The first episode of the Get-Down, it introduces the characters, their dreams, their conflicts, and the desperation of the Bronx in 1977.
Tropes:
- Abusive Parents: When Pastor Cruz learns Mylene has been dreaming of singing disco, and was out drinking and smoking at a nightclub with her friends, he starts beating her.
- Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: In her introduction, Fat Annie brags about her many businesses—seedy nightclubs, prostitution, gambling, cocaine... and a day-care center.
- Chekhov's Gun: Mylene and Zeke talk about the Misty Holloway record right before he tries to declare his love. It shows up again later when Zeke and Shaolin fight over it at Les Inferno.
- Chekhov's Gunman: A newscast says that the Savage Warlords (the gang that messed with the Get Down crew early on, and who extorted the Jamaican for protection money) have been dabbling in murder for hire. They shoot up Les Inferno later that night.
- Wolf keeps checking his watch early in the night at Les Inferno. He says he's waiting on Fat Annie's birthday cake... by the end of the series we know he's waiting for the hit he hired on the club.
- Establishing Character Moment: Each character gets theirs:
- After the rapped intro, we're introduced to teenaged Books writing poetry for Mylene... and not paying attention in the kitchen, burning his uncle's eggs.
- We're introduced to Mylene singing incredibly in church, with Zeke playing the piano for her.
- We meet Paster Ramón when he berates Mylene for singing disco when "thy voice shall only be lifted to the glory of god!" and grounding her, forcing her to study the bible.
- We meet Yolanda and Regina as a duo, more worldly than Mylene and very supportive of her.
- We meet Boo-Boo, Ra-Ra and Dizzee working outside their father's barber shop.
- Dizzee goes to the subway to wax philosophical with other street artists and talk up Shaolin Fantastic.
- Boo-Boo tries to pick a fight with an entiregang, then stops to flip-off Papa Fuerte when he rolls in to break up the fight.
- Ra-Ra spends the episode quiet, supporting everyone else.
- Papa Fuerte is introduced having been called a "poverty pimp" by mayoral hopeful Ed Koch, then bargaining with a representative of the mayor to get his revitalization project funded in return for the votes of the south Bronx.
- When we finally meet Shaolin Fantastic, it's like a scene from a kung fu movie, with him as the apprentice to the grand master. Then he snatches a record and engages in an epic race through the streets, culminating in him making an impossible leap from rooftop to rooftop.
- Fat Annie is introduced at her club, with kilos of dope getting cut in the kitchen, bragging that she's gonna take down the biggest dealer in the Bronx.
- We meet Cadillac doing blow in the VIP room and threatening to pull out Shaolin's eyes with a fork for kissing Annie.
- How We Got Here: The episode opens with adult Books rapping about what NYC was like in 1977, and about his relationship with Shaolin.
- No, You: Zeke says Mylene's plan to sneak into Les Inferno is stupid, and Mylene says that he's stupid.
- Performance Anxiety: Zeke doesn't do well in front of crowds. Hinted at when he refuses to read his poem in front of the class. It really comes out when Boo-Boo and Ra-Ra push him to perform at the Get Down. He doesn't manage to rap in front of a crowd until Shaolin shows his own fearlessness dancing in front the crowd.
- Shrouded in Myth: Shaolin Fantastic; until we meet him, all we hear is the stories others tell about him.
- Title Drop: As with the other episodes this season, the title is graffiti on the side of an elevated subway train. Also dropped by Shao after he's properly introduced to Zeke, Dizzee, Ra-Ra and Boo-Boo.Zeke: Why do you need the record?
Shao: It's for the get down.
