True Detective Season 4 Episode 2 Recap

Part 2 – The episode starts with Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster) and Peter Prior (Finn Bennett) processing the crime scene. Liz is quick to bring attention to the difficulties of investigating the case with her limited resources. The “locker room” antics from several of the younger investigators already threaten to compromise the evidence. From afar, Rose Aguineau (Fiona Shaw) warns Detective Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis) to not get involved in this case. Navarro says she can’t ignore its connection to the Annie Kowtok (Nivi Pedersen) case. The careless processing results in a separated arm that is followed by a deafening screech, possibly indicating that one of the researchers is still alive.

Liz juggles calls from the hospital and her team while making her way to speak with Adam Bryce (Donnie Keshawarz) at the high school. After dismissing the class, she questions him about the Tsalal Station and their activities. He refers to them as “mad men,” particularly noting how reclusive they were. He speaks admiringly about their work but amounts it to a pipe dream because extracting usable material from the permafrost isn’t possible. A call from Lulu (Grace Anderson) brings an end to the discussion.

Navarro joins Rose at home where they openly discuss the supernatural. Rose shares stories of Dead Travis (Erling Eliasson) and the leukemia diagnosis that led to his suicide. Navarros shares stories about her sister, Julia’s (Aka Niviana), illness. For some inexplicable reason, Rose thinks Julia’s condition is a mental illness. The evening ends with Rose asking Navarro if she noticed the spiral symbol tattooed on one of the researcher’s foreheads. Navarro confirms that she did, but Rose all Rose says is that it is extremely old.

Liz returns to the station to find Hank Prior (John Hawkes) entertaining and updating Captain Ted Connelly (Christopher Eccleston). A confrontation ensues when he tries to have the case transferred to Anchorage. She cleverly ends up buying at least 48 hours when she references the Alaskan Forensics handbook for proper crime scene processing.

Once Ted points out that Liz doesn’t even have the space to properly store the bodies while they thaw, she and Hank visit one of the local indoor skating rinks. Once there, Liz spends a few minutes speaking with Leah Danvers (Isabella LaBlanc) while Hank locates the rink manager, Kate McKitterick (Dervla Kirman. Although Kate agrees to let Liz use the rink, she’s not entirely friendly about it.

When the bodies are delivered, Liz and Peter resume the processing. Peter brings attention to the positioning of the bodies as well as the fact they’ve been gnawing on their own limbs. Liz mentions bringing in a forensics guy they’ve apparently worked with in the past. Navarro eventually shows up to shine a light on the connection of the strange symbol to Annie’s case. Liz downplays the significance before running Navarro off the crime scene. While they were arguing, Peter managed to open one of the researcher’s phones with the retina scanning apps.

Navarro finds and questions Ryan Kowtok (Phillip Blanchett) at Eddie Qavvik’s (Joel Montgrand) bar about the symbol and Annie and Raymond’s (Owen McDonnell) relationship. He’s unable to provide anything of significance before Chuck Mosley (Edward Fletcher) interrupts and accuses Navarro of causing problems. His attention to Raymond’s photo suggests he might know him, although he denies it. Navarro doesn’t get a chance to pursue his reaction further due to a fight breaking out inside.

While the unlocked phone plays through the archived videos, Liz and Peter focus on the scene and evidence before them. Lulu eventually interrupts with the announcement that the cleaning ladies and delivery guy are ready for questioning. After Liz volunteers to question the cleaning ladies, the playback of the phone’s archived footage makes it to December 17th, the suspected day of the team’s disappearance. Peter and Liz watch a reenactment of Raymond’s seizure from the opening episode.

Navarro finds Qavvik in the backroom of the bar tending to one of his Husky’s injuries. Their quick conversation reveals that the fight was about the mine. He warns her that he’s heard rumblings of the protests returning.

Although Liz and Peter separately question the cleaning ladies (Diane E. Benson) and delivery guy, Bill Wallis (Darren Foreman), they receive nearly identical reports. The researchers stayed to themselves but were strange, especially Raymond Clark. Bill recalls Raymond walking around the facility one time naked. The cleaning ladies deny knowledge of the spiral symbol, but Bill claims Raymond had it tattooed on his chest.

On her way to question Chuck about his reaction to Raymond’s photo, Navarro becomes so startled by the discovery of her mother’s crucifix necklace that she nearly hits a passing motorist. Reluctantly, Chuck admits to knowing Raymond because his cousin sold him a trailer for 10 grand.

