Ep 1. Brave New World

In the season 2 premiere of Bad Banks, titled "Brave New World," we find ourselves back in the cutthroat world of high finance and corporate intrigue. The episode opens with expansion plans at Deutsche Global Invest, a major investment bank based in Frankfurt. The bank's management is eager to grow its position in the market, and they have a new corporate strategy in place, which they hope will help them achieve their goal.

Enter Jana Liekam, our protagonist, who is back at Deutsche despite having left the bank at the end of season 1. Jana is determined to climb the corporate ladder and has set her sights on a promotion, which would put her in charge of the bank's mergers and acquisitions division. However, things are not as straightforward as they seem, and she quickly learns that there are several other candidates in the running for the position, all of whom are just as ambitious and ruthless as she is.

Meanwhile, a new job opportunity presents itself to Jana's former colleague, Christelle Leblanc. She's offered the chance to work at a start-up based in Berlin that is looking to disrupt the banking industry. The start-up is led by a charismatic entrepreneur named Hendrik Handlow, who envisions a new world of banking, one that is more transparent and ethical than the current system. Christelle is intrigued by the offer and starts to question her loyalty to Deutsche.

As the episode progresses, we see Jana and her rivals engage in a game of political maneuvering, trying to outsmart one another and impress the management team. Meetings are held, boardroom discussions are had, and private conversations take place, all in the pursuit of winning the coveted promotion. But with tensions running high and the stakes so high, will anyone come out on top?

Meanwhile, Christelle's experience at the start-up is quite different from what she expected. While she's impressed by Handlow's vision and passion, she quickly realizes that the start-up is not as pure as it seems. She discovers that Handlow has a hidden agenda - one that he's not willing to share with her or anyone else. As Christelle struggles with her conscience, she begins to wonder whether she's made the right choice in leaving Deutsche.

The episode concludes with a dramatic twist that will leave viewers guessing about what's to come. All in all, "Brave New World" is a gripping start to season 2 of Bad Banks. It sets the stage for a season full of power plays, moral dilemmas, and unexpected revelations. Fans of the show will not be disappointed.