Broken Fall – As the first episode of Devil in Ohio begins, a young girl runs away from her home in the middle of the night. Mae continues running until she reaches a road and tries to flag down a car, but he keeps doing. She throws her knife down and jumps in front of an incoming truck forcing it to stop. In the morning, Dr. Suzanne Mathis (Emily Deschanel) wakes up and receives a call learning about the girl being brought in. Peter (Sam Jaeger) promises to handle breakfast since she has to go in. While getting ready, Suzanne puts on a watch to cover up the scar around her wrist. She wakes up Jules (Xaria Dotson). Downstairs, Jules asks Helen (Alisha Newton) for a ride, but Helen says Teddy is picking her up so they can work on their Ohio State applications. Dani wants her mom to listen to her audition for the musical revue. Suzanne reminds her that she needs to give the nurse her extra EpiPen before she leaves in a hurry.

Dani complains about mom having to work all the time. At the hospital, the nurse tells Suzanne that they don’t know the patient’s name because cops couldn’t get a statement. A trucker found her over in Amon County where the Amish or something live. Suzanne says she is about the age of Jules. When she notices the marks around her wrist, she concludes the girl was restrained. The patient is on tramadol for the pain and antibiotics for the wound. Suzanne is shown the wound on the girl’s back. She says it can’t get out because the girl is a minor. At school, Isaac encourages Jules to sign up for clubs at the fair. She smiles at Sebastian (Evan Ellison) when he walks by, but Isaac (Jason Sakaki) says he isn’t even that cute. He says otherwise and reminds Jules that Sebastian isn’t out of her league. The patient’s x-rays come back showing her ankle is fine. She is taken back to her room where she sees a man with a needle waiting for her. Suzanne checks on Omar to see how his leg is feeling. Suzanne is pulled away because the patient is upset and throwing things around.

She makes the others leave and tells Adele (Marci House) they can do a blood draw later. Suzanne tells the patient she hates needles too before introducing herself as the inpatient attending psychiatrist. She sits down next to the girl and tries to get her to talk. The girl lays her head on Suzanne’s shoulder. Moments later, Suzanne rushes into the bathroom to calm herself. During lunch, Jules tries to sit next to Helen who won’t let her because Brett is coming. Helen’s friends laugh at her and call it embarrassing. Jules walks away as Helen tells Teddy to stop stealing her fries. Later, Jules works to develop her photos. Suzanne checks on the patient again. She reveals they’re calling her Lauren Trauma right now for her protection. Suzanne hopes she’ll reveal her name in the future because it’ll help them place her somewhere safe. She tells the patient good night before leaving. The family plays a game that night while Jules remains visibly upset.

She argues with Helen briefly before leaving. Suzanne checks on her later that night, but Jules turns off her light and won’t respond. Suzanne looks through the patient’s file while relaxing in bed. The patient remembers what happened to her before sitting up in bed. She tells herself no while slapping her face. In the morning, Peter leaves for a work meeting. He meets with up Jeff Fisk (Noel Johansen) at the house only to find out that Jeff is going to pull out because they’ve found another property. Peter begins complaining that he has a mortgage and is up to his ears in loans. At work, Suzanne notices a policeman walking around the hospital. When she approaches him, Sheriff Wilkins (Bradley Stryker) says he is looking for a girl with a cut on her back. He explains he is the Sheriff of Amon County. Suzanne tells him they can’t give him information without a court order. She checks on the patient. Later that night, Peter returns home and tells Suzanne he isn’t hungry.

She gives bottles he can give to his client and tells him she knows how hard he worked. Then, Suzanne goes upstairs to check on Jules. She sits down on the bed with her and admits high school was the worst for her. Jules doesn’t think she’ll ever fit in so Suzanne tells her other students are in the same boat. At work, Suzanne argues with a coworker that they cannot send the patient to Cleveland. She has talked to emergency foster providers and found no one. However, the only person on the list she didn’t call was Suzanne. Sebastian catches up with Jules at school and learns she worked the front desk at the rec center this summer. They begin talking about her exhibit at the library before she is asked if she’d like to do a photo column in the paper. She agrees to meet him tomorrow. Suzanne tells the patient that she wants to help, but she is going to have to cooperate. She tries to find out anything she can about the patient’s life and family.

The patient’s demeanor changes when she learns a man came looking for her. When Suzanne asks if the Sheriff hurt her, the patient says nothing. She makes it clear that whatever happened to her was not her fault. As Suzanne gets ready to leave, the patient reveals that her name is Mae. Peter goes back to the house he was trying to sell to fix the sign. Dani walks home with Jules and tells her about trying to get a role in the school musical. They’re surprised when they find the door open because their mom never leaves it open. As they go inside and look around, Suzanne surprises them. She wants them to sit down so she can talk to them about something. Jules walks into another room and sees Mae sitting nearby. They sit down and Suzanne begins telling them about Mae’s situation. Suzanne thinks Jules should stay with Dani so Mae can have a room to herself. She has to change her bandages moments later. When Peter comes home, Suzanne tries to explain why she brought Mae home with her.

They’ll keep her until they can find her a foster home. She admits she just wanted to help her, but will find a new place for her tomorrow. Jules talks to Isaac on the phone about signing up for the volleyball team. She complains about having to move in with Dani. When Jules washes her face in the bathroom, Mae sneaks up behind her and scares her. Mae apologizes for making her move before complimenting her dress. She says she is sorry for flattering her, but Jules says people like compliments. Jules confesses that she only has one friend before offering to show Mae around her room. Suzanne yells for everyone to come down for dinner. Dani tells her that they haven’t posted casting for the musical yet. Jules teases Helen and accuses her of being with her boyfriend, but Helen is home. Mae is introduced to Helen before everyone sits down for dinner. The family agrees to let Mae say grace. Detective Lopez (Gerardo Celasco) arrives at the hospital and approaches Adele because he wants to get a statement from the girl.

The Sheriff goes to his trailer and takes his dog inside. There is an upside-down cross on the wall. Suzanne checks on Mae and tells her where she’ll be. Mae tells her that her kindness is too much, but Suzanne insists she deserves it. Once Mae is alone, she looks at the pictures Jules took. She looks at the wound on her back and sees that it is a pentagram. Then, she tells herself she deserves it.

 

Devil In Ohio Review

The first episode of Devil In Ohio primarily focused on introducing the characters and their dilemmas. The main story regarding the mysterious Mae could become gripping over the next few episodes as it likely takes on a spiritual angle. Other storylines are less than stellar even though they’re likely going to interconnect at some point. Everything going on at the school with Jules and Helen just doesn’t interest me all that much because it is like a teen drama. There also might be too much going on and some of these less interesting storylines might take up time from Mae’s story.

The acting from the leads was good, especially Emily Deschanel and Madeleine Arthur. Xaria Dotson and Alisha Newton were also good, but the first episode limited the characters’ range. While not groundbreaking yet, Devil In Ohio could become gripping if it manages to juggle the storylines well without transforming into an annoying high school drama. The first episode had some predictable moments that viewers will expect such as Mae moving in with the family. More episodes are needed before determining how successful this will be.

The first episode scores a 6 out of 10. Recaps of Devil In Ohio can be found on Reel Mockery here. Learn how to support our work at this link.