After an intense duo of episodes that ignited the thriller's spark, 'The Outsider' abruptly shifts gears, offering a meticulous piece of mystery that delves deeper into the intricacies of character relationships yet falters in propelling the narrative forward. With its foundations firmly established, this episode serves as a vital cog in solidifying bonds before presumably catapulting viewers into a thrilling climax later on.
Episode 3 of 'The Outsider' kicks off with a flurry of police activity as they swarm the barn, searching for clues in the wake of the bloody clothes revelation from the previous episode. Tina's return to work is punctuated by an officer's somber recollection of his journey to the barn, foreshadowing a chilling turn. Later, the screen shifts to a haunting scene of the officer venturing into the barn's darkness, alone and vulnerable, only to be violently confronted from behind by an unseen assailant.
As a fresh batch of prisoners arrives at the jail, Ralph's mind replays the traumatic shooting, a stark contrast to the following day's discovery of Terry's bloodstained clothes in the barn. Among the grim relics lies Terry's belt buckle, a tangible link to his final moments at the strip club. Adding to the bizarre tapestry, the enigmatic liquid and fingerprints found at the scene hint at a sinister force beyond comprehension, as laboratory results reveal ignorance about the liquid's true nature.
Determined to unravel Terry's final movements, the team enlists the unconventional expertise of Holly, a woman whose aid comes with a condition—a face-to-face conversation. With Glory's hand forced to relocate the children in the aftermath of Terry's demise, Ralph bares his soul to his therapist, confessing the trauma of his deceased child and the tumultuous past that still haunts him. Following this catharsis, Ralph confronts Holly, their conversation peppered with her erratic brilliance as she posits the theory of Terry having a doppelgänger, a confounding explanation for his impossible presence in two places simultaneously.
Back in the bleak confines of the prison, a spectacle unfolds as the bespectacled prisoner snaps one of his lenses in two, utilizing the sharp fragment to carve open his leg, meticulously extracting a hidden wooden shank. As he slumps back, exhausted, Jessa's room becomes haunted once more by the enigmatic figure, this time bearing a dire warning for Ralph: halt your investigation forthwith.
In a private moment, Glory engages her daughter in a heartfelt conversation, who confides in her, revealing the man she encountered—first perceived as her beloved father, yet withheld for fear of causing distress. Meanwhile, Holly's attempts to communicate with Terry's father yield no fruit, but her phone call to Ralph ignites a new fire. Unaware of Terry's demise, she's compelled to delve deeper, particularly amidst the police's heightened scrutiny.
As night falls, Holly dives into the digital abyss, uncovering chilling tales of a convict imprisoned for the heinous murder of two sisters—the same man whose plight we witnessed earlier, shrouded in mystery. Yet, the night holds darker secrets still. Within the prison walls, one inmate takes his own life in a ghastly act, while the enigmatic officer from the episode's dawn mutters "whatever you need," his words echoing eerily amidst a strange piercing on the nape of his neck, leaving us hanging on the precipice of the unknown.
This episode of The Outsider weaves a tapestry of doubt and uncertainty, moving at a more contemplative pace. While it adeptly sustains the veil of mystery, the narrative lacks the explosive plot twists or revelations that typically ignite our passions. Nevertheless, the cinematography remains impeccable, employing innovative framing techniques that start off-screen and gracefully glide into view, captivating our senses. In terms of aesthetics and sound design, The Outsider remains a compelling force, drawing us back for more, week after week, with its uncanny ability to grip our very souls.
