True Detective Recap: Rising from the Ruins
Photo: HBO
Yes. That’s it. For an episode titled “Church in Ruins”, the episode was anything but in ruins. It was the best episode of the season. Hell, I’d even say it was at least as strong as season one’s worst delivery. The season Nic Pizzolatto has been struggling to build finally came together. The show he wanted this season to be finally clicked.
The first scene was probably the strongest scene of the season – maybe not for Colin Farrell, but certainly for Vince Vaughn. “Church in Ruins” featured his best work all season.
The episode started where last week’s left off – Ray banging on Frank’s door after realizing Frank gave him the wrong information, he killed the wrong person for his wife’s rape – to the two of them sitting around a kitchen table not so casually. One hand on the table, the other straddling a firearm, the tension mounting. Sizing each other up. Will one of them flinch? This scene likely offered the most suspense all season. Ray says Frank gave him the wrong intel on purpose, gaining leverage on a deputy sheriff, but Frank insists that he only gave him the name another person passed to him. He blames Frank for the way he turned out, but Frank maintains that that is who he always was. It’s easy for Ray to lay the blame on Frank while trying to dodge all the responsibility, and Frank tells him that. As the tension simmers down, they lift their other hand from their firearms and place them on the table, with their cards open. Frank promises that he’ll give Ray the name of the person who gave him the wrong information, if Ray could find the hard drive he so desperately needs to get back in the game. When Ray gets ready to leave, Frank confesses that Ray is the only friend he has. Aww, best friends forever? Probably not.
From that suspenseful kitchen showdown to a palpable heartfelt conversation with a young boy Frank went. Vince Vaughn displaying a range he hasn’t all season long. If any of this season’s actors gets some Emmy recognition, it’ll likely be Vaughn, based on this episode alone. Bravo, Vince, proving all the doubters wrong. Frank pays a visit to the family of that slain crony of his from a few episodes back, Stan. Stan’s widow says Blake was there after the funeral, inquiring whether Stan had said anything to her. After taking care of business, he goes out back and talks to Stan’s son. A gentle conversation about moving forward from a tragedy. Frank says painful events show you what’s on the inside, “...and inside of you? It’s pure gold... Your father knew that too”. The boy hugs him, and it ends two wonderful scenes from Vaughn. It certainly looks like he’ll make a good father.
To further cement the episode as Vaughn’s Emmy Awards entrant for possibly the Supporting Actor Drama category, Frank also tried to handle some business. Frank manages to strike a deal with the Mexican cartel, those two who showed up at his club the previous episode. Frank wants access to the girl, Irena, who pawned off Ben Caspere’s diamonds, which is also what led the cops to the eventual shootout in episode four. In exchange, the Mexicans get to run their product through his club on specific days.
Frank eventually gets to speak, over the phone, to Irena where she informs him that a cop paid her to pawn off the diamonds. He asks if he could meet her, to show her pictures, he’ll pay her, and her people – the Mexicans – can accompany her. When Frank and his cronies arrive at the specified place, they find the girl dead, her throat slit. The Mexicans killed her because she was working for the cops. The deal ends badly for Frank while the Mexicans still get to run their shit through his club.
Ray’s personal life comes to the fore again. A supervised visit with his son goes awry. It was quite an uncomfortable scene. Ray tells the ginger not to believe the stories he is going to hear about him. The failed visit leads Ray to a drug and alcohol binge. Then he thinks it’s a good idea to call his wife. He pleads with her not to tell their son the truth about his birth. In exchange, he won’t contest the custody. It’s interesting to see the episode switch between Frank’s sweet encounter with a kid who misses his father, and Ray’s uncomfortable meeting with his son. Frank finds it easier to connect with a kid he doesn’t know whereas Ray fails to build a bond with his may-or-maybe-not son. It offered up a stark contrast.
Leaving Ani’s orgy scene till last is probably the best thing. Ani decides to infiltrate one of Blake and Chessani’s sex parties, and yes, it is as unnerving and revolting as it sounded like. Pervy old men taking advantage of drugged prostitutes. Earlier in the episode, her sister tells her where to go. Ani has a tracker on her body for Ray and Paul to keep tabs on her. After being drugged, she starts hallucinating. She sees herself as a little girl being led into a white and yellow van by a bearded creep. The show poses the question of the possibility that she was raped. In her drugged state, Ani finds the missing girl, and decides to smuggle her out, but not before having to slice and dice two men. The episode alluded to her knife skills earlier this episode, and pretty on the nose at that. Ani and the girl escape with Ray and Paul maybe a little too easily.
This show isn’t dead. This episode showed that True Detective still possesses the ability to be must-see television. With two episodes left, can the show keep it up? Problem is, you never know. After this, though, some hope is renewed.
