True Detective Season 2 Episode 3 Recap

So the big question for episode three is how would they handle Colin Farrell getting shot? We knew he would live, but would it be credible?

Check out my previous recaps or keep reading to dive into this episode. Spoilers beware.

This was a good episode. I bought the explanation for Farrell living. It was still a cliffhanger for the sake of it, but the explanation was not the disaster I was expecting. The episode moved the plot forward while balancing all the characters and providing additional insight. It's just going to get better from here.

Awaiting team captain Punchy Farrell

This episode, like the second started oddly. I had to wonder if the blue suited man singing a bizarre tune was some kind of joke. Of course it's a dream, but is Farrell dead or unconscious?

He's feeling blue, get it? The episode gets much better after this scene.

Colin Farrell's Ray Velcoro makes it, of course, but both he and Vince Vaughn's Frank Semyon and feel apoplectic, which is extreme anger and indignation. It's an odd word choice. One may even say pretentious.

Frank's feeling apoplectic.

Taylor Kitsch's Paul Woodrugh is experiencing love lost more so that PTSD. This still doesn't explain the extensive burns on his body, but it could tie into the strange relationship with his mother.

Paul is feeling more than just PTSD.

Who is taking pictures of Woodrugh? It looks like Velcoro's partner, in an uncharacteristically industrious moment. At this point it's anyone's guess as to who that is or why.

Who watches the watchers? The mystery photographer of course.

The mandatory shared screen time for Vaughn and Kitsch. Why was this even needed? Because they're big fans of each other. Or just as the red light denoted Farrell's descent upon first meeting Vaughn, maybe this is the start of a downward spiral for Paul Woodrugh. Frank Semyon destroys everything he touches.

This may be the only shared screen time they'll have.

Semyon didn't get to the top by being nice. "You can keep your rings on. It won't matter to me." Do Frank's buddies always carry pliers or just at important meetings?

Don't mouth off to Frank or he'll pull the pliers on you.

Season two isn't going to miss a chance to show off the highways.

Highways, always highways.

Someone is playing with the cops. Why set the mystery car that participated in The Weekend at Bernie's romp on fire right next to them? Why wait around until they see you to start running? Why didn't he wear the Mr. Crow mask?

The masked men club member number two.

Is Mr. Crow really after Vince Vaughn? Why was one of his body guards killed? Vince Vaughn has the potential to become extremely unhinged and violent.

Rachel McAdams character Ani Bezzerides may develop a friendship with Farrell and overthrow the powers that be that may attempt to throw Farrell under the bus for Vinci's crimes. Why is Farrell's partner on the team? He's dead weight at this point. It seems his sole role is to recline in an office chair and look at pictures. Though there might be more to him than we realize.

Could it be Punchy Farrell's dad is the real mastermind? Did he throw away his badge after having shot his own son?

The mayor seems to be complicit in more than a few crimes.  He will either die or tie into a larger conspiracy.The movie and director I'm guessing are a red herring. Why the pictures of Woodrugh? He seems the least likely to garner that attention.

A solid episode save for the first scene.The conspiracy is starting to build. I'm excited to see how the story is expanded.