“Second Wave” is episode seventeen of season one of First Wave.
An older couple are in a car at night. They are married, but not to each other. The woman is having doubts but the man talks her out of them. Another man approaches with a bag and a case and removes and assembles something, before looking at the two in the car through a scope. Then starts taking photos, for he’s assembled a camera. A bright light appears and a strong wind accompanies it and the photographer manages to take a few photos of it.
Cade says that the Paranoid Times webpage is intended to warn people and a few are starting to take notice. A Sheldon Lamott says he has photos of a UFO floating above Columbia, Maryland. Cade approaches a house and a man, Boyd, the one who was in the car, asks if Cade is John Tran, who is coming to photograph the layout of Boyd’s house for what sounds like a magazine. He is not; he’s come to see Boyd’s neighbour, Sheldon.
Sheldon’s wife, Pauline, says he isn’t home. Cade explains he’s there regarding the photos Sheldon took. She asks what kind. Of a UFO. That answer looks like it relieves her. Pauline says Sheldon is at the store and won’t be long. Cade can wait inside. She asks where Sheldon said he took the photos. North Harbor Woods. Pauline says there’s a military base near the woods; it might have been a helicopter. Sheldon returns and takes Cade to see the photos. Pauline wants to talk but he tells her not now.
The photos just show a white glare in the sky though Sheldon says it wasn’t like anything military he’s ever seen. A big sphere with the brightest light that hovered for 30 seconds and then was gone. Cade asks Sheldon what he was doing in the woods with a camera. Photographing birds. At night? Owls. He probably should have taken out the photos of Pauline and Boyd, because Cade finds them at the bottom of the pile. Pauline herself is phoning Boyd, because Sheldon was taking photos. Boyd isn’t concerned. Pauline says Sheldon doesn’t get mad; he gets even.
Sheldon is saying he still loves his wife and Cade says the UFO photos don’t prove anything. It’s hard enough convincing people with real evidence. A corroborating witness would help. Sheldon wants to talk to Pauline first. Cade says he will put the photos on the webpage and see if anyone responds.
On the way to his car, Cade contacts Eddie and says the photos were useless. Eddie says there have been other events. Power surges and unexplained weather reports. Cade has been hearing odd thunder. Then the phone goes dead and Cade’s car won’t start. A neighbour, Dale Moody (Peter Bryant), comes over and offers to help. He ran military transport in the Marines for almost 20 years. Though it might be the computer chips.
Then Sheldon calls them both into the house. The television has a news report; according to the Pentagon, a hostile extra-terrestrial military force has attacked Earth. Nine major world capitals have been destroyed and the death toll is an estimated 19 million. The aliens are heading into the outlying suburbs of Washington in Virginia and Maryland. Then all the power goes out.
Outside, none of the cars will start. Cade says he was trying to get people to listen to him about the aliens, but they wouldn’t. He’s seen, and fought, them; they look just like humans. They need to get supplies and weapons and find shelter. The others are arguing when the sky turns to flame, and they decide that Sheldon’s basement would be a good idea. They’ve got enough supplies for six days and Moody is joined by his wife.
As a demonstration of human unity in the face of adversity, things are not going well. There is almost constant squabbling, and accusations of various people being an alien. When John Tran (Hiro Kanagawa) finally arrives, most of them don’t want to help him. The atmosphere reeks of suspicion and hostility. Are the aliens truly starting the Second Wave, though, or is something else going on?