True Detective episode 3 included a big step forward in Hart and Cohle’s case, and the episode left us on a big cliffhanger.
Our True Detective recap looks back at “The Locked Room” and breaks down the big events of the storyline.
Episode 3 kicked off with Hart and Cohle at the traveling tent church – the Bible Ministry – that the two detectives have been looking for. After sharing some differing opinions on religion while observing the sermon, the detectives speak to the Minister about their victim, who his wife recognizes from a previous engagement.
We learn in this scene that Cohle is against religion – how people need it to get through the day and how they think God cares deeply about them. It’s the “transfer of fear and self loathing to an authoritarian vessel,” Cohle tells his partner. In 2012, Cohle talks to the new detectives about his “life trap” theory: People think that ahead there will be better times with fulfillment and closure. “Nothing is ever over,” he tells them.
Hart goes on a walk with the minister’s daughters, and they offer a couple clues about a man that Dora was seen with. Cohle also talks to a mentally handicapped man named Burt, who’s quickly ruled out as a suspect after they learn that this nervous Nellie has also had part of his nether regions removed.
Speaking to detectives in present day, Hart says Cohle’s theory that the murderer was a serial killer is what led them to getting their man. As we’ll see later in the episode, the serial theory definitely pays off.
Back in 1995, Hart comes home to find Cohle there, having just mowed the Hart residence’s lawn to return the favor of being allowed to borrow the mower. Cohle turns down an invite to stay for dinner, and things turn tense when Hart confronts him outside about being there while he wasn’t home.
The story stays at the Hart home and the intensity continues. His daughter drew sketches in school of naked women and gets yelled at by her parents. Then Maggie puts the blame on Hart not being home much. She confronts him about their distant relationship and why things have changed. She thinks something’s up with him (and possibly suspects he’s seeing another woman), but he won’t come clean. “I think I’m all fucked up,” he tells her. “Yes, you are,” she says before a steamy kiss.
Back at work, Hart and Cohle interview several burn victims who matched the description of a suspect, but they don’t lead anywhere, though we learn that Cohle is great at getting people to make confessions. He’s also skilled at telling within “two minutes” that someone is guilty or not of a crime.
We then move to a country bar where Hart and Maggie are on a double date with Cohle and a new woman named Jennifer. Awkward conversation ensues because of Cohle’s quietness, and later in the night Hart sees his friend with benefits Lisa on a date with a man. Naturally, he’s jealous and can’t stand the sight of her with someone else.
After they all leave the bar, Hart storms into Lisa’s house and beats up her date while trying to find out if they’ve hooked up. He calms down, apologizes, and insists he’s not a psycho.
The next day Cohle continues work on his serial killer theory and finds another victim who he believes is a part of this serial attack. The most solid piece of proof that this woman is another one of their mystery killer’s victims is the spiral symbol on her shoulder. This earns them a little more time to work the case, so they drive out to talk to Henry, this new-old victim’s grandfather. He leads them to a younger guy named Reggie Ledoux, who she was seeing.
After a deeper look at Reggie, Cohle and Hart realize this is their guy because he’s in cahoots with Charlie Lange, the ex-husband of one of the victims.
What happens next is a lot of set up for episode 4. We hear that a gun battle will take place after Hart and Cohle go to Reggie’s property, and they’ll have some additional units on scene to help grab him. We get a brief glimpse of who we assume is Reggie at his property: He’s only in his underwear, is wearing a gas mask, and is wielding a machete. There are marks all over his body.
If that cliffhanger wasn’t big enough, there’s also this: True Detective will not air a new episode next Sunday because of the Super Bowl. Episode 4 will air on February 9. With such a big cliffhanger, and this extra long gap in between episodes, it looks like HBO may’ve purposely scheduled it this way in order to build a lot of suspense. Press have not received screeners beyond tonight’s episode.
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