Besźel (episode)

Besźel is the first episode of The City And The City. It aired on 6th April, 2018.

Synopsis
When the body of a woman is found in Bulkya Docks, an area that sits on the border between Besźel and Ul Qoma, Inspector Tyador Borlú notices similarities with an old case that has always haunted him.

Plot
The body of a young woman is found at Bulkya Docks, which sits on the border between Besźel and Ul Qoma. Inspector Tyador Borlú of the Extreme Crime Division is assigned to the case, assisted by Officer Lizbyet Corwi. Investigation of the crime finds that the girl's body was dumped on wasteland by a yellow van, leading Detective Naustin to presume the girl was a prostitute. Although Borlú has investigated many cases like this, he begins to notice similarities between this death and an old case of his.

Mahalia's body was found in an area with lots of cross-hatching with Ul Qoma. Commissar Gadlem wants to turn the case over to the security police who patrol cross-border crime – Breach. Gadlem thinks the case might be too personal for Borlú and wants someone else to handle the case. Borluú insists that he will be fine investigating.

Unificationists protest that Besźel and Ul Qoma should unite as one city. Borlú is contacted by a woman who claims to have been friends with the dead girl, identifying her as Mahalia Geary. Mahalia was a resident of Ul Qoma, but was found dead in Besźel. Borluú becomes worried when Mahalia's friend admits that she is illegally calling from Ul Qoma.

Mahalia's parents arrive from America to see their daughter's body, and Borluú and Corwi are assigned to look aver them. Borlú's illegal phone is discovered by Gadlem and he takes the case to the Oversight Committee in an effort to invoke Breach.

Cast

 * David Morrissey as Tyador Borlú
 * Mandeep Dhillon as Lizbyet Corwi
 * Lara Pulver as Katrynia Perla
 * Ron Cook as Inspector Gadlem
 * Danny Webb as Major Syedr
 * Morfydd Clark as Yolanda Stark
 * Andrea Deck as Mahalia Geary
 * Corey Johnson as Mr Geary
 * Reuben Johnson as Haco
 * Dana Haqjoo as Naustin
 * Cokey Falkow as Shukman
 * Tom Follows as Drodin
 * Michael Ryan as Mikyael Khurusch
 * Amelie Chantrey as Ul Qoma Girl
 * Debora Weston as Mrs Geary
 * Bukso Dhillon-Woolley as Immigration Officer
 * Moey Hassan as Worker Priest Driver
 * Dan Fredenburgh as Mikhel Buric
 * Nathan Wiley as James Thacker
 * Rose Ackroyd as Oversight Chairperson