True Detective: 8 burning questions after the Season 3 premiere

#5 Why is Julie Purcell alive?

At the end of episode 1, Hays is dropped with a major bombshell in the middle timeline involving Julie Purcell. Ten years after her mysterious disappearance she has reemerged during a robbery and the fingerprint she left behind is an exact match. What does this mean exactly? It could mean she is still being held by her kidnappers.

It could also mean she escaped and is needing the money. Part of me thinks she has been brainwashed by someone but we are bound to find out soon enough. Whatever the circumstance, Hays is quite shocked by the news of her resurgence.

#6 Where is Detective Roland now?

What most viewers will find themselves asking through the first two episodes is, what happened to Detective Roland? In the later timelines, his presence is nowhere to be found. During the questioning of the ten-year-old case, Hays is doing most of the explaining about the history of the investigation.

Furthermore, in the present day when Hays is much older, we don’t get much detail into who he became. The only clue given is during a conversation Hays has with his superior saying, “He’s done well,” and Hays responding, “yes, he has.” At the very least, it sounds like Roland has moved on from the police department with much success.

#7 Why does Hays seem so haunted by this case?

In the present day, Hays seems more tired and weary than ever. He is still being interviewed by the media regarding the Purcell case but the weirdest part is how the investigation has affected his life and family. It even implies that it may have impacted his marriage with his wife who he met during the time of the disappearance of Will and Julie Purcell. It’s unclear just how demented this case goes but it’s telling just by his distracted behavior in the 2015 timeline. What could this mean though? How far does the rabbit hole fall in the Purcell investigation?

#8 What’s going on at the end of episode 2?

The last few minutes of episode 2 are as mysterious as they are perplexing. Hays is eating dinner having a complicated conversation with his kids who are now grown up when he looks over at a picture frame of his wife.

Then abruptly, he finds himself transported in the middle of the street in his pajama pants, standing on the cross-section of Briarwood and Shoepick. He appears frightened and the house in front of him seems to be burnt to the ground? Is this Hays showing the symptoms of dementia or is this a dream? We’ll have to find out next week.

Final Thoughts

This is a strong return to form for the series and is expertly directed by Jeremy Saulnier. I can see why they released the first two episodes at once because it feels like a complete introduction told in two parts. The atmosphere from season 1 is also reenergized this season making it feel like the same tone and universe that featured Harrelson and McConaughey. It’s exciting to see True Detective get back to formula and cannot wait to see what the show will have in store going forward.

What do you think? What questions are you hoping to have answered in the weeks ahead? Let us know in the comments below!

True Detective airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.