for the rest of the season and leaves viewers eager to see where the partnership between Matt and George will lead them next.