The episode opens with an intense battle scene on the Moon where a group including Ree Zhan, Anna Osma, George, Jack, and Duan fight against unknown enemies. Someone hums "Moon River" in the background, creating a surreal atmosphere. This scene appears to be a flash-forward, separate from the main timeline, hinting at future conflict.

The story then shifts to Los Angeles on Earth, where Jack Shadow, the adopted son of the powerful Shadow family who own Shadow Corporation, is introduced. Jack is portrayed as somewhat irresponsible and carefree, which frustrates his friend Ree. Shadow Corporation has just completed its 40th orbital elevator connecting Earth to the Moon, symbolizing a new era of peace and unity under the AI governance of Sapientia, which has ended discrimination, poverty, and war.

Jack joins his friends Ree, George, Eric Osma, and Michaela on a boat trip to celebrate Labor Day and the completion of the new elevator. During the celebration, Jack's mother, Mona Shadow, delivers a speech praising the company's achievements and announces that Jack will join the company's leadership after finishing school. Jack appears uncomfortable with this predetermined future and has a complicated relationship with his adoptive parents, who express pride despite his rebellious nature.

The episode reveals Jack's mysterious past through subtle hints and flashbacks. It is implied that Jack and his childhood friend Phil once lived on the Moon in a group home. Phil orchestrated Jack's survival during a violent purge by Sapientia, which sought to eliminate humanoids considered threats to Earth's peace. Jack was sent to Earth for protection and adopted by the Shadow family, while Phil stayed behind on the Moon. Jack has forgotten much of his past and believes he has always lived on Earth.

During the celebration, an unexpected terrorist attack occurs. The attack targets the Shadow Corporation's facilities and results in the death of Jack's adoptive parents. Jack is shocked and devastated by their deaths. Following the attack, Jack is accused of collaborating with the bombers, which forces him into a dire situation.

As a result of the accusations, Jack is enlisted into the VC3 Reconnaissance Assault Unit, a special military group from Earth tasked with infiltrating the Moon to eliminate Bob Skylum, a rebel leader who calls himself the Moon Devil. Skylum commands an army known as the Moon Chains and is responsible for the rebellion against Earth's control. Jack's connection to Skylum and his childhood friend Phil becomes a critical element driving the story forward.

The episode ends with Jack preparing to leave Earth and join the VC3 unit on a mission to the Moon. This sets the stage for the unfolding conflict between Earth and the Moon, as Jack confronts his forgotten past and the true nature of the rebellion.

The ending of Moonrise Season 1, Episode 1, "The Night It All Began," shows a sudden and violent attack on the Moon's orbital elevator, which triggers chaos and marks the start of a larger conflict between Earth and the Moon. Jack Shadow, the adopted son of the powerful Shadow Corporation, witnesses the collapse of the elevator and the outbreak of rebellion. The episode closes with Jack realizing that his peaceful life on Earth is about to be shattered, and he must confront his forgotten past and the looming war.

The episode begins with a tense battle scene on the Moon, where a group including Ree Zhan, Anna Osma, George, Jack, and Duan fight against unknown enemies. The atmosphere is grim, with someone humming "Moon River" in the background, suggesting a somber or reflective mood. This scene appears to be a flash-forward, separate from the main timeline, hinting at future events.

The story then shifts to Los Angeles on Earth, where Jack Shadow is introduced. Jack is the adopted son of the Shadow family, owners of the Shadow Corporation, which has built 40 orbital elevators connecting Earth and the Moon. The world is currently peaceful, maintained by an AI called Sapientia that has ended major global conflicts. Jack is portrayed as somewhat irresponsible and reluctant to take on the leadership role his parents expect of him. His relationship with his adoptive parents is strained; they express pride but also frustration with his behavior.

Jack and his friends--Ree, George, Eric Osma, and Michaela--go on a boat trip to celebrate Labor Day and the completion of the latest elevator. During the celebration, Jack's mother, Mona Shadow, gives a speech praising the company's achievements and announcing Jack's future leadership role. Jack feels uncomfortable with this destiny, hinting at deeper internal conflict.

Suddenly, the orbital elevator collapses in a catastrophic event, throwing the celebration into chaos. This collapse is revealed to be part of a planned attack by rebels on the Moon, who seek independence and oppose Earth's control. The attack triggers widespread panic and signals the start of a violent conflict.

Jack's past begins to resurface as he confronts the reality of the rebellion. It is revealed that Jack and his friend Phil were once humanoids living on the Moon, part of a group called the SEEDs. Phil had orchestrated Jack's survival by sending him to Earth, while he stayed behind. Jack had forgotten this past, believing he was always on Earth, but the attack forces him to remember and accept his true identity.

The episode ends with Jack standing amid the destruction, realizing that his peaceful life is over. He must now face the rebellion, his lost past, and the role he is destined to play in the escalating Earth-Moon conflict.

At the end of the episode:

• Jack Shadow is left grappling with his identity and the collapse of his world, poised to take on a leadership role he has resisted.
• Phil remains on the Moon, his fate uncertain but implied to be deeply connected to the rebellion.
• Ree Zhan and other friends are caught in the turmoil, their loyalties and futures uncertain as the conflict unfolds.
• The Shadow family faces the threat to their corporation and legacy as the rebellion challenges Earth's dominance.

This ending sets the stage for a complex conflict driven by personal histories, political rebellion, and the struggle for independence between Earth and the Moon.

The first episode of Moonrise, Season 1, titled "The Night It All Began," does not have any confirmed post-credit scene based on available information from official episode summaries, recaps, and reviews. None of the detailed recaps or analyses mention a post-credit scene or additional footage after the episode's main content. The focus is primarily on the main narrative events and character introductions without indication of extra scenes following the credits.

Therefore, it can be concluded that Episode 1 does not include a post-credit scene.

Bob Skylum is revealed as the leader of the Moon rebels, also known as the Moon Devil, who created an army called the Moon Chains. He treats all humanoids as his own children and is a central antagonist figure opposing Earth in the conflict that begins in episode 1.

The orbital elevator collapse occurs as part of the Moon rebellion's attack, which sets off the conflict between Earth and the Moon. This event is a pivotal plot element that triggers the larger war and political upheaval depicted in the episode.

Jack Shadow's secret is that he was originally from the Moon and is one of the humanoids known as SEED 1. He was sent to Earth to protect him from the AI Sapientia's purge of humanoids. Jack was adopted by the Shadow family on Earth and had forgotten his past until events in episode 1 begin to reveal his true origins and purpose.

The episode sets up the Earth vs Moon conflict by showing the Moon declaring independence and launching a rebellion against Earth. The construction of the 40th orbital elevator symbolizes peace and unity, but the Moonrise rebellion's attack, including the elevator's destruction, shatters this peace and ignites the war.

Phil is Jack's childhood friend and surrogate brother from the Moon. Thought to have died, Phil survived and became the leader of the Moon rebels under the alias Bob Skylum. Their past connection adds a personal and emotional layer to the conflict, as Jack must confront his former friend turned enemy.

The TV show Moonrise (2025), season 1 episode 1 "The Night It All Began," is rated TV-MA, indicating it is intended for mature audiences and is not family-friendly for children. The episode contains mild sexual content (brief partial nudity and cleavage shown), moderate violence (wartime combat and death with little blood), moderate profanity, and moderate frightening or intense scenes. There is also mild alcohol use depicted.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects for children or sensitive viewers include:

• Scenes of combat and death, which may be intense though not graphically gory.
• Mild sexual imagery, such as a woman shown partially nude from behind in a shower and some cleavage in background characters.
• Moderate use of strong language.
• Some tense or frightening moments related to the conflict and rebellion setting.

Overall, the show's mature themes and content make it unsuitable for younger children or viewers sensitive to violence, sexual content, or intense scenes.