10 Most Shocking Moments Of True Detective Season 2 Episode 3

By Jack G King / July 7, 2015

Something seriously sordid is bubbling under the surface of True Detective Season 2. The audience can sense it, the main characters can sense it, and everybody else in the city of Vinci seems determined to keep it covered up. As more shocking revelations come to light about the death (and life) of city manager Ben Caspere, so too do details about the murky backgrounds of Ray, Ani, Paul and Frank. 

Last year, Episode 3 was the final scene-setting episode before Season 1 plunged into a wormhole of violence, depravity, and internet-breaking tracking shots. This season could well follow the same pattern, as last week's instalment took several characters to breaking point in pursuit of the truth. Something's got to give. 

The closing scene of Frank wandering silently to bed, leaving his wife alone in their lavish living room, could very well represent the calm before an almighty storm. All the elements of the plot look to be established; it's only a matter of time before they come crashing spectacularly together.

That's not to suggest Episode 3 was a walk in the park; audiences were put through a wringer of brutal fist fights, blazing vehicles and barely-concealed corruption. Here are its ten most shocking moments.

10. Ray's Alive!

Ray's apparent death at the end of Episode 2 had the internet abuzz with theories and counter-theories. While there was admittedly little genuine belief that True Detective had "done a Game of Thrones" and killed off a main character shockingly early on, Colin Farrell's appearance at the beginning of Episode 3 has raised a whole new series of questions.

Why was Ray kept alive? Why was the masked figure snooping around Caspere's second home at the same time as Ray? Was the detective set up? 

Whatever the reason, it's good to see Farrell's character hanging in there. His performance is one of the most captivating of the season so far, and Ray's death would have been a huge (and unwise) loss.