Ep 1. The Guards

Jack Taylor is an Irish detective series based on the novels of the same name by Ken Bruen. The show is set in Galway, Ireland, and follows the life of Jack Taylor, an ex-Garda who now works as a private investigator.

In the first episode, titled "The Guards," we see Jack being released from prison after serving time for assaulting a politician. He returns to Galway, but life is not pleasant for him. He is regarded as a pariah by the people around him and is forced to live in his mother's apartment.

However, things start to look up when an old friend, Jack's former boss at the police force, Kate Noonan, reaches out to him. She wants him to look into the murder of a young woman named Sarah Lundon.

Sarah's body was discovered in an abandoned house, and the police have hit a dead end in the investigation. They have no leads or suspects, and the case has been classified as a cold case. Driven by the desire to prove himself, Jack starts investigating the case, even though the police have warned him to stay away.

As Jack starts digging into the case, he makes the discovery that Sarah was a drug addict and that her addiction may have played a significant role in her death. He also uncovers a dark underworld in Galway, where drugs and prostitution are prevalent.

In his pursuit of the truth, Jack faces many challenges, including harassment from the police and threats from the people behind Sarah's death. He receives help from his ex-girlfriend, Anne, who is now a criminal lawyer, and his friend, Cody, a young drug addict.

As the investigation progresses, Jack starts to unravel the mysteries surrounding Sarah's death. He finally comes face-to-face with the people behind her murder, and the truth shocks him to the core.

Jack's journey in "The Guards" is about redemption; he is trying to regain what he lost due to his past mistakes. The episode portrays his struggles as he tries to clear his name and find his place in society. It also shows the underbelly of Galway, which may come as a surprise to those who think of Ireland as a peaceful country.

"The Guards" sets the tone for the rest of the series, establishing the characters' backstories and intertwining them with the central plot. It's a compelling start to a show that promises to be a thriller full of twists and turns.