The Outsider Review: Dark Uncle (Season 1 Episode 3)
A fresh pair of eyes can’t hurt on The Outsider Season 1 Episode 3, “Dark Uncle,” especially when they belong to Holly Gibney.
The appearance of Holly starts to open up the story to a larger canvas. While the start of her investigation may not turn out significant leads initially, her side of the story does open up the fact that this has happened before.
The prison sequences may feel contrived and confusing at first glance, but things start to click into place once Holly takes note of a double homicide, in which one of the inmates is convicted, similar to Terry’s own circumstances. The benevolent force (likely the titular Outsider) even wants to cover his tracks by taking out the man before he can talk to Ralph or Holly, but he ends his own life before that can happen.
It’s a set of curious, almost bizarre moments, but it’s the supernatural at work to cover up any loose ends before a connection can be made between the murder of the sisters and the murder of Frankie Peterson. Now with Jack under full control due to his affliction, Ralph and company are likely going to be coming up against larger odds.
The clothes from the barn at the end of The Outsider Season 1 Episode 2, “Roanoke,” are indeed the clothes Terry is wearing as he left the strip club, though why they ended up there is still a curious development. Jack’s discovery and attack at the barn late at night causes even more questions, as the force may use the barn as a hideout or the area holds some significant meaning that is still to come.
That moment of attack is interesting, as there appears to be fang marks on Jack’s neck around the bruising and mutilation. Is this the way The Outsider claims his servants to do his bidding, or is this how he is able to make doppelgangers? The supernatural side of the story is slowly peeking its head out, but it’s still far too early for these instances to connect up cohesively.
photo: Bob Mahoney/HBO.
Beyond the investigation, The Outsider is doing some fantastic work at digging into these characters and finding what makes them tick.
The scene of Ralph at his therapist appointment is a brilliant moment for the episode and for Ben Mendelsohn, both with how it’s presented and how his performance can be interpreted. Mendelsohn spends most of the scene with his back to the camera, constantly fidgeting and uncomfortable, before finally starting to open up but refusing to look ahead at the man he is talking to.
It shows the inner conflict inside of Ralph with just his body language, the things he’s not saying verbally but is saying out loud with his posture and his movements. It’s a testament to Mendelsohn, who is making Ralph Anderson powerful in his silence. He’s playing Ralph as someone doing his best to find his center, to find that calming point while holding back a lot of the anger buried deep.
Holly’s scenes throughout the episode are handled well, using her talents and wide-ranging attention to detail to successfully show how important an ally she will be ahead. While her parents, during her backstory sequence, may have taken her true self as somewhat of a burden, and Howard dismisses her as a “loony,” Ralph accepts her, and she notices.
Erivo is playing Holly with a distinct sharpness, where facts and the possibility of what facts can do are her driving motivation. It’s a slightly different view on the character compared to Mr. Mercedes or the Stephen King novels that have Holly as a character, but this interpretation allows for her talents to shine a little brighter, especially with Erivo’s performance and Ralph’s guidance.
The Outsider allows more time with Glory and Jeannie, Ralph’s wife, which is something that has been somewhat lacking over the previous two episodes. Their perspectives help add context to what Ralph and Terry have gone through while also becoming fleshed out characters of their own. They are tied to the pain of their past, of losing their loved ones, but both are intent on protecting those still living.
Their differing views on how to protect Glory’s daughters, especially as Jessa continues to be visited during the night, helps form a breakthrough, even if it’s slight and fleeting. It’s at least a way to break the ice of the damage Ralph has caused, a step in the right direction.
photo: Bob Mahoney/HBO
The burning questions coming out of The Outsider Season 1 Episode 3, “Dark Uncle,” come down to what sort of danger Ralph is in now that The Outsider’s threat of stopping has been passed on, and whether or not that threat will come by way of Jack’s newfound position as a potential puppet. This, paired up with another similar murder, will certainly take the show into a more open arena.
The more intimate scope of the show, following the Maitland and Anderson families as they cope through their traumas, has been a little more rewarding than the investigation so far. This is more due to the way information trickles out than a failure of the show. But now that the investigation has Holly and the new lead, hopefully the investigation can add up to the level of the emotional investment the show is delivering on.
What did you think of this episode of The Outsider? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
The Outsider airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
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.