‘The Lost Symbol’ Episode 1: Recap & Ending, Explained – Seeking Apotheosis!

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Dan Dworkin and Jay Beattie have adapted Dan Brown’s famous novel, The Lost Symbol, and revived his most prominent character, Robert Langdon. Earlier, Tom Hanks played the famous Harvard symbologist Langdon. However, the Peacock Television Series centers around a younger version portrayed by Ashley Zukerman. Following the nature of Brown’s narrative, the series follows Robert Langdon on a treasure hunt to save his father-like mentor, Peter Solomon.


‘The Lost Symbol’ Episode 1: Recap

Robert Langdon (Ashley Zukerman), a renowned symbologist, lectures on the relevance of symbols at Harvard University. Soon after, he receives a call from his mentor, Peter Solomon’s assistant. The assistant invites Robert to speak at the Smithsonian Gala at the United States Capitol. Hence, Robert leaves for Washington without further ado.

When Robert reaches the Capitol, he finds out that no such event is scheduled for the day. Suddenly, Peter’s assistant calls again, and Robert realizes that he is an imposter and Peter may be playing a prank on him. The man tells Robert that Peter is in A’raf, the realm between heaven and hell, and if Robert wants to save his life, he needs to follow the man’s chain of commands. The voice commands Robert to find an ancient portal buried within the city and unlock it to solve the great mystery.

Robert dismisses the notion but unexpectedly finds Peter’s severed right hand attached to a wooden piece pointing upwards. The fingers are inscribed with symbols that only Robert Langdon can decipher.

CIA special agent Inoue Sato arrives at the crime scene and seeks Robert’s help to solve the case.


Constantino Brumidi’s Apotheosis

Robert Langdon informed Sato about the symbols tattooed on Peter’s fingers. They depicted a sun, a lantern, and a key. According to Robert, the kidnapper had replicated the “Hand of the Mysteries.” It was an invitation to seek a body of ancient knowledge beyond a mystical gateway. On-call, the man explained to Robert that “Peter will point the way,” and his severed hand pointed at Constantino Brumidi’s “Apotheosis of Washington,” painted on the dome. Robert broke down the word Apotheosis and explained its origin. In the Greek language, “apo” meant “to become,” and “theos” was translated into “God.” Hence, in Brumidi’s Apotheosis, George Washington ascends on a cloud above the mortals and transforms into God. Robert theorized that maybe the mysterious kidnapper wanted to become God by accessing ancient knowledge. The ancient wisdom was believed to unlock abilities that lay dormant in the human mind.

Each puzzle created by the kidnapper followed ancient protocols, like the Hand of the Mysteries. It must be presented in a sacred place, and the Capitol Rotunda was built as a tribute to the Temple of Vesta in Rome, so the kidnapper chose it.

Finally, Robert decoded the last clue, “As above, so below,” and picked up the wooden piece on which Peter’s hand was mounted. Under the block, they found a number that led them to Capital sub-basement room no. 13.


‘The Lost Symbol’ Episode 1: Ending Explained

Peter Solomon was a 33rd degree Mason, a fraternal society that traces the origins of masonry. Room 13 in the Capital sub-basement was designated by Peter as his private space. Robert unlocked the riddle door and discovered that the room was a Masonic Chamber of Reflection where masons came to reflect on their own mortality. Robert also found a puzzle on the room’s stone wall and discovered a small granite pyramid inside the hidden chamber. The pyramid was engraved with a Greek numerical grid, but it was an incomplete piece. He needed a capstone to decipher the grid.

The kidnapper contacted Robert again and underlined that the adventure had just begun and he should find the capstone quickly if he wanted to save Peter. The CIA traced the call and went after the kidnapper. However, they requested Robert to stay behind for his own safety.

In the meantime, Peter’s daughter, Katherine Solomon, who is into Noetic Sciences, broke into her father’s study room. She stole a sealed document from a vault hidden under a painting. The document might be the same piece that was mentioned during the beginning of Episode 1. As per the supertext, in 1911, the document was locked in the safe of the director of the CIA. The cryptic text referred to an ancient portal and an unknown location.

While the CIA hunted for the kidnapper, a paid hitman shot two men protecting Robert. The hitman gave Robert a cellphone and commanded him to find the portal for Mal’akh. Robert finally had the kidnapper’s name, and without wasting a moment, he left the building.

Outside the capitol, Katherine saw Robert sneaking out, and she followed him. At last, Katherine insisted on coming with Robert on the hunt. She handed the sealed document to Robert and explained that her dad told her that its secrecy was more valuable than his life. Robert discovered that the document was sealed with a Leviathan Cross. Coincidentally, Mal’akh had the same symbol tattooed on his arm. The Leviathan group was based on a belief that ancient knowledge unlocked hidden power. And Mal’akh was on the hunt for those godly powers.

The final scene pictured Mal’akh with a wounded Peter in his captivity. Mal’akh revealed that he was there with Peter’s son, Zachary Solomon, when he died. Mal’akh killed Zachary, maybe.

In one scene, Sato explained to her junior, Sojani, about her obsessive interest in Peter Solomon’s case. Peter’s son, Zachary, worked for the CIA and was posted in Ankara, Turkey. Later, he got locked up for trafficking in prison in Agri three years ago (the same was depicted in the prologue sequence). According to Sato, Zachary was beaten to death in prison, and maybe Mal’akh has something to do with Zachary’s death.

The Lost Symbol Episode 2, “The Araf,” will unravel further.


The Lost Symbol is a thriller television series developed by Dan Dworkin and Jay Beattie. The narrative is adapted from Dan Brown’s fiction novel of the same name.

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Shikhar Agrawal
Shikhar Agrawal
I am an Onstage Dramatist and a Screenwriter. I have been working in the Indian Film Industry for the past 12 years, writing dialogues for various films and television shows.

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