The Longest Night Season 1 Episode 2 Recap

The show begins with prison guard Willy (Cesar Mateo) voicing his concern about the execution-style shooting of inmates under their control. He suggests they give up Simon Lago (Luis Callejo) if Lennon (Jose Luis Garcia Perez) and his men break into the prison. Prison guard Bastos (Xabier Deive) reminds him that prisons don’t hand over inmates. Willy sarcastically reminds him that a prison just let its inmates get executed. Dr. Elisa Montero (Barbara Geonaga) tries to get Hugo Roca (Alberto Ammann) to intervene. Hugh orders the guards in Red Block to come to the entrance. He tells them to transfer inmates from the common rooms and workshop to their cells. Cardenal (Santiago Molero) refuses to make a move until he knows what is happening when Rubio (Roman Rymar) starts attacking the guards. Diego (Jean Cruz) yells, “Run.”

Hugo promises to send help their way. Macarena Montes (Savela Aran) asks if there is anything the guards and staff can utilize for protection. Bastos suggests the riot gear in Admissions. Willy asks if he is suggesting the guards utilize clubs and shields to protect themselves against the inmates. Hugo tells everyone to return to the canteen.

Emma (Huichi Chiu) and Manuela Munoz (Cecilia Freire) play the piano. When Emma gives a signal, Manuela suggests they continue playing. Emma smashes a champagne bottle across a man’s face. She appears to repeatedly stab him with the broken bottle, but it turns out the culprit is Manuela.

Dr. Emilio Espada (Adolfo Fernandez) reminds Manuela of what she said about Emma having the will to harm people. She claims her pleas for Emma to stop fell on deaf ears. Espada asks why she thought Emma did it. She assures him that it wasn’t something she wanted her to do. He asks if she misses her.

Cherokee (Daniel Albaladejo) watches Manuela as she plays the piano.

Lennon’s men work on gaining access to the prison with a metal grinder. The dead inmates are placed in a truck bed.

Hugo suggests there must be an escape route so they can get help. Bastos informs him that the only escape route is through Admissions. They discuss why the generator isn’t working. Elisa asks where it is located. Bastos says it is located in the garage. Hugo tells them that they would have a camera feed of Admissions and Red Block if the generator worked. Bastos suggests it would be impossible to know what would be waiting on them. Hugo decides to go assess the generator.

Lennon demands to know how much longer it will take to get into the prison. A man tells him the prison has armored doors. He tells Ruso (Robert Alamo) there needs to be another access into the prison. Ruso reminds him of what he said about having a plan. Lennon sarcastically says it’s being changed. Ruso asks the guards how they access Green Block. Raquel (Paula Mrado) claims the yard is the only way. Pulling her off to the side, Ruso questions her about the underground passages. When she doesn’t respond, Rey (Pablo Alama) grabs her by the hair.  A scuffle ensues, with the man firing his weapon into the air. Ruso grabs the man’s gun as Raquel pulls off his mask.

Bastos asks if anyone has electricity experience. Montes escorts a male inmate to where a toolbox is stored. When Javi (David Solans) asks when the police will arrive, Bastos promises they are in route. Nuria (Lucia Diez) sarcastically tells him that he was almost bowing to a guard. She assures her that no one cares about her. Manuela questions why the guards are so desperate to get the generator working if the police are in route. Nuria agrees with her.

Hugo informs them that he is going after his children, Guillermo Roca (Ivan Renedo) and Ali Roca (Zoe Arnao). Simon warns him of what will happen if Lennon catches him. When Bastos tells them that Spike is going to work on the generator, Willy sarcastically says he can’t even brush his hair. Hugo asks if he has any other suggestions.

After cuffing Raquel, Ruso assures her that she will be home with her family if she follows their instructions. Ruso informs Rey of Raquel’s pregnancy before ordering him to get control of himself. He questions where the prison’s blueprints are kept. Sara Oliver Gomez (Laia Manzanares) suggests they are in the warden’s office.

Lupe (Laura Baena) tells Javi to ignore Nuria who is listening in on Bastos and Hugo’s conversations. Bastos accuses Hugo of being afraid before Lennon and his men get inside. They discuss Hugo’s decision to not release Simon to Lennon. Willy asks Elisa if she supports his decision. She acknowledges her support. Hugo tells Willy, Spike, and Pincho (Simon Ramos) to accompany him to the garage and Elisa can remain behind to close the door. After agreeing to go, Willy warns Hugo that he is making a mistake. Elisa suggests telling them to truth if they are willing to put their lives in danger.

Manuela and Nuria are looking out the window at the dead bodies in the truck bed when Simon approaches. He demands to know why they are there. They claim to have come for water. After Bastos orders them to return to the others, he demands Simon to not speak with any of the inmates.

In the warden’s office, Sara finds a file with her name on it. She stuffs it into her bag before continuing her search for the prison blueprints.  While she and Ruso view the blueprints, Ali and Guillermo are sitting quietly nearby. She utilizes a model of the prison to show Ruso how to reach Simon’s cell from the yard and underground passage. She says the underground passage has reinforced doors. Ruso asks which would be the safer route. She contacts Lennon to inform him of a staircase that will lead them to Green Block.

Nuria tells other inmates about the guards talking about a jailbreak.  Said (Said Chatiby) suggests the inmate is disguised as a prison guard. Nuria orders him to focus as Bastos tries to reach Diego (Jean Cruz) on the radio. She holds up several shanks before an inmate demands she put them away. She assures them that the inmates outnumber the guards before asking who is willing to join her. Emma tells Manuela to do it. Lupe tells her to stop. Nuria looks over to see Simon staring at her.

