In the bustling heart of New York City, the luxurious residence of Mrs. Pallione serves as the backdrop for the opening scene of The CW's "Wild Cards" Season 1 Episode 1, titled "The Infinity Thief." Here, we are introduced to the cunning con-woman, Max Mitchell, who masterfully impersonates Maria, a house help employed by the wealthy Mrs. Pallione. With a flair for the art of deception, Max skillfully pilfers Mrs. Pallione's purse and meticulously reworks her identification cards. She then proceeds to steal the keys to Mrs. Pallione's safety deposit box at the bank, all while maintaining her disguise.
Armed with her newly acquired credentials, Max ventures to the bank, where her charm and wit come into play. She distracts the bank manager, preventing him from verifying her authenticity. This allows her to gain access to the deposit box, which she believes will yield a significant haul. However, fate has other plans, as Mrs. Pallione unexpectedly arrives at the bank. In a twist of events, Max finds herself under arrest, setting the stage for the introduction of the episode's other protagonist, Detective Cole Ellis.
Cole Ellis, a high-ranking detective, has been relegated to "Sea Patrol" duty due to a past misstep that has left a stain on his reputation. Despite his demotion, Cole is called to the bank to escort Max to the police station. Unbeknownst to him, this chance encounter will mark the beginning of an unlikely partnership. Upon arrival at the station, Max quickly establishes a rapport with the officers, showcasing her innate ability to connect with anyone.
Police Chief Lee gathers the squad to brief them on an urgent case involving "The Infinity Thief," a mysterious figure responsible for three high-profile robberies targeting the Mayor's major election donors over the past six months. The thief's signature move is leaving an infinity symbol at each crime scene, hence the moniker. Max, intrigued by the case, overhears the briefing and even participates in asking pertinent follow-up questions.
At the latest crime scene, investigators discover specs of dirt from an old vineyard in the city and three ancient coins. Max, now in holding, deduces that the dirt is a deliberate ploy by the thief to mislead the police, while the coins represent a taunting challenge to trace him. In a pivotal moment, Max claims to know the thief's next target and uses her one phone call to contact Cole, who is at home. She predicts that Heritage Appraisals in Downtown will be the next location.
Cole, acting on Max's prediction, decides to go there alone. Although Max's insight proves correct, they are unable to apprehend the thief, who knocks Cole unconscious with a blow to the head. The following morning, the Commissioner summons them, and Cole reveals Max's true identity. Max, in turn, attempts to leverage her insights to negotiate a deal for leniency from the prosecution.
Commissioner Russo assigns Cole and Max as the leads on the case, presenting them with a high-stakes proposition. If they successfully catch the thief, Cole will be transferred back to his desk, and Max will receive leniency. However, failure could jeopardize Chief Lee's position. Max directs their attention to the Thorpe Auction House, owned by Noah and Joey Vaziri, twin brothers with whom she shares a past connection. She reasons that the thief would need a place to fence the stolen rare coins.
Using her charm and persuasion, Max gains entry to the auction house, where she notices suspicious black marks on the floor, indicating that something was dragged behind the bookshelf. Despite receiving a list of names from Joey, Max knows the information is misleading. Later that night, Cole follows Max to Thorpe's, where they discover a secret storage behind a bookshelf, containing Joey's lifeless body.
The next morning, the duo visits Noah and his wife Penny at their house. Cole inquires about Joey's connection to the Russian Embassy, as his last call was to someone in the building. Noah expresses disappointment, revealing that Joey had promised to stop moving stolen goods for a commission. He directs them to Caviar Stan, the son of a Russian diplomat involved in illegal dealings with Joey.
However, they cannot approach Stan directly. Max takes Cole to the State Penitentiary, where she introduces him to her father, George Graham. George connects them with Teddy Takamoro, who gains them access to one of Stan's exclusive backdoor parties. When they confront Stan, he refuses to cooperate and threatens to kill them. Nevertheless, Max earns his respect by helping Stan catch a con artist at the roulette table. Stan reveals that he was supposed to meet Joey the night he died but never did.
Following this lead, they track down Henry, a man with a criminal past who has worked for the Vaziri family for decades. Henry confesses to knowing the thief's identity and having taught him the art of thievery. Joey, it turns out, was the thief, driven to crime by mounting debts. Henry claims to have met Joey on the fateful night but denies killing him. Chief Lee, eager to close the case, attempts to pin the blame on Henry, sparking a confrontation with Cole.
Max, seeking to understand Cole's demotion, learns that he was framed in a case involving planted cocaine in his car. This revelation softens Max, who later visits Cole at his boat. She encourages him not to close the case and praises him as "a good cop." Cole shares the emotional significance of the boat and his cat, both of which belonged to his late brother, who was killed in a random mugging a year ago.
To lighten the mood, they visit a Chinese restaurant mentioned earlier in the episode. The owner, Ronnie, shows them footage of Noah and Penny's last visit, revealing their intimate encounter. However, Max and Cole notice a neck chain on Noah, which belongs to Joey. It becomes clear that Joey was having an affair with his brother's wife, Penny. Penny confesses to killing Joey because he reneged on his promise to run away with her.
With the case solved, Commissioner Russo reinstates Cole to the station's roster, though he remains on boat duty for the next two months. If he can prove himself, Cole will be allowed back permanently. As for Max, new information emerges that she did not steal the necklace from the deposit box. Instead, she took Maria's Romanian passport, which Mrs. Pallione had kept from her, along with her freedom. Max is seen mailing the passport on CCTV footage in the bank, ensuring her friend's safety.
In light of these developments, Russo reduces Max's charges and enrolls her in a rehabilitation program, allowing her to go free. Max will also assist the police department moving forward, and she and Cole become partners. However, in a final scene, Max confides in Graham that partnering with Cole will "get them what they want," hinting at a deeper underlying motive.
"The Infinity Thief" sets the stage for a thrilling series that combines elements of crime, deception, and unexpected alliances. Through the dynamic partnership of Max Mitchell and Detective Cole Ellis, viewers are treated to a captivating narrative that promises intrigue and suspense in the episodes to come.