Toxic Town Episode 2 recap: Susan's fight for Corby's future

Toxic Town, Netflix's new miniseries, dropped on February 25, 2025. Directed by Minkie Spiro, the plot is based on the UK's biggest environmental scandal, the Corby poisonings.

The first episode introduces Corby, a small industrial town in England. However, in 1979, the conservative government decided to shut the Corby Steelworks, which led to job loss and collapse of the economy. In the 1990s, the local council decided to redevelop the area by clearing the Steelworks site, leading to major environmental and health hazards.

In the first episode of Toxic Town, we are introduced to a bunch of mothers from Corby who are either giving birth to stillborns or babies with deformities. Susan McIntyre gives birth to a son, Connor, with a deformed hand, while another woman, Tracey (Aimee Lou Wood), lost her newborn, Shelby, due to heart issues. We also come across Pattie and Maggie, who have children with similar deformities.

Meanwhile, we also witness Ted, a young council inspector, trying to uncover the nasty secrets behind the Corby reclamation project. However, he faces several hindrances crafted by the council.

In this episode, Susan McIntyre, along with investigative journalist Graham Hind, exposes the dirty secrets of the Corby poisonings that caused birth defects among children. As a result, the Corby community came closer and started to build a strong case against those responsible.

What happens next? Here's a recap of Toxic Town Season 1 Episode 2.

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Susan's determination to uncover the truth: Toxic Town Season 1 Episode 2

This episode begins with a time leap and takes us to 1999, where the council members sing "Speed Your Journey" by Trechory Male Choir. The scene opens with Susan getting a call from an investigative journalist, Graham Hind. Graham introduces himself to a less interested Susan, who was spending time with her children in the park. Graham reveals that he is investigating the cause of increasing birth defects among Corby children. He said,

"Birth clusters of? I think your son might be part of a cluster of suspicious birth defects. I might be looking into what might have caused it."

The investigative journalist continued,

"Yeah, but I have spoken to three mums in Corby. And I think something might have poisoned the water, or electromagnetic radiation."

However, she refuses to get involved as she feels it is of no use. Later, she takes Connor, her son, to the doctor, who suggests plastic surgery for his deformities. When Connor is being operated on, Susan meets Tracey as well, who is pregnant with twins. Susan contacts Graham once again after being asked by Tracey.

Meanwhile, many mock Susan after her story in The Sunday Times is released; however, Maggie meets Susan as she believes that it might be the Corby poisonings that are causing such birth defects.

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Ted is suspended from his job: Toxic Town Season 1 Episode 2

The second scene of the series shows Bill and Ted in a car just outside the plant site, soon to be a Wonderland Theme Park. Bill asks Ted to open the glovebox, where he finds an envelope filled with money. Bill urges Ted to take the money as remuneration for Ted's father's death. But Ted understands that Bill was trying to bribe him so that he would stop his investigation for the Corby land reclamation project.

Ted refuses to take the money. Later, he collects the photocopies (evidence), takes them to the chief executive Sam's house, and puts them through the doors. Meanwhile, in the Corby Borough Council, Sam asks Roy (council leader) about the photocopies that say the tender should not have been given to Pat. Sam asks Roy to investigate as it might be a potential crime. However, Sam and Roy are surely involved in a coverup, including financial irregularities and potential misconduct.

The next night, Sam catches Ted trying to sneak in more photocopies through the door. However, Ted manages to run away. This leads to Ted getting suspended from his job. Bill, his boss, reveals a shocking secret. He shares that his father passed away years ago due to pancreatic cancer, and he used to work at the same plant. Bill threatens Ted by saying that he needs to bow in front of the right people or else he might land in danger.

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The Community Meeting: Toxic Town Season 1 Episode 2

The article by journalist Graham Hind in The Sunday Times sends shockwaves through Corby's growing rate of birth defects due to the toxic contamination. As the story spreads, more mothers step forward, and Susan organizes a community meet-up at the local pub, hoping to unite the affected families. To her surprise, many mothers turn up. A local lawyer, Des Collins, also joined them in piecing together evidence to build a strong case against the ones responsible.

The stakes rise when Bill Martin's and Pat's office is set on fire at the Wonderland theme park, destroying the evidence. The community meet-up marks a turning point as Corby mothers slowly turn up to fight for justice for their children.

Read More: Toxic Town: Where are the real people from the town now?

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