True Detective Season 3: The 5 takeaways from The Hour and the Day

#4 What else is Eliza hiding?

The interviewer who is doing her own investigating in the 2015 timeline revealed another strange clue this week. In the episode, Hays visits her in the hotel she is staying at. When he enters he notices the place looks like she either had company or someone is still there. Eliza denies any such person but her was there despite the presence of two wine glasses next to the bed.

Even so, Hays presses her that he will continue to talk to her as long as she shows more transparency about her research going forward. Eliza agrees but explains she can’t reveal everything just yet. However, she shows Hays a file that reveals Lucy’s cousin Dan O’ Brien’s body was recovered from a drained quarry. In the scene, we learn the cousin went missing in the 90s. This seems to suggest he may have been more involved than Hays originally thought. If he was not involved, why would someone want him dead?

#5 The wrong man

This leads to an explosive conclusion that looks to be heading somewhere tragic. Before the cliffhanger, the precinct received a fingerprint match on Will Purcell’s bike that pointed a finger straight at the teenager Freddy Burns. While they are interrogating the kid, Hays and Roland get word that a huge showdown is getting ready to blowout at Brett Woodard’s house. Again a group of hillbillies aims to assault him for talking to their kids because he is a possible suspect.

This leads to the reveal of what was hiding in the green bag that looked like a lifeless body. Knowing that men are about to invade his home Brett unzips the green bag and unveils a huge arsenal of assault weapons. He also places a bomb by the door that is triggered if someone enters. As the sequence comes to a close, Detectives Hays and Roland arrive to see the escalating situation outside Woodard’s home.

The group of angry men surrounds his home with one of the men trying to beat down the door. The scene ends on a loud note as the angry man kicks the door down and the screen goes black–followed by the sound of an explosion. Needless to say, this will probably not end well for everyone. Part of me thinks this is where Roland gets injured and becomes promoted for his bravery.

Final Thoughts

The cliffhanger is probably going to explain a lot of the fallout between Roland and Hays. It’s clear they are probably about to pin the death of Will Purcell on Freddy Burns because he is an easy scapegoat. This will most likely happen because Hays and Roland will have no say in the case due to whatever consequence befalls outside Woodard’s house next week. What can be assumed is all the blame will be pinned on Hays and Roland will reap the rewards. Either way, something tragic is about to happen to the investigation in the 80s storyline. Also, does anyone think Eliza (the interviewer) might be Julie Purcell? Send me your thoughts.

What do you think? Why was Dan O’Brien found dead? Who is the mysterious Aunt that the kids were playing with secretly? Tell us your theories below or send us a tweet @HiddenRemote!

True Detective airs at 9/8c on HBO.