It may be hard to believe, but we’ve now reached the penultimate episode of HBO’s thrilling first season of True Detective, and for the first time in the series, each scene is shown in chronological order after the interview in the present day. The previous episode ended with Hart and Cohle heading to a bar for a drink, with the entirety of the latest airing spiralling around their sudden meeting. Last night turned out to be a double success for Matthew McConaughey, as he managed to earn the prestigious Academy Award for Best Actor with his role in Dallas Buyers Club.
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Despite getting off to a rough start, Hart eventually decides to help Cohle with a case he’s been working on surrounding the hierarchy of the many murders. The very first scene between the two was always going to be a little tense due to not speaking since their fight in the parking lot, and the fact it happened around 10 years ago. Rust’s persuasion then leads to taking Marty to his famous storage unit, which contains private investigations he has been looking into for years. After seeing a disturbing video tape that Cohle stole from Rev. Tuttle’s home, Hart’s disgust tells us all we need to know, despite the viewers barely having a chance to work out what was on the tape.
The two continue to bond throughout, and Cohle even begins to ask Hart personal questions for one of the very few times in their lives, while discussing how they spend their days. Hart manages get his hands on old case files after claiming to be taking writing classes, and wanting to base a story around crime. The pair continue to speak to distant relatives and associates of the Tuttle family, and eventually force answers out of Steve Geraci, a former associate CID who is now a Sheriff. We’re also shown Hart and Maggie on good terms after all these years, as he asks his ex wife how the kids are doing, along with a questioning her interview with the police.
The seventh hour of True Detective ends with Papania and Gilbough looking for the church that Hart and Cohle investigated earlier in the series, and result in asking a man on a lawnmower for directions, who you will remember seeing cutting lawn at a school in a prior episode. It turns out this could be the person they’re looking for, as the camera focusses on his face, revealing scars that have been described all along.
The latest episode seems to put all possible accusations of the detectives being involved with the killings to an end, but like we’ve seen on many occasions, we wouldn’t be surprised if director Cary Joji Fukunaga arranges an entire twist to the storyline in the final airing.