Hank possibly discovers Peter’s theft when he goes in search of a photo and notices one of the cabinet doors ajar. Elsewhere, Peter and Liz discuss the results of their interviews over coffee. Peter has also linked the center’s taxes to a shell company called NC Global Strategies, which leads back to Tuttle United. Apparently, Tuttle United is involved in everything from gaming to cruise lines. He attempts to uncover more about her and Navarro’s rift before she orders him back to watch over the still-thawing crime scene. Liz practically ignores his claims that he’s supposed to babysit Darwin Prior (Xavier Osmanson).

Merely minutes later when Liz arrives to pick up Leah, she overhears Kayla Prior (Anna Lambe) complaining to Peter about him working. Kayla expresses the same hostility to Liz after hanging up with Peter. Liz claims to be doing her a favor because it’s only a matter of time before she tires of men. Things only get even more heated when Liz finds Leah covered in tribal facial tattoos in the kitchen with Kayla’s grandmother. An argument ensues before Liz is asked to leave.

While shopping for groceries, Navarro carefully broaches the subject of Julia visiting the Lighthouse. It immediately becomes clear that Julia wants no part of it. Now that Liz and Leah have arrived home, Liz struggles with putting up the Christmas tree while Leah stews in her room. Leah soon receives a text that leads to her sneaking out to visit what appears to be her girlfriend. While going through the decorations, Liz later discovers a stuffed, dirty white polar bear that sparks a short memory of Holden Danvers (Inuik Lee Nielsen Shapiro).

Drained by the memory, Liz plops down on the couch and discovers Navarro’s photo of the weird symbol. This leads to her calling Peter at the crime scene and requesting a copy of Raymond’s credit history report. After offering to send it and hanging up, Peter is physically accosted by Hank, who has learned that he stole Annie’s files. Hank is quick to remind him that even his mother isn’t a thief before storming off.

Later that evening, Liz shows up at Captain Connelly’s hotel room for a late-night romantic entanglement. Afterward, they promise each other that this will be the last time. The ensuing conversation alludes to him being personally insulted that Liz wants to take the case or he is possibly hiding something. The encounter ends when after several unsuccessful attempts to relocate the case, he threatens her. As she is storming off, she receives Raymond’s credit report.

At the station, Liz uses Raymond’s report to track the purchase of his tattoo to a Fairbank Ink Tattoo shop. The artist explicitly remembers him because he cried. The artist suspects it was more of a sentimental thing. Liz learns later that it was a photo of Annie with the same tattoo on her back that Raymond brought with him to the shop. Liz shares the discovery with Navarro at home and proposes a partnership.

On her way home, Leah visits Peter at the rink. After noticing the fresh wound on his face, their topic of conversation becomes their parents. Leah reveals that her father was an artist while Peter mentions Hank being a guitarist in a band, although he’s never heard him play.

A discussion with Qavvik about Liz inviting her to the case leads to Navarro realizing that Raymond paid so much for the trailer so he could keep his relationship with Annie secret. The discovery leads Navarro to an RV park known as “The Nook.” Once Liz is invited to the scene, the contents of the trailer are revealed. Full of bones, crude sketches, and symbols, the scene is reminiscent of a prehistoric cave. After discovering Annie’s phone, an urgent call from Peter reveals that Raymond’s body is missing from the crime scene.

 

True Detective Review

To start, this episode was better than average but I don’t feel that it deserves more than a 5 out of 10. It could have been great, although the debauchery of the crime scene during the opening sequence was undesirable. One of the things I enjoyed from part 1 was how professional the investigation felt and although Liz maintains that mentality, the “locker room” antics were a bit much. Once I managed to sludge past that, I was enjoying the episode. I can especially appreciate the honest depiction of life in the Arctic. Many may not notice the little nuisances like the bare and limited shelves of the stores or the surplus of canned goods in most of the homes.

After 2 episodes I wasn’t even turned off by some of the cringe-worthy acting. Not that I claim to be a great authority on the topic. That said, I feel as if some of the roles may have been miscast. I’ve been a fan of John Hawks since his role in “Eastbound and Down,” but I don’t feel he is the right fit for an abusive father. That along with the constant reminders of Native American persecution could have been left out, although it does explain why Peter is so loyal to Liz.

If anything, there’s too much! While the scenes are short, I feel there is far too much focus on character development than story building. I don’t need to know or care about Liz’s promiscuity. Navarro’s need to play protector is and was clear without Julia, making her character feel like a mere tax write-off. The same could be said for Leah. I could go on and on, but I’ll end on the note that the series feels almost “too” familiar to that of “Fortitude.”

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