True Detective Review: The Final Country (Season 3 Episode 7)
On True Detective Season 3 Episode 7, “The Final Country,” tying up some loose ends brings forward the darker side of its lead characters.
As the penultimate episode of the season, “The Final Country” does allow some of those loose ends conclusions. It’s not enough for a completely clear picture, but it does provide far more than the other episodes.
Amelia appears to be the true detective of the third season, finding information out simply by enjoying conversation with people close to the case. It’s a stark contrast to the narrow detective work of Wayne and Roland, who, as Harris points out in the barn, have no idea what’s really going on.
Finally bringing the focus on the Hoyt family gives the episode a sense of urgency, as though things are clicking in place after so long. It’s a speedy proceeding, checking the boxes so that Wayne and Roland can reach their splitting off point.
The back half of the episode may be the tensest of the season.
The descent away from the law for Wayne and Roland becomes an off the rails mess, one which haunts them even twenty-five years later. The barn scene is harrowing in how Harris tries to play up his injuries to get free.
It’s hard to watch, with how hard Roland hits him, how visceral the impacts feel.
The resulting murder once Harris fights with Wayne is so sudden its impact is felt throughout the rest of the episode. No one is the same after; not even Amelia as she catches Wayne burning his clothes.
There’s fear in everyone’s faces, of a line crossed that can never be taken back. 1990 is the breaking point, where each relationship feels severed irrevocably.
There’s a quick moment in the 2015 timeline, where Wayne is mistaken about a young girl looking like his estranged daughter Becca. This, coupled with the Becca college scene at the beginning, is such a devastating moment for Wayne, as he is more frequently losing touch.
It’s becoming an even larger trend, and the moment, lost on the road, is perhaps the most worrying one. With Roland at his side, does Wayne simply wander away from him, or has something happened? It’s a curious moment, as he has someone at his side to pull him back, but it does not happen.
It’s become a trend for 2015 Roland, where he does not appear to fully trust 2015 Wayne. He even warns his son Henry that something isn’t right, especially with the gun on Wayne’s desk. It feels as though it will be the turning point, Wayne’s memory, for that timeline.
As for the final scene with Edward Hoyt and the cars, it’s an ominous point to end the episode on. There’s a feeling of finality to Wayne getting into the car, as though it’s the catalyst to the rest of his life.
It’s hard not to wonder if Wayne suffers a head injury in the finale from whatever happens, and this is why he has trouble remembering.
With Hoyt knowing the truth about Harris’ death the night before, it doesn’t look great for Wayne as he steps in that car. But it’s leading to everything being revealed.
“The Final Country” finds True Detective showing a lot of its cards, while still keeping some important ones hidden. There’s a lot to still discover in its final hour, but this episode claims mesmerizing tension in its incredible second half. It’s a great episode and helps set up the finale in spectacular fashion.
Some stray thoughts:
- The fun little moment where Rust and Cohle from season one pop up in the newspaper clipping on Eliza’s laptop is a nice reminder that this is basically a True Detective universe we’re in. It loosely ties this case into theirs, but as Eliza says, their case “never went wider.”
- Michael Rooker’s voice is so recognizable, even just over the phone; it gives the final scene such weight.
- There’s another moment where 1990 Wayne, while burning his clothes, looks back as if he can feel 2015 Wayne looking at him. It’s such an interesting trend, I hope the finale capitalizes on it.
- It’s a shame Scoot McNairy’s Tom Purcell perished so badly after finding the pink room. No one seems to have a happy ending in this season.
What did you think of this episode of True Detective? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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True Detective airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.
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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.