True Detective: The Locked Room (2014)
Season 1, Episode 3
9/10
The Tall Man...
27 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Frustratingly, our detectives have hit yet another wall in the case. Armed with damning evidence from the destroyed church, Cohle and Hart decide to scale up their investigation into the traveling revival group. What they find is a church not unlike many churches in the American South. Fiery teachings of the 'old-time' gospel lead by a charismatic preacher named Joel Theriot (Shea Whigham). Observing Theriot's dozens of loyal congregants, Cohle irreverently comments to an irritated Hart that "nobody here is going to be splitting the atom". Inquiring further, Cohle and Hart question Theriot's involvement in the church burning and the whereabouts of his staff members around the time of Dora's disappearance. It appears that Theriot's motivations are all too altruistic as he explains how vandals destroyed the church back in Eunice, Louisiana.

With alibis for all of the church staff, Cohle and Hart attempt to canvass any acquaintances of Dora's at the church. One member describes a tall man who may have attended the church with Dora. The man had a distinctive marking on his face that could have been the result of a burns injury (perhaps a meth lab explosion?). Another thin lead is something that our detectives can ill afford at this pressurizing time. Tensions are further inflamed when Hart finds Cohle talking to his wife while he is not home. The implied anger from Hart here is that Cohle is replacing him as the man of the house in his absence. Insecurity is running deep in the Hart household as Martin fears the prospect of being replaced and Maggie fears the prospect of her husband becoming increasingly less transparent with her. Later when out on a dinner date, Hart rather embarrassingly spots his other lover Lisa (Alexandra Daddario) being wooed by a younger man. Enraged by what he sees as a personal affront, Hart seeks retribution later that night by attacking the man in Lisa's apartment. The action seals the end of his torrid affair with Lisa and forces him to contemplate the future of his marriage.

Back in the interview room, Rust Cohle describes the "the locked room" as the place in our minds where we hide our true motivations and intentions. Cohle has an adept ability to access and comprehend this place when he interrogates suspects. He may not have any viable suspects for this case yet but extensive research into death records has revealed the supposedly accidental drowning of another woman named Rianne Olivier. Under closer scrutiny, Rianne's death appears to have the same trademarks as Dora Lange's murder. Following up on the lead reveals a boyfriend named Reginald Ledoux whom Rianne ran away from home with before her untimely demise. A background check on 'Reggie' reveals statutory rape charges, drug manufacturing charges (meth/LSD) and a current parole violation. Cohle and Hart are like two hungry wolves waiting to pounce on their prey. Have they finally found the prime suspect that will help them crack the case before their time runs out?

These last three episodes have been slowly building up to a grand resolution. What Hart earlier described as the "throw down in the woods". The most crucial question on my lips right now is; Is Reginald Ladoux the 'Tall Man' aka the monster at the end of the dream?

4.5/5
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