Ep 1. Pilot

Set in the summer of 1983, Snowfall begins with a promising young black man named Franklin Saint living in the heart of South Central Los Angeles. The pilot episode titled “Pilot” opens with a scene of a group of kids playing in the streets while a police raid takes place in the background, setting the tone for the show's exploration of the crack epidemic in Los Angeles.

Franklin Saint, a recent high school graduate, is a bright and ambitious kid with dreams of attending college. However, he finds himself caught up in the drug trade, selling marijuana to make ends meet for himself and his mother. Even with his mother's disapproval, Franklin continues to sell drugs as a way to support them.

After a drug deal goes awry, Franklin decides to branch out into the more lucrative crack cocaine market, which is starting to take over the streets of Los Angeles. He soon meets Avi Drexler, a wealthy Israeli drug dealer with connections to the Mexican cartel. Together, they form a partnership with the aim of distributing large quantities of crack cocaine throughout Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, Teddy McDonald, a CIA operative, is sent to Central America to fund the Contras, who are fighting against the socialist Sandinista government in Nicaragua. While there, Teddy realizes that the money intended for the Contras is being used to fund the cocaine trade, so he decides to get in on the action by partnering with a Colombian drug lord.

Back in Los Angeles, Gustavo Zapata, a Mexican wrestler, is recruited by the Mexican cartel to be part of their drug trafficking operation. Gustavo witnesses the brutal violence and corruption in the cartel, but sees it as his only way to provide for his family.

As the episode progresses, the lives of these characters intersect in unexpected ways, all connected by the growing crack cocaine epidemic. Franklin, Avi, Teddy, and Gustavo each have their own motivations for entering the drug trade, but it becomes clear that none of them truly understand the enormity of the consequences their actions will have on their community.

The pilot episode of Snowfall sets the foundation for what promises to be an intense and gritty exploration of the crack epidemic in Los Angeles. The show's portrayal of the drug trade is unflinching, showing the harsh reality of what happens when people are driven to desperation. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, and the performances are raw and authentic.

The show also touches on the larger societal issues that contributed to the rise of the crack epidemic, including discrimination and poverty. The stark contrast between the wealthy, white characters and the poor, black characters underscores the inequality that existed in the 1980s.

Overall, the pilot episode of Snowfall is a compelling and thought-provoking introduction to the series. The show has a lot of potential to explore important themes about race, poverty, and drug addiction, and the characters are intriguing enough to keep viewers invested in their stories. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how their paths continue to cross and how they grapple with the consequences of their actions.