Guillermo reminds Ali of what she said about it only being a drill. When she admits lying about talking to Hugo, he tells her that he will leave a message. They are walking down the stairs when they hear someone talking. She pulls him into a room.

Pincho, Hugo, Elisa, Willy, and Spike head toward the garage. They finally reach the door, where Elisa remains behind to barricade. Hugo tells her to go back to the canteen. She warns him that a lot of people’s lives are in danger. After they depart ways, she barricades the door while he catches up with the others. As they prepare to climb the stairs, a grinding noise and bright sparks draw their attention to the garage doors. Willy suggests they get out of there, but Hugo demands they continue to the generator.

Ali and Guillermo walk down the steps when he needs to go to the toilet. She tells him to hold it. A low battery alert pops up on her cellphone. Lennon’s men bust through the prison door. As soon as they notice a wet streak running along the floor, Jeringa (Javier Bodalo) ignites the liquid. When one of Lennon’s men aims his pistol at Montes, Hugo revs his engine before pushing down the accelerator. The man jumps out of the way to keep from getting hit. Hugo jumps out of the vehicle just in time for it to bust through the doors and outside, where it flips and bursts into flames. Bastos orders the inmates to remain calm. Montes aims her weapon and fires.

Bastos struggles to maintain control of the agitated inmates. Javi demands to know what is happening. Lennon and what’s left of his crew jump in their vehicles. Montero successfully calms the inmates down. Simon suggests the inmates be put in their cells. Bastos orders him to return to the canteen before comparing him to the inmates. Taking a step forward, Simon asks if he honestly believes he is the other inmates. Bastos assures him that he doesn’t scare him.

Nuria assures Javi that the guards will not save them, only themselves when the time comes. She holds out a shank.

Hugo, Willy, Montes, and Jeringa stare at the aftermath. Hugo reminds Willy of the generator.

When Ali knocks on the door, a man comes to the door.

Cardenal promises to provide Javi protection but only if he never asks Bastos for help again. Rubio suggests he will want to see something. Cardenal approaches to see Guillermo and Ali standing in front of him. Guillermo blurts out their dad is the warden. Cardenal denies seeing their dad. Ali asks to speak with one of the guards. He orders Rubio to barricade the door before promising Ali to take her to the warden. She looks at Javi as he shakes his head no. Cardenal orders Said to clear the cells. He claims to have a score to settle with Cherokee.

Cherokee discusses the power outage with Carmelo (Jose Alias).

As Sara provides a man treatment, Ruso suggests they take him to the hospital. Hugo contacts Lennon to warn him that the fire may encourage someone to call the police. Lennon tells him that they aren’t leaving. Hugo reminds him of his four dead men.

Willy encourages Pincho to hurry up with the generator. Hugo informs him that he is going for his kids.

Montero washes her face when she looks up to see Simon staring at her. He assumes Nuria has identified him and told the other inmates. She asks what he suggests she do. He suggests keeping them quiet.

Andres (Angel Pardo) is smoking when his wife (Paul Garcia Sabio) informs him of everything being ready for his parents. He asks if everything is okay. She tells him that her client, Chema Lopez (Paco Marin) committed suicide. He texts someone about Chema’s death.

Lennon is alerted of an incoming fire truck. He orders one of his men to extinguish the fires before telling Sara to locate the staff locker room. Richi (Fran Berenguer) follows him to the garage.

Pincho creates a spark inside the generator. Diego informs Bastos that two guards are injured in the library. Frantic, he warns that the inmates are out of control. Nuria holds a shank to Elisa’s throat while Javi does the same to Simon. Manuela attacks Bastos with a chair. Nuria orders Said to get his keys.

Pincho gets the generator working. As the hallway lights up, Ali orders Guillermo to run when Cardenal caps his hand over her mouth. Simon bites Javi’s arm until he lets him go. Nuria and Javi take off on foot.

Montes and Hugo run down the hallway. Carmelo tells Cherokee that the inmates are free as Said unlocks their cell. He invites Cherokee to a party downstairs.

Hugo and Montes approach the staircase when they see Lennon’s men. They hide on the stairs while Lennon says they are going to the access booth. Montes points out that they are wearing guard uniforms. They enter the warden’s office, where Hugo finds Guillermo’s note that reads, “Dad, we’re okay, we’re going to look for you.” Sirens can be heard in the background. Montes suggests someone called emergency services.

Simon walks down a hallway alone.

Lennon, Ruso, and Richi in guard uniforms walk in the direction of the police car.

Guillermo calls for Ali who lies motionless on the floor. Someone is carrying him down a hallway as the episode comes to an end.

 

The Longest Night Review

As the night trudges on, Hugo, the prison staff, and the guards are still in a struggle for their lives. They appear to have scored a win, but the night isn’t over yet. Lennon is determined to get to Simon, regardless of what it takes. In the meantime, Hugo’s children’s lives hang in the balance.

The acting is superb, but the oversaturated cast is a bit much. Only a select few of the cast members get sufficient airtime, all the rest are lucky to make an appearance. Large casts are not uncommon but seem to be phased out as of recently. In this case, character development seems to be drawn out beyond belief. Don’t be offended if I misidentify any of the characters.

The cinematography feels rushed. Poor lighting, angles, visual effects, shots, lighting, depth, coloring, and more. The low-key lighting is ideal for the prison setting. Unfortunately, they just didn’t get it right. It isn’t bad enough the cast is oversaturated. Add poor visibility to the mix and what do you get, darkness?

While the pace is good, it could have been sped up a smidgen. There is some filler that plagues the show as well.

I found it strange, there was no mention of Laura.

The episode deserves a 6. Get more of The Longest Night recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link to learn more.