‘Shining Girls’ is a thriller series centered on Kirby Mazrachi (Elisabeth Moss), an aggravated assault survivor suffering with trauma from her violent past. When another lady is murdered in a similar manner, Kirby knows that the assailant is still on the loose and pursuing more women. Kirby joins forces with washed-up crime reporter Dan Velazquez to track out the murderer. Silka Luisa created the television series based on Lauren Beukes’ 2013 novel ‘The Shining Girls.’

As the story progresses, Kirby and Dan understand they are dealing with a serial killer unlike any other. As a result, viewers must be intrigued by the killer’s plot and whether Kirby and Dan come near to catching him. If you’re looking for answers, here’s what you need to know about ‘Shining Girls’ episodes 1, 2, and 3! WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

Recap of Shining Girls Episodes 1, 2, and 3

The first episode of the series, named ‘Cutline,’ premieres in 1964. A strange man pays a visit to a young girl and presents her with a toy pony. Kirby Mazrachi, the girl, lives in Chicago in 1992. Kirby has been traumatized as a result of surviving a horrific assault, and she feels as if the world around her is continuously shifting. She keeps a journal to remind herself of significant events in her life. Meanwhile, Dan Velazquez, a reporter, discovers that a dead body has been discovered within an underground pipeline. He determines, after some inquiry, that the victim is Julia Madrigal, who was reported missing two years ago.

Kirby works for a newspaper where Dan also writes. A detective informs Kirby that Julia was attacked in a similar manner to herself. Kirby decides to look into the situation herself and discovers connections between the two instances. She consults with Dan, and the two of them confer with a medical examiner. Julia’s cuts match the scars on Kirby’s body, according to the examiner. Finally, Dan decides to pursue a story regarding Julia’s killer by identifying Kirby in the piece as a source.

The second episode, named ‘Evergreen,’ begins in 1990, with the killer Harper Curtis following and murdering Julia. Kirby and Dan strive to learn more about Julia and her life in 1992. Meanwhile, Kirby struggles to reconcile her constantly shifting vision of reality. Kirby realizes that the killer, like her, left an item inside Julia’s body. Kirby discloses her mental state to Dan, who tries to help her by eliminating her from the article. Finally, Kirby discovers a voice recording at Julia’s home, confirming that the man who molested her murdered Julia. Curtis, meantime, meets with Dan before returning to a mysterious place.

The third episode, titled ‘Overnight,’ follows Kirby and Dan as they go through newspaper reports of missing young women from the previous twenty-five years. Dan seeks a favor to gain access to police records after Kirby narrows down descriptions of instances that match her and Julia’s situations. According to the data, the duo identifies many other women who were apparently murdered using the same method. Kirby realizes that the women have comparable cuts on their bodies, as well as an item that does not belong to them. A set of keys, for example, directs Kirby to a nearby observatory.

Shining Girls Episodes 1, 2, and 3 Ending: Who Owns the Keys?

Kirby searches through a pile of evidence for clues near the end of episode 3. She discovers a set of keys next to the body of a victim bearing the insignia of the local observatory. Kirby goes to the observatory, thinking the keys belong to someone who worked there a long time ago. However, upon arrival at the observatory, Kirby discovers that the keys belong to Jin-Sook, a young woman who works there. Kirby shows the picture to Jin-Sook. Jin-Sook says that she misplaced the keys a few days earlier, and Kirby asks if she knew the victim. Jin-Sook, on the other hand, is completely unaware of any of the victims.

Kirby then explains that the keys were discovered on the body of a dead man in 1972. Jin-Sook, perplexed, departs, while Kirby mulls over the implications of the keys’ presence in 1972. The episode’s conclusion gives viewers with the first concrete proof that Curtis is a time traveler. Curtis encounters Kirby as a young girl in the show’s opening sequence, implying the same. Later, he appears very young, whereas Kirby has matured. As a result, it is clear that Curtis has the ability to travel across time. Furthermore, the items Curtis leaves at crime sites have a personal link to his victims.

Curtis, why do you follow Dan?

Dan is seen traveling on a train in the episode’s opening sequence. He’s hungover, and his arm has been shattered by glass. The episode’s conclusion ultimately puts some light on this foreboding scene. Curtis follows Dan home after a night of heavy drinking at a pub in the episode’s concluding moments. Curtis and Dan had a talk while waiting for Dan’s train on an empty train platform. Curtis appears to be planning to kill Dan as the talk goes, fearing that the reporter will expose his serial killing farce.

Curtis, on the other hand, was simply looking for a talk with Dan. He tries to force the reporter into providing as much information on the “killer” as possible. As a result, it is clear that Curtis, like most serial killers, gets a rush from knowing about the acclaim his work is receiving. Furthermore, the episode’s ending is linked to the opening sequence, implying that Curtis is trapped in a time loop. However, his ultimate motive for murdering young women remains unknown for the time being.