EPISODE CONTEXT

Landing at episode 9 of 26, this follows directly from Ellis attracting dangerous attention due to her mysterious abilities, and offers a tactical pause from that larger threat — grounding the story in immediate, physical stakes rather than conspiracy-level intrigue. The standalone structure provides breathing room while still reinforcing the show's core themes of personal conviction versus obligation. It keeps the forward momentum of Nadie and Ellis's journey intact without yet revealing the deeper forces at play in the back half of the season.