The Sinner season 2, episode 2 introduces us to Mosswood

The Sinner returns with a new episode and introduces us to Mosswood and all of the eeriness that comes with it.

The Sinner gives us a better look at Carrie Coon’s Vera in “Part II.” Both Vera and Julian know more than either is saying. We start to learn more about Vera at the same time as the cops. One of the first hints of something odd is when Vera mentions living off of Route 4 by Osborne Road. Detective Novack is familiar with the location because there’s only one place there.

The two detectives take Vera to the foster home to see Julian. He doesn’t speak when he sees her and instead just starts crying. However, the detectives question him again with Vera present this time (after she’s already whispered something in his ear that Detective Ambrose couldn’t hear). He then suddenly doesn’t remember telling Ambrose about the tea he made.

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Chief Lidell doesn’t want to go anywhere near Mosswood, the property that Vera lives on. Based on flashbacks, Detective Novack has some history with the place and this gives us an introduction to Hannah Gross’s Marin. You can tell in subsequent flashbacks that Marin is way more interested in the group than Heather is.

Vera loses her composure a little in the courtroom when she’s unable to get Julian back since she has no proof of residence or paperwork to show that she’s registered to home school him. In this instance, Vera seems like she’s used to getting people to give her whatever she wants with little effort.

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We get flashbacks to Detective Ambrose as a kid in this episode, too. The first one shows him looking for his mom at the house and as he talks to Julian, we get more pieces. His mom couldn’t take care of him and he was sent off to a foster home like the one Julian is in now. The two of them also share that they both have nightmares.

Vera calls Detective Ambrose and keeps herself composed despite not being happy that he saw Julian twice without her or the lawyer present. I have to say, Coon is playing the character excellently. Not that I ever had any doubt about her being good in this, but now that we know more about her character, it’s a more interesting role.

As Novack and Ambrose head onto the property, we see a flashback of Marin being drawn in by their ideals. Novack is clearly looking for her when everyone is gathered around, but she doesn’t see her. We learn that there’s a sex offender staying at Mosswood and Vera isn’t the least bit concerned about him being around Julian.

Detective Novack recognizes one of the men from when they were at the motel. Meanwhile, Ambrose recognizes the necklace that Jess is wearing and puts together that Adam and Bess were never meant to come back. Did they do the same to Marin and that’s why Novack isn’t seeing her around? It’s hard not to wonder what all is going on there. That part of the story is more interesting at the moment than what happens to Julian.

The episode closes out with Novack going into the building that Marin was taken to in the flashbacks. Ambrose is keeping Vera occupied and has no idea what Novack is up to, but he probably won’t be surprised when he does find out. She finds a giant rock and a skylight above it. That doesn’t tell us much of anything, but it continues to build the mystery.

The Sinner airs on Wednesdays on USA at 10:00 PM.