What happens in episode two, ‘How Many People Does He Need’?
WARNING: Major spoilers for season one, episode two ahead.
As Drumbán gets into the swing of the production, with many of the locals, including Keith, auditioning for roles. Joanna, Séamus’s daughter, makes an impression and gets a callback for a small role, much to the annoyance of Séamus.
Wendy heads to the fairy seat where she was on Millenium night to smoke weed, and has another flashback about what happened that night, but she’s distracted by another call from LA about the cast. She confirms actress Jemima Rowlands is on board, with social media star and woodsman Olaf Frieburger in line to play the leading man - though he’s not signed his contract yet.
At his house, Séamus looks through his old photographs, but gets distracted by his son, Sonny, stopping in his office. Together they head to the pub for the latest meeting. At a meeting with casting director Carol, Wendy is pushed to find an alternative for Olaf as he’s still not signed on, with Carol revealing Brad had asked her to create an alternative casting list. Once again, the pair are distracted by a dead bird falling from the sky. Wendy notices Joanne’s audition form and is annoyed when Brad calls to say Olaf has gone AWOL.
At the committee meeting, Séamus shares a letter he got from Wendy requesting the use of his house and comes to realise he’s the only person whose house has been requested. Sonny later shares his hopes to maybe become a runner on the production to the surprise of Séamus, who wants him to go back to university and eventually take on his practice.
At school, Catherine is interrupted having lunch by the headteacher warning the TV team will be coming to the school. While she is unperturbed by the news, the interruption is more keenly felt by her lover, Matt, who was under the table having a snack of his own.
Wendy pays another visit to her father’s home and runs into her stepmother, who happily greets her. She comments that her father is excited to see her, but Wendy notes that he’s not returned their calls. The stepmother comments they’ve been away ‘golfing with the couples’ and suggests dinner next week. Wendy agrees but doesn’t entirely buy it.
That night in bed, Séamus receives a text that makes him jump, but he doesn’t tell Catherine.
At the pub, Shelly sees an ad for a Big Jim’s Gym starring local strongman Big Jim McDaid, while Wendy calls to say Olaf is back in on the project, despite Brad’s insistence that she keep her options open.
Location scouts Jules and Glenda continue to observe the local surroundings, but Jules has an accident when he falls into a hole, and heads to Séamus’s practice to get checked out. While there, he’s told to keep off his foot for a couple of weeks, and Séamus asks about the production so far – particularly about how long a producer might stick around for...
Catherine’s attempt to have sex with Matt is interrupted by the arrival of Wendy and Jules, who is now in a wheelchair. Wendy requests to see Catherine’s room, and they talk about Wendy’s time in Drumbán and why she left. Catherine comments that she’s a Celtic history buff and is glad a woman is running the show – there are feminist traits in Celtic lore the world should learn about. Wendy is a little dismissive.
When Joanne arrives, Wendy tells her to ‘say hi to your dad’ for me, noting they ‘did a little travelling together’ –a surprise to both Catherine and Joanne. Catherine is unnerved by the reveal and the insinuation that came with it.
Big Jim is seen after an audition for I AM CELT at home, living with his mother and pregnant sister, Jenny, who is carrying his child. He shares his string of businesses which are yet to get off the ground - from Big Jim’s JimJams and Big Jim’s Jams, but his mother is very critical of his ventures.
At the Proctors, Catherine and Joanne grill Séamus about how much he really knows Wendy, but he hides what went on between them. Catherine makes swipes about her look. Joanne wants Séamus to put a good word in for her so she can land a part in the series.
That night, both Wendy and Séamus meet up at a bench where they used to go together as kids. Wendy comments on the lovely life he’s built for himself, but it’s based on a lie. She asks if he never plans to talk about what happened that night. He tries to make jokes but she’s not having it. He finally admits that “something from above took them” but he doesn’t know what it was or why it let them go.
She asks if he remembers “The Blue Room” and he does, but the only thing he recognised in it was her. Flashbacks see them navigating a bizarre space with distorted voices and an alpaca. She shares that she was thankful as she spent 10 years thinking she was insane and the next 10 believing the world was. She scolds him for lying about it and not defending her to her father, making him believe she was crazy.
Wendy then hugs him, intent on telling the world, but he says he doesn’t want to, and was only admitting it to her. He’s not willing to give up his life in admitting he was abducted, thinking he will be cast out and called crazy. He apologises but says the truth won’t do anyone any good. In a rage, she throws his bag into the water and storms off.
Back in the village, the production team’s vans make their arrival as the locals watch on. Wendy returns to her hotel, where she receives a call from Brad, telling her that Olaf is pulling out of the production, having used their offer as leverage elsewhere. Brad tries to push Armie Hammer on the show as “his big comeback” but she tells him he has other options, panics and chooses Big Jim after seeing his gym ad on the TV.
In another flashback to the Millenium night, Séamus and Wendy’s experience in the spaceship continues, and we see the inside of her old home, which is full of paintings of the spaceship.
Meanwhile, Jim gets the big news that he’s won the leading role on I AM CELT, and excitedly tells his family.