Ep 1. Cicadas

When the Streetlights Go On is a gripping crime-drama series set in a small town called Colfax in the early 1990s. The show's first episode, titled "Cicadas," introduces us to the community and the people living in it.

The episode starts with the introduction of Becky Monroe, a 15-year-old high school student who gets brutally murdered along with her English teacher, Mr. Carpenter, in a wooded area near her house. The community is in shock, and the murders shake Colfax to its core. As Becky's family, friends, and the local police try to come to terms with the tragedy, they realize that the case is more complicated than it seems.

The episode follows the investigation led by Detective Peter Woods, who is tasked with solving the murders. He's joined by his partner, Officer Ben Lockhart, and they both start by interviewing everyone who knew Becky, including her classmates and her family members.

As they dig deeper into the case, they begin to uncover secrets and lies, including the fact that Mr. Carpenter had a secret relationship with one of his students, a fact that he had tried to hide from everyone. They also discover that Becky had a complicated history with her ex-boyfriend, a mysterious and troubled teenager who seemed to be involved in the murder in some way.

Meanwhile, we also get to see the impact of Becky's murder on the people around her. Her younger sister, Chrissy, struggles to come to terms with the loss of her sibling while also dealing with her parents' grief. Her best friend, Charlotte, feels guilty for not being able to save her, and her ex-boyfriend, Brad, is haunted by his past mistakes.

The episode's title, "Cicadas," refers to the periodic appearance of the insects in the town. The cicadas' arrival is a metaphor for the events that are unfolding in Colfax, as the secrets that people have been keeping for years come to the surface, and the community is forced to confront the darkness lurking beneath the surface.

Overall, "Cicadas" is a strong start to When the Streetlights Go On. The episode sets up the mystery, introduces the characters, and establishes the town's atmosphere. It's a compelling and engaging story that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats, wondering who killed Becky and Mr. Carpenter, and why.