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True Detective Recap: Season 2, Episode 3 "Maybe Tomorrow"

"Do you even want to live?"

WARNING: You are about to go down the rabbit hole into Carcosa. Spoilers ahead.

When we last left our heroes anti-heroes, corrupt Vinci Detective Ray Velcoro (Colin Farrel) had been shot twice with a shot gun at point blank range by an otherwise unknown assailant wearing a crow mask (affectionately nicknamed "Birdman" by the Twitter) while investigating the secret orgy apartment of recently deceased city planner, Ben Caspere. This not only left viewers asking whether Velcoro had been given the Ned Stark treatment two episodes into the season, but also sparked a conversation among the more tin-foil admirers among us who are now pondering whether the same cult from season one could also be operating on the west coast.

Despite the cliff hanger, episode three immediately picks up in a sort of purgatory in which Velcoro sits in his local watering hole talking with a younger version of his father while listening to a Conway Twitty impersonator sing "The Rose." When Velcoro inquires whether or not this dream-like state is real, his father answers that Velcoro has arrived in Twittyville before him, prompting Velcoro to wake up on the floor of Caspere's apartment, very much alive. More on Velcoro's father later. It is revealed that Birdman used buckshot ("you know, the kind cops use") which only leaves Velcoro with some cracked ribs.

Upon the authorities arriving at Caspere's, Velcoro's partner from the Ventura County Sherrif's Office, Ani (Rachel McAdams) chews Velcoro out for entering a crime scene alone (he was tipped off by Frank last episode), and the two discuss how the camera and hard drive that recorded Caspere's freak show was taken by Birdman. Velcoro goes to get medically cleared to return to active duty while Ani and Paul (Taylor Kitsch) hit the beat like they are looking for Carmen Sandiego.

Velcoro is told by the doctor that he is living with a "red lining" liver and suffering the effects of poor diet (what a good American), but is none-the-less medically cleared for active duty. Before leaving the doctor's office, he is poignantly asked whether or not he even wants to live. Given Velcoro's troubled past with his ex-wife, separation from his son, and overall crooked existence, one has to wonder. Before returning to Ani and Paul, Velcoro visits his elderly father to drop off some weed. Velcoro discovers that his father has thrown away his police badge and seems to share in a cynicism that would even make Rust Cohle proud. Instead of abandoning the badge, Velcoro restores it to its proper place. That doesn't seem like somebody who has given up on living to me.

Velcoro next meets with Frank (Vince Vaughn) at their favorite dive bar where Velcoro wants some answers on why he was almost killed, and why Frank is so interested in what happened to Caspere. Frank finally opens up about his collusive land deal to Velcoro.

While on the way to their destination, as team leader, Ani decides to try gathering clues from the prostitution angle of the case and decides she is going to put Paul's "good looks to use," which prompts an uncomfortable look from Paul as well as an insult about Ani's e-cigarette.

The two gumshoes arrive at Vinci Mayor Austin Chessani's (Ritchie Coster) mansion where they encounter the mayor's over served eastern-European wife, reclusive daughter, a prostitute falling into the pool, and Eminem want to be son. Before being shown the door due to lack of search warrant, Ani and Paul discover that the Mayor's son works in event planning and "sets things up" for all kinds of clients. This confirms Ani and Paul's contentions that Caspere was frequently making calls to prostitutes from the Mayor's mansion. Ani also discovers maps of the greater California zoning structure hinting at the crooked land deal Frank, his cronies, and the local Vinci government are involved in.

Ray meets back up with Ani (bolo tie and all), where they follow up on a lead at a movie set that strangely seems to resemble a 2015 summer blockbuster. There, the two discover that Caspere used to attend parties with the film's director that also included drug usage and hookers. Ani and Ray also discover a lead to a car that was stolen from the set and whose driver suddenly quit the movie. The car, implied to be the one that carried Caspere's body in episode one, is tracked to a nearby home and the driver claims that he quit for health reasons. Before any more is discovered, a masked arsonist sets fire to the car prompting a chase through a shantytown that takes Velcoro and Ani to the side of the freeway where Velcoro saves Ani from being run over by a truck and re-injuring his ribs in the process.

In an "i'll scratch your back if you'll scratch mine" moment, Velcoro asks Ani what the State of California "has on him" in the coming Vinci corruption investigation. Ani replies that she does not know.

Several extra entries for the Taxman's ledger:

  • My recaps are generally going to follow 2-3 of the main characters each week, with the other ones getting mentions in this section. Frank is getting the short end of the stick this week.
  • Frank spent most of this week trying to consolidate power among the crime bosses who used to serve him before he went all Corleone-legitimate. This culminated in an epic Rocky Balboa style fight in which Frank applied some pliers to local thug Santos' grill. It is tough being the boss.
  • RIP Stan (who is this guy again)? I am also not buying Frank's other lieutenant's phone dying. This guy is either involved in Caspere's death, or is possibly an undercover cop. If you recall from episode one, he counseled Frank not to be worried about the pending state investigation into Vinci.
  • Anybody else feel for Frank's wife? All she wants to do is have kids, but Frank doesn't even want to talk. "Maybe tomorrow."
  • I absolutely loved the scene where the Ventura County Sheriffs Department was trying to get Ani to "leverage" Velcoro and the Vinci police department is trying to get Velcoro to use Ani. Both detectives seem reluctant to participate. I think they both want to see this thing solved.
  • I guess we can put to rest the theory of Paul's sexuality. The scene with Paul's soldier buddy confirms earlier suspicions.
  • Did anybody really think that Velcoro could be bought off from seeing his son for $10,000? I know the guy is mixed up with some real shysters, but he has more honor than that. At least we can thank Velcoro's ex-wife for tipping him off about the state's investigation into his past dealings.
  • Normally I would say we should have a drink in honor of Velcoro surviving last week's attack, but I seriously doubt there is any alcohol left in Vinci. Mayor Chessani seems to have drank it all while using a word that rhymes with "punt" several times throughout this episode.
  • Answer the poll question below about the identity of the Birdman.
  • Momma's Boy.
  • The comments are yours.

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