After the adrenaline of the pilot, the reality of the climb sets in. Whether it’s a corporate office, a superhero league, or a dystopian hierarchy, the protagonists realize that hard work isn't enough when the system is rigged. While one character tries to play by the rules to get promoted, another discovers a literal or metaphorical conspiracy keeping "their kind" at the bottom.
This sounds like a pivotal "early season" episode! Based on the title [S1E2] The Glass Ceiling
A recurring visual of the protagonist looking up through the glass roof of an elevator as it stops just one floor short of the top. After the adrenaline of the pilot, the reality