10 Most Shocking Moments Of True Detective Season 2 Episode 2

9. Frank Reveals His Traumatic Childhood

At the beginning of the episode, Frank reveals a few closely-guarded details about his past. Lying in bed, he tells his wife of the abuse he received at the hands of his alcoholic father. Young Frank was often locked in a basement whenever his dad embarked upon a binge, a measure taken to supposedly protect him from any drunken consequences. One night his father was arrested, leaving Frank alone in the dark for three days. He recalls waking to find a rat gnawing on his finger, which he promptly smashed against the wall until it was nothing more than "goo" in his hands. This perhaps reveals something about his ruthless nature, born out of a need to survive. Equally interesting is the trigger for such a memory: a pair of water-damaged marks on his bedroom ceiling. He remarks that "it's all papier mache", outwardly referring to his damaged home, but potentially implying the fragility of his entire existence.