The Split Up (1x2) ⁞⁞ Episode Spotlight

The new BBC One series The Split Up is a family drama centered on the Kishan family of lawyers, as they deal with their personal challenges while juggling the family law firm and potential scandals that threaten the firm's future. The lead trio of siblings, Aria, Maya, and Kav (Arian Nik), feel the weight of their veteran father's control. Episode 2 gives focus to gay youngest sibling Kav, who feels that parental pressure even more after failing to pass his law exams twice. Now having taken them a third time, he awaits his results, while working alongside his older sister Aria (Ritu Arya) as a clerk. They deal with the prenuptial agreements between famed celebrity Nisha and her fiancé, which has Kav a bit starstruck. 

The day quickly takes a turn though when they learn that their sister Maya's judge husband has been having an affair with another lawyer. Kav is shocked at the news, as Aria worries about Maya while their father worries about the politics of the situation and its effect on the firm. Things grow more complicated for Aria & Kav, as they head into their meeting with Nisha, only to be faced with their brother-in-law's mistress representing Nisha's fiancé Shaun. Later, Kav crosses paths with Ashok Singh (Mawaan Rizwan), a social media commentator whose brand includes spreading scandalous gossip about noted members of the city's elite. Kav confronts him about his work, which has Ashok happy to know he follows him. When Kav brings up Ashok destroying people's lives, Ashok compares it to exactly what the Kishan's do as lawyers. Ashok then softens, attempting to find common ground again by telling Kav that he understands what it's like not living up to expectations, given that he comes from a family of doctors. 

Kav lets his guard down, revealing he passed his latest law exams and his family's drama has left no time to tell any of them. Ashok is impressed that he got the news first and invites him to go out for a celebratory drink. Kav refuses, knowing it wouldn't be a good look. Ashok then offers to share some helpful information on Nisha's case, if he agrees. Kav returns to work and manages to tell Aria and his father about passing his exams, after his father openly assumes he failed again. They head out for dinner to celebrate, but Kav is quickly ignored as Aria & her father renew their conflict over his inability to see her as the future head of the firm. When Kav agrees that they should drop the fighting, he's left alone at the table. He heads to a bar, where Ashok is waiting. He explains what happened with his family, and Ashok looks to cheer him up with karaoke, which does manage to bring a smile to his face. 

The two later leave the bar together. Despite again voicing that it would be a bad idea for them to be together, Kav gives in to Ashok's flirtations and the two share a kiss. While the family works on damage control to help with Maya's marital scandal, Kav again finds himself sidelined from the strategizing. Kav & Ashok's text conversation soon includes work talk, and Kav mentioning the bad behavior of Nisha's fiancé leading to their engagement ending. He is later stunned to see Ashok's latest social media video, revealing the information publicly, which causes a furious Kav to break things off with him over text. He is left disappointed and saddened by his decision to trust Ashok. Kav ends the episode, joining his sisters in bed as they consoled each other, while watching Maya's wedding video featuring their deceased mother.