True Detective Season 3 Ending: 4 Biggest Unanswered Questions (& 8 Actually Explained)
5. Answered: Did Julie Recognize Wayne?
Let’s assume (as everyone else has) that is really the long-lost child Julie Purcell, is it possible she recognized the man who had spent over three decades looking for her? She wasn’t as involved with the case as the viewers were and the only time she would have seen him was on the news when Tom begged her to come home in 1990.
As I’m sure you’ve already guessed, Pizzolatto has already weighed in. When prompted, “We know that Hays didn't recognize Julie in the scene where he got lost. Is there any chance she recognized him? How much did she know about the investigation and people involved? She did phone the police in 90's, so she knew she was looked for?” the writer very ineloquently responded with, “She didn’t know who he was either.” Well said, I guess?