Ep 1. Nightmare Bay, Part 1

In the first episode of Baywatch's Season 2 named 'Nightmare Bay, Part 1', we see the new developments of baywatch in the Los Angeles County which is overshadowed by some eerie events. The episode starts with lifeguard Jill Riley who is out on the sea, patrolling. She observes that something strange is happening at the oil rig nearby. Suddenly, there is a massive explosion on the rig that sends her boat flying, leaving her unconscious.

Meanwhile, Stephanie Holden, the new lifeguard who replaces Jill at Baywatch, arrives and is introduced to Mitch Buchannon, the Head Lifeguard. During her initial days at Baywatch, Stephanie has to get accustomed to her new surroundings and has to work alongside veteran lifeguards like Eddie and Craig.

The explosion on the oil rig turns out to be a terrorist attack, and a group named 'The Barracudas' is responsible for it. The Barracudas have a motive of stopping oil drilling on the shores of Los Angeles. Their leader, whom we only know by the name of 'Milo', warns the city of more devastation to come unless the drilling stops.

Meanwhile, the drowning cases at the beach are increasing, with every victim reporting a strange smell before blacking out. The lifeguards find out that some toxic waste got leaked from the oil rig that exploded, and it is slowly seeping into the water. With the realization of the toxic waste entering the sea, the lifeguards start to panic as they find their job challenging. This new challenge calls for a sacrifice, and Mitch is the one willing to put himself on the line. He volunteers to dive down into the polluted waters to get some samples of the toxic waste to study its effects.

On the other hand, the Barracudas strike again, this time at the drilling site on the shores of Los Angeles. They kidnap several people, including a young boy, holding them as hostages to pressure the city to shut down the drilling project. Mitch and Stephanie pick up their slack to rescue the hostages, but the Barracudas outsmart them, and the hostages remain captive. The attack prompts the mayor to shut down the drilling project to ensure the citizens' safety, which is exactly what the Barracudas wanted.

As the episode comes to a close, the lifeguards are still grappling with the aftermath of the explosion and the toxic waste. Eddie gets sick, and it is evident that the toxic waste is taking its toll on him. Meanwhile, Mitch is left stranded in the middle of the polluted sea, struggling for survival after being stung by a poisonous jellyfish.

Nightmare Bay, Part 1 establishes the tone for Season 2, which is darker, more dangerous, and thrilling than its predecessor. It showcases the lifeguards fighting to save lives not just at the beach but beyond it. The episode opens doors to new threats, and the season promises to be an action-packed ride.