Set in the first year of the Purge experiment, which was centralized on Staten Island and only lasted for 12 hours, The First Purge explains the origins of the annual violence holiday and how it became law. In 2014, the country began suffering from intense unemployment, rising inflation, and a housing crisis that led to the New Founding Fathers of America political party seizing power.

Two years later, NFFA chief of staff Arlo Sabian (Patch Darragh) and sociologist Dr. May Updale (Marisa Tomei) announce an experiment that allows citizens to release their inner rage and dark desires in any way they want–including murder. The NFFA offers residents $5,000 to stay during the experiment, with additional compensation if they join the purge and survive. To monitor the experiment, the participants are equipped with contact lens cameras and tracking devices.

Instead of a single narrative, this prequel follows Sabian, Updale, a drug dealer named Skeletor (Rotimi Paul), rival drug dealer Dmitri (Y’lan Noel), his associate Isiah (Joivan Wade), and his family. Skeletor makes history with the first televised murder of the Purge, but the politics at the NFFA–and Updale’s betrayal–lead to the Purge becoming an annual event.

The Purge concept has always been political, but the roots are politically motivated which adds this layer of nuance to the killing and chaos. It’s not the strongest of the Purge entries, but the performances from Noel and Wade are a highlight in the